SFM is Currently Broken: Please help me!

[caca]

I've had SFM for years, but I have barely ever used it. All of a sudden, SFM does this weird, flashing black screen thing. I'll attach a video so people can see the problem. I don't know how to fix this, if anybody knows, please help. I have already tried verifying the game files. What do I do?

See the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugXhp-g9K2Q

[Dark-Dragon-Deception]

Originally posted by Pte Jack:

I use both Home and Pro of Windows 10

Okay!
I have Windows 10 Toshiba but Idk whether it is home or pro... It might be home...!

[Mr.Random!!]

i need some help with this, like a video or something...

[Pte Jack]

So, Youtube might be affected as well.... SO!!!

BEFORE ANYONE ELSE POSTS HERE about the screen flicker problem. We're doing some trouble shooting.

Microsoft released version 1803 on the 28th of April in a rolling global update. In other words, everybody's computers will be updated at different times. All my systems are currently running the old version which is 1709 and I do not have the problem, nor can I replicate it on any of my systems. I just check ALL my systems for updates and they are all up to date (for 1709) and 1803 is not being offered to me yet. So I can't test my therory.

If my suspisions are correct, I think we might find that the affected systems are running 1803, and graphic drivers may not be compatible from 1709 to 1803. This "could be" the problem.

IF YOU ARE AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM...

Help us out in this trouble shoot by posting your System Specs (CPU, GPU, VRam and Ram) and your current Windows version number.

To find the Windows version

Right click the Windows Icon on your taskbar, then select System...

When the Window open, look at the Windows Specifications area and tell us WHAT VERSION your system has installed.

The info were looking for is something like this

OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit - Version 1709
CPU: Intel Core i7 740QM @ 1.73GHz
RAM: 8.00GB
Graphics: AMD Mobility Radeon HD 5800 Series (HP) 1024MB (1.00GB)
Not Affected.

[Mr.Random!!]

i think i solve it, but now i have two windows, is this ok? (there´s no flicker)

[DobieFox]

OS: Windows 10 home Version 1803
CPU: Intel Core i7 6700HQ @ 2.6GHz
RAM: 16.00GB
Graphics: GTX 960M + Intel Intergrated Graphics 530
AFFECTED

[Zappy]

Originally posted by WHO'S A KNOTTY BOI:

- Graphics: GTX 960M -

Are you sure that you don't also have an Intel-related graphics thing?

To find that out for certain, open the Control Panel, change the drop-down "View by" selection list to "Large icons" or "Small icons", click "Device Manager", expand the "Display Adapters" list/group, and let us know the exact names of all items in that list/group.

[DobieFox]

Originally posted by Zappy:

Originally posted by WHO'S A KNOTTY BOI:

- Graphics: GTX 960M -

Are you sure that you don't also have an Intel-related graphics thing?

To find that out for certain, open the Control Panel, change the drop-down "View by" selection list to "Large icons" or "Small icons", click "Device Manager", expand the "Display Adapters" list/group, and let us know the exact names of all items in that list/group.

Updated. It has Intel HD 530 intergrated graphics

[Zappy]

Originally posted by WHO'S A KNOTTY BOI:

Updated. It has [both NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M and] Intel HD 530 intergrated graphics

Goodie. May I ask which of the GPUs Source Filmmaker is using?


To find that out for certain, click "Windows" > "Console" at the top-left of Source Filmmaker, type "clear" in the console, press Enter to execute that command (and thus clear/wipe everything in the console), type "mat_info" in the console and press Enter again, scroll up to the top, and then copy the first 10 or so lines and paste them here. Example:

ShaderAPI: shaderapidx9.dll
Shader API Driver Info:

Driver : nvldumd.dll Version : 861069
Driver Description :  NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
Chipset version 4318 5058 829494370 161

Display mode : 1920 x 1080 @60Hz (BGRX8888)
Vertex Shader Version : 3.0 Pixel Shader Version : 3.0

[DobieFox]

Originally posted by Zappy:

Originally posted by WHO'S A KNOTTY BOI:

Updated. It has [both NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M and] Intel HD 530 intergrated graphics

Goodie. May I ask which of the GPUs Source Filmmaker is using?


To find that out for certain, click "Windows" > "Console" at the top-left of Source Filmmaker, type "clear" in the console, press Enter to execute that command (and thus clear/wipe everything in the console), type "mat_info" in the console and press Enter again, scroll up to the top, and then copy the first 10 or so lines and paste them here. Example:

ShaderAPI: shaderapidx9.dll
Shader API Driver Info:

Driver : nvldumd.dll Version : 861069
Driver Description :  NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
Chipset version 4318 5058 829494370 161

Display mode : 1920 x 1080 @60Hz (BGRX8888)
Vertex Shader Version : 3.0 Pixel Shader Version : 3.0

ShaderAPI: shaderapidx9.dll
Shader API Driver Info:

Driver : nvldumd.dll Version : 860173
Driver Description : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
Chipset version 4318 5019 291116130 162
Display mode : 1920 x 1080 @60Hz (BGRX8888)
Vertex Shader Version : 3.0 Pixel Shader Version : 3.0

[Nopechu]

Same Here..

[Pte Jack]

Hmmm, this is interesting.

Nvidia released a new driver on 5/24/18. This is the known issues page...

Issues and updates:
-Gears of War 4 may randomly crash
-Custom color settings reset on reboot in Windows 10 FCU

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-In Surround, center display renders videos black
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-DOTA 2 item slot glitches when run with Vulkan API
-Random DPC watchdog violation error when using multiple GPUs on motherboards with PLX chips
-Deus Ex Mankind Divided may crash shortly after loading saved story in DX12 mode

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-With HDR turned on, non HDR full-screen video playback may cause corruption/flicker in the video.

To avoid this scenario, disable HDR from MS panel before launching video.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-NVIDIA Freestyle does not work with Dead by Daylight
-Win7/Win8: G-sync not disengaging after exiting some games causing the desktop to stutter


I'm particularly interested in the HDR problem.

Also, Intel released new drivers for their 4th and 5th gen processors on the 4th of May 2018. These drivers included updates for the Intel 4000/5000/6000 series HD graphics. As this was after the Windows version release, I'm wondering if affected systems have performed updates for their systems?

Intel HD Graphics Driver Current version is 15.40.4963

[RobSkulls]

I followed all the steps for the "Auto Hide Engine" and it made it much worse then it was.
https://gyazo.com/98843c4e63c0a7239c546abb400ffa50
Now it's flickering much faster then before. I don't think it's my graphics card because I updated everything.
Nvidia GTX 660M

[Fordy]

GT635m here, affected, autohide just makes it flicker the engine window instead of blackness. Runs well on Intel graphics. Using -usevgui launch option fixes it, but I think it just forces SFM to use integrated graphics, even though this is what I got from mat_info:

Driver : nvldumd.dll Version : 861103
Driver Description : NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M
Chipset version 4318 3555 340201539 161

[milzyywilzyy]

OS: Windows 10 Home 64-bit (10.0, Build 17134)
CPU: Intel Core i3
RAM: 8192MB RAM
Graphics: GeForce 710A + Intel Integrated Graphics
affected af

[LeSabre]

Originally posted by Pte Jack:

With the SFM open and the auto hide checked on and the problem is existing.
Turn OFF the auto hide.
Close SFM.
Launch SFM (you'll get the Totally useless screen, the engine window).
Select Windows,
then QT Port.
When the SFM QT Port opens, Select Windows,
then Engine Window
and then select Auto hide so it is checked on.
The problem should be gone.

If the problem still exists, then validate your local application cache.

If the problem still exists after the validation, do the process again.

If the problem still exists after that, post your system specs here.

I did everything and nothing worked so here are my specs:
CPU: Core i5
GPU: Geforce GT 630M
RAM: 8 Gigs
Hard Drive: 1 Terrabite
Operating system: Windows 10

And one note, this all started happening after a Windows update.