Background flashes between two animations

Deskscapes 11 on Windows 11 with multiple computers when reducing number of screens

from Stardock Forums

I installed Deskscapes 11 on my new Windows 11 PC on which I have three monitors. I use 2 of them between two computers and the third only for computer 1 while using the other 2 on computer 2. However, you should be able to duplicate this issue with just two monitors.

  1. With 2 monitors, start Deskscapes. You should have two different animated backgrounds.
  2. Unplug or disconnect one of the monitors.

My experience is that the single remaining monitor toggles between the two backgrounds many times per second and CPU time increased by 2 or 3 percent.

deskscapes 11 windows 11 multiple stardock software deskscapes
8,684 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

I have forwarded your report to the Stardock support team for their review and recommendations.

Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates.

We really do appreciate your feedback, thanks.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top


I installed Deskscapes 11 on my new Windows 11 PC on which I have three monitors. I use 2 of them between two computers and the third only for computer 1 while using the other 2 on computer 2. However, you should be able to duplicate this issue with just two monitors.

    1. With 2 monitors, start Deskscapes. You should have two different animated backgrounds.
    1. Unplug or disconnect one of the monitors.

My experience is that the single remaining monitor toggles between the two backgrounds many times per second and CPU time increased by 2 or 3 percent.

End of quote

If you restart Windows Explorer after, does it cease?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I had uninstalled it because it was making me crazy. And now I can't seem to duplicate the issue. I will continue to try, and then try restarting Explorer to see if that has any effect.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

After I re-installed DeskScapes I tried to duplicate the issue and it didn't happen. But that was a couple days ago. Today when I switched my KVM to my home PC (which disables the 3rd monitor and enables the two primary monitors) the issue occurred again.

I was able to use Zoom to record the event. The video shows much slower flashing than was actually happening. When live it switches images as fast as it can which seems like about 8 times per second.

Note that when I pause DeskScapes, one of the two stops and the screen works as if there is one animated background running. Here is a link to the video shared from OneDrive: DeskScapes Flashing Video. The video requires the password "Stardock".

To answer your specific question, restarting Explorer does make the problem stop.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting TomServo3000, reply 4

Today when I switched my KVM to my home PC (which disables the 3rd monitor and enables the two primary monitors) the issue occurred again.
End of TomServo3000's quote

That is a rather unique\edge situation and one we likely can't account for. I was pleased to read that restarting WinEx does resolve it.

What may be of interest to you is being able to ditch the hardware KVM altogether with Multiplicity:

https://www.stardock.com/products/multiplicity/

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Multiplicity sounds like one keyboard/mouse shared between two PCs each with their own monitor(s). My home PC has three monitors, two of which are shared via the kvm with my work PC. I don't see how Multiplicity is going to tell the two monitors to switch over to the other computer along with the mouse and keyboard. Are you saying it somehow does that?