Screen Flashing /Flickering on startup

[RE3315]

On Startup, Stellarium 0.14.3 x64 (and 0.14.2 x64) cause a rapidly flickering flashing screen. No difference with -m or -s (MESA/SAFE) mode.

Tried Win7 compatibility mode. Showing slow FPS ~6 fps. Also tried 32-bit versions. Tried uninstall/reinstall after deleting Stellarium folder in AppData.

System:
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Nvidia GeForce GRX 750 Ti with latest drivers.

[Alexander Wolf (alexwolf)]

Please attach log.txt from Stellarium.

[RE3315 (re3315)]

I also notice it takes >20-25 seconds to start up (in prior version used to start very quickly)

logfile pasted below and attached. Thanks.

2016-04-25T09:35:22
Windows 7
Compiled using MSVC++ 12.0 (Visual Studio 2013)
Qt runtime version: 5.5.1
Qt compilation version: 5.5.1
Addressing mode: 64-bit
Total physical memory: 4094 MB
Available physical memory: 1529 MB
Physical memory in use: 62%
Processor speed: 3215 MHz
Processor name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
Processor speed: 3215 MHz
Processor name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
C:\Program Files\Stellarium\stellarium.exe
 -------------------------------------------------------
[ This is Stellarium 0.14.3 - http://www.stellarium.org ]
[ Copyright (C) 2000-2016 Fabien Chereau et al. ]
 -------------------------------------------------------
Writing log file to: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\log.txt"
File search paths:
  0 . "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium"
  1 . "."
Config file is: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\config.ini"
Detected: OpenGL "4.5"
Driver version string: "4.5.0 NVIDIA 364.72"
GL vendor is "NVIDIA Corporation"
GL renderer is "GeForce GTX 750 Ti/PCIe/SSE2"
GL Shading Language version is "4.50 NVIDIA"
GLSL Version Number detected: 4.5
GLSL version is fine, we should not see a graphics problem.
Cache directory is: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Local\\stellarium\\stellarium\\cache"
Sky language is "en_US"
Application language is "en_US"
Loading Solar System data ...
Loading star data ...
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_0_0v0_5.cat\": 0_0v0_2; 4963"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_1_0v0_5.cat\": 1_0v0_2; 21598"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_2_0v0_5.cat\": 2_0v0_2; 150090"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_3_1v0_3.cat\": 3_1v0_3; 428466"
Finished loading star catalogue data, max_geodesic_level: 3
QObject::connect: Cannot connect (null)::stateChanged(QNetworkSession::State) to QNetworkReplyHttpImpl::_q_networkSessionStateChanged(QNetworkSession::State)
navigation/preset_sky_time is a double - treating as jday: "2451514.25001"
Reloading DSO data...
Loaded 10756 DSO records
Loading DSO name data ...
Loaded 221 / 297 DSO name records successfully
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
Loading star names from ".\\skycultures\\western\\star_names.fab"
Loaded 339 / 339 common star names
Loading star names from ".\\stars\\default\\name.fab"
Loaded 4506 / 4506 scientific star names
Loading variable stars from ".\\stars\\default\\gcvs_hip_part.dat"
Loaded 6916 / 6916 variable stars
Loading cross-index data from ".\\stars\\default\\cross-index.dat"
Loaded 108279 / 108279 cross-index data records
Loaded 88 / 88 constellation records successfully for culture "western"
Loaded 85 / 85 constellation art records successfully for culture "western"
Loaded 88 / 88 constellation names
Loading constellation boundary data ...
Loaded 782 constellation boundary segments
Initializing basic GL shaders...
Creating GUI ...
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
Loaded plugin "Exoplanets"
Exoplanets: version of the f...

[gzotti (georg-zotti)]

Does it flicker only for a couple of frames / seconds and then all is fine, or is that permanent?
A Geforce should not be circumvented with Mesa, but you can try ANGLE (DirectX) as alternative.
Slow startup may also mean you have many planets in ssystem.ini or many extra landscapes or skycultures, or satellites. Try disabling plugins which you don't need.

[RE3315 (re3315)]

Flickers continuously about 2x/second after startup and does not stop. (startup takes >20 seconds).
FPS is showing only about 7.5 FPS which is also strange. (Stella has run fine and fast on my system in the past).
Could be Video card/driver issue?

[gzotti (georg-zotti)]

Strange, indeed. Maybe try a different driver version? On this Geforce you should have rather 40-60fps and no flicker ... Or try a current beta?

[Alexander Wolf (alexwolf)]

> (startup takes >20 seconds).

Please try set manual location - I guess Stellarium can't get location from network, because I see also:

> QObject::connect: Cannot connect (null)::stateChanged(QNetworkSession::State) to QNetworkReplyHttpImpl::_q_networkSessionStateChanged(QNetworkSession::State)

and:

> Failure getting IP-based location: "Connection refused"

[Alexander Wolf (alexwolf)]

Can you check a windowed mode also (press F11)?

[RE3315 (re3315)]

Alexander - making some progress - If I switch to windowed mode (F11), the screen flashing stops. Manual location set but didn't seem to make a difference. Still getting very low frame rates (6-7 FPS) for some strange reason. new last startup log pasted below:

2016-04-26T05:42:57
Windows 7
Compiled using MSVC++ 12.0 (Visual Studio 2013)
Qt runtime version: 5.5.1
Qt compilation version: 5.5.1
Addressing mode: 64-bit
Total physical memory: 4094 MB
Available physical memory: 1749 MB
Physical memory in use: 57%
Processor speed: 3215 MHz
Processor name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
Processor speed: 3215 MHz
Processor name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
C:\Program Files\Stellarium\stellarium.exe
 -------------------------------------------------------
[ This is Stellarium 0.14.3 - http://www.stellarium.org ]
[ Copyright (C) 2000-2016 Fabien Chereau et al. ]
 -------------------------------------------------------
Writing log file to: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\log.txt"
File search paths:
  0 . "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium"
  1 . "."
Config file is: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\config.ini"
Detected: OpenGL "4.5"
Driver version string: "4.5.0 NVIDIA 364.72"
GL vendor is "NVIDIA Corporation"
GL renderer is "GeForce GTX 750 Ti/PCIe/SSE2"
GL Shading Language version is "4.50 NVIDIA"
GLSL Version Number detected: 4.5
GLSL version is fine, we should not see a graphics problem.
Cache directory is: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Local\\stellarium\\stellarium\\cache"
Sky language is "en_US"
Application language is "en_US"
Loading Solar System data ...
Loading star data ...
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_0_0v0_5.cat\": 0_0v0_2; 4963"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_1_0v0_5.cat\": 1_0v0_2; 21598"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_2_0v0_5.cat\": 2_0v0_2; 150090"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_3_1v0_3.cat\": 3_1v0_3; 428466"
Finished loading star catalogue data, max_geodesic_level: 3
navigation/preset_sky_time is a double - treating as jday: "2451514.25001"
Reloading DSO data...
Loaded 10756 DSO records
Loading DSO name data ...
Loaded 221 / 297 DSO name records successfully
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
Loading star names from ".\\skycultures\\western\\star_names.fab"
Loaded 339 / 339 common star names
Loading star names from ".\\stars\\default\\name.fab"
Loaded 4506 / 4506 scientific star names
Loading variable stars from ".\\stars\\default\\gcvs_hip_part.dat"
Loaded 6916 / 6916 variable stars
Loading cross-index data from ".\\stars\\default\\cross-index.dat"
Loaded 108279 / 108279 cross-index data records
Loaded 88 / 88 constellation records successfully for culture "western"
Loaded 85 / 85 constellation art records successfully for culture "western"
Loaded 88 / 88 constellation names
Loading constellation boundary data ...
Loaded 782 constellation boundary segments
Initializing basic GL shaders...
Creating GUI ...
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
Loaded plugin "Exoplanets"
Exoplanets: version of the format of the catalog: 1
Exopla...

[RE3315 (re3315)]

More Progress:

Low Frame rate solved (now 40-50 FPS) by taking the Stellarium shortcut out of WIndows 7 Compatibility mode (I am running Windows 10 Pro 64-bit).

Screen still flashes in full screen mode, and stops flashing in Windowed mode (F11). Last Run log pasted below (now shows Windows 10 correctly):

2016-04-26T05:49:20
Windows 10
Compiled using MSVC++ 12.0 (Visual Studio 2013)
Qt runtime version: 5.5.1
Qt compilation version: 5.5.1
Addressing mode: 64-bit
Total physical memory: 4094 MB
Available physical memory: 1692 MB
Physical memory in use: 58%
Processor speed: 3215 MHz
Processor name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
Processor speed: 3215 MHz
Processor name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
C:\Program Files\Stellarium\stellarium.exe
 -------------------------------------------------------
[ This is Stellarium 0.14.3 - http://www.stellarium.org ]
[ Copyright (C) 2000-2016 Fabien Chereau et al. ]
 -------------------------------------------------------
Writing log file to: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\log.txt"
File search paths:
  0 . "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium"
  1 . "."
Config file is: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\config.ini"
Detected: OpenGL "4.5"
Driver version string: "4.5.0 NVIDIA 364.72"
GL vendor is "NVIDIA Corporation"
GL renderer is "GeForce GTX 750 Ti/PCIe/SSE2"
GL Shading Language version is "4.50 NVIDIA"
GLSL Version Number detected: 4.5
GLSL version is fine, we should not see a graphics problem.
Cache directory is: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Local\\stellarium\\stellarium\\cache"
Sky language is "en_US"
Application language is "en_US"
Loading Solar System data ...
Loading star data ...
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_0_0v0_5.cat\": 0_0v0_2; 4963"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_1_0v0_5.cat\": 1_0v0_2; 21598"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_2_0v0_5.cat\": 2_0v0_2; 150090"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_3_1v0_3.cat\": 3_1v0_3; 428466"
Finished loading star catalogue data, max_geodesic_level: 3
navigation/preset_sky_time is a double - treating as jday: "2451514.25001"
Reloading DSO data...
Loaded 10756 DSO records
Loading DSO name data ...
Loaded 221 / 297 DSO name records successfully
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
Loading star names from ".\\skycultures\\western\\star_names.fab"
Loaded 339 / 339 common star names
Loading star names from ".\\stars\\default\\name.fab"
Loaded 4506 / 4506 scientific star names
Loading variable stars from ".\\stars\\default\\gcvs_hip_part.dat"
Loaded 6916 / 6916 variable stars
Loading cross-index data from ".\\stars\\default\\cross-index.dat"
Loaded 108279 / 108279 cross-index data records
Loaded 88 / 88 constellation records successfully for culture "western"
Loaded 85 / 85 constellation art records successfully for culture "western"
Loaded 88 / 88 constellation names
Loading constellation boundary data ...
Loaded 782 constellation boundary segments
Initializing basic GL shaders...
Creating GUI ...
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
Loaded plugin "Exoplanets"
Exoplanets: versio...

[Alexander Wolf (alexwolf)]

Can you check version 0.14.82.0?

[RE3315 (re3315)]

Thanks - I will uninstall and try version 0.14.82.0 x64 shortly.

FYI, in 0.14.3, the "workaround" on my Windows 10 Pro 64bit is to Start Stellarium, press F11 (Windowed mode), then double-click at the very top of the screen.

This results in a maximized window with Title bar showing and no flickering. (as soon as you press F11 the flickering goes away).

Downloading 0.14.82.0 now......

[RE3315 (re3315)]

I installed 0.14.82.0 (with all the options selected to remove prior config files during install) but unfortunately I get the same results - rapid flashing of screen in full screen mode.

Pressing F11 (Windowed mode) causes it to stop; if you then double-click at the top/title bar, it maximizes the window as a workaround. Last run Log file pasted below

2016-04-29T07:04:06
Windows 10
Compiled using MSVC++ 12.0 (Visual Studio 2013)
Qt runtime version: 5.6.0
Qt compilation version: 5.6.0
Addressing mode: 64-bit
Total physical memory: 4094 MB
Available physical memory: 1344 MB
Physical memory in use: 67%
Processor speed: 3215 MHz
Processor name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
Processor speed: 3215 MHz
Processor name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
C:\Program Files\Stellarium\stellarium.exe
 ----------------------------------------------------------
[ This is Stellarium 0.14.82.1 - http://www.stellarium.org ]
[ Copyright (C) 2000-2016 Fabien Chereau et al. ]
 ----------------------------------------------------------
Writing log file to: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\log.txt"
File search paths:
  0 . "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium"
  1 . "."
Config file "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\config.ini" does not exist. Copying the default file.
Config file is: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\config.ini"
Detected: OpenGL "4.5"
Driver version string: "4.5.0 NVIDIA 364.72"
GL vendor is "NVIDIA Corporation"
GL renderer is "GeForce GTX 750 Ti/PCIe/SSE2"
GL Shading Language version is "4.50 NVIDIA"
GLSL Version Number detected: 4.5
GLSL version is fine, we should not see a graphics problem.
Cache directory is: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Local\\stellarium\\stellarium\\cache"
Sky language is "en_US"
Application language is "en_US"
Loading Solar System data ...
Loading star data ...
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_0_0v0_5.cat\": 0_0v0_2; 4963"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_1_0v0_5.cat\": 1_0v0_2; 21598"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_2_0v0_5.cat\": 2_0v0_2; 150090"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_3_1v0_3.cat\": 3_1v0_3; 428466"
Finished loading star catalogue data, max_geodesic_level: 3
navigation/preset_sky_time is a double - treating as jday: "2451514.25001"
Unable to find module called "ConstellationMgr"
Reloading DSO data...
Loaded 10756 DSO records
Loading DSO name data ...
Loaded 221 / 297 DSO name records successfully
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
Loading star names from ".\\skycultures\\western\\star_names.fab"
Loaded 339 / 339 common star names
Loading star names from ".\\stars\\default\\name.fab"
Loaded 4506 / 4506 scientific star names
Loading variable stars from ".\\stars\\default\\gcvs_hip_part.dat"
Loaded 6916 / 6916 variable stars
Loading cross-index data from ".\\stars\\default\\cross-index.dat"
Loaded 108279 / 108279 cross-index data records
Loaded 88 / 88 constellation records successfully for culture "western"
Loaded 85 / 85 constellation art records successfully for culture "western"
Loaded 88 / 88 constellation names
...

[RE3315 (re3315)]

I noticed a previous bug report from a few years ago solved this flashing issue by disabling desktop composition in the compatibility
settings in Windows 7. Windows 10 doesn't seem to offer this option.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/stellarium/+bug/716695

[Alexander Wolf (alexwolf)]

Can you check version 0.14.82.2 (I'm changed settings in manifest)?

[RE3315 (re3315)]

Still flashing on startup/fullscreen with 0.14.82.2 x64 version. F11 windowed mode stops the rapid flashing. Last run log below

2016-04-30T06:31:49
Windows 10
Compiled using MSVC++ 12.0 (Visual Studio 2013)
Qt runtime version: 5.6.0
Qt compilation version: 5.6.0
Addressing mode: 64-bit
Total physical memory: 4094 MB
Available physical memory: 1877 MB
Physical memory in use: 54%
Processor speed: 3215 MHz
Processor name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
Processor speed: 3215 MHz
Processor name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
C:\Program Files\Stellarium\stellarium.exe
 ----------------------------------------------------------
[ This is Stellarium 0.14.82.2 - http://www.stellarium.org ]
[ Copyright (C) 2000-2016 Fabien Chereau et al. ]
 ----------------------------------------------------------
Writing log file to: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\log.txt"
File search paths:
  0 . "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium"
  1 . "."
Config file "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\config.ini" does not exist. Copying the default file.
Config file is: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Roaming\\Stellarium\\config.ini"
Detected: OpenGL "4.5"
Driver version string: "4.5.0 NVIDIA 364.72"
GL vendor is "NVIDIA Corporation"
GL renderer is "GeForce GTX 750 Ti/PCIe/SSE2"
GL Shading Language version is "4.50 NVIDIA"
GLSL Version Number detected: 4.5
GLSL version is fine, we should not see a graphics problem.
Cache directory is: "C:\\Users\\Rainer\\AppData\\Local\\stellarium\\stellarium\\cache"
Sky language is "en_US"
Application language is "en_US"
Loading Solar System data ...
Loading star data ...
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_0_0v0_5.cat\": 0_0v0_2; 4963"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_1_0v0_5.cat\": 1_0v0_2; 21598"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_2_0v0_5.cat\": 2_0v0_2; 150090"
"Loading \".\\stars\\default\\stars_3_1v0_3.cat\": 3_1v0_3; 428466"
Finished loading star catalogue data, max_geodesic_level: 3
navigation/preset_sky_time is a double - treating as jday: "2451514.25001"
Unable to find module called "ConstellationMgr"
Reloading DSO data...
Loaded 10756 DSO records
Loading DSO name data ...
Loaded 221 / 297 DSO name records successfully
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
Loading star names from ".\\skycultures\\western\\star_names.fab"
Loaded 339 / 339 common star names
Loading star names from ".\\stars\\default\\name.fab"
Loaded 4506 / 4506 scientific star names
Loading variable stars from ".\\stars\\default\\gcvs_hip_part.dat"
Loaded 6916 / 6916 variable stars
Loading cross-index data from ".\\stars\\default\\cross-index.dat"
Loaded 108279 / 108279 cross-index data records
Loaded 88 / 88 constellation records successfully for culture "western"
Loaded 85 / 85 constellation art records successfully for culture "western"
Loaded 88 / 88 constellation names
Loading constellation boundary data ...
Loaded 782 constellation boundary segments
Initializing basic GL shaders...
Creating GUI ...
libpng warning: iCCP: known incorrect sRGB profile
Loaded plugin "Exoplanets"
Creating directory ...

[Alexander Wolf (alexwolf)]

Can you disable desktop composition for whole OS and check it again?

[RE3315 (re3315)]

Since I'm using Windows 10, there is no easy to do this that I'm aware of (Disabling Desktop Composition). (In Windows 7, it was located in the COMPATIBILITY Tab. It is no longer available to disable in Windows 10. Do you know of a way?

[Alexander Wolf (alexwolf)]

Well, it's impossible on Windows 10 :-/

--
With best regards, Alexander

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for Stellarium because there has been no activity for 60 days.]