I've been reading the ledstrain.org threads over the past several months and the consensus seemed to be that only the earlier W10 versions like 1511 would be comfortable for visually-sensitive individuals but I was never able to get a copy of this. I had significant eyestrain/mental fatigue issues since "upgrading" to an i5-6500 based desktop a couple of months ago. But I think I found a solution that can hopefully help others and that is using Win10 Audit mode. The solution for me was rebooting in "Windows 10 Audit Mode" ; typing : "%windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /audit /reboot" after running CMD (command prompt) reboots the computer to Audit mode and it changes (on my PC) the rendering (or how Windows functions with the display driver) and it substantially reduces (or nearly eliminates) the eyestrain/headache/mental fog symptoms I've been experiencing with my i5-6500 PC since late summer. I'd previously been using Windows 7 in VGA Basic adapter mode (Intel HD4000 disabled, as enabling the driver would always cause headaches) at native resolution on an older Haswell based laptop. I also was using a separate pre-Haswell (2012-13) desktop running Intel graphics (driver enabled) through the VGA output (not DVI or Displayport) and it was also good with Win7. Both configurations were very comfortable at 100% hardware brightness to suppress PWM, but I needed a higher-performance computer running a more current version of Windows. I had purchased an i5-6500 based desktop running Windows 10 in late summer (preinstalled with version 1811 I believe, but later upgraded to 2004, 20H2 and then 21H1) but I had been grappling with eyestrain, reduced mental focus and ringing in the ears whenever I used this "newer" PC with all of these Win10 configurations, since the first time I tried using it. I've tried three different 4K monitors (LG 27UK500, Benq EW3270U, Lenovo L28U-30) along with my 10+year old TN FHD monitor (which was fine with the older PC running through VGA/analog output) with this i5-6500 PC (running Displayport via the integrated 530 graphics, or HDMI through a separate Nvidia 710 graphics card I purchased to see if it would help) and I would still get the same symptoms. Some days were better than others but it was never nearly as comfortable to look at and use as my 2013-2014 PC and laptop. The symptoms were slightly worse when I was running through Integrated Intel 530 graphics enabled, but they were still noticeable with the Intel driver disabled (ie running through Microsoft Basic Display adapter or VGA mode at native resolution). The Nvidia graphics card didn't make any real difference, either. I even tried installing Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 on this i5-6500 PC and I used it with Intel 530 drivers enabled or also with the Intel530 disabled (ie Basic Display adapter mode), and it was never fully comfortable either way; it was perhaps marginally more comfortable than Win10 but no where near as comfortable as my older 2012-14 Win7 desktop and laptop. I was disappointed that even "trusty" old Win7, which had been very comfortable on my older 2012-14 laptop and desktop, was still providing symptoms with this i5-6500 PC, regardless of which monitor I connected it to. I also ran the monitors at 100% brightness to eliminate PWM. On the side, I don't believe most of the newer monitors advertised as "Flicker-free" have true unchanging illumination intensity at sub-100% brightness; from my own experience, I would always experience additional eyestrain or headaches at brightness levels under 90-100% settings, even on monitors advertised as Flicker-free or as using DC modulation to control the backlight. And I'm certain it's not placebo. Somehow I read about rebooting Windows 10 in Audit mode and I tried it and to my great surprise and relief, it felt immediately more comfortable....and this is with the Intel HD 530 graphics driver ENABLED. To my great surprise, running this system on Windows 10 21H1 in Audit mode with the Intel 530 Graphics enabled is much more visually comfortable (and provides better mental endurance and clarity) than running the exact same hardware (4K monitor Displayport native resolution) with either Intel 530 graphics driver enabled or disabled (Basic Video Adapter/VGAadapter mode) on Windows 10, 8.1, or Windows 7 at the same 2160p resolution. I can't explain logically why this works since I'd assumed that Windows 7 or 8.1 running through the Basic/VGA adapter would cause the least additional image processing, but apparently not. Apparently the Win10 Audit mode, at least on this i5-6500 setup, gives the cleanest most comfortable image. Anyway I just wanted to share this with the group and perhaps running in Win10 Audit mode will provide much needed relief to some other people as well.

Very interesting. I've never heard of audit mode before! So glad this works for you, and thank you for sharing it. We definitely need more success stories on this forum. Are there any noticeable changes (not related to our strain) in audit mode, like reduced functionality?

ryans Very interesting. I've never heard of audit mode before! It's intended use is for customizing a Windows disk image and then "completing the sysprep" so when you get a the device the image runs on, it boots to the Windows setup wizard where you create accounts, etc. ryans Are there any noticeable changes (not related to our strain) in audit mode, like reduced functionality? I actually haven't used audit mode in a long time, but a brief search has someone commenting that when in audit mode with Windows 7. Aero UI effects weren't enabled, but this could also be chalked up to either default settings or a lack of GPU/video drivers for 3D acceleration.

jthompson7804 Tried Audit mode. Didn't help me. But thanks for the idea! A warning to others - if you try Audit mode, and then try to exit it by setting a Windows Registry value to zero, you'll have to go through a non-skippable long "first Windows startup" wizard , during which time your eyes may hurt.

logixoul Tried Audit mode. Didn't help me. But thanks for the idea! Unfortunate. From what I understand, part of the issue is alleged to be compositor (DWM.exe) shenanigans and unknown GPU factors may play a factor, etc. Hence the drive and a goal for empirical research so a) we can understand whats wrong, and b) we can point to companies and explain whats wrong and what needs to be fixed at a technical level. As I said recently about @ryans discussing Intel's inconclusive test results Without measurable differences between the drivers, there is no objective way to resolve the issue. Sad part is, coming from the context of an engineering team, that's not an unreasonable position to take. Unless you can empirically detect what's "wrong" with a certain device, fixing it is a problem of itself.

Audit mode hasn't really reduced functionality (it logs into Administrator mode) but it does have a few quirks (ie Sysprep is always open) and takes a bit longer to boot, but so far it seems to definitely help. The Intel 530 driver doesn't appear to cause symptoms when activated in Audit mode (definitely feels different than when running Win10 in "regular mode") .

logixoul And after the "first Windows startup" wizard my standard win 10 user profile is gone. You should definitely have a backup here before trying the audit mode.

Before I try this, I wanted to ask if anybody knows if working in Audit mode permanently is a viable solution? The internet claims, it is impossible to install any Windows updates while in Audit mode. Is it possible to enter and leave audit mode at will without any issues? And what about the user profiles? It seems Audit mode activates a new administrator profile, does that mean my original user profile will get deleted every time I am entering audit mode? Would I need to backup all files associated with the user profile, such as folders like "my documents"?

came across this in searching because i also have eyestrain problem with win10, only tested laptops so many other factors can come into play like gpus and screens. i see data loss with this audit mode is a concern but maybe if more people have a reduction of the strain using it this could be answer for this particular issue. could then results be sent to microsoft or other researchers to figure out what audit mode does versus a normal mode. thanks for reading! :-)

This is interesting. So the Intel UHD driver is running in Audit mode and it is even easier on the eyes than the basic display adapter driver. We should try and see if it works out.

[deleted] I was hoping more people would test and chime in in but guess not :-( very strange that audit-mode would affect the strain but my guess is if real it affects some hidden setting in windows 10 possibly about compositing or dwm. maybe if people are concerned about the data-loss they can either do a full disk-image of C drive or take old laptops that do not have the strain with windows 7 do a fresh install of windows 10 with drivers and test the audit-mode there. closer to a solution for us all the better!

Rebooting in Audit mode made Windows 10 useable for me

smilem

I can confirm that with high speed camera I can see way less temporal dithering on audit mode. However it is still there on darker shades. I would not call this fixing the problem.

ryans

smilem Would be awesome if you could post the video here.

smilem

"Would be awesome if you could post the video here."

I wasted 3 hours exiting the audit mode, so I can't do this. I do not recommend anyone using this route. Better use Windows server, I tried Windows Server 2022 and it did not dithering on my laptop, but the ICC profiles were not loading and brightness of display was nonadjustable. After I installed drivers it made it dither. But every laptop is different.

Michael-Nurse-Dev

Tried audit mode. The way it is rendering the image to screen is definitely different - I would say better - but it effectively logged me out of everything, uninstalled half my stuff and 'lost' all my local user files - I keep important stuff in the cloud but still there was some mildly useful things in my downloads folder. Will keep testing this mode.

Staycalmsyndrome

Audit mode logs you in the administrator account. It doesn't delete other accounts data. Go to C:/Users/"Your account name" and you should be able to find your files.

KM

I recommend that everyone who has success with Audit mode and can afford it buys the $20 microscope that notebookcheck uses (https://ledstrain.org/d/1903-gear-used-by-notebookcheckcom/12) and compares audit mode vs regular mode. If we find something that way, we would finally have some proof that companies can't ignore anymore.

Michael-Nurse-Dev

"we would finally have some proof that companies can't ignore anymore."
They can ignore it just fine. If < 1% of customers have an issue it is not an issue.

JTL

Michael-Nurse-Dev They can ignore it just fine. If < 1% of customers have an issue it is not an issue.

I've written more on this subject before so I'm not going to reiterate, but I have the suspicion that almost all previous interventions failed due to lack of any reproducible "cause and effect" relationship between the issue and potential causes. Is this the entire story? No, but it's certainly a valid starting point.

KM

They can choose to ignore the customers that have the issue, but they can't ignore proof. But I think you got what I meant. Please lets not keep ourselves busy with nitpicking.

smilem

Yes audit mode has no flicker in my case verified with high speed phone camera and lens to magnify pixels.

mrmarkyuk

Just a heads up, you can still download windows 10 (early builds)

head over to https://rufus.ie/en/

it's safe and secure, I'm able to use build 1709 without any problems - just make sure you disable updates once windows 10 is installed.

tfouto

mrmarkyuk Your PC will be vulnerable to attacks.

jordan

mrmarkyuk 1709 still good? No need for audit mode?

smilem

tfouto

Dont be brainwashed sheep. Unless the attack comes from your local LAN, the protections is your antivirus and browser. These should be updated.

ensete

autobot I tried it on my work PC. It absolutely makes a difference, and the difference i positive, but it renders the PC so unusable as a daily driver that it's not really a viable long term solution.

jordan

ensete what about running your monitor as extended ? (Ignoring the first monitor) someone said it works? Also bios to PCIE on 3.0 and not auto supposedly can help?

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