• OSWindows

  • Possible way to detect what Windows file is triggering our condition...

Bit of a long winded post...

So I put together a new PC (new to me). I installed Windows 7, as Windows 7 has never caused me any eyegraine issues ever. Windows 10 always has.

After you do a fresh Win7 install, you need to update it. An easy way to do this is to download a program called Simplix, from the folks over at the MyDigitalLife forums. It is one program that has all your updates packages together, so you run that and it brings your PC up to date. So I download the latest version, I run it, it updates my system ... and it rendered Windows 7 unusable. I was getting the exact same symptoms as I was in Windows 10.

So I reformatted the HDD, reinstalled windows, and this time instead of using Simplix, I just went through Windows Update over and over again and got updated that way. And the net result was a fully updated Windows 7 system with NO eye strain issues.

So, it seems that Simplix installs some Windows Hotfix that my Windows Update did not, and that hot fix changed some system file to render the OS problematic. It occurred to me that if you compared a list of all the updates included in Simplix vs a list of all the updates I have on my current freshly updated Windows 7 PC, and found the ones Simplix installed that Windows Update did not Install, and then looked at what files those updates included, it is possible you would be able to find the offending file that the update s replacing that is causing the problem. AND, if you did that, it might be possible take the version of that file that does NOT cause any issues and transplant it onto other systems, maybe even a Windows 10 system.

Here is a list of all the hotfixes Simplix installs:

The installation log of UpdatePack 7 / 2008 R2 / 22.3.11
Installation start time - 22:32:30 07.04.2022
Operating system - Windows 7 Starter SP1 x64

UpdRoots - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB917607 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2533552 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2545698 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2547666 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2574819-v2 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2592687 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2603229 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2667402-v2 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2670838 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2685811 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2685813 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2698365 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2729094-v2 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2732059-v5 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2750841 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2761217 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2773072 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2818604 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2830477 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2834140-v2 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2862330-v2 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2864202 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed (Boot)
KB2864202 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed (Recovery)
KB2894844 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2900986 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2919469 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2970228 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2984972 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB2990941-v3 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed (Boot)
KB2990941-v3 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed (Recovery)
KB3004375-v3 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3006137 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3046269 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3059317 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3064209 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3087873-v2 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed (Boot)
KB3087873-v2 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed (Recovery)
KB3102429-v2 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3138612 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3156016 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3159398 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3161102 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3161949 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3179573 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3184143 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB4019990 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB4474419-v3 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB4490628 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB5011649 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
Internet Explorer 11 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
IE-Hyphenation-en - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
IE-Spelling-en - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB3125574-v4 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB4575903 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB5008867 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
KB5011552 - Integration of the update has been successfully completed
Addon - SmartFix Tool 2.4.4
Addon - DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010)
Addon - Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8
Addon - Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables

Here are all the hotfixes installed via Windows Update on my system

Hotfix(s):                 120 Hotfix(s) Installed.
                           [01]: KB2849697
                           [02]: KB2849696
                           [03]: KB2841134
                           [04]: KB2670838
                           [05]: KB971033
                           [06]: KB2479943
                           [07]: KB2506014
                           [08]: KB2533552
                           [09]: KB2534111
                           [10]: KB2552343
                           [11]: KB2560656
                           [12]: KB2564958
                           [13]: KB2579686
                           [14]: KB2585542
                           [15]: KB2604115
                           [16]: KB2621440
                           [17]: KB2631813
                           [18]: KB2653956
                           [19]: KB2654428
                           [20]: KB2656356
                           [21]: KB2667402
                           [22]: KB2690533
                           [23]: KB2698365
                           [24]: KB2705219
                           [25]: KB2706045
                           [26]: KB2727528
                           [27]: KB2729094
                           [28]: KB2729452
                           [29]: KB2736422
                           [30]: KB2742599
                           [31]: KB2758857
                           [32]: KB2770660
                           [33]: KB2786081
                           [34]: KB2789645
                           [35]: KB2807986
                           [36]: KB2813430
                           [37]: KB2834140
                           [38]: KB2836942
                           [39]: KB2836943
                           [40]: KB2840631
                           [41]: KB2847927
                           [42]: KB2861698
                           [43]: KB2862330
                           [44]: KB2864202
                           [45]: KB2868038
                           [46]: KB2871997
                           [47]: KB2882822
                           [48]: KB2884256
                           [49]: KB2888049
                           [50]: KB2893294
                           [51]: KB2894844
                           [52]: KB2900986
                           [53]: KB2911501
                           [54]: KB2912390
                           [55]: KB2931356
                           [56]: KB2937610
                           [57]: KB2943357
                           [58]: KB2968294
                           [59]: KB2972100
                           [60]: KB2972211
                           [61]: KB2973112
                           [62]: KB2973201
                           [63]: KB2977292
                           [64]: KB2978120
                           [65]: KB2978742
                           [66]: KB2984972
                           [67]: KB2991963
                           [68]: KB2992611
                           [69]: KB3004375
                           [70]: KB3010788
                           [71]: KB3019978
                           [72]: KB3023215
                           [73]: KB3030377
                           [74]: KB3035126
                           [75]: KB3037574
                           [76]: KB3042058
                           [77]: KB3045685
                           [78]: KB3046017
                           [79]: KB3046269
                           [80]: KB3059317
                           [81]: KB3060716
                           [82]: KB3067903
                           [83]: KB3071756
                           [84]: KB3072305
                           [85]: KB3074543
                           [86]: KB3075220
                           [87]: KB3086255
                           [88]: KB3092601
                           [89]: KB3093513
                           [90]: KB3097989
                           [91]: KB3101722
                           [92]: KB3108371
                           [93]: KB3108664
                           [94]: KB3109103
                           [95]: KB3109560
                           [96]: KB3110329
                           [97]: KB3115858
                           [98]: KB3122648
                           [99]: KB3124275
                           [100]: KB3126587
                           [101]: KB3127220
                           [102]: KB3138612
                           [103]: KB3138910
                           [104]: KB3139398
                           [105]: KB3139914
                           [106]: KB3150220
                           [107]: KB3155178
                           [108]: KB3156016
                           [109]: KB3159398
                           [110]: KB3161949
                           [111]: KB3185319
                           [112]: KB4019990
                           [113]: KB4040980
                           [114]: KB4474419
                           [115]: KB4490628
                           [116]: KB4555449
                           [117]: KB4575903
                           [118]: KB5011649
                           [119]: KB976902
                           [120]: KB5011552

I’ve noticed this behaviour as well.

I found that my Win 7 install (Official OEM DVD) using Windows Update is comfortable however a separate partition on the same machine (MSDN Windows 7 Ultimate, WSUS Offline Updater) isn’t as comfortable. One thing to note is my W7 DVD is International English whereas the MSDN sourced ISO isn’t. I don’t know if international/English versions get different updates, though.

is there a command to list installed updates like you have above? I could dig mine out from my good W7 install for comparison.

    I took a "diff" of the two sets you have.

    Here are the items present in Simplix but NOT Windows Update, hence are candidates for "bad" hotfixes:

    KB2545698
KB2547666
KB2574819
KB2592687
KB2603229
KB2685811
KB2685813
KB2732059
KB2750841
KB2761217
KB2773072
KB2818604
KB2830477
KB2919469
KB2970228
KB3006137
KB3064209
KB3102429
KB3125574
KB3161102
KB3179573
KB3184143
KB5008867
KB917607

    In the future, are you going to disable Windows updates? And maybe make an ISO of your known good Windows 7 state (in case you get a new computer)?

      ryans Hypothesis. Research each update and there's a possibility of a listing of changed files on the Microsoft site. See if it alters dwm.exe or its similarly named DLLs.

        ryans I keep VM snapshots of my current system so I can recreate them if I want to.

        However, current updates are (so far) all security only updates. Nothing to do with any of the windows display functions.

            Here are the updates installed on my good W7 install. Not sure if they are all security related, though.

            Hotfix(s):                 187 Hotfix(s) Installed.
                           [01]: KB2849697
                           [02]: KB2849696
                           [03]: KB2841134
                           [04]: KB2670838
                           [05]: KB971033
                           [06]: KB2479943
                           [07]: KB2491683
                           [08]: KB2506014
                           [09]: KB2506212
                           [10]: KB2532531
                           [11]: KB2533552
                           [12]: KB2533623
                           [13]: KB2534111
                           [14]: KB2552343
                           [15]: KB2560656
                           [16]: KB2564958
                           [17]: KB2579686
                           [18]: KB2585542
                           [19]: KB2604115
                           [20]: KB2620704
                           [21]: KB2621440
                           [22]: KB2631813
                           [23]: KB2639308
                           [24]: KB2653956
                           [25]: KB2654428
                           [26]: KB2656356
                           [27]: KB2667402
                           [28]: KB2685939
                           [29]: KB2690533
                           [30]: KB2698365
                           [31]: KB2705219
                           [32]: KB2727528
                           [33]: KB2729094
                           [34]: KB2729452
                           [35]: KB2731771
                           [36]: KB2736422
                           [37]: KB2742599
                           [38]: KB2758857
                           [39]: KB2770660
                           [40]: KB2786081
                           [41]: KB2789645
                           [42]: KB2807986
                           [43]: KB2813430
                           [44]: KB2834140
                           [45]: KB2840631
                           [46]: KB2847927
                           [47]: KB2861698
                           [48]: KB2862330
                           [49]: KB2864202
                           [50]: KB2868038
                           [51]: KB2871997
                           [52]: KB2882822
                           [53]: KB2884256
                           [54]: KB2888049
                           [55]: KB2893294
                           [56]: KB2894844
                           [57]: KB2900986
                           [58]: KB2911501
                           [59]: KB2912390
                           [60]: KB2931356
                           [61]: KB2937610
                           [62]: KB2943357
                           [63]: KB2968294
                           [64]: KB2972100
                           [65]: KB2972211
                           [66]: KB2973112
                           [67]: KB2973201
                           [68]: KB2977292
                           [69]: KB2978742
                           [70]: KB2984972
                           [71]: KB2991963
                           [72]: KB3005607
                           [73]: KB3010788
                           [74]: KB3011780
                           [75]: KB3018238
                           [76]: KB3019978
                           [77]: KB3021674
                           [78]: KB3023215
                           [79]: KB3030377
                           [80]: KB3032655
                           [81]: KB3033929
                           [82]: KB3035126
                           [83]: KB3037574
                           [84]: KB3045685
                           [85]: KB3046017
                           [86]: KB3046269
                           [87]: KB3059317
                           [88]: KB3060716
                           [89]: KB3067903
                           [90]: KB3071756
                           [91]: KB3072305
                           [92]: KB3074543
                           [93]: KB3075220
                           [94]: KB3086255
                           [95]: KB3092601
                           [96]: KB3093513
                           [97]: KB3097989
                           [98]: KB3101722
                           [99]: KB3108371
                           [100]: KB3108664
                           [101]: KB3109103
                           [102]: KB3109560
                           [103]: KB3110329
                           [104]: KB3115858
                           [105]: KB3122648
                           [106]: KB3126587
                           [107]: KB3127220
                           [108]: KB3138612
                           [109]: KB3138910
                           [110]: KB3138962
                           [111]: KB3139398
                           [112]: KB3139914
                           [113]: KB3149090
                           [114]: KB3150220
                           [115]: KB3155178
                           [116]: KB3156016
                           [117]: KB3159398
                           [118]: KB3161949
                           [119]: KB3163245
                           [120]: KB3168965
                           [121]: KB3172605
                           [122]: KB3188730
                           [123]: KB3192391
                           [124]: KB3197867
                           [125]: KB3205394
                           [126]: KB3210131
                           [127]: KB3212642
                           [128]: KB4012212
                           [129]: KB4014565
                           [130]: KB4014573
                           [131]: KB4014579
                           [132]: KB4015546
                           [133]: KB4019263
                           [134]: KB4022722
                           [135]: KB4025337
                           [136]: KB4034679
                           [137]: KB4038779
                           [138]: KB4040966
                           [139]: KB4041678
                           [140]: KB4048960
                           [141]: KB4054176
                           [142]: KB4054521
                           [143]: KB4056897
                           [144]: KB4074587
                           [145]: KB4088878
                           [146]: KB4093108
                           [147]: KB4095514
                           [148]: KB4103712
                           [149]: KB4284867
                           [150]: KB4338612
                           [151]: KB4338823
                           [152]: KB4343899
                           [153]: KB4344177
                           [154]: KB4457055
                           [155]: KB4457145
                           [156]: KB4462915
                           [157]: KB4467106
                           [158]: KB4470600
                           [159]: KB4471328
                           [160]: KB4474419
                           [161]: KB4480085
                           [162]: KB4480960
                           [163]: KB4483483
                           [164]: KB4486459
                           [165]: KB4486564
                           [166]: KB4489885
                           [167]: KB4490128
                           [168]: KB4490628
                           [169]: KB4493448
                           [170]: KB4495612
                           [171]: KB4499175
                           [172]: KB4501226
                           [173]: KB4503269
                           [174]: KB4506976
                           [175]: KB4507456
                           [176]: KB4507704
                           [177]: KB4512486
                           [178]: KB4516033
                           [179]: KB4519108
                           [180]: KB4520003
                           [181]: KB4525233
                           [182]: KB4530692
                           [183]: KB4532960
                           [184]: KB4534314
                           [185]: KB4536952
                           [186]: KB976902
                           [187]: KB4525235

            ensete KB2670838 is the Platform Update and changes the rendering I believe.

            I also find a Simplix updated Windows 7 install to be painful.

                degen
                We may be onto something here.

                Here is the file list installed with that update

                C:\Windows\System32\Xpsgdiconverter.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Api-ms-win-downlevel-user32-l1-1-0.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\D2d1.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Fntcache.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Dwrite.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\D3d10level9.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\D3d10_1.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\D3d10_1core.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\D3d10.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\D3d10core.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\D3d11.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Dxgi.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\D3d10warp.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Api-ms-win-downlevel-advapi32-l1-1-0.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Api-ms-win-downlevel-advapi32-l2-1-0.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Api-ms-win-downlevel-normaliz-l1-1-0.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Api-ms-win-downlevel-ole32-l1-1-0.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Api-ms-win-downlevel-shell32-l1-1-0.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Api-ms-win-downlevel-shlwapi-l1-1-0.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Api-ms-win-downlevel-shlwapi-l2-1-0.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Api-ms-win-downlevel-version-l1-1-0.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\ppdlic\Msmpeg2vdec-ppdlic.xrm-ms
                C:\Windows\System32\Msmpeg2vdec.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Wmphoto.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Xpsprint.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Uianimation.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Windowscodecsext.dll
                C:\Windows\System32\Windowscodecs.dll

                I'm going to see if I can copy all those files out from my current install, and then write a script that replaces them on a target system. Then test it on a VM and see what happens

                  degen Don't mean to rain on your parade but that update was released back in 2013, which I believe predates certain rendering "issues".

                      JTL Window 8 was released in 2012 and triggered my symptoms

                      First try was a no go. I checked in Windows 10 and not all files are present. The ones that are present are:

                      C:\Windows\System32\Xpsgdiconverter.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\Api-ms-win-downlevel-user32-l1-1-0.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\D2d1.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\Fntcache.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\Dwrite.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\D3d10level9.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\D3d10_1.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\D3d10_1core.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\D3d10.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\D3d10core.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\D3d11.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\Dxgi.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\D3d10warp.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\Msmpeg2vdec.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\Wmphoto.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\Xpsprint.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\Uianimation.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\Windowscodecsext.dll
                      C:\Windows\System32\Windowscodecs.dll

                      You cannot overwrite files in system32 when the system is running, so I booted to install media, Shift-F10'd to a command prompt, and overwrite them from there. I just did a . to copy them all over. I then rebooted, but the VM would not boot, it hung at the point prior to the login screen being shown. I guess next step is to overwrite them one by one, trying to boot after each one.

                      I am going to email my Microsoft Engineer contacts and get their input on this.

                      • JTL replied to this.

                          ensete I am going to email my Microsoft Engineer contacts and get their input on this.

                          I see two possible paths of bisection here.

                          a) Discuss and possibly investigate the rendering differences between "good" and "bad" builds of Windows 10 (1511/1611)

                          b) I don't know how much source access the average MS engineer has these days to legacy products, but the fact a Windows update that can probably be determined turned Windows 7 into a bad OS is much closer to a smoking gun in my opinion.

                          I've said this before, but without a probable cause and effect relationship you really cant expect people at "big tech companies" to take us seriously and investigate these issues when there's 9000 (joke) different possible causes with no direction. Hence why I'm curious about b)

                              JTL I've said this before, but without a probable cause and effect relationship you really cant expect people at "big tech companies" to take us seriously and investigate these issues when there's 9000 (joke) different possible causes with no direction. Hence why I'm curious about b)

                              My company has a Masters Services Agreement with Microsoft and I have an open and approved Americans with Disabilities Act case with them, I have been assigned a senior Accommodation specialist at Microsoft and they have access to Windows Engineers. This is beyond a random customer complaining to a "big tech company"

                              • JTL replied to this.

                                  ensete Don't worry. I've seen some of the logistics that's involved with similar investigations. I wasn't doubting you and was merely stating what I believe to be the most fruitful lines of inquiry and the most prudent aspects to investigate (also to attempt to conserve valuable engineer time) and not have people "run around in circles".

                                    @ensete So is your situation like this: you do have a win 7 machine that you can use without any eye strain, but any more recent windows or linux or apple operating system will give you instant eye strain?

                                    You have probably told this in different posts, but even with my Boox Mira display, I dont want to spent too much time searching.

                                    I'm asking because as you probably read, my situation changed radially 2 months ago. Now any display (except maybe this Mira e-ink) will strain my eyes. TV's, smartphones and Windows PC's and laptops. I have several devices, differnt versions and nothing has changed in the hardware, and I really doubt that all my TV's and PC's and Smartphones that previously were OK, suddenly all got some software update that rendered them unusable.

                                    I am still able to read a book and kindle without backlight. The Kindle new paperwhite backlight seems to have started to bother me now.

                                    So I might try to install a win 7 machine, but I don't have high hopes that it would make a difference. since Linux Mint Mate 19.1 does not seem to make either.

                                    My conclusion starts to poin towards some strange neurological "burn-out" that does not seem to recover. My eyes felt great after pupil dilating eye drops, and the constant redness disappeared for the 1st time in 2 months.

                                    even 4 day no screen time during easter did not make a difference. And I cant have much longer periods. Maybe during summer holiday I might be able to avoid screens for 4 weeks, but I doubt that if 4 days does not do anything, except temporarily remove the red eyes and eye strain and drynes, then why would 4 weeks make a difference.

                                      Maxx @ensete So is your situation like this: you do have a win 7 machine that you can use without any eye strain, but any more recent windows or linux or apple operating system will give you instant eye strain?

                                      • Windows 7 (without the mystery offending update) = zero eye strain
                                      • Windows 10 = instant Eye Strain (haven't tested Window 11)
                                      • Linux, it really depends on the distro. I have in the past had some Lubuntu installs that were fine. Most Mint builds cause eye strain. It's a crap shoot
                                      • Smartphones are again a crapshoot. Most cause eyestrain, it's a hunt until I find one that doesn't, and I have never found any similarity between devices that do not cause me eye strain.
                                      • Mac's and iPads are similarly random, some older iPads cause me zero eye strain, most cause instant eye strain

                                      Several times I have had devices that I was able to tolerate "fail" on me and start causing eye strain. Not trying to be the bearer of bad news, but at least for me, in my experience, once something that cause me no problems failed and started causing problems, I have never, ever been able to reverse the situation and get it back to something that does not cause me eyestrain.

                                        Why I'm interested in win7 is that if it really, truly is something you can use without eye strain, then I might go trough the trouble of installing win7 myself. But since your situation seems similar to mine, but with the difference that my situation suddenly worsened to be similar to yours 2 months ago and I do not have any display device, except Kindle and Mira that do not cause eye strain, I am really doubtful that an os type or version could make a difference.

                                        I have now confirmed that eye patching helps, if not completely mitigates the problem. E.g., Yesterday I was warching TV with the kids for 1 hour. My eyes became red, dry and irritated. The sam TV that has been problem free for 7 years.

                                        When the kids went to sleep, I put tape on my right eye glass and we watched Netflix for some 3 hours without any eye strain.

                                        Now I'm writing this with also only left eye.

                                        I tested the same during last week at work.

                                        Now this cannot be the solution, as I cannot meet customers with tape on my right eye.

                                        If there could be a doctor who could think outside the box and could really investigate, why my stereo vision got messed up 2 moths ago and does not seem to heal. Maybe I could get a diagnosis to this and get prescribed glasses with the other eye blocked, so I could get by those days at work where I need to be onsite at the customer.

                                        I can deal with the occasional teams video calls where I need to have my video on, without patching. And for those occasions where I really have a long teams video session and my eyes get bloodshot, maybe I could have those pupil dilating eye drops to rest my eyes for the evening. The effect of those drops was really amazing. For the first time in weeks my eyes were not stinging and bloodshot, instead clear like the eyes of children.

                                        But sorry @ensete for saying this, but anfter struggling with this for 30 years and now having the situation that not even PWM free screens are tolerable anymore, I have my doubts, can you REALLY use your win7 machine for, say 10h workday for a week, without any problems. I say this because I really doubt that there could be so many individual differences to this condition. I had 7 display devices that had been ok for 1-12 years, which basically turned not OK over night and there is zero hope I can use them ever again.

                                          Maxx Why I'm interested in win7 is that if it really, truly is something you can use without eye strain, then I might go trough the trouble of installing win7 myself. But since your situation seems similar to mine, but with the difference that my situation suddenly worsened to be similar to yours 2 months ago and I do not have any display device, except Kindle and Mira that do not cause eye strain, I am really doubtful that an os type or version could make a difference.[/quote]

                                          It can't hurt to give it a try. You can pick up older computers off Craigslist and eBay for $100 or so these days.

                                          I have now confirmed that eye patching helps, if not completely mitigates the problem. E.g., Yesterday I was warching TV with the kids for 1 hour. My eyes became red, dry and irritated. The sam TV that has been problem free for 7 years.

                                          Devices have often failed for me. My Amazon fire Stick all of a sudden failed after 5 years. Brains change

                                          When the kids went to sleep, I put tape on my right eye glass and we watched Netflix for some 3 hours without any eye strain.

                                          That would seem to confirm Binocular Vision Deficiency.

                                          Now this cannot be the solution, as I cannot meet customers with tape on my right eye.

                                          Tape, sure, but eye patches are just as effective and are seem to be accepted in society when people need them.

                                          If there could be a doctor who could think outside the box and could really investigate, why my stereo vision got messed up 2 moths ago and does not seem to heal. Maybe I could get a diagnosis to this and get prescribed glasses with the other eye blocked, so I could get by those days at work where I need to be onsite at the customer.

                                          Based on all my experience and research, it's not an eye problem. It's a brain problem. As for glasses to block an eye, again you can buy eye patches off Amazon for a few dollars.

                                          But sorry @ensete for saying this, but anfter struggling with this for 30 years and now having the situation that not even PWM free screens are tolerable anymore, I have my doubts, can you REALLY use your win7 machine for, say 10h workday for a week, without any problems.

                                          I do not use Windows 7 for work, I was forced onto windows 10. I use Windows 10 while wearing an eye patch during the work day. Windows 7 if for my home computer and I will run that likely for the rest of my life unless I find some other OS that works (some future version of Windows, some Linux build, ReactOS, whatever)

                                          I say this because I really doubt that there could be so many individual differences to this condition. I had 7 display devices that had been ok for 1-12 years, which basically turned not OK over night and there is zero hope I can use them ever again.

                                          Every brain in unique. So you are going to have lots of variability in brain disorders like this.

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