Solved Grey square left hand corner desktop


D

Dusty Roads

Member
Local time
1:29 PM
Posts
5
OS
Windows 11
I have a small grey square in the upper left corner of my desktop. It appears it may be transparent, and it looks like it lies under the desktop icons.

I have searched the web and I cannot find a solution to why all of a sudden it is there. No new programs recently and even restored the computer back to a previous point.
 
Windows Build/Version
21H2 (OS Build 22000.856)

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    10th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700 processor(8-Core, 1
    Memory
    16GB, 2x8GB, DDR4, 2933Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    none
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 2879 and HP32
    Hard Drives
    512GB PCIe M.2 SSD +1TB SATA 7200 RPM HDD
    PSU
    500 watt Dell
    Case
    Mini tower
    Cooling
    air cooled
A screenshot would be nice. I've seen an item appear at upper left corner on a few computers and it was showing an image of the type of video connection for the monitor, VGA or DVI. It usually didn't stay there long. Some computers will also show the Volume slider there, again not for long.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
A customer had an invisible area at the top of his screen. When I started looking into it, I found there was a program running that was like an ad but invisible. I removed the program, and it went away. It could be the same thing, just taking up a corner of the screen instead of across the entire top of the screen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Personal Build
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 3700x
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VI AMD X370
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
    Sound Card
    On board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    (2) AOC E2752Vh 27-inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD M.2 and SATA
    Cooling
    Air cooling
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800 Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech M705 Wireless
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps Download | 10 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Firefox Beta
    Antivirus
    Windows Security???
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 Family
    Macrium Reflect (Paid)
    eM Client
    Adobe Acrobat DC (Subscription)
Anything happen if you right click on it? I agree a screen shot would help

A Guy
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    INTEL Core i5-11400
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME H570-PLUS
    Memory
    KINGSTON HyperX Fury Black DDR4 16GB (2 x 8GB) 3200MHz, CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Superclocked 1GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 32MA68HY 32" IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG 250GB 970 EVO Plus NVMe, M.2 SSD, Crucial 250GB MX500, SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda® 7200.12, SATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 16MB cache
    PSU
    CORSAIR RM550x 80 PLUS Gold 550W
    Case
    ANTEC P10 FLUX
    Cooling
    be quiet! Pure Rock 2, 5 x 120 mm Case Fans
    Internet Speed
    480 + Mbps Up/ 12+ Mbps Down
    Browser
    Vivaldi Snapshot
    Antivirus
    Avast
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-750
    Motherboard
    ASUS P7P55D
    Memory
    Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600MHz CL8
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI GeForce GT 240 N240GT-MD1G/D5 1 GB DDR5
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 32MA68HY 32" IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1980x1040
    Hard Drives
    Samsung Electronics 840 EVO 120GB, SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda® 7200.12, SATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 16MB cache
    PSU
    Antec TruePower New TP-550 550W
    Case
    Antec 300
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper 212+, 4 Noctua NF-P12 120mm, 1 Noctua NF-P14 FLX
    Internet Speed
    480+ Mbps Down/12+Mbps Up
    Browser
    Vivaldi Snapshot
    Antivirus
    Avast
Thanks for the quick replies.
I took a few screenshots and this is now even weirder.
I have dual monitors and when I take a screenshot with both monitors connected, the grey box is not in the upper left corner of my main monitor. It now shows up as a larger box on the secondary monitor. When I disconnect the 2nd monitor, there still is no grey box showing in the screenshot but is on my monitor.
2 screenshots and a photo from my camera.
1st one photo. 2nd one both monitors connected. 3rd is 2nd monitor disconnected

Quick update, it appears to be transparent and is on top of icons and any open window. The 2nd screenie shows the big dark box...it only shows up in the screenshot, it is not visible on desktop.
 

Attachments

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  • Screenshot (9).png
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  • Screenshot (11).png
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    10th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700 processor(8-Core, 1
    Memory
    16GB, 2x8GB, DDR4, 2933Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    none
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 2879 and HP32
    Hard Drives
    512GB PCIe M.2 SSD +1TB SATA 7200 RPM HDD
    PSU
    500 watt Dell
    Case
    Mini tower
    Cooling
    air cooled
The mention of dual monitors throws a monkey wrench in the mix, would have been good to be shown in My Computer also with the rest of the data..

Since the issue does not occur with only one monitor connected there's at least 2 possibilities, one is the second monitor is somehow feeding back into the main [touch screen??] or the graphics adapter has a problem.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Computer specs uploaded and no touch screen
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    10th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700 processor(8-Core, 1
    Memory
    16GB, 2x8GB, DDR4, 2933Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    none
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 2879 and HP32
    Hard Drives
    512GB PCIe M.2 SSD +1TB SATA 7200 RPM HDD
    PSU
    500 watt Dell
    Case
    Mini tower
    Cooling
    air cooled
What happens if you change the two monitors position? Does the box follow or stay in the same place on the other monitor?

What about if you mirror the monitors, does it appear on one or both (assuming you are extended now)

A Guy
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    INTEL Core i5-11400
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME H570-PLUS
    Memory
    KINGSTON HyperX Fury Black DDR4 16GB (2 x 8GB) 3200MHz, CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Superclocked 1GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 32MA68HY 32" IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG 250GB 970 EVO Plus NVMe, M.2 SSD, Crucial 250GB MX500, SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda® 7200.12, SATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 16MB cache
    PSU
    CORSAIR RM550x 80 PLUS Gold 550W
    Case
    ANTEC P10 FLUX
    Cooling
    be quiet! Pure Rock 2, 5 x 120 mm Case Fans
    Internet Speed
    480 + Mbps Up/ 12+ Mbps Down
    Browser
    Vivaldi Snapshot
    Antivirus
    Avast
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-750
    Motherboard
    ASUS P7P55D
    Memory
    Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600MHz CL8
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI GeForce GT 240 N240GT-MD1G/D5 1 GB DDR5
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 32MA68HY 32" IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1980x1040
    Hard Drives
    Samsung Electronics 840 EVO 120GB, SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda® 7200.12, SATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 16MB cache
    PSU
    Antec TruePower New TP-550 550W
    Case
    Antec 300
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper 212+, 4 Noctua NF-P12 120mm, 1 Noctua NF-P14 FLX
    Internet Speed
    480+ Mbps Down/12+Mbps Up
    Browser
    Vivaldi Snapshot
    Antivirus
    Avast
I tried all of those ideas already but thanks for suggesting them. I am going to get a couple of new cables from my son in law and see if it may be cable related. I shall also check to see if it is the output. One is on HDMI, the other DVI. If not, my money says monitor.

I just put on a game and the block is visible in the game.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    10th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700 processor(8-Core, 1
    Memory
    16GB, 2x8GB, DDR4, 2933Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    none
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 2879 and HP32
    Hard Drives
    512GB PCIe M.2 SSD +1TB SATA 7200 RPM HDD
    PSU
    500 watt Dell
    Case
    Mini tower
    Cooling
    air cooled

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte Z390 UD
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 77000 3.60
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z390 UD
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GEForce RTX 2060 Super
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two 27" Dell 4K monitors
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    M.2 NVME SSD, 500 GB; Two 2TB Mechanical HDD's
    PSU
    850w PSU
    Case
    Cyberpower PC
    Cooling
    Water cooled
    Keyboard
    Backlit Cyberpower gamiong keyboard
    Mouse
    Backlit Cyberpower gaming mouse
    Internet Speed
    1 GB mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Windows Security

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    INTEL Core i5-11400
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME H570-PLUS
    Memory
    KINGSTON HyperX Fury Black DDR4 16GB (2 x 8GB) 3200MHz, CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Superclocked 1GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 32MA68HY 32" IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG 250GB 970 EVO Plus NVMe, M.2 SSD, Crucial 250GB MX500, SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda® 7200.12, SATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 16MB cache
    PSU
    CORSAIR RM550x 80 PLUS Gold 550W
    Case
    ANTEC P10 FLUX
    Cooling
    be quiet! Pure Rock 2, 5 x 120 mm Case Fans
    Internet Speed
    480 + Mbps Up/ 12+ Mbps Down
    Browser
    Vivaldi Snapshot
    Antivirus
    Avast
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-750
    Motherboard
    ASUS P7P55D
    Memory
    Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600MHz CL8
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI GeForce GT 240 N240GT-MD1G/D5 1 GB DDR5
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 32MA68HY 32" IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1980x1040
    Hard Drives
    Samsung Electronics 840 EVO 120GB, SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda® 7200.12, SATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 16MB cache
    PSU
    Antec TruePower New TP-550 550W
    Case
    Antec 300
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper 212+, 4 Noctua NF-P12 120mm, 1 Noctua NF-P14 FLX
    Internet Speed
    480+ Mbps Down/12+Mbps Up
    Browser
    Vivaldi Snapshot
    Antivirus
    Avast
Problem solved. My grandson uses this computer every once and a while and he tried to use something called picture boost on the AOC monitor. I got rid of that and the box went away. Almost like a broken picture within picture on tv.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    10th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700 processor(8-Core, 1
    Memory
    16GB, 2x8GB, DDR4, 2933Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    none
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 2879 and HP32
    Hard Drives
    512GB PCIe M.2 SSD +1TB SATA 7200 RPM HDD
    PSU
    500 watt Dell
    Case
    Mini tower
    Cooling
    air cooled
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