Windows 10: Blank SysTray, No cursor in MSWord, Blank Dialogue Boxes etc

Hi, I have an Alienware m18x R2 laptop that has been successfully running Windows 10 Pro (upgraded automatically from Windows 7 Ultimate) for the last couple of years.

Intel Core i7 - 3820QM
16GB RAM
Dual nVidia GTX675M
SoundBlaster Recon 3Di
256GB SSD
1TB HDD

Recently, however, I have run into a number of graphical issues that are making it hard to use.

The first thing I noticed is that the when I open the SysTray, I get a blank box instead of my tray icons. I tried to take a screenshot of this, but when hit the PrintScreen Button it displays so I am unable to copy an image of the issue.

I have the same issue with dialogue boxes and some right click menus as well as Device Manager, again when I hit PrintScreen my display refreshed and I can see what should be there.

Another Issue I am having is that I see no flashing cursor, or entered text in MS Word again until I hit PrintScreen (note that I am not having this issue filling out this forum post on the same computer).

I believe all my drivers are up to date.

Has anyone here experienced anything similar? And can you suggest what might be the cause or how to fix this annoyance?

:)

 

When I click on sign in option in the Start page, it brings up a blank grey dialogue box which remains for seconds the disappears.

Original title: Sign in

On th Start page there are a number of places to "sign in your Microsoft account" eg Photos, Settings etc. If I click on any of these it brings up a blank grey dialogue box which remains for seconds the disappears. How can I sign in from a blank box, there
is nowhere to input anything. Microsoft support suggest posting here in the hope that someone might have a solution.

 

Error 0x8000FFFF when trying to download windows store apps

None of that worked. The reset just opens a blank little box with a cursor flashing.

 

Please visit your laptop manufacturer website and install latest versions of device drivers.

Uninstall third part antivirus programs to find out if problems resolves.

I would like you to check the system integrity of your Windows OS installation.

• Please type cmd.exe into Start Menu search box.
• Please right click cmd.exe and select "Run as administrator".
• Please type the following command and press the <Enter> key: sfc /scannow (Please note that there is a space between 'sfc" and "/scannow".)
• It should take about 20 minutes to run, if there are no serious errors.
• If the System File Checker reports that some errors were fixed, but some remain; please reboot your computer and run the System File Checker from an Administrator Command Prompt, again.
• If the System File Checker again reports that some errors were fixed, but some remain, please reboot your computer and run it a third time.
• If "Resource Integrity Violations" (errors) are reported that could not be corrected, or were not corrected after a third SFC run, then please navigate to the folder: C:\Windows\Logs\CBS and copy the file "cbs.log" to your desktop immediately. I am asking you do that because that file is dynamic, so I want to be able to examine a copy that is unchanged from the time that the System File Checker was run.
• If there are errors that couldn't be corrected, let me know and I will provide you with instructions as to how to upload the file

 

Thank you for your swift response, I am going through your suggestions in the order that you listed them.
Dell/Alienware have never officially supported Windows 10 on my machine, however as I said, I have had no issues until recently, and believed I had the most up to date drivers available.
That being said, I went to the Dell website, and ran their System Detect software so double check before I manually chek their available software.
The System Detect also ran a Diagnostic of my machine with the following results...

As you can see it is suggesting that one (or posibly both) of my two 8GB memory modules needs to be replaced.

I'm guessing that I need to do this before I proceed further with the options you listed.

 

Reset the RAM modules by reconnecting the RAM modules.
Blow off any loose dust or debris from the RAM using canned air. Hold the module by its edges.
Clean the contacts using a soft cloth that does not leave fibers behind, such as a lens cleaning cloth slightly moistened with rubbing alcohol.

 

Thank you, I will try this.

Further to my original post, my computer turned itself off (or put itself in sleep mode) overnight and when I powered it back up this morning, everything was working fine. Which again leads me to believe this might be related to the memory.