W11 25H2 – occasionally shuts off one display and adjusts to 300% size
W11 25H2 – occasionally shuts off one display and adjusts to 300% size
My setup: - Ryzen 7900 on a Gigabyte B850m DS3H with 32GB RAM, no dedicated GPU
- Two 43" 4K displays set at full size
- Samsung 990 Pro
- Excellent cooling solution in a well-ventilated case. Runs hot (around 50°C) during tasks
- Peerless Assassin cooler in a properly ventilated enclosure.
- Operates smoothly despite high temperatures.
My past experience with W11 Pro:
- Stable performance over the year I owned it
- Used for YouTube, browsing, MP3 playback, and remote work
- Upgraded to 25H2 about two months ago
- BIOS/drivers might be a bit outdated, but I update them occasionally
- Initial issue: Desktop would freeze with an app window appearing. This started 1–2 weeks ago (previously stable with 25H2)
- Fixed by turning off power and restarting. After that it resolved.
- BIOS/updates seem to have improved, but I still suspect a connection.
Recent problems:
- Monitor turned off (right side, not the main display)
- Main screen scaled up to 300%
- Background image vanishes, covered by black (no picture visible)
- At edges, background still shows through
- Can minimize apps and adjust display settings
- Resolution and connected monitors aren’t visible
- Still see keyboard and mouse responding
Possible causes:
- Possible GPU or power issue with the current setup
- Driver conflicts or outdated firmware
- Background service interference
- Hardware aging or thermal throttling
What I could try:
- Recheck BIOS/UEFI settings for updates
- Disable background services temporarily
- Test with a different monitor
- Run a clean BIOS reset
- Verify if 2H25 is involved (compare behavior before and after changes)
- Consider switching to a different GPU or cooler if needed
Current observations:
- No freezing yet, but visual issues persist
- Some functionality remains intact despite problems
- Need more data to pinpoint the exact reason
Check for issues in the Event Viewer and Device Manager. The latest Windows update occurred on December 9th. Did you notice any problems before or after that date?
At first, I chose the update option as "update asap." I expected a quicker fix from Microsoft. The updates that were installed include a 24-hour patch on October 15th, so the 25-hour update likely came soon after. It seems I installed the operating system in February: Windows 11 Pro Version 25H2, built on OS build 26200.7462. Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.275.0. Yesterday was the final event where one screen disappeared; I didn’t notice anything in Device Manager. What should I be checking next time?
VMWare is the remote access tool my workplace relies on. During the event yesterday I wasn’t connected, possibly because an automatic startup service was active. Since I first got the machine, I’ve been using an older VMWare release. My IT team prefers not to update their versions, so I sometimes faced remoting problems with newer software. I’m considering upgrading to a newer version, though it might be risky. I also updated my MP3 player (Media Monkey) just in case the older model caused issues. It’s unlikely that a basic player is the cause, but I’ll check. Right now I’m on another machine—similar specs but an older motherboard and Ryzen 7600. That one shows many events; it’s unclear if they’re normal or significant. If I reinstall somewhere, I’ll verify whether this pattern persists with a fresh OS.
I recently adjusted the background image from the MS Windows Spotlight to a 4K version, but I switched it back. Perhaps the system struggled to find that file. Also, a couple of weeks ago I replaced the CPUs—Ryzen 7600 and 7900—between my two AM5 systems. This meant updating the fan curves in BIOS, though no new BIOS or OS installation was needed. Should I have taken different steps or added anything extra during the swap? The CPUs are quite similar (same iGPU) and I also updated drivers and BIOS.
Update on Eventviewer issues:
I resolved the secure boot error by turning it off and back on, but it’s still unclear if that was the root cause. NAT and VMnet errors might be linked to VMWare, though I’m not sure. The CMigration error could relate to Samsung Magician. I haven’t encountered any major problems so far, though. I checked more details in Eventviewer, but it doesn’t seem to capture the original issue clearly—just new ones appearing.
I changed the background image and fixed the secure boot problem. I left Windows updates set to “Get updates asap.” If a bug exists in the latest update, applying it might help. Please share any other observations or logs you notice. It seems Eventviewer might not have highlighted the initial problem.
You might want to discuss the issue with your employer and possibly run a test without the VMware active for an extended time. If this occurs again without VMware, it’s likely not the cause. Does your other computer have VMware installed? It seems unrelated to background images. Such a crash for an image would be unusual. You could try letting Windows update download a repair version. Navigate to Settings → Recovery → Fix problems with Windows Update. This will preserve your files and most settings. If that didn’t work, a full reinstall might be necessary. Always back up your data first. To personalize the installation, use Rufus to remove Bitlocker and other defaults. The Secureboot certificate warning is common now; many devices have it. Old Secureboot certificates expire around June 2026, but Microsoft may fix this via updates unless they prefer avoiding backlash. Windows 11 officially requires Secureboot, though it functions without it. If many systems fail to boot due to Secureboot next year, Microsoft appears partially responsible.
All my computers (including Linux) have VMWare set up. This gives me a backup in case my main machine fails. Right now I’m not sure if there’s a real issue—I just notice the Event Viewer errors. VMWare functions properly, and without it I can’t connect remotely. Those error messages might be irrelevant. Thanks for the advice on recovery; I’m downloading it now to see if it helps. It’ll be tough to tell if it resolves things since the original problem seemed to appear occasionally. If I can run my PC for a week without the issue returning, I think it’s fixed at this point.
Recovery appears to have removed most issues. I began using VMWare and Samsung Magician just in case Eventviewer encounters an error. Other configurations still look correct. It seems the recovery only fixes what it needs without altering anything else. I’ll monitor the situation over the coming weeks. Thanks a lot!