Screen flicker right after logon in 8.1

Good day,

Although this is something minor, it's starting to annoy me a lot. Recently, I noticed that every time after I log into Windows 8.1 with my password, the screen flickers for like a second. I did not have this problem before and have no idea what might have changed to cause this. I haven't installed anything new before the problem occurred.

I do remember that I was fiddling with some display options (changing items sizes) but I did restore them back to the default options. Just updated my nvidia drivers but that didn't solve the issue either.

Win. 8.1 Pro x64bit
i5 3570K stock speed
nVidia GTX 660Ti with 340.52 WHQL driver
8 GB RAM

What make of monitor do you have, CRT or LCD?

I have a LCD monitor. Are you thinking this could be a hardware problem?

I did find other threads about this problem but they did not manage to solve it:

http://www.eightforums.com/general-support/33995-windows-8-1-sign-computer-gets-blinking-screen.html

http://www.eightforums.com/general-support/33810-screen-flash-after-login-8-1-a.html

Are you using MS-account to login ??

Yes I am.

If you have another monitor, try it and see if the same results.

If not the same result, the LCD could be telling you it is dying.

I find that very doubtful since it's a new monitor and this is the only scenario my screen blinks in.
Also, in one of the links I provided, a user claimed he got the same problem after fiddling with the same dsiplay options. To me, it seems to be more of a software problem only I don't know how to fix this.

Unfortunately I don't have a second monitor to verify this.

Even new can be defective. I presume you checked the cabling between the computer and the monitor, might try another cable. I use HDMI. Any changes made in the Nvidia control panel

The cabling is fine. I understand what you mean but doesn't it seem highly unlikely? Especially when it's only ocurring in one scenario? Also, someone at Microsoft forums was able to reproduce this problem after changing the display options as shown below. Perhaps you could give it a try as well (rightclick desktop -> personal customization -> display options lower left corner)?

Wanted to let you guys know that it got fixed when I reformatted and reinstalled Windows.

Another hint that pleads for a software bug.