Problem solved - might help others
 

Today my MA 2MD started flickering. Coincidentally my Windows 3D XP Screensaver wouldn't even load for more than 1 second. They worked fine yesterday.
All I'd done today was add the free MusicMatch 10 player.
Once uninstalled all went back to working as it should.
I've no idea how a media player would interfere with Screensavers especially when it wasn't in use at the time. I had at first thought that my video card needed new drivers, they are up to date, or my DirectX was up the creek, no, it's fine too.
If this helps someone, then you're welcome! :)

It's great to have someone post a solution before anyone was even aware of the problem :)

MusicMatch is a real mess.

There should be a "software that sucks" website somewhere with a list of programs like it. :)

LOL. I could name a couple of hundred for starters!

Really? I like MusicMatch. Been using it for years. Never had any problems running any of the screensavers. I don't use the free version though. Don't know if that would make a difference.

The mp3s it creates from CDs are unbearably compressed. Unlike JPEG, mp3 is a very loosely written format and the difference between good mp3s and bad mp3s is a slip of the fingers when programming an mp3 encoder.

huh, I guess the free version doesn't give you many options. The full version lets you set your compression to whatever level you want.

What program or technology actually does the compression? If it is Xing, then it's just no matter what bit rate is used.

It's not the compression level, it's the method.

For example Photoshop 7 creates MUCH smaller JPEG images than Photoshop 5.

It's amazing how threads morph as they go along...LOL

Screen Flicker…?

If anyone has Konfabulator installed… Exit the programme from start-up!

Problem Solved