Introduction: Fixing the Nvlddmkm Error (Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered)

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UPDATE: This instructable is about 5 years old now, but this error still persists. While anything could be causing this, as the steps will show, overheating and driver errors are a dominating problem. Dusting out your computer, and following the "drivers" step would be a good place to start.

This instructable will show you known ways of fixing the dreaded "display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered" error. It's been found on operating systems XP, Vista, and Windows 7. I've searched hours and tried many solutions, finally #1 worked for me.


Please note that this also works for other forms "display driver__________ stopped responding and has recovered," however this is the most common. I personally had that, until getting a GTX 260, in which case I got "Display driver nvidia windows kernel mode driver has stopped..."

What is this error? This error occurs when your computer thinks that you graphics card has stopped responding, mainly due to a low frame rate. The program that controls this is called "Timeout detection and recovery." The error is very vague, and doesn't correlate to one problem. Getting this error is like your computer saying "something went wrong with your graphics card, and we're not sure what." It could be you're power supply, ram, temperature, or just the card in general. It happens on all types of cards, and even built in ones, with your motherboard. You will know you have it if your monitor goes black for a few seconds, and comes back, with the popup from the intro picture. If you have only gotten it one time, just ignore it, but if you get it again, you should try the solutions.

Forms of the error

There are a few known forms of this error. Sometimes it will just happen once, normally while watching a video or playing a game, other times it will go berserk, right when you login you will get it every 10 seconds, and may even get the blue screen of death!


Now that you know a little about it, lets continue to the solutions, I'll start with the easiest first, and move up to the more drastic.

Shameless plug: Check out my website at www.coltonboyer.com

Step 1: Solution 1: Power Supply

Make sure that you are on High Performance, in the power options section of the control panel. More specifically, make sure that the PCI express setting is turned OFF. This would fix any issues caused by low power to the video card.

If you are still getting the error, proceed to the next step, this applies to all solutions.

Step 2: Solution 2: Changing the Theme

Short and sweet: Turn off the Aero theme

Just right click while on the desktop, and go to properties, it's hard to miss where to change the theme.




Step 3: Solution 3: New Drivers

This is also very simple, uninstall your current display drivers (I don't care if they are the newest!) and run Driver Sweeper, make sure all of your graphics drivers are gone. Then reinstall the most current drivers, you may even want to try a "beta" one, if there are any.

www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/

Step 4: Solution 4: Windows Update

Pretty simple, run windows update, download any of them, and pray.
Especially important if you are running Vista, and haven't gotten Service Pack 1!

Step 5: Before Getting Into the Big Stuff...

Here are a few more solutions I have found, that require no new items and are fast, but not tried, as I have fixed this error for myself (Solution 1).

Downclock your video clock speeds and/or ram speeds.

Run memory tests overnight

Administrative tools > Task Scheduler > Scroll down till you see TMM. Double click ‘TMM’. Right click it and select disable. - Known to work, defiantly try this

(If it only happens during a game) Right click a shortcut to whatever game you are running -> properties -> compatibility mode -> set it for Windows XP. Then run the game.

Step 6: Solution 5: Changing the Time Before It Resets.

NOTE: This is risky, because you have to edit the registry, which can mess up your computer if done wrong, you should make a backup before you try this!

1. Goto registry editor (start -> run -> regedit)
2. Navigate yourself to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetControlGraphicsDrivers (make sure GraphicsDrivers is highlighted).
3. Right click -> New -> DWORD (32-bit) value -> Name it: TdrDelay -> double click it -> Set it to A (hexadecimal) or 10 (decimal).

If that doesn't work, try disabling it, by adding the following DWORD: TdrLevel and setting the value to 0, then rebooting.

Step 7: Solution 6:Take Out RAM

Try a new set of ram sticks, or take all of them out but one. (And make sure to try it with the others in, and that one out, if it still happens) 

If this solution works for you, the RAM stick is no longer usable (without the error, at least), just throw it away, give it to a friend as a joke, or sell it on Ebay.*
*joke *Try it!



Step 8: Solution 7: Better Cooling

Another way this error can occur is through overheating, install some new fans, or even try one of the many computer cooling guides, here at instructables!

Step 9: Solution 8: New Card

If none of these solutions work, and you are desperate, you can always buy a new graphics card, but before this, you want to be sure that it is your card.
If you have an extra graphics card, or a friend, use it/theirs on your computer. If the problem goes away, it is the card, and you will need a new one.