Windows 7: nvd3dum.dll - Can't play any Games! All games stop working on launch

APPCRASH: nvd3dum.dll is the file causing all my games to crash completely

I've tried the following:

Re-isntall Nvidia Drivers
Re-install the games
Re-install C++ & Microsoft.NET Framework 4.0
Re-install Steam files (via Deleting every folder other than 'steamapps' and the Steam exe itself and then launching Steam)

All have not worked. The games launch and then freeze with "X Game has Stopped Working"

Games Tried:
Terraria
Torchlight 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Borderlands 2
Super Meat Boy
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
& More

Example (tends to be the exact same message on each game)

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: portal2.exe
Application Version: 0.0.0.0
Application Timestamp: 4d4c804d
Fault Module Name: nvd3dum.dll
Fault Module Version: 9.18.13.1090
Fault Module Timestamp: 50de9169
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 006902aa
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 2057
Additional Information 1: bc92
Additional Information 2: bc92d49f19a89c81d5cb9ed4e2730fc0
Additional Information 3: 0f1a
Additional Information 4: 0f1a188b0c135dfffea773dbc9275f0c




All spit out the same message (Stopped Working) and all point to the nvd3dum.dll module as the one's causing the crashes. Also, all games seem to launch in Windowed mode too

It all seems to have started a few days back, maybe through something in Windows Update. One update did fail when I tried to installing it along with Service Pack 1 (as I re-call something to do with C++ and .dll files). It's also not any hardware causing the problems as I haven't had any BSoD or error messages regarding hardware. All readings for Temps & Voltage are fine, the problem seems to stem from that .dll file mentioned. Also I'm not experiencing any graphical or hardware/software errors outside of gaming

Maybe I should re-install Windows 7 and do a clean install, what do you guys think?

Re-installing the OS should always be considered a "last resort" if nothing else works. I don't know how to fix your problem, but someone else probably does.

Your rig seems to be more than capable to play those games, perhaps the game need some sort of adjustment in their own control panel? perhaps you need to set the game to your native resolution?

Perhaps doing a system restore prior to the last windows update and try the update again?

Did you update your video and audio drivers before or after the windows update? if after, it may have caused some corruption in the drivers and that is what you are seeing now?

Yep, all speculation but ideas nonetheless as new OS install is a last resort as stated before... nothing solid, sorry!