Solved nvlddmkm.sys 0x116 TDR BSOD on Nvidia Optimus Laptop

Hello,

I am getting "attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed" blue screen when playing games on my laptop. I don't think it's a heat issue because I get BSOD even on game menus or when log-in to World of Warcraft. Sometimes I get BSOD after 2 secs when logging to WoW and it resets the system.

Format, updating/downgrading drivers with clean install, using OEM drivers didn't work. I did some stress tests on my system with OCCT and got no errors, blue screens on tests.

About the crash reports WhoCrashed says it's nvlddmkm.sys gives errors and BlueScreenView says it's dxgkrnl.sys. I don't really get it.

Here is my WhoCrashed report;
[FONT=Segoe UI, Arial]
computer name: ÖMÜR-BILGISAYAR
windows version: Windows 7 Service Pack 1, 6.1, build: 7601
windows dir: C:\Windows
CPU: GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2410M CPU @ 2.30GHz Intel586, level: 6
4 logical processors, active mask: 15
RAM: 6287114240 total
VM: 2147352576, free: 1948057600

[/FONT][FONT=Segoe UI, Arial]On Fri 16.11.2012 18:38:05 GMT your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\Windows\memory.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: [FONT=Segoe UI, Arial]nvlddmkm.sys[/FONT] (0xFFFFF880061CF950)
Bugcheck code: 0x116 (0xFFFFFA80068EE010, 0xFFFFF880061CF950, 0xFFFFFFFFC000009A, 0x4)
Error: [FONT=Segoe UI, Arial]VIDEO_TDR_ERROR[/FONT]
file path: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys
product: [FONT=Segoe UI, Arial]NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 310.33 [/FONT]
company: [FONT=Segoe UI, Arial]NVIDIA Corporation[/FONT]
description: NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 310.33
Bug check description: This indicates that an attempt to reset the display driver and recover from a timeout failed.
A third party driver was identified as the probable root cause of this system error. It is suggested you look for an update for the following driver: nvlddmkm.sys (NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 310.33 , NVIDIA Corporation).
Google query: [FONT=Segoe UI, Arial]NVIDIA Corporation VIDEO_TDR_ERROR[/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT=Segoe UI, Arial][FONT=Segoe UI, Arial]http://www.google.com/search?q=nvlddmkm.sys+NVIDIA Corporation+VIDEO_TDR_ERROR[/FONT]

And here is BlueScreenView report;

==================================================
Dump File : 111612-20092-01.dmp
Crash Time : 16.11.2012 20:38:50
Bug Check String :
Bug Check Code : 0x00000116
Parameter 1 : fffffa80`068ee010
Parameter 2 : fffff880`061cf950
Parameter 3 : ffffffff`c000009a
Parameter 4 : 00000000`00000004
Caused By Driver : dxgkrnl.sys
Caused By Address : dxgkrnl.sys+5d000
File Description :
Product Name :
Company :
File Version :
Processor : x64
Crash Address : ntoskrnl.exe+7efc0
Stack Address 1 :
Stack Address 2 :
Stack Address 3 :
Computer Name :
Full Path : C:\Windows\Minidump\111612-20092-01.dmp
Processors Count : 4
Major Version : 15
Minor Version : 7601
Dump File Size : 262.144
==================================================

[/FONT]You can see my system specs on my profile. I also attached diagnostics. Please tell me if you need more information. I hope we can find a solution for this issue. Thanks for the help.

Try following this guide: http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-lo...op-0x116-video_tdr_error-troubleshooting.html

Thanks for the response. I will try that guide and let you know if it fixes my issue.

Sorry for the late response. I tried that guide and it didn't solve my issue. But I downclocked my graphic chipsets "graphics clock" a bit and now I am getting less blue screens. It's a temporary fix though. Do you have any other fix on mind? Still getting BSODs.

On the subject of overclocking, as you are having problems please revert back to stock settings. I see that you are using driver version 310.33, which is a Beta driver. As such, it may have issues with certain system configurations. What driver version did you have previously? You could try rolling back to that to see if your problem persists.

Thanks for the reply. I am not overclocking, I downclocked my cards graphics clock from 672MHz to 625MHz. With stock settings I get instant blue screens in games.

For the driver version, it doesn't matter which one I am using. I even get BSOD after format my laptop to factory settings.

Stress test the Graphics Card using Furmark.
Video Card - Stress Test with Furmark

I did stress test with Furmark. No errors and no blue screen happened. Still getting blue screens while gaming.

You may try installing some older version of the display driver which was stable there

I installed older drivers, even OEM drivers, but it didn't help.

Try using the onboard graphics. Also try swapping the card.

Blue screens completely stopped after I downclocked my graphics cards Graphics(core) Clock, from 672MHz(stock) to 550MHz.
And overclock Memory Clock, from 800MHz(stock) to 850 MHz. (this set-up is for nvidia GT 540M, you must calculate it from your own graphics cards stock clocks, if you know some basic math ^^)

So if anyone getting BSOD like me and couldn't find a solution; download "nvidia System Tools" from nvidia website. Just install "Performance". After install, open nvidia control panel and click to Device Settings under Performance tab (you must accept an agreement, nothing big ^^). Click Custom. You can set your graphics cards clocks from there. After you set clocks, close the nvidia control panel. Control panel should ask you if you want to use this settings on boot. You can always return to factory settings from Device Settings tab.

After downclock I didn't notice a big performance drop on games and I get rid of blue screens. Hope this works for all who suffer from this issue.

Good news, and nice info

I will mark this thread as solved so more people can see it when searching.

I just wanted to revive this thread to thank Hinuvar for this solution. It is the only way I have been able to remedy the BSOD on my system since no other approach has helped so far. I don't think this fixes the problem but at least I don't have any more crashes.