Video Hardware Error/Power Supply

Quick question: does a "Video Hardware Error" always mean the video card is at fault?

Sometimes I get BSOD and "Video Hardware Errors" when playing video games. However, my computer often struggles to cold boot also, which I learned is often related to the power supply (it usually requires being turned off after a failed boot, then quickly turned back on in order to boot properly).

Is it possible for a video card to be mechanically fine, but a power supply starts to fail, resulting in the video card failing, which finally results in "Video Hardware Error", even though the true root of the problem was the PSU?

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions

Please follow the above instructions, so we can check if it's a graphics card issue at fault or a driver issue.

Yes, I understand the instructions you linked. However, I'm not necessarily asking for a direct diagnosis. I'm simply asking for a more detailed definition of "Video Hardware Error" blue screens, in general.

Do they always mean "your video card is fried or your video drivers are messed up", or can they also mean a PSU issue caused your video card to fail?

The three main bugchecks which are graphics related are: Stop 0x116; Stop 0x117 and Stop 0x119.

Stop 0x116 (VIDEO_TDR_ERROR) - Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) (Windows Drivers)

Stop 0x117 (VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED) - Same as above (more driver related)

Stop 0x119 (VIDEO_SCHEDULER_INTERNAL_ERROR) - Invalid Fence ID's, and the operating system believing that the GPU had invalid DMA. More here - 0x119 VIDEO_SCHEDULER_INTERNAL_ERROR & Fence IDs - Sysnative Forums

Overclocking and overheating can also be issues.

Uploading my dump file and updated my system specs in my profile. (I accidentally did this once already before it was done dumping the files, this one is the final version however).

Sure wish I had a verified working GPU and/or PSU to plug in to see what happens...

Code:

BugCheck 116, {fffffa8007aeb4e0, fffff8800fb3d630, ffffffffc000009a, 4}

Unable to load image \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\nvlddmkm.sys, Win32 error 0n2
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for nvlddmkm.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for nvlddmkm.sys
Probably caused by : nvlddmkm.sys ( nvlddmkm+ade630 )

Code:

Usual causes:  Video driver, overheating, bad video card, BIOS, Power to card

In general terms, the graphics card driver has become "hung" and was unable to recover within the assigned recovery period.

Code:

11: kd> lmvm nvlddmkm
start             end                 module name
fffff880`0f05f000 fffff880`0fd53000   nvlddmkm T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: nvlddmkm.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\nvlddmkm.sys
    Image name: nvlddmkm.sys
    Timestamp:        Tue Oct 02 19:21:13 2012 (506B3099)
    CheckSum:         00CD4613
    ImageSize:        00CF4000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

Your graphics card driver is rather outdated and causing some problems, please update to this version:

Version: 314.22
Release Date for Desktops and Notebooks : March 25th 2013
In Device Manager: 9.18.13.1422

• NVIDIA Driver Downloads - Advanced Search

1. Download Driver
2. Start Type: Device Manager
3. Expand Display Adapters
4. Right-Click Driver Name, Uninstall
5. Reboot
6. Run Driver Sweeper
7. Reboot
8. Install Downloaded Driver

Driver Sweeper will scan for any left over files from the old driver, old driver files can cause conflicts with new driver installations. Create a System Restore point beforehand, in case any problems or issues arise.

Driver Sweeper:

• Drivers - Clean Left over Files after Uninstalling

Remove:

Code:

Start Menu\Programs\DAEMON Tools Lite

Arc said:

Download SPTD standalone installer from Disk-Tools.com, and execute the downloaded file as guided below :

• Double click to open it.
• Click this button only:
• 
• If it is grayed out, as in the picture, there is no more SPTD in your system, and you just close the window.

Daemon Tools uses a driver called sptd.sys, which is known to cause BSODs with Windows 7. It is recommend you remove this program, and use Windows own in-built features or ImgBurn.

Update:

Code:

Start Menu\Programs\Renesas Electronics\USB 3.0 Host Controller Driver
Start Menu\Programs\Renesas Electronics

These USB 3.0 drivers are known to cause BSODs with versions dated 2010 and earlier, check Gigabyte for any updates or then check this website for updates: RENESAS/NEC Drivers & Firmwares

Install and perform full scans with:

• Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware download
• Microsoft Security Essentials

   Information

Remember to install the free version of Malwarebytes not the free trail; untick the free trial box during installation. MSE is the most lightweight and compatible with the Windows 7 operating system

You can also view this thread for a complete free and lightweight security protection combination:

• Good and Free system security combination.

Oops, updated PSU in specs, I thought it was done automagically, my bad.

I also performed the requested video card driver update, Daemon Tools removal, USB 3.0 update, and virus scanning (I was and still am virus/malware free).

A couple notes about the requested changes:

1. I had actually already installed the newest Nvidia drivers a couple days ago before posting here and had encountered a BSOD since then. However, this time, I made sure to use the driver sweeper utility, and follow your instructions exactly, so hopefully it will help.

2. Daemon Tools hasn't been used in over a year and does not boot up on start-up, so I don't think it had anything to do with the BSODs. Regardless, since I don't use it, it is uninstalled now.

3. The USB 3.0 driver upgrade was definitely something I had not done or thought of before, so hopefully it will help.

4. I already had MalwareBytes and actively monitor my computer for viruses. However, I updated MalwareBytes and scanned anyway. I am virus/malware free and, to my knowledge, my system has never had either in it's 1.5 year lifetime.

So in other words... I have high hopes that a full removal/reinstall of the newest NVIDIA drivers will help and that the USB 3.0 driver upgrade will help, but it is not a virus issue and Deamon Tools likely was not playing a part.

Also, I'm still skeptical of the PSU because of the "cold boot" problems... will update thread as needed. Thanks for help so far.

Welcome, post if you have any other problems.

• Video Card - Stress Test with Furmark

   Warning

Read all the steps within the hardware test tutorials very carefully, as stress tests is designed run components to their maximum capacity, in order to point out failing or faulty hardware components.

Use the following program to monitor your hardware temperatures during the stress test:

• CPUID HWMonitor