Boot BSOD - Atikmpag.sys STOP 0x116

Hello and welcome Souths mate you have a graphics driver problem ok and dropping in a dedicated GPU should just cut the onboard (APU) graphics out bt default.

The driver for the on board graphics is this Desktop but as you are getting an error message seems pointless trying to download and install it. So I suggest you run these in safe mode for starters
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html < if necessary include the /f and /r in the command line as per Option2
and then these if the machine will run at all
http://www.superantispyware.com/
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
ADW download from bleeping computer delete any rubbish found with the malware scans
(with ADW if you are running Kaspersky it will throw it up as malware just override Kaspersky by ignoring it or disabling it for the duration of the scan)

Souths said:

Hello all!

A few days ago (I think it was last Saturday) out of the blue (I was just browsing the internet - multiple windows, but no streaming) came this BSOD. I thought it was a one time thing, but unfortunately I couldn't boot into Windows afterwards.

If I use the Standard VGA drivers everything is fine - except the resolution and video playback (sketchy subtitles and playback), but if I try any Radeon drivers (tried 14.4, 14.9, and 14.12) I get this error message right when the desktop should appear. I used DDU between installs.
If I delete/rename just this one file - while the drivers are still installed - I get through to the desktop, but of course using Standard VGA.

I tried the "expand" solution, no luck. Updated BIOS, no luck.
Since I have an APU (A8-6500 with Radeon 8750D) I cannot just switch in a new video card.

Fair and simple, your display chip (Integrated AMD Radeon™ R7/R5 Series Graphics in A-series APU) is failing to work.

If the board is within warranty (it may be, as it appears form the BIOS date, 02/12/2015), RMA the board. Otherwise get a graphics card, there are slots to use a graphics card on this board.

Attachment 356560

There is nothing else to be done.

Souths said:

Arc, your saying that my APU (processor) is failing? Meaning I should try to RMA the processor and not the ASRock motherboard. Right?

You need to RMA the motherboard, mate.

The graphics chip is integrated with your motherboard. Not with the processor. See the specification of your motherboard here:

Attachment 356580

And now see what is an Accelerated processing unit.

An accelerated processing unit (APU, also advanced processing unit) is a computer's main processing unit that includes additional processing capability designed to accelerate one or more types of computations outside of a central processing unit (CPU). This may include a graphics processing unit (GPU) used for general-purpose computing (GPGPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or similar specialized processing system.

Your processor processes the component outside it is the graphics chip. It is the graphics chip that is failing, not the processor; and the graphics chip is integrated with the motherboard, not with the processor. The processor just processes it. As the chip is failing, the processor is not processing it. It is not the fault of the processor.

Probably what I have said about AMD APU is not just. I use Intel always, and Intel addresses its HD graphics as the Onboard graphics only. As for my motherboard ....

Attachment 356585

But, aside them all, a stop 0x116 is a graphics failure only, and nothing else.

Code:

BugCheck 116, {fffffa8006d204e0, fffff88004325dac, 0, 2}

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

Followup: MachineOwner
---------

Code:

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE (116)
Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed.
Arguments:
Arg1: fffffa8006d204e0, Optional pointer to internal TDR recovery context (TDR_RECOVERY_CONTEXT).
Arg2: fffff88004325dac, The pointer into responsible device driver module (e.g. owner tag).
Arg3: 0000000000000000, Optional error code (NTSTATUS) of the last failed operation.
Arg4: 0000000000000002, Optional internal context dependent data.

Debugging Details:
------------------

And what you said in your original post ....

but if I try any Radeon drivers (tried 14.4, 14.9, and 14.12) I get this error message right when the desktop should appear.

That means it is irrespective of the driver version, and indicates that the graphics hardware is failing.

My lack of experience about AMD's stuff made me think that it is a motherboard component; but if you think that the processor is also having a meaningful bearing on graphics, better you take care of the processor, too.

All the best.

Arc,

I believe the term APU is a conglomeration of CPU with other processing unit (in this case GPU) into a single physical chip, so it's a 2-in-1 chip or something like that.
Both Intel and AMD share this trait. Intel with HD Graphics, and AMD with APU.
The mainboard itself does not have an integrated graphics chip, however it supports R7/R5 GPU series that comes along with A-Series APU (see here)

Thus, I think the APU (the processor) should be checked or RMA'ed.

CMIIW

I know many a people told you many a things, plus you have your own understanding. Leave all them aside.

A stop 0x116 is just a display failure, and nothing else. And if the display failure occurs irrespective of the display driver installed, it is the fault from the part of the graphics chip, and nothing else.

When a graphics chip cannot hold the display driver (atikmpag.sys for your case), it emaluates the standard VGA driver, vgapnp.sys. Which is just a port emaluated graphics adapter only. When the graphics chip is not able to hold the display driver to produce the graphics, it assumes the vgapnp.sys, to provide the bare minimum graphics only. That makes it sure that your graphics chip is failing, because it is designed to do something bigger.

There are programs to test a graphics chip, like Furmark. But this test will not work in your situation. If you want, you may try it and see.

As the hardware is within warranty, either take it to the retailer from whom you purchased it or send it directly to AMD. Report them the situation that whatever driver version you install, you are getting the standard vga display only.

Nothing else will be required. Because they are aware of the situation. They will understand.

Ok mate I only linked what I did for the really basic and obvious stuff Arc is the expert here with the graphics issue.