Nvidia 8600m + Windows 7 Upgrade

Hi everyone, hope all is well.

This post is regarding issues with Windows 7 Professional and Nvidia GeForce cards (8600m GT).

I'm having what seems to be a fairly common instability issue after upgrading from Vista. However, the posts I have found on both this forum and elsewhere all seem to be unresolved, incomplete or resolved by means not posted...thus I present my case and apologies if there is a solution out there I have overlooked.

After installing Nvidia Drivers and restarting the computer fails to boot at the Windows 7 splash screen and does 1 of 4 things:

Most commonly: Windows logo flashes briefly, returns and the system hangs.
: BSOD - nvlddmkm.sys error
: Blank black screen - no mouse, sometimes also followed by BSOD sometimes not.
: The screen flashes white then fades green and the computer restarts

- I am usually unable to boot Windows after this unless I opt for the System Restore point which sets my driver to Standard VGA
- When the computer is booting the Dell logo at the beginning (Where you can load BIOS) displays graphical errors such has multiple blue pixels surrounding the logo.
- I am unable to boot in safe mode with F8 (ABO does not display Safe Mode option) unless I have a BSOD.

What I've done:

I've been trying to fix the problem with various Nvidia drivers, mainly 197.16 and 195.62 - Installed in safe mode, cleaned both by Device Manager and Driver Sweeper.

The most success I've had is with 197.16 which quelled the problem for over a day until it returned while waking my computer from hibernation. I then rewiped my driver and attempted to let this Windows install its choice of driver which was again 197.16...this worked for about 6 hours and the problems began to repeat.

Additionally, I've updated all the drivers for my computer using the OEMs from Dell
(BIOS, Intel Chipset etc...)

Temps: 50-60C CPU, 55C-60C with 197.16 drivers/64-68C currently on Standard VGA
Nothing is overclocked.

My most recent minidmp file which indicates nvlddmkm.sys is the culprit, unfortunately changing drivers does not fix nvlddmkm. If I am able to have another BSOD I will post an updated minidmp.

Thank you for any help!

My specs:
Dell Inspiron 1520
2.2ghz Core 2 Duo
Windows 7 Professional 32bit (upgraded from Vista)
2gb DDR
Nvidia Geforce 8600m gt
Updated BIOS: A09 (The latest I found for Dell Inspiron 1520, there appears. to be an A10 version for the Vostro but has the computers are practically the same I have been still skeptical since its not released for Inspiron)

Have you tried using an older version of the drivers? I.E.

Try the August 2009 - 186 Drivers
NVIDIA DRIVERS 186.81 WHQL

Or the February 2009 179 Drivers
NVIDIA DRIVERS 179.48 BETA

Thanks for the suggestion! and no I haven't.

I'm downloading the 186.81 now and will try my luck.

I'll post back with an update in a few.

Here are links to the rest of the drivers if you want to try them as well:

Latest Release (WHQL) NVIDIA DRIVERS 197.16 WHQL
Dec-2009 (BETA) NVIDIA DRIVERS 195.81 BETA
Dec-2009 (WHQL) NVIDIA DRIVERS 195.62 WHQL
Nov-2009 (BETA) NVIDIA DRIVERS 195.55
Oct-2009 (BETA) NVIDIA DRIVERS 195.39 BETA
Aug-2009 (WHQL) NVIDIA DRIVERS 186.81 WHQL
Jun-2009 (WHQL) NVIDIA DRIVERS 186.03 WHQL
May-2009 (WHQL) NVIDIA DRIVERS 185.85 WHQL
Apr-2009 (BETA) NVIDIA DRIVERS 185.81 BETA
Feb-2009 (BETA) NVIDIA DRIVERS 179.48 BETA

ALright, so 186.81 is allowing me to boot normally, no artifacts at the Dell logo, things are running smooth.

Now its just a time trial to see how long this lasts.

If the problem does return would you recommend trial and error with the older drivers, or could it be something else upsetting the card?

Anyhow, hopefully it will not come to that with this set of drivers.

Thank you very much for the driver links and your help! I was about to start pulling out hairs!

If it does return, you could try the other drivers, but I would suspect something systemic. I would completely reformat and do a clean install to see if it occurs then.

Update

Note: This post is simply for further suggestions, discussions and reference for anyone else experiencing persistent nvlddmkm.sys problems with their computer.
The Dell Diagnostic Utility is obviously specific for Dell computers but perhaps similar utilities will provide similar results.

Update: Last week while running the 186.81 drivers my problems with nvlddmkm.sys reoccurred. I maintained my computers functionality by running the Standard VGA Graphics drivers provided by Windows until now since I have some time to mess with it again.

Unfortunately, I am living abroad at the moment and don't have access to the resources I need to reformat and try a clean install of Windows 7 so I am attempting alternative methods.

After trying the various drivers provided by Notsograymatter and having the same results I've ventured to the Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition to check my system.

All Pre-Diagnostic tests pass.
Inside the actual Diagnostic Utility, there are many artifacts and graphic corruptions on the display.

Once into the Test System -> Custom Tests part of the diagnostics I'm able to run different video tests.

All tests pass except Video Memory.
The first attempt of Video Memory fails with Error 5300:0119 along with any retries.
The interesting part is if I opt not to retry the test, the screen flashes and all artifacts, corruptions are gone.

Upon restarting the system, the artifacts are also removed from the Dell Logo/BIOS loading screen.

After installing the Nvidia Drivers (186.81) the computer successfully loads Windows 7 normally to the OS. Sadly after about 1 minute I received BSOD nvlddmkm.sys (dmp attached) and I was back to where I began.

Restarting from the beginning (Diagnostics..Tests..etc) I installed 179.49 - cleared it all the way until the first minute in Windows 7 normal with a blank black screen instead of blue this time.

bafinneg said:

Windows 7 Professional 32bit (upgraded from Vista

Click to expand...

Hi.

Are you referring to an in place upgrade?

I purchased Windows 7 Pro - Upgrade and used the pseudo-clean install option.

Program Files, My Documents, User, and Windows folders were saved in C:\windows.old

Perhaps you should try a full Clean Install to see if the issue still persists?

I agree, and I would love to try a full reformat and clean install.

Unfortunately though I'm out of the country for awhile and I don't have the resources to do a full wipe.
Additionally from what I've found online the problem persists even after clean installs.

Try removing AVG from the system completely.

bafinneg said:

I agree, and I would love to try a full reformat and clean install.

Unfortunately though I'm out of the country for awhile and I don't have the resources to do a full wipe.
Additionally from what I've found online the problem persists even after clean installs.

Click to expand...

Hello !!

You might wanna try to run a stress test for your Display card. Maybe it might be the card itself might be the problem FurMark: Graphics Card Stability and Stress Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net

Your dump error is pointing to this error http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-lo...op-0x116-video_tdr_error-troubleshooting.html

Hope this helps,
Captain

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

I've just finished uninstalling AVG and tried installing the drivers but I had no luck

I downloaded Furmark doesn't this program require the drivers to be installed and running? I can't get that far
Tried it anyways though and receive "Furmark requires an OpenGL compliant gfx card...Startup Failed"

Anyways thanks again for the support! I'll keep trying!