Atikmpag.sys BSOD on ATI HD5970

[CurlyBurl]

Hi guys,

I'm having a major problem with the "atikmpag.sys" BSOD error whenever I try to play video games (and the occasional random crash too). Oddly enough, it never happens while rendering in Cinema 4D, so I've pretty much ruled out it having something to do with how intense the GPU usage is. Here's my system:

OS Version: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate, Service Pack 1, 64 bit
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 26 Stepping 5
Processor Count: 8
RAM: 12279 Mb
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon HD 5900 Series, 1024 Mb
Hard Drives: C: Total - 50814 MB, Free - 5883 MB; D: Total - 953866 MB, Free - 444793 MB; E: Total - 610477 MB, Free - 196002 MB;
Motherboard: ASUSTeK Computer INC., P6TD DELUXE
Antivirus: Microsoft Security Essentials, Updated and Enabled

I ran Memtest from a bootable CD overnight and it didn't find any errors. I've also uninstalled the card in Device Manager + removed all drivers using Driver Sweeper and tried both the latest and older drivers from ATI's website to no success.

I have attached the Windows minidump if that helps. Any and all help appreciated, I'm really wanting to go with a new NVIDIA card thanks to this thing

 

[zigzag3143]

"It's not a true crash, in the sense that the bluescreen was initiated only because the combination of video driver and video hardware was being unresponsive, and not because of any synchronous processing exception".

Since Vista, the "Timeout Detection and Recovery" (TDR) components of the OS video subsystem have been capable of doing some truly impressive things to try to recover from issues which would have caused earlier OSs like XP to crash.

As a last resort, the TDR subsystem sends the video driver a "please restart yourself now!" command and waits a few seconds.

If there's no response, the OS concludes that the video driver/hardware combo has truly collapsed in a heap, and it fires off that stop 0x116 BSOD.

If playing with video driver versions hasn't helped, make sure the box is not overheating.

Try removing a side panel and aiming a big mains fan straight at the motherboard and GPU.

Run it like that for a few hours or days - long enough to ascertain whether cooler temperatures make a difference.

If so, it might be as simple as dust buildup and subsequently inadequate cooling.

I would download cpu-z and gpu-z (both free) and keep an eye on the video temps

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

 

[CurlyBurl]

I've just reseated the card, there was no noticeable dust buildup and when trying to open a game, the temperature reached a maximum of 43C. Still no luck, in fact now I can't install any drivers, it keeps saying the INF file can't be found. This is getting worse

 

[zigzag3143]

I've just reseated the card, there was no noticeable dust buildup and when trying to open a game, the temperature reached a maximum of 43C. Still no luck, in fact now I can't install any drivers, it keeps saying the INF file can't be found. This is getting worse

Are you sure you have the right driver? Most drivers have installers these days so they dont need the *.inf files.

 

[CurlyBurl]

I've just reseated the card, there was no noticeable dust buildup and when trying to open a game, the temperature reached a maximum of 43C. Still no luck, in fact now I can't install any drivers, it keeps saying the INF file can't be found. This is getting worse

Are you sure you have the right driver? Most drivers have installers these days so they dont need the *.inf files.

Yeah, I'm using the latest drivers from the ATI website. I've also tried the last two drivers.

 

[zigzag3143]

I've just reseated the card, there was no noticeable dust buildup and when trying to open a game, the temperature reached a maximum of 43C. Still no luck, in fact now I can't install any drivers, it keeps saying the INF file can't be found. This is getting worse

Are you sure you have the right driver? Most drivers have installers these days so they dont need the *.inf files.

Yeah, I'm using the latest drivers from the ATI website. I've also tried the last two drivers.

Did you completely remove the previous version?

When upgrading your graphic driver you MUST remove all traces of the current driver.

In order to do that we recommend using
Phyxion.net - Driver Sweeper

When it is removed then download and install the fresh copy.

 

[CurlyBurl]

Are you sure you have the right driver? Most drivers have installers these days so they dont need the *.inf files.

Yeah, I'm using the latest drivers from the ATI website. I've also tried the last two drivers.

Did you completely remove the previous version?

When upgrading your graphic driver you MUST remove all traces of the current driver.

In order to do that we recommend using
Phyxion.net - Driver Sweeper

When it is removed then download and install the fresh copy.

Yes, I have tried reinstalling fresh drivers after uninstalling with Driver Sweeper at least fifteen times now.

 

[zigzag3143]

Didnt think it was the driver but have to do the easiest first. 116 are usually heat, or power.

 

[CurlyBurl]

Didnt think it was the driver but have to do the easiest first. 116 are usually heat, or power.

My sister's boyfriend works at our local tech shop and he took the card in today; they installed it in one of their systems, tried running several games and found no errors. I'm thinking you might be right about heat or power - it might just be a coincidence, but the sticker on the side of the PSU has wilted up and is barely hanging on, so I'm going to try putting my sister's boyfriend's GPU in and seeing how that goes.

 

[zigzag3143]

Didnt think it was the driver but have to do the easiest first. 116 are usually heat, or power.

My sister's boyfriend works at our local tech shop and he took the card in today; they installed it in one of their systems, tried running several games and found no errors. I'm thinking you might be right about heat or power - it might just be a coincidence, but the sticker on the side of the PSU has wilted up and is barely hanging on, so I'm going to try putting my sister's boyfriend's GPU in and seeing how that goes.

Sounds like a plan

 

[CurlyBurl]

Well, we have a result of sorts! His Nvidia GTX 480 worked like a charm on all my games, and my ATI HD5970 got the BSOD twice when he tried launching games. I guess it's time to look for the warranty!

 

[zigzag3143]

Well, we have a result of sorts! His Nvidia GTX 480 worked like a charm on all my games, and my ATI HD5970 got the BSOD twice when he tried launching games. I guess it's time to look for the warranty!

Sad but probably true