BSOD on startup, Attempt to reset display driver failed (atikmpag.sys)

[bleckfisk]

Hi! So okay. I hope I'm at the right place for this.

Last year my laptop suffered from a pretty hard crash just when I was opening Spotify (pretty strange). I managed to get the computer up and running again after many factory resets, un/installations of drivers and so on. Don't remember half the things I did back then.

But since then I've still suffered from DSODs, like every time I restarted the laptop or something like that. But after some BSODs I've always got back in the computer, so I kept on living with it sort of. But recently the laptop just kept on crashing everytime it came on to the "Welcome..."-loading screen. Sometimes it works but its rare, but Safemode works fine.

The error the BSOD throws me is "Attempt to reset display driver and recover from time out failed" with the note pointing to atikmpag.sys. I've searched and tried so many different solutions I would like to think but I feel the need to get some help on this actually.

Followed the instructions for creating a log and below is my specs:

Computer: Samsung Notebook 305V5A-T05
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU: AMD A8-3530MX APU with Radeon Graphics
RAM: 8GB (2x 4GB Samsung)
Graphics card: AMD Radeon 6600M and 6700M Series, AMD Radeon HD 6620G

 

[Arc]

The zip is not containing a lot of necessary info. As it is stated in the OP, it is possible that the crash dumps are not recorded, but we need some other info. Please provide these two .....

► upload your MSINFO32.nfo file.

1. Click on the start button
2. Type "msinfo32" (without quotes) in the search bar of the start menu, click the resulting link. It will open the System Information window.
3. File>Save. In the "File Name" filed, put "MSINFO32" (without Quote), give the save location to desktop, and click the "save" button.
4. Give the time for processing, it will save a .nfo file on your desktop.
5. Zip it, and upload it following the instruction.

How to Create a System Information File in Windows.

► Take a camera snap of the next BSOD screen and upload it here.

We can start troubleshooting after getting these two.

 

[bleckfisk]

The zip is not containing a lot of necessary info. As it is stated in the OP, it is possible that the crash dumps are not recorded, but we need some other info. Please provide these two .....

► upload your MSINFO32.nfo file.

1. Click on the start button
2. Type "msinfo32" (without quotes) in the search bar of the start menu, click the resulting link. It will open the System Information window.
3. File>Save. In the "File Name" filed, put "MSINFO32" (without Quote), give the save location to desktop, and click the "save" button.
4. Give the time for processing, it will save a .nfo file on your desktop.
5. Zip it, and upload it following the instruction.

How to Create a System Information File in Windows.

► Take a camera snap of the next BSOD screen and upload it here.

We can start troubleshooting after getting these two.

Okay. I followed the instructions but it didn't work to save the NFO file, it was empty. Did however work to export it as a text file.

Did attatch both the zip file and a photo of the BSOD.

View attachment 382510

 

[Arc]

So it is a laptop ....

Datortillverkare    SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.    
Datormodell    305V4A/305V5A/3415VA

With Dual/switchable graphics. One is the APU

Processor    AMD A8-3530MX APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics   AMD Radeon HD 6620G

And the other one is the dedicated GPU

AMD Radeon 6600M and 6700M Series

Both of them uses the same driver, atikmpag.sys. And this makes it impossible to determine which graphics unit is actually failing without switching the hardware.

Now, the laptop hardware are very complex, even for an advanced user. I would not suggest you to do it yourself.

What you can do here is to go to Samsung's website and make it sure that laptop is running with the latest display driver. If it is not the latest, update the display driver.
If the display driver is already latest; or if it behaves the same even after updating the display driver, take it to a service center, ask them to determine which graphics unit is failing, and get it replaced by them.

 

[bleckfisk]

So it is a laptop ....

Datortillverkare    SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.    
Datormodell    305V4A/305V5A/3415VA

With Dual/switchable graphics. One is the APU

Processor    AMD A8-3530MX APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics   AMD Radeon HD 6620G

And the other one is the dedicated GPU

AMD Radeon 6600M and 6700M Series

Both of them uses the same driver, atikmpag.sys. And this makes it impossible to determine which graphics unit is actually failing without switching the hardware.

Now, the laptop hardware are very complex, even for an advanced user. I would not suggest you to do it yourself.

What you can do here is to go to Samsung's website and make it sure that laptop is running with the latest display driver. If it is not the latest, update the display driver.
If the display driver is already latest; or if it behaves the same even after updating the display driver, take it to a service center, ask them to determine which graphics unit is failing, and get it replaced by them.

Okay. I've tried the drivers on Samsungs website and uninstalled the recommended drivers by AMD first. No go unfortunately.

I wonder though, if I should try update to Windows 10, if that can change anything at all?

 

[Arc]

I wonder though, if I should try update to Windows 10, if that can change anything at all?

If it is a driver failure (your text plus data dont show it), then the upgrade will fix the issue.

Otherwise not.

 

[bleckfisk]

I wonder though, if I should try update to Windows 10, if that can change anything at all?

If it is a driver failure (your text plus data dont show it), then the upgrade will fix the issue.

Otherwise not.

Okay. Is there anything else I can do to pinpoint the exact issue?

 

[Arc]

Okay. Is there anything else I can do to pinpoint the exact issue?

In order to pinpoint the exact issue, you have to test the situation with a single graphics hardware, removing the other one; one by one. And you will need to open the laptop and other parts thereto in order to do it.

I also think that it will be risky, it may cause more damage there if the entire thing is not done properly.

So I would suggest you to not do it yourself but get it done.