Solved Laptop BSOD (nvlddmkm.sys)

[meddy05]

Hi,

Prior to getting BSOD's my laptop was repaired and returned back to me for overheating problems which have now fortunately gone away. But now I am experiencing BSOD's as soon as I log in to any account, the only way to access the laptop is by going into safe mode. I have tried updating to the latest video card drivers and doing the "nvlddmkm.sys.old" procedure but to no avail. The BSOD's initially occurred randomly (i.e. when I clicked on start menu after browsing the internet for a few hours) and after the first BSOD I will continuously get BSOD's as soon as I log in. In the BSOD screen it says "Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed."

The laptop I bought was custom built by PCSpecialist.

In safe mode I was not able to run "perfmon /report" neither was I able to run "Driver Verifier" as it only resulted in a frozen black screen on reboot.

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit
Original OS: Same as above which was pre-installed by PCSpecialist.
Approx age: 1 year
Approx age of OS installation: 1 year
I have not re-installed the OS.

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Video Card: NVidia Geforce 765M (with Intel R HD Graphics 4600 integrated)
Motherboard: Laptop
Power Supply: Laptop

System Manufacturer: Notebook
System Model: W35xSTQ_370ST

This is a custom built laptop purchased from PCSpecialist.

I have attached the DM Log Collector file but I have also attached a SysnativeFileCollector if it is of any use as it does have additional info.

 

[essenbe]

meddy05, every dump I looked at was the same. Am I correct that you have Optimus technology for your laptop. That is where it switches back and forth between the Intel Graphics and the Nvidia card. Here are the results of the dump files I saw.

[COLOR=red]VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE[/COLOR] (116)
Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed.
Arguments:
Arg1: fffffa800d48c010, Optional pointer to internal TDR recovery context (TDR_RECOVERY_CONTEXT).
Arg2: fffff88005945480, 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:

A TDR failure is where the Graphics drivers either crash and do not recover in time or they are switching between graphics and do not switch in time. Please check your heat and let me know tour CPU and GPU temps. Also, try to update your Nvidia graphics driver from the Motherboard's web site. Many, if not most, manufacturer's alter the graphics drivers so that it will work the way they implement the graphics.

 

[meddy05]

Yes I have the Optimus technology. I cannot give you my CPU and GPU temperatures as I can not load up Speedfan or Speccy in safe mode. Is there any other way I can show you them in safe mode? Because I can log in the normal mode but I get a BSOD before I can actually do anything. Also, my motherboard is: Notebook W35xSTQ_370S but I can't find the website for this, can you help me on this because I have tried browsing but to no avail.

 

[essenbe]

You should call PCSpecialist and talk to them. If you can send it back to get repaired, do it. Whatever drivers you need should be on their web site. Do that first.

 

[meddy05]

I don't understand why I can't download the latest NVidia drivers using the GeForce Experience program. On PCSpecialist they have a bunch of drivers for different components, the NVidia one is of a 2014 date. Shall I download this one and not update to any newer driver from the NVidia website/Geforce experience program?

 

[essenbe]

Only they can answer that question. Many, if not most, Laptop manufacturers alter the drivers from Nvidia in order to get them to work with the way they designed the motherboard to work. If that is the case, the Nvidia drivers won't work right. You can try it both ways and see which way works best.

 

[meddy05]

After I installed the NVidia driver from PCSpecialist, I stopped getting the "nvlddmkm.sys" BSOD's and on startup I kept getting a weird CMD program called "Winsat.exe" which was running something. I restarted my laptop to see if I had any other problems and now I can no longer start windows normally as I get a BSOD called IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL before I can even log in.

I have attached the appropriate dumps.

 

[essenbe]

First, please fill out your system specs as detailed as possible.

Please fill out your System Specs​

   Information

Your System Specs will help us to help you, and doing it in this manner will make them available to all helpers in every post and keep us from hunting for them. We ask that you fill them out in as much detail as possible including Desktop or Laptop, Model number if it is an OEM computer and all components with the Manufacturer and Model number if possible.

If you will go to your last post and click the 'System Specs' in the bottom left of the post, you will find a link to update your system specs. Please fill those out in as much detail as possible, making sure to click save at the bottom of the page. If you would like to know what we would like, you can click 'My System Specs' at the bottom left of this post to see mine. If you do not know what your components are, this will help you accomplish this task. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html​

Next, I would like to try something and see if it works for you. I want to disable the Nvidia graphics and try just using the on board graphics. I would like you to first go to PCSpecialist's web site for your Laptop and update all the drivers, especially the IRST driver (Intel Rapid Storage). Here is what I get from the dump files.

BugCheck A, {10, 2, 1, fffff80003083dff}
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for nvlddmkm.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for [COLOR=red]nvlddmkm[/COLOR].sys
Probably caused by : nvlddmkm.sys ( nvlddmkm+e5228 )

I also get

fffff800`0471c968  fffff880`01130100*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for iaStorA.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for [COLOR=red]iaStorA[/COLOR].sys
 iaStorA+0x92100

iaStorA
start             end                 module name
fffff880`0109e000 fffff880`0136b000   iaStorA  T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: iaStorA.sys
    Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\iaStorA.sys
    Image name: iaStorA.sys
    Timestamp:        [COLOR=red]Mon Jan 14 12:00:27 2013[/COLOR] (50F447BB)
    CheckSum:         000A2FE2
    ImageSize:        002CD000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

As you can see it is pretty old. It is Intel's Raid driver but also contains their AHCI driver. You can either update it or uninstall it.

Next create a restore point http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/697-system-restore-point-create.html


then

First set the integrated graphics as preferred .....

1. Open Nvidia control panel.
2. Click on "Manage 3D settings".
3. Click on the button below "Preferred Graphics Processor"
4. Change it to "Integrated graphics"from the drop down menu.
   
   
   This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 772x284.
   
5. Apply it.

Now restart the computer.

Now, disable nvidia graphics card in the device manager.

1. Click on the start button.
2. Type Device Manager in the search bar.
3. Click on the resulting link. The Device Manager window will open.
4. The third one should be "Display Adapter". Expand it by clicking on the "►" in front of it. Your nvidia card name will be shown.
5. Right click on it. Choose "Disable" in the context menu.
6. A dialog will appear with some scary words. Dont be afraid. Click on "Yes" .
7. Restart the computer.

Hopefully the nvidia display is out of use now, and so there will not be any further chance of graphics switching.

Let us know how the computer is running after doing it.

 

[meddy05]

I have updated my System specs, however, I can no longer open NVidia Control Panel nor is the NVidia Graphics card displayed in device manager after I installed the driver from the PCSpecialist website on NVidia Geforce Experience it says that it could not find a driver. Moreover, you said that the IRST driver was pretty old, dated 01/2014 but all the drivers listed on Specialist are old, dated 01/2014 this includes the NVidia Driver I installed.

I would also like to add that my laptop battery doesn't hold charge and I will be receiving a new battery tomorrow hopefully - I forgot to tell you this.

 

[essenbe]

You can try Intel Download Center for the IRST driver https://downloadcenter.intel.com/

It sounds like either you have no Nvidia Driver installed or your Nvidia card has quit working. The Nvidia GeForce experience is part of the Nvidia drivers. If it can't identify your card, something is very wrong there. What does it show in Device manager under display adaptors, Standard VGA adaptor? Have you tried updating the driver through Device manager?

 

[meddy05]

In Device manager under display adaptors it only says Intel HD Graphics 4600. I can try downloading the latest NVidia driver manually from their website but I fear that will only lead me to the initial BSOD i had.

 

[Boozad]

Hi meddy05, Steve has asked me to drop by to take a look in here as I've been a PC Specialist customer for years.

Can I ask you first and foremost which model laptop you bought from them? You can see this by logging in and clicking on the 'My Orders' section on the left hand hand side. This will help ascertain which chassis you have, I'm presuming it's a Clevo chassis and as far as I know they provide updated nVidia drivers for machines using their chassis'.

View attachment 353412

​

Let us know that info and Steve and myself will help you through this.

 

[meddy05]

Chassis & Display: Optimus Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)

I could not find the System Model/Manufacturer on the PCSpecialist website but from dxdiag I know that the Sys Manufacturer is: "Notebook" and the Model is "W35xSTQ_370ST"

Should I try creating a Sys Restore Point and updating my Intel drivers but also NVidia drivers manually from their websites?

 

[Boozad]

Hold fire for ten minutes or so, I'm going to look into this for you.

 

[Boozad]

Right, I've done a bit of digging through the Clevo website and I've come across this download page that has the latest nVidia provided by Clevo themselves dated 18/06/2014. It states the supported OS is W8.1 but I'm pretty sure they'll work with W7.

View attachment 353419
​

Click on the download button below to download the driver and save it to your desktop or other convenient location. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/327414-nvidia-drivers-avoid-problems.html

Download


​

Let's try this driver first and see if it takes. I'm a bit concerned as to why Device Manager isn't showing your nVidia GPU, hopefully it will show up after these steps.

1. Create a Restore Point
2. Follow http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/327414-nvidia-drivers-avoid-problems.html installing the downloaded driver in the process.
3. Reboot after the install and check Device Manager to see if your nVidia GPU is showing.

 

[meddy05]

nVidia GPU is now showing! Should I still follow Steve's advice and update my Intel Rapid Store Technology driver in addition to drivers that show up in the Intel Driver Update Utility 2.0? However, I must say in the Intel Utility Program the Rapid Store technology driver does not show up as one that needs to be updated although I have found one manually on the Intel Drivers website.

 

[Boozad]

Two questions. Do you have an Intel SSD in the system and are you running a RAID setup?

 

[meddy05]

Not running a RAID setup nor do I have a Intel SSD.

 

[Boozad]

In that case I'd recommend uninstalling Intel Rapid Storage Technology, the chances of you ever using it are slim to none.

Again, create a Restore Point then follow the steps below.

First uninstall IRST from Control Panel > Programs and Features. This one ....

Start Menu\Programs\Intel® Matrix Storage Manager

Then Uninstall the driver from device manager.

1. Right click on "My Computer" icon and click "Manage" on the context menu.
2. It will open the "Computer Management" window.
3. Select "Device Manager" in the left pane, It will list all the existing devices up.
4. Expand "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" by clicking on the triangle in front of it.
5. Select one Intel device item under it, right click, uninstall.
6. Continue the process for all Intel items under "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers"
7. Now restart the computer. At restart, Windows will auto configure the appropriate native system driver.

 

[meddy05]

Umm.. the directory you wrote in the code - I can't find it.