The Desktop Window Manager has encountered a fatal error (0x88980406)

[trancedellic]

I have this problem where screen flashes 1-2 times and I see that message on event viewer. Sometimes on 2nd or 3rd screen flash Aero crashes and I need to restart the PC to make it work.

I had some old drivers, updated to latest version but nothing changed.

This is totally random. Everything was fine for the past two weeks I think and today it happened 2 times already.

I have Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bits. Video card is Gigabyte 660 GTX. The rest of the specs are on my profile.

I saw that many people had this problem in the past but I found no real/working solutions. Any ideas?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello trancedellic mate try these first and in this order just to eliminate the simple stuff

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html < use the /f and /r options in Option2 if necessary

http://www.superantispyware.com/

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

download from bleeping computer – delete any rubbishthese find.

Now run this and let us know the temps please Speccy - Download

 

[trancedellic]

I will, thanks. Past two days I had no problems. I still don't know what triggers this. Very weird.

Some people fixed this by removing a IE10 update, KB2670838. I did that a while back but problem came back.


Got nothing with malwarebytes. Temps are around 40-42 for CPU and 33 for GPU. In full load the CPU gets to 60-65 and the GPU the same. But this never happened while playing a game or something. It happened when I was working, browsing, watching a stream/video.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate time to check out the PSU see this

UsingHW Info PSU

Download HW Info and pick the right bit version - HWiNFO, HWiNFO32/64 -Download -(copyand paste this site into the search bar) If you donot need the runninginformation in the smaller right hand panel close it. Inthe left hand windowclick on the + for the individual device groupings and theywill open out tothe various components.

Go on opening out further until you get to the device itself. click on it anditwill highlight. In the right hand window there will be a verydetaileddescription of that device as in brand, speeds model number etc etcThese arevery detailed and are just what is needed for searching for driversetc.

To getthe PSU volts you need to select the Sensor button circled in yellow inthe picfor PSU testing do the same and scroll down the readout as in my pic towhereit has Nuvoton = yours might be a different section name / title. Postback apic of that please.

If you want a more definitive test see this http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/301799-psu-test-dc-output-voltage.html butleaseonly use a digital multimeter and not an analogue as they injecttypically 9vinto a circuit to test and into a 3.3v or 5v rail - not a good idea!!see thepartial pic of the correct sort of meter in that tutorial. details ifyou scrolldown that listing.

Now a good reference article is this
Voltage Rails - Power Supply 101: AReference Of Specifications it will explain in detail what thevoltages are and functions of the PSU/

In case you are wondering why it is because as Scott Mueller has quoted the PSU is the most underrated cause of problems in computers

 

[trancedellic]

Could be that my Corsair VX450 is getting old? I have it for years. Got it from my old system with e8400 CPU.

I also think I need to dust free my case.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well according to that snip the volts look ok although it has been known for the HW stuff not to be on target - unusual though.

I think it is a good idea to give the case a thorough clean out and reseat all cables and cards etc
If you want to go the extra distance I have cleaned the slots for cards and RAM sticks on older machines I have had in see this

SLOT CLEANING

Now as for theslots to clean them use a strip of old credit card about 1/2 inch wide nip thecorners off one end - preferably round them off hold a piece of thin lint free clothover the end dab on some form of alcohol - iso propyl alcohol (what we swab theskin with before an injection) is good and GENTLYswipe along the slots.

This can also bedone for the GPU slot/s and do not forget to clean the contacts on the cards /sticks either.

It is an idea toclean the contacts on the sticks / cards while you are at it but be VERY gentlewhen doing this.

 

[trancedellic]

Thank you.

I'll keep you posted if anything else happens.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No probs mate will wait to see what happens.