I hate you, nVidia

[kongurous]

Ever since Christmas, all of two days ago, I've been having this funky problem with my computer. Apparently this little .sys by the name of nvlddmkm loves to fuck up. Particularly whenever I'm playing WoW or just idling on my computer, which forces me to restart. This also happens frequently and in fact, it happened in the middle of me typing this post but thanks to the "restore session" function in Firefox, I didn't have to retype this whole post.

I've checked the Internet and I'm not the only one with this problem. However, it would appear that no one has a solution, either. So why am I here? Well, I've had good luck asking the people here for help. Don't suggest I download new drivers or offer any fixes from Microsoft; I've already tried them.

Please try :(

[DoctorZettabyte]

What's your card model? If it's newer, like 8000 series, the devs ought to be cooking up a fix for it soon. Otherwise, try re-installing the card, hardware and all.

If you've gotten games recently, one of those may have screwed with your registry...worth a peek, especially considering this started on Christmas, of all days.

-DocTera

[kongurous]

What's your card model? If it's newer, like 8000 series, the devs ought to be cooking up a fix for it soon. Otherwise, try re-installing the card, hardware and all.

If you've gotten games recently, one of those may have screwed with your registry...worth a peek, especially considering this started on Christmas, of all days.

-DocTera

The computer screwing up is using a GeForce 7600 GT. Exactly what would I be looking for inside the registry, cus this started after my botched installation attempt of The Witcher.

[FrankZ]

I have nVidia GeForce 8800 GT, but everything seems to work fine with me, no crashes or whatever. Instead of updating your Windows drivers (yeah, that sucks and won't do anything better), you might want to get the latest Hardware Drivers from nVidia here (http://www.nvidia.com/Download/betadrivers.aspx?lang=en-us). The sys file you mentioned earlier is undoubtedly an nVidia driver file, so getting the latest Forceware updates for it might help.

[Neo]

uninstall the video drivers and install an older version.

best to do so from safe mode.

unless it's vista and doesn't have safe mode, cause i don't have vista here yet, soo...

-Neo

[DoctorZettabyte]

botched installation of The Witcher

And therein lies the problem...try re-installing The Witcher and cleaning the registry of any trace of it, if you haven't already done so (if you can install it more than once), and make sure your 7600 supports it. I know Intel has compatibility lists online for their older chipsets, but I'm not too sure about nVidia.

-DocTera

[SilverCrusader]

No, his card can definitely run it. I have a 6200 that can run just about any new game.

[kongurous]

Don't suggest I download new drivers or offer any fixes from Microsoft; I've already tried them.

you might want to get the latest Hardware Drivers from nVidia here (http://www.nvidia.com/Download/betadrivers.aspx?lang=en-us). The sys file you mentioned earlier is undoubtedly an nVidia driver file, so getting the latest Forceware updates for it might help.

And this is why we pay attention.

uninstall the video drivers and install an older version.

best to do so from safe mode.

unless it's vista and doesn't have safe mode, cause i don't have vista here yet, soo...

-Neo

I'll give it a shot. I don't know why this would help when all other driver installations have failed, though.

And therein lies the problem...try re-installing The Witcher and cleaning the registry of any trace of it, if you haven't already done so (if you can install it more than once), and make sure your 7600 supports it. I know Intel has compatibility lists online for their older chipsets, but I'm not too sure about nVidia.

-DocTera

It's a defective disk, won't do shit. Besides, you still haven't told me exactly what the hell I should be looking for in my registry, I'm not screwing with that unless I have a real good and specific reason to do so.

[FrankZ]

And this is why we pay attention.


Sorry, but fixes from Microsoft are way different from software releases from nVidia, so I was paying attention.

kthnx

[Neo]

Sorry. I thought for some reason you had installed new drivers or something for/with the witcher and it screwed stuff up :/

-Neo

[kongurous]

Sorry, but fixes from Microsoft are way different from software releases from nVidia, so I was paying attention.

kthnx

Reread what I said.

I said "Don't suggest I download new drivers" and "or offer any fixes from Microsoft [...]."

Two very distinct statements. You're a smart person, smart enough to know the difference between a hotfix and a driver. So why is it that it's so hard to grasp this little nuance of the English language? Compound sentences aren't rocket science, I learned them when I was 7. In Florida, which has like the worst school system in the country. Maybe I'm being too generous or assuming that someone with the capability for usually correct grammar can understand a compound sentence, but when someone acts indignant, as if I insulted them, over an incorrect interpretation of a rather clear, common, and fundamental part of English, I start to get a little curious.

Maybe this is pent up rage from the driver bullshit. I don't know, I don't really care either.

[FrankZ]

Sorry for that, Kong. I was too tired last night that I misread your statement. Anyways, thanks for the correction. :D

[kongurous]

Sorry for that, Kong. I was too tired last night that I misread your statement. Anyways, thanks for the correction. :D

Your cheerful reply to my diatribe is unsettling.

[FrankZ]

Hey, cheer up kongurous. My cheerful reply was supposed kill down whatever agitation the atmosphere around here is trying to tell us. So, don't get shaken up or unbalanced by my reply. Your denunciation has yet, made me feel the criticism you wanted me to feel, but I don't want to really deprive myself with that now. Anyways, thanking someone for criticizing you isn't bad, so don't feel unsettled.

And this is getting a little off topic.

Thanks.

[DoctorZettabyte]

I second Neo's post. Other than removing any and all traces of The Witcher from your registry (I'm not liable for any further damage, although it should be relatively simple), there's really not much else I can think of. Sorry I haven't been much help.

-DocTera

[kongurous]

I second Neo's post. Other than removing any and all traces of The Witcher from your registry (I'm not liable for any further damage, although it should be relatively simple), there's really not much else I can think of. Sorry I haven't been much help.

-DocTera

I'm not seeing any traces of it on my computer. The installation never got past the initializing stage.

[Toucan]

Do all the tests pass on the dxdiag panel? Maybe we're looking the wrong way.

[kongurous]

Do all the tests pass on the dxdiag panel? Maybe we're looking the wrong way.

DxDiag seems to be fine.

[Neo]

Could run CCLeaner's Registry scanner and clean out the excess crap.

Just not sure wtf is going on here.

-Neo

[kongurous]

Could run CCLeaner's Registry scanner and clean out the excess crap.

Just not sure wtf is going on here.

-Neo

Didn't work, and the error I'm getting involves the nvlddmkm

[Lithium]

I've got a GeForce 7400 and it works perfectly fine on Vista. Try changing your gfx card settings by right clicking on your desktop>gfx settings.

[kongurous]

I've got a GeForce 7400 and it works perfectly fine on Vista. Try changing your gfx card settings by right clicking on your desktop>gfx settings.

Wait, so you're suggesting that I change my settings based on the performance of a weaker video card?

*watches as logic goes flying back, laughing*

Anyway, I already tried that. Didn't work worth piss. Try again.

[FrankZ]

Maybe *just maybe* you've got some system issues? Maybe the system is messed around, not your video card. What OS are you on? It's likely if you're on Class-B Windows Architecture like Xp or 2k, but I don't know with Vista. Never worked with it before.

[kongurous]

Maybe *just maybe* you've got some system issues? Maybe the system is messed around, not your video card. What OS are you on? It's likely if you're on Class-B Windows Architecture like Xp or 2k, but I don't know with Vista. Never worked with it before.

No, it's definitely a video card issue, given that the driver screwing up is an nVidia one. I never mess with my system unless it's broken, and even then I'm very careful because I can't replace computers on a daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly basis.

[FrankZ]

It's pretty hard to solve this issue since you have the latest versions of the video card drivers, and that you have the latest up-to-date patches. Wait, have you tried taking your video card on another PC just to test it, and see how it works out?

[kongurous]

It's pretty hard to solve this issue since you have the latest versions of the video card drivers, and that you have the latest up-to-date patches. Wait, have you tried taking your video card on another PC just to test it, and see how it works out?

Eh, that isn't an issue. Turns out it is a hardware problem, since I wiped my hard drive and reinstalled Vista to see what'd happen. Reinstalling was a bitch cus it kept restarting due to driver fuck ups.

[Black.Ice]

If it's a hardware issue, can you contact the manufacturer? Go for a refund and get something different. Even, god forbid, ATI.

:P

[kongurous]

If it's a hardware issue, can you contact the manufacturer? Go for a refund and get something different. Even, god forbid, ATI.

:P

Any warranty I had is probably gone since I got this card over a year ago and I don't feel like going through bureaucratic bullshit. But I'll consider the option.

[DoctorZettabyte]

It could be an overheating issue if the whole system fails. Make sure you've got enough cooler air near the PC and your case/mobo can fit everything.
If you feel adventurous, pull the card out and take a look at it and look for melted...anything, really. Also, make sure your fan still runs.

-DocTera

[kongurous]

Well replacing the old nvlddmkm file temporarily worked but after a few hours it went back to shitting out. Still on the prowl for shit to do.

List of crap I've tried that didn't work:
Installing new drivers
Reinstalling drivers
Rolling back drivers
Uninstalling drivers and reinstalling them
Changing the visual theme to Classic
Using only 1 stick of RAM
Moving my sound card so my video card could get more air
Cleaned the dust out of my machine
Replacing the nvlddmkm.sys

Crap I've yet to try:
Removing my card and replacing it
Leaving my case open for more air to get in
Deleting the nvlddmkm.sys and seeing if a new one is made
Taking it to a place to see if they can fix it

Unrelated note: I use crass language too much.

[DoctorZettabyte]

Deleting the nvlddmkm.sys and seeing if a new one is made
Don't delete the file, just move it. It should have the same effect.

Unrelated note: I use crass language too much. You're probably a moderator when...

-DocTera

[Black.Ice]

I don't know if this will help or not, but do you know if it will crash in safe mode? Maybe it's a driver conflict and if that driver isn't being used (in safe mode), maybe it'll work.

It's worth a shot :/

[kongurous]

I don't know if this will help or not, but do you know if it will crash in safe mode? Maybe it's a driver conflict and if that driver isn't being used (in safe mode), maybe it'll work.

It's worth a shot :/

It crashes in safe mode.

I downloaded nTune and tinkered with the fan speed and underclocked the card. Seems to be a heat issue, so I need to get more fans or an otherwise better cooling system.

[Neo]

What motherboard? Have you attempted to upgrade the BIOS?

I've been trying to google this off and on, but it's difficult without knowing your specs. Though a list of what you've tried is useful.

-Neo

[kongurous]

I have an ASUS K8N VM motherboard, an AMD Sempron that clocks at 1.6 GHz, 1 gig of RAM, a GeForce 7600 GT, a Sound Blaster Live! video card, a DVD-RW, and an 80 GB hard drive in the machine that's screwing up.

[DoctorZettabyte]

This sounds like an overheating issue, but I don't know if overheats on motherboards or even on Vista lock it down. Overheats on XP (mainly with USB ports) definetley give the BSoD.

-DocTera

[kongurous]

This sounds like an overheating issue, but I don't know if overheats on motherboards or even on Vista lock it down. Overheats on XP (mainly with USB ports) definetley give the BSoD.

-DocTera

I'd be willing to bet it's the fan on the video card screwing up, since this always happens when my card temperature exceeds 70C. And that's with it set for the fan to spin at 100%.

This whole mess started only recently, too. It worked fine up until now, and then something screwed up the cooling system to my card and now I get crashes.

[Toucan]

Peel the label off the center head of the fan, you will find a little hole under it. (some models the hole is on the underside.)
1 drop of sewing machine oil (Just 1) in the hole then cover it with a little round filing label. Just one of the small round ones you get from any stationary shop.
It works a treat.

[DoctorZettabyte]

Or use liquid cooling. One of my friends has shown me one he built himself...it's a pretty impressive setup. He re-did his whole case to fit a large tank of water with a siphoning system to cool everything down. Or something. I'm not a huge hardware guy, but I do know some basic stuff, like that it's really hard to build your own leak-proof and efficient system. And that it's really hard to find a cheap one.

-DocTera

[kongurous]

Or use liquid cooling. One of my friends has shown me one he built himself...it's a pretty impressive setup. He re-did his whole case to fit a large tank of water with a siphoning system to cool everything down. Or something. I'm not a huge hardware guy, but I do know some basic stuff, like that it's really hard to build your own leak-proof and efficient system. And that it's really hard to find a cheap one.

-DocTera

I have an onboard GeForce 6100 that'll have to suffice until I can replace my 7600 :\

[DoctorZettabyte]

Beats a 5500 every time. Good luck with the replacement!

-DocTera

[FrankZ]

Stupid suggestion, but don't you want to try getting one of those freon turbocooler fans?

[Lithium]

Hurr my gfx card is better than yours. ;)

That's why you should buy 2 year warranties.

[The_Maker]

Hurr my gfx card is better than yours. ;)

That's why you should buy 2 year warranties.
I doubt whatever you have is better than his 8800 GTX in his other computer.

Nice offtopic, yet totally helpful post though.

[Lithium]

Looks like you didn't understand my joke. Phail.

Howerver, thank you for taking the time to respond to my post.

[kongurous]

I'm not going to risk screwing up my video card trying to fix the fan. When my replacement (an 8800, btw) comes in, I'll try to fix the 7600 and sell it. Until then, it's 6100 country for now.

[DoctorZettabyte]

Could be worse. At least you can still play some games for now. Sounds like Diablo II and Starcraft for a while.

-DocTera

[kongurous]

Could be worse. At least you can still play some games for now. Sounds like Diablo II and Starcraft for a while.

-DocTera

Or Civilization 4, lord willing.

[DoctorZettabyte]

Any update, Kongurous?

-DocTera

[kongurous]

Any update, Kongurous?

-DocTera

Civilization 4 works.

What, you wanted something else? The problem's solved. Just gotta wait till Wednesday or so.