Question:

How to resolve nvlddmkm errors on a custom-built PC with multiple hardware changes?

I have a custom-built PC that has been experiencing frequent crashes and poor gaming performance for over a year. The event viewer shows nvlddmkm errors as the cause. I have tried various troubleshooting steps, such as:

• Changing the graphics card, the driver version, and the overclock settings
• Disabling the onboard graphics
• Changing the power supply
• Testing the RAM modules
• Stress testing the GPU
• Changing the motherboard
• Reinstalling the operating system

None

of these steps have solved the problem. The only components that I have not replaced are the CPU and the SSD, but I doubt they are the source of the issue. What else can I do to fix this problem?

Answer:

If you are a Windows user with an Nvidia graphics card, you may have encountered the dreaded nvlddmkm.sys error, also known as the video TDR failure error. This error causes your screen to go black and then resume, or sometimes display a blue screen of death (BSOD). It can also affect your gaming performance and cause frequent crashes.

The nvlddmkm.sys file is one of the drivers that enables communication between your operating system and your Nvidia GPU. When this driver fails, your display may malfunction or stop working altogether. There are many possible reasons for this error, such as corrupted system files, outdated or incompatible drivers, overheating, power issues, memory conflicts, or third-party software interference.

If you have a custom-built PC and you have tried multiple hardware changes to fix this error, such as changing the graphics card, the power supply, the motherboard, the RAM, or the SSD, but none of them worked, you may be feeling frustrated and hopeless. However, there are still some software solutions that you can try before giving up on your PC. Here are some of the most effective methods to resolve the nvlddmkm.sys error on Windows 10.

Method 1: Update the Graphics Card Drivers

One of the most common causes of the nvlddmkm.sys error is outdated or corrupted graphics card drivers. To fix this, you need to update your drivers to the latest version available from Nvidia. You can do this in two ways: using the Device Manager or using the Nvidia GeForce Experience app.

To update your drivers using the Device Manager, follow these steps:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK.
• In the Device Manager window, expand the Display adapters category and right-click on your Nvidia GPU.
• Select Update driver from the context menu and choose Search automatically for drivers.
• Wait for Windows to find and install the latest drivers for your device.
• Restart your PC and check if the error is gone.

To update your drivers using the Nvidia GeForce Experience app, follow these steps:

• Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience app from your desktop or taskbar. If you don’t have it, you can download it from [here].
• Log in to the app and click on Drivers in the top-left corner.
• You will see a list of the latest Nvidia GameReady drivers. Click on Download and the app will automatically download and install the latest drivers for you.
• Restart your PC and check if the error is gone.

Method 2: Update Windows to the Latest Version

Another possible cause of the nvlddmkm.sys error is an outdated or incompatible version of Windows. Sometimes, new updates may introduce bugs or conflicts with your graphics card drivers, or old updates may lack the necessary patches or fixes for your device. To avoid this, you need to update your Windows to the latest version available from Microsoft. You can do this by following these steps:

• Press Windows + I to open the Settings app and click on Update & Security.
• Click on Windows Update in the left pane and then click on Check for updates in the right pane.
• Wait for Windows to download and install any available updates for your system.
• Restart your PC and check if the error is gone.

Method 3: Run a Disk and Memory Check on the Computer

Sometimes, the nvlddmkm.sys error may be caused by bad sectors on your hard drive or faulty memory modules on your motherboard. These hardware issues can affect the performance and stability of your system and cause various errors and crashes. To fix this, you need to run a disk and memory check on your computer and repair any errors or problems that are found. You can do this by following these steps:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator.
• In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter. This will scan and fix any errors or bad sectors on your hard drive.
• Type exit and press Enter to close the Command Prompt window.
• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box again, type mdsched.exe, and click OK. This will launch the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.
• Click on Restart now and check for problems. This will reboot your PC and scan and fix any errors or problems with your memory modules.
• Wait for the scan to complete and restart your PC.
• Check if the error is gone.

Method 4: Run the SFC and DISM Commands

Another possible cause of the nvlddmkm.sys error is corrupted or missing system files. These files are essential for the proper functioning of your operating system and your graphics card drivers. To fix this, you need to run the SFC and DISM commands, which are built-in tools that can scan and repair your system files. You can do this by following these steps:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator.
• In the Command Prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This will scan and fix any corrupted or missing system files.
• After the scan is complete, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. This will scan and restore the health of your system image.
• Wait for the commands to finish and restart your PC.
• Check if the error is gone.

Method 5: Underclock the GPU

Sometimes, the nvlddmkm.sys error may be caused by overheating or overloading of your GPU. This can happen if your GPU is overclocked, meaning that it is running at a higher speed and voltage than its default settings. Overclocking can improve your gaming performance, but it can also cause instability and errors on your system. To fix this, you need to underclock your GPU, meaning that you need to lower its speed and voltage to its default or lower settings. You can do this by using a third-party software such as MSI Afterburner. You can download it from [here]. You can do this by following these steps:

• Launch the MSI Afterburner app and click on the Settings icon in the bottom-right corner.
• In the Settings window, go to the General tab and check the boxes next to Unlock voltage control and Unlock voltage monitoring.
• Click OK and go back to the main window of the app.
• Use the sliders to adjust the Core Clock and Memory Clock values to lower than their default settings. You can also adjust the Core Voltage and Power Limit values to lower than their default settings. You can use the Reset button to restore the default settings if needed.
• Click on the Apply button to save the changes and close the app.
• Restart your PC and check if the error is gone.

Method 6: Completely Remove and Re-Install Graphics Card Drivers

If none of the above methods worked for you, the last resort is to completely remove and re-install your graphics card drivers. This will ensure that you have a clean and fresh installation of the latest drivers for your device, without any traces of the old or corrupted drivers. To do this, you need to use a third-party software such as Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU). You can download it from [here]. You can do this by following these steps:

• Download and extract the DDU zip file to a folder on your desktop.
• Launch the DDU.exe file and click on Options in the top-right corner.
• In the Options window, check the boxes next to Prevent downloads of drivers from Windows update when Windows search for a driver for a device and Enable Safe Mode dialog box.
• Click OK and go back to the main window of the app.
• Select GPU from the drop-down menu and click on Clean and restart.
• Wait for the app to uninstall your graphics card drivers and restart your PC.
• After your PC restarts, go to the Nvidia website and download the latest drivers for your GPU. You can use the [Nvidia Driver Download] page to find the right drivers for your device.
• Install the drivers and restart your PC.
• Check if the error is gone.

Conclusion

The

nvlddmkm.sys error is a frustrating and annoying error that can ruin your gaming experience and cause your PC to crash. However, it is not an unsolvable problem. By following the methods in this article, you can fix this error and enjoy your PC without any issues. We hope this article was helpful for you. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.