NVIDIA Drivers causing a crash (watchdog timeout)

[Andy]

Since updating to the latest NVIDIA driver my game is virtually unplayable. Every launch freezes and after 2 minutes bombs out with:
Registered crash info file...
InternalVersion: 3.0.4772630 P4CL: 6226040 Stream: R6.Release
!!!CRASHED!!!
Error Reason: Assert
Expression:
Message: Watchdog timeout! (120 seconds)
File: E:\R6.Release\dev\src\common\engine\src\engineWatchdog.cpp
Line: 198

I've got over 1600 hours logged in the game and have completed it twice. I'm trying to run through the character I want in Phantom Liberty but 99 times out 100 the game won't even start any more.
Anyone having the same issues or knows of a fix?

[Bogmore]

Sounds like you may need to verify your installation or maybe even do a clean reinstall.

I don't have that file or it's path so could it be a mod?

https://support.cdprojektred.com/en/cyberpunk/pc/sp-technical/issue/2233/how-do-i-clean-install-my-game

[Azrael]

https://forums.cdprojektred.com/index.php?threads/cyberpunk-2077-pc-crash-issues.11040656/page-107#post-12404093

Click on the expand in that particular comment and you'll find a workaround, since nobody actually knows yet what is causing such error.

[Andy]

I've clean installed the game 5 or 6 times now and verified the game files more times than I can remember, I've flashed my BIOS and made sure all the video drivers and chipset drivers are at their latest, and always the same result. It appears to be random whether the game starts or not. It may start once out of 100 attempts...
I haven't added any mods since it was working, or changed any settings, just updated the NVIDIA drivers to 537.13...

I'll try unplugging the monitor while I load

[Azrael]

Originally posted by Andy:

I've clean installed the game 5 or 6 times now and verified the game files more times than I can remember, I've flashed my BIOS and made sure all the video drivers and chipset drivers are at their latest, and always the same result. It appears to be random whether the game starts or not. It may start once out of 100 attempts...
I haven't added any mods since it was working, or changed any settings, just updated the NVIDIA drivers to 537.13...

I'll try unplugging the monitor while I load

Do you actually delete the Cyberpunk 2077 folder after an uninstall or simply uninstall then install the game?

[76561198856165040]

Did you try instead to roll back the driver?

[Tokenn]

You can use a freeware utility called NVCleanstall to roll back your drivers very easily...also do clean driver installs even with older drivers.

[Andy]

Crazy thing is the error shows this file
File: E:\R6.Release\dev\src\common\engine\src\engineWatchdog.cpp
I don't even have an E drive on my machine, so where the hell is it looking for this?

[Andy]

Do you actually delete the Cyberpunk 2077 folder after an uninstall or simply uninstall then install the game?

I've tried completely deleting everything, and also just doing an uninstall/re-install in Steam. It still seems completely random.

I'll try rolling back the graphics drivers tomorrow

[Andy]

UPDATE: Out of sheer desperation I swapped the NVIDIA Game Ready driver for the NVIDIA Studio driver... And it loaded first time. It would seem that the fault is definitely in the interaction with the Game Ready driver 537.13

[Sur]

Just reinstall from the nvidia app. Works everytime. Takes a few minutes. I’ve had to do this daily for a while now since I figured it out. Anytime I close the game, when I want to play again, I reinstall driver through the nvidia app. Works like a charm. went through all troubleshooting guides. This works for me every time. Mods or not.

[76561198856165040]

Originally posted by Sur:

Just reinstall from the nvidia app. Works everytime. Takes a few minutes. I’ve had to do this daily for a while now since I figured it out. Anytime I close the game, when I want to play again, I reinstall driver through the nvidia app. Works like a charm. went through all troubleshooting guides. This works for me every time. Mods or not.

Is CP2077 the only game you had to do that for?

[Andy]

Is CP2077 the only game you had to do that for?

It is for me. CP2077 is the only game that gives me any problems.

[Bers3rk_]

I have the same issue. Clean installed GPU drivers, 4x. Clean install of CP2077 4x, and I still crash. Sometimes the game launches and I'm able to "play." But the second I open map and or inventory game freezes and that's about it. I can not find a fix for this at all. I've tried all the other tips as well, but nothing works. I've never modded the game at all. I simply just played it. And now I can't. Even went as far as to send multiple crash logs to the devs, and they just give very basic "fixes" so no clue....

[76561198856165040]

That's horrible. I really hope they fix the problem as many seem to be dealing with their game not working. :(

[Andy]

Originally posted by Berserk:

I have the same issue. Clean installed GPU drivers, 4x. Clean install of CP2077 4x, and I still crash. Sometimes the game launches and I'm able to "play." But the second I open map and or inventory game freezes and that's about it. I can not find a fix for this at all. I've tried all the other tips as well, but nothing works. I've never modded the game at all. I simply just played it. And now I can't. Even went as far as to send multiple crash logs to the devs, and they just give very basic "fixes" so no clue....

Mine has been running fine for 2 days now since I switched the drivers to the Studio Ready, but I daren't exit the game, just in case it won't restart, so I just save and leave it on the menu screen when I stop playing...
I'm hoping this is fixed before the Phantome release, otherwise I've pre-paid for something I won't be able to play.