Could someone please help me decipher this driver issue/fix? I would be eternally grateful - seriously

[Maximum Sloth]

So, I found this fix on several websites..but none of the files seem to be where the fix says they should be...this is the error I am trying to fix "Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered" - certain games minimize to the tray then crash...seems to happen at random. System specs at the bottom :D

Please see the suggested fix below:

"Go to your NVIDIA folder (located in C:\NVIDIA), and look for the file named nvlddmkm.sy.

Next, copy the file at the root of C:. In most cases, this file name is C:\nvlddmkm.sy_.

Now, head to the system folder that houses your drivers (in many cases, this is C:\Windows\System32\drivers\).

Locate the nvlddmkm.sys file, and rename it as nvlddmkm.sys.old.

Now, open the command prompt by pressing the Windows key + R and typing cmd.

Type cd, followed by the Enter key. Then, type expand.exe nvlddmkm.sy_ nvlddmkm.sys, and press Enter again.

This command will allow you to unzip the nvlddmkm.sys file (which was previously saved at the root of C:) and create a new file instance.

Copy the new file to C:\WindowsSystem\32drivers, and then restart your PC to let the changes take effect. "

My "Nvidia Corporation" folder has such file in the "NVIDIA Corporation\Installer2\Display.Driver" folder. Is this the actual file I want to copy?

My System32/drivers folder does NOT have the nvlddmkm.sys file anywhere in it. This is where I am stumped.

I have tried:

1) wiping the drivers (using DDU - absolutely clean and reinstalling to no avail..even an older version of the Nvidia drivers)

2) checking my gpu temperatures to see if it's overheating - stress tested and recieved no crashes

3) Checked the RAM and no issues

4) Card is seated properly

So I am hoping this "fix" actually fixes it.

In conclusion - Help me steam forum users, you're my only hope.

Ssytem specs:
Gtx 980ti 6gb
Windows 10 64 bit
i3770K processor
Zx 170 motherboard (off the top of my head, I believe that is what it is).
32gb RAM
900W PSU

[Omega]

What is the exact issue you are experiencing? You forgot the mention it.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by Omega:

What is the exact issue you are experiencing? You forgot the mention it.

^This.

We can't help until we understand why you want to do this.

[-=SOF=-WID99]

just get and use DDU and remove all your drivers in safe mode ..yes ddu will do that for you .. then reinstall the current Nvidia drivers for your vid card

DDU can be found on the official Nvidia forums
here https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/550192/geforce-drivers/wagnard-tools-ddu-gmp-tdr-manipulator-new-cpu-core-analyzer-updated-07-27-2017-/

you can also get it here https://www.wagnardsoft.com/
as well as here http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by Omega:

What is the exact issue you are experiencing? You forgot the mention it.

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Originally posted by Omega:

What is the exact issue you are experiencing? You forgot the mention it.

^This.

We can't help until we understand why you want to do this.

Oh, the issue is certain games minimizing to the tray then crashing - I get an error stating "Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered."

But nothing except the game has issues.

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by -=SOF=-WID99:

just get and use DDU and remove all your drivers in safe mode ..yes ddu will do that for you .. then reinstall the current Nvidia drivers for your vid card

DDU can be found on the official Nvidia forums
here https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/550192/geforce-drivers/wagnard-tools-ddu-gmp-tdr-manipulator-new-cpu-core-analyzer-updated-07-27-2017-/

you can also get it here https://www.wagnardsoft.com/
as well as here http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html

Tried that twice :(

[Bad 💀 Motha]

First off; can I ask where you got such BS info from? Regarding suggestions to take a driver file and put it into Windows driver folder?

All that info is waste of time, and wrong.

Driver keeps crashing? Change the driver version... very simple.

Also the TDR Timing in Win8/10 are too low by default, set it higher.

[!xS]

Hey, Hi there!

what your'e experiencing: Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR)[docs.microsoft.com]
The same as above with a lot of crap suggestions: GeForce Community Forums - Support Bull$hit[forums.geforce.com]

This is also Bull$hit, you'll not be able to "use" nvlddmkm.sys if it's not properly installed at all, also WinX will refuse to load it because of the signature mismatch (the PROPER way is described below):

Originally posted by Maximum Sloth:

Please see the suggested fix below:

"Go to your NVIDIA folder (located in C:\NVIDIA), and look for the file named nvlddmkm.sy.

Next, copy the file at the root of C:. In most cases, this file name is C:\nvlddmkm.sy_.

Now, head to the system folder that houses your drivers (in many cases, this is C:\Windows\System32\drivers\).

Locate the nvlddmkm.sys file, and rename it as nvlddmkm.sys.old.

Now, open the command prompt by pressing the Windows key + R and typing cmd.

Type cd, followed by the Enter key. Then, type expand.exe nvlddmkm.sy_ nvlddmkm.sys, and press Enter again.

This command will allow you to unzip the nvlddmkm.sys file (which was previously saved at the root of C:) and create a new file instance.

Copy the new file to C:\WindowsSystem\32drivers, and then restart your PC to let the changes take effect. "

My "Nvidia Corporation" folder has such file in the "NVIDIA Corporation\Installer2\Display.Driver" folder. Is this the actual file I want to copy?

My System32/drivers folder does NOT have the nvlddmkm.sys file anywhere in it. This is where I am stumped.

* * the PROPER way ...

If you want to replace the "nvlddmkm.sys", then

1. uninstall the nvidia geforce drivers,
   
2. restart win,
   
3. make sure that the file "nvlddmkm.sys" doesn't exist, in those two folders:
   

   Navigate with Windofs Explorer
    
    C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ 
    
    C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\DRIVERS\ 
   - - OR - -
   Execute in (elevated) Command Prompt
    
    DEL /P /F /A:RSHAIL "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\NVLDDMKM.SYS"
    
    DEL /P /F /A:RSHAIL "C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\DRIVERS\NVLDDMKM.SYS"
   Notice: The DEL ... Commands will display an error result if target file was not found...
   

4. In addition, WinDofs also creates a backup copies of any driver installed @
   

   C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository
   

   !!! DON'T EVEN THING ABOUT LOOKING AT 'EM !!!
   
5. Install the nvidia drivers

Back to the TDR issue:

My suggestion:

1. Make sure that the hardware is installed right, and that it fits/sits in nice & tight ;)
   
2. Please install all the drivers for all of your hardware (I'm sure you skipped the chipset)
   
3. I'm assuming that you've dual graphics, Intel blaah & nvidia, after the drivers for both are installed, open up the nvidia control center and set the Master / preferred GPU. See: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=738925008
   
4. when all the drivers installation is done open up power management and set there its behavior with the graphics...
   
5. restart
   
6. test it out
   
7. report back...

*** EDIT / ADDED ***

Also if you OCed the GPU, RAMS or CPU just revert it to its default state & try it out

*** END OF EDIT / ADDED ***

... if it fails i'll provide you the registry entry to temporary disable it ... thats another story ...

don't forget to report back

[[☥] - CJ -]

For the record
The display driver crashing can be caused by Hardware issues as well, it isnt always a Driver issue that will cause this to happen.

Temps
Faulty or Improperly added RAM
Inadequate or Faulty Powersupply

[Long Ago [Linux]]

Who made your GTX 980 Ti?

The only time I got similar messages was when my cheap Galaxy GT 430 began failing just after its 1 year warranty expired. Trying all different Nvidia drivers did not help, it was hardware failure.

I never had trouble with graphics cards from name brand companies, EVGA GTX 550 Ti, MSI GTX 750 Ti, or current Asus GTX 1060. Although, I did have an MSI laptop fail (no longer turns on properly, blank screen, on 7 sec, off 4 sec, on 7 sec, off 4 sec...).

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by Bad_Motha:

First off; can I ask where you got such BS info from? Regarding suggestions to take a driver file and put it into Windows driver folder?

All that info is waste of time, and wrong.

Driver keeps crashing? Change the driver version... very simple.

Also the TDR Timing in Win8/10 are too low by default, set it higher.

How do i do that - the TDR timing thing?

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by !xS:

Hey, Hi there!

what your'e experiencing: Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR)[docs.microsoft.com]
The same as above with a lot of crap suggestions: GeForce Community Forums - Support Bull$hit[forums.geforce.com]

This is also Bull$hit, you'll not be able to "use" nvlddmkm.sys if it's not properly installed at all, also WinX will refuse to load it because of the signature mismatch (the PROPER way is described below):

Originally posted by Maximum Sloth:

Please see the suggested fix below:

"Go to your NVIDIA folder (located in C:\NVIDIA), and look for the file named nvlddmkm.sy.

Next, copy the file at the root of C:. In most cases, this file name is C:\nvlddmkm.sy_.

Now, head to the system folder that houses your drivers (in many cases, this is C:\Windows\System32\drivers\).

Locate the nvlddmkm.sys file, and rename it as nvlddmkm.sys.old.

Now, open the command prompt by pressing the Windows key + R and typing cmd.

Type cd, followed by the Enter key. Then, type expand.exe nvlddmkm.sy_ nvlddmkm.sys, and press Enter again.

This command will allow you to unzip the nvlddmkm.sys file (which was previously saved at the root of C:) and create a new file instance.

Copy the new file to C:\WindowsSystem\32drivers, and then restart your PC to let the changes take effect. "

My "Nvidia Corporation" folder has such file in the "NVIDIA Corporation\Installer2\Display.Driver" folder. Is this the actual file I want to copy?

My System32/drivers folder does NOT have the nvlddmkm.sys file anywhere in it. This is where I am stumped.

* * the PROPER way ...

If you want to replace the "nvlddmkm.sys", then

1. uninstall the nvidia geforce drivers,
   
2. restart win,
   
3. make sure that the file "nvlddmkm.sys" doesn't exist, in those two folders:
   

   Navigate with Windofs Explorer
    
    C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ 
    
    C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\DRIVERS\ 
   - - OR - -
   Execute in (elevated) Command Prompt
    
    DEL /P /F /A:RSHAIL "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\NVLDDMKM.SYS"
    
    DEL /P /F /A:RSHAIL "C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\DRIVERS\NVLDDMKM.SYS"
   Notice: The DEL ... Commands will display an error result if target file was not found...
   

4. In addition, WinDofs also creates a backup copies of any driver installed @
   

   C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository
   

   !!! DON'T EVEN THING ABOUT LOOKING AT 'EM !!!
   
5. Install the nvidia drivers

Back to the TDR issue:

My suggestion:

1. Make sure that the hardware is installed right, and that it fits/sits in nice & tight ;)
   
2. Please install all the drivers for all of your hardware (I'm sure you skipped the chipset)
   
3. I'm assuming that you've dual graphics, Intel blaah & nvidia, after the drivers for both are installed, open up the nvidia control center and set the Master / preferred GPU. See: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=738925008
   
4. when all the drivers installation is done open up power management and set there its behavior with the graphics...
   
5. restart
   
6. test it out
   
7. report back...

*** EDIT / ADDED ***

Also if you OCed the GPU, RAMS or CPU just revert it to its default state & try it out

*** END OF EDIT / ADDED ***

... if it fails i'll provide you the registry entry to temporary disable it ... thats another story ...

don't forget to report back

No overclocking was done..I didn't touch any of the files anyway haha.

I only have one Nvidia, no Intel :D

I checked both those folders and the nvlddkm file is not in either folder. I did a clean wipe and reinstall of the drivers using DDU, and the files still aren't there. They're only in the backup file repository you mentioned before (C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository) - I didn't touch anything, just looked to see if they were there haha.

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by ☥ - CJ -:

For the record
The display driver crashing can be caused by Hardware issues as well, it isnt always a Driver issue that will cause this to happen.

Temps
Faulty or Improperly added RAM
Inadequate or Faulty Powersupply

Yup, I checked the RAM, made sure the card was seated properly and how would I check the PSU? It's 900W so I think it should be sufficient :D

Also checked the temperatures and they're normal.

[!xS]

Originally posted by Maximum Sloth:

Originally posted by !xS:

Hey, Hi there!

what your'e experiencing: Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR)[docs.microsoft.com]
The same as above with a lot of crap suggestions: GeForce Community Forums - Support Bull$hit[forums.geforce.com]

This is also Bull$hit, you'll not be able to "use" nvlddmkm.sys if it's not properly installed at all, also WinX will refuse to load it because of the signature mismatch (the PROPER way is described below):

* * the PROPER way ...

If you want to replace the "nvlddmkm.sys", then

1. uninstall the nvidia geforce drivers,
   
2. restart win,
   
3. make sure that the file "nvlddmkm.sys" doesn't exist, in those two folders:
   

   Navigate with Windofs Explorer
    
    C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ 
    
    C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\DRIVERS\ 
   - - OR - -
   Execute in (elevated) Command Prompt
    
    DEL /P /F /A:RSHAIL "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\NVLDDMKM.SYS"
    
    DEL /P /F /A:RSHAIL "C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\DRIVERS\NVLDDMKM.SYS"
   Notice: The DEL ... Commands will display an error result if target file was not found...
   

4. In addition, WinDofs also creates a backup copies of any driver installed @
   

   C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository
   

   !!! DON'T EVEN THING ABOUT LOOKING AT 'EM !!!
   
5. Install the nvidia drivers

Back to the TDR issue:

My suggestion:

1. Make sure that the hardware is installed right, and that it fits/sits in nice & tight ;)
   
2. Please install all the drivers for all of your hardware (I'm sure you skipped the chipset)
   
3. I'm assuming that you've dual graphics, Intel blaah & nvidia, after the drivers for both are installed, open up the nvidia control center and set the Master / preferred GPU. See: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=738925008
   
4. when all the drivers installation is done open up power management and set there its behavior with the graphics...
   
5. restart
   
6. test it out
   
7. report back...

*** EDIT / ADDED ***

Also if you OCed the GPU, RAMS or CPU just revert it to its default state & try it out

*** END OF EDIT / ADDED ***

... if it fails i'll provide you the registry entry to temporary disable it ... thats another story ...

don't forget to report back

No overclocking was done..I didn't touch any of the files anyway haha.

I only have one Nvidia, no Intel :D

I checked both those folders and the nvlddkm file is not in either folder. I did a clean wipe and reinstall of the drivers using DDU, and the files still aren't there. They're only in the backup file repository you mentioned before (C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository) - I didn't touch anything, just looked to see if they were there haha.

So you're done with "* * the PROPER way ..."?? the drivers are now installed? did you do a clean install (the one small checkbox that says "clean install" during the nvidia drivers setu)???

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by !xS:

Originally posted by Maximum Sloth:

No overclocking was done..I didn't touch any of the files anyway haha.

I only have one Nvidia, no Intel :D

I checked both those folders and the nvlddkm file is not in either folder. I did a clean wipe and reinstall of the drivers using DDU, and the files still aren't there. They're only in the backup file repository you mentioned before (C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository) - I didn't touch anything, just looked to see if they were there haha.

So you're done with "* * the PROPER way ..."?? the drivers are now installed? did you do a clean install (the one small checkbox that says "clean install" during the nvidia drivers setu)???

Yup, did it twice. No crashes on any game aside from For the King nowadays...

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Ok, yea if you're not getting crashes then leave all the TDR timeout values alone.
But if for some reason you do need to mess with that, here is the tool:
TDR Manipulator > http://steamcommunity.com/groups/TheDivisonUSA/discussions/0/133258593407426465

Sometimes I think it's just some GPUs are more sensitive to all of this then others.
Pretty much every GTX 970 I have tried since its release, almost always having various crashing under Win8.1/10, changing the TDR timeouts seems to always address the issues. But under Win7, seemed like this was never a need to ever mess with the TDR timings in that OS, so yes, odd....

Overall, always hard to know for sure why it occurs; cause the most common cause is just an un-stable GPU Driver, or perhaps its install.