nVidia BSOD nvlddmkm.sys

I am using Vista Home Premium on:
Athlon64 3000
MSI GeForce 7800GT
GA-K8NF-9 motherboard
2GB RAM

Every time I tried to install, the installer would BSOD near the end when it
tried to load my video drivers. The BSOD pointed to nvlddmkm.sys. I was
finally able to complete an install by letting this happen, then booting from
the disc and using the command prompt to delete nvlddmkm.sys. When the
installer tried to continue, it couldn't find the driver so it just went on
without it.

Any time I try to install video drivers, I get the same BSOD pointing to
nvlddmkm.sys. I have tried all kinds of drivers from the default one privided
with Vista, to nVidia's WHQL drivers, to nVidia's beta drivers. All give
exactly the same fault.

I have updated my BIOS, loaded default BIOS settings, and updated my nForce
motherboard drivers to no avail.

My system has never had any problems running Windows XP and it continues to
work fine when I boot it up since I installed Vista.

Does anyone know what's causing this and if there's a fix? I understand that
nVidia are having lots of driver problems but it seems that most people can
at least get in to Windows. I haven't been able to try out Aero yet!

having the exact same problem, have you found any solutions?

I have the same problem when I install vista, but there thi problem also windows xp and the bug ar localized on "CPU to AGP" driver. I need to install VIAGART file driver contained in VIA-Hyperion package.... maybe run under Vista.

When i try to delete the nvlddmkm.sys file or replace it with your instructions bellow - the system gives me this text when i reboot and windows is about to start (regardless of safe mode or not)

"The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows click ok to restart"
any help?

Winupdate does not install the latest drivers for a Graphics card. It
installs the drivers that the Graphic card manufacturer released when the
graphics card was first shipped which are often not at all compatible with
your current system.
The current Drivers for cards with Nvidia chips from the Nvidia Web site are
the 190.xx drivers.

when i write 'EXPAND.EXE nvlddmkm.sy_ nvlddmkm.sys' in the command prompt it says "Can't open input file: nvlddmkm.sy_."

Anyone know why this is?

nevermind, its cause i didn't run as administrator. Unfortunately i experienced the same problem after the restart.

I have found and fixed the problem today. This is what appears to happen.
during the installation of the most current drivers 100.65 Vista, an OLD file
nvlddmkm.sys is copied into windows/system32/drivers and not the current one
in the install. As a result the new drivers are attempting to access a file
dated 11/2006 instead of 2/2007 ver 7.15.11.0065 which is in the newest WHQL
driver ver 100.65 vista 32.

Fix: Go to windows/system32/drivers and rename nvlddmkm.sys to
nvlddmkm.sys.old. Go to the nvidia directory and find the file nvlddmkm.sy_
and copy it to windows/system32. Using the cmd window (DOS box) type
EXPAND.EXE nvlddmkm.sy_ nvlddmkm.sys. When the expansion is complete, copy
the new nvlddmkm.sys to windows/system32/drivers and restart the computer.

Your computer should now work properly.

You will notice that any uninstall and reinstall of nvidia drivers will not
remove the old nvlddmkm.sys file and will not overwrite it with the newer
version. You have to do it manually. I do not know why this happens but who
cares as long it is fixed.

[thiagodm]

The latest Nvidia 158 driver goes through the process of eliminating older
versions. However, that is NOT the only problem and will NOT fix your system
permanently.

Various websites and a potential law suit talk about the problem of using the
8800 Series with Vista. When running DreamScene, DirectX 10.0 demos, and
video DVD's, a message pops up saying that Nvlddmkm.dll or nvlddmkm.sys has
lost connectivity and has been recovered. In some cases the computer has to
be rebooted and the offending programs not run again. In some cases, there
is a BSOD or other error messages.

Many solutions, including driver updates and elimination of older versions
of the drivers have been suggested. None of them work.

Well, for me the problem appears fixed; I simply turned off UAC!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything has been running fine for an hour, which is a record.

My setup is as follows:

* Hardware and software firewall, antispyware, and anti virus software
* Asus Striker Extreme
* PNY 8800 GTX -- Driver version 7.15.11.5818 (158.15)
* 2 GB Corsair Dominator memory
* OC the CPU to 3.00 MHz
* Two Raptor RAID 0 drives
* External RAID 5 backup
* Creative X-Fi gamer

I really hope that this post helps people.

I discovered a way to resolve my problem. And I only registered to help who still stuck on this.
I realize that it started after the nvidia service kicks in. So the solution that worked for me:

Start in safe mode
go to command
type
sc delete nvsvc (don't remember if it was nvsvc or nvvsvc try both)
sc delete nvvsvc
sc delete nvlddmkm

retype to check if it is deleted
restart
update nvidia driver using windows udpate (if is your case) or/then install newest drivers.

I cannot thank you enough. I spent many hours trying to find the nvidia driver I knew was the culprit somewhere. I got stuck half way through the recovery process with a hung black screen, this meant I could not access safe mode to resolve the issue..

For anyone who may be reading this that has an HP laptop with the black screen and may be stuck during installation from HP recovery, I used this solution to change the driver name from nvlddmkm.sys to
nvlddmkm.sys.old . I could not complete the rest of the process because the fresh install had already deleted the nvidia folder. However just changing the name of this defunct file allowed windows to boot past the black screen and I am now typing from my fresh vista install :)

You can use the "repair startup function" when windows loads or alternatively use the F11 to recovery option (then cancel recovery) and access the cmd.
From here you need to navigate to C:\windows\system32\drivers
Then do the rename nvlddmkm.sys nvlddmkm.sys.old

[kidswithaids]

I just registered because my computer is dead because of this problem.
I cannot enter the Safe Mode nor any other mode. I get a black screen with mouse cursor.
I updated nVidia graphic driver to latest one, and this problem happened a day after.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/5309/img0768y.jpg
What can I do to solve this. I have Vista and W7 and cannot access neither.
Latest update: I have managed to enter Command Prompt (cmd.exe) in XP but don't know what to do from there.
I managed to do what Dwain said, but the problem persists.

I have XP on the same machine and I can strangely log onto it when I use boot option from XP CD, and than select Earlier version of Windows instead of W7. When XP loads, I can do what ever I want, like everything is OK. There I managed to do Dwain's steps but it doesn't help.

The monitor shuts down or the blue screen appears and resets by itself. I can hear that the system is up but the monitor is off.
I can reinstall W7 but the problem will occur if I install the drivers, right. Help me!
Yes, I also have the vertical lines during boot! That's the first thing I noticed. Too much of a coincidence to conclude the card is broken.

I managed to rename or delete the file(s) but the problem is still there. The nVidia's .sys file is the same as the one in windows/system32/drivers, so I don't see the point of re-copying it, as Dwain suggested.

I went to Safe mode with a very difficult and strange method, but the problem is still there even though I switched the files.
Are you actually running the Nvidia 191.07 drivers for Win7?
I wanted to share in first place, but I can't repeat the procedure. That's why I wrote "difficult and strange".
You can give it a try but I am sure it was a coincidence.

I've put a bootable XP CD in the drive (note that I am not sure that it is 100% bootable because it wouldn't boot on previous machine). Than I entered Boot menu (on my machine it is F8, can differ) and selected CD/DVD device. Than it asked me like every time it loads if I want Windows7 or Previous Version of Windows, where I selected Previous. Then I had few choices to choose from where one of them was Safe Mode, besides Start Windows normally and few others.

Would reinstalling W7 and updating with old drivers help?
Do you say that because you solved the problem with that solution or you assume that diver updating is the ultimate solution for all hardware problems?

If you read the post you could see that I have the latest drivers. Windows couldn't download the drivers (?) so I did it manually. When I entered the system accidentally once, I checked if the drivers are up to date, and they are.

I am unable to start Windows 7 x64 at all. I passes the Starting Windows screen and than crashes in terms of black screen with mouse pointer or blue screen. Few days before this started, I've installed latest nVidia drivers.

As for XP x86, I manage to boot up sometimes randomly, but it always crashes turning off the monitor.

can not boot to safe mode at all...just getting blank screen. I'm also from time to time seeing blue or purple vertical lines during the process. Could it be my card is trashed? I hadn't updated the drivers in awhile that I remember...tried system restore earlier in the day when I was at least able to get to safe mode (not sure why I can't now)...sys restore did not work. Any suggestions out there?

Dwain's way didn't help me at all either..although it did get me back to doing basic DOS commands that I hadn't done oh, in say about 20 years! LOL No clue what to do next!

I woke up the next morning and my computer booted! WTF? So I made sure I had the latest drivers..which I did...now when I try and play a game it crashes...getting the nvlddmkm driver has failed..or something like that..I have a question into EVGA the maker of the card...

I always get the latest drivers from NVIDIA, and it's crashing...no clue what the next step should be...switch to another brand I guess..

The computer will boot and run for a few minutes..but even switching between windows causes a crash..

You should get the latest drivers for your card from Nvidia not Microsoft or
from the card manufacturer since the card manufacturers often never update
the drivers after the original shipment of the cards themselves and therfore
MS does not update them for the card either.

I am saying that since getting the latest released driver version from the
graphic chip vendors website has been the solution for many users using MS
provided graphic card drivers. A year or two ago a former MS employee
explained in a post why the MS graphic card drivers are often not even from
a recent release much less the latest release version. The date of the
drivers does not always correspond to the date that graphic card driver
released them. The release version number is what is important.

So are you unable to use the computer, or are you only having trouble with
some video based applications? Can you play a DVD using MC or another DVD
playing application?
I do not have all of the posts from this thread since many responders have
snipped the content of the previous posters.

Will it run in safe mode with an F8 boot?

Do you have another video card you can try, yours may have gone bad?

BSOD error occurs due to failure of RAM.So, You should check your RAM. Blue Screen of Death may also occur due to malfunction of software and hardware devices. If this problem starts with any new software or hardware installation then uninstall it.

You sir are a god. I know you will probably never read this, but if I had any money I would send it to you because you may well have just saved me 200+ dollars.

For anyone who finds this thread and has a similar problem I am letting you know that this fix worked for me.

I did things SLIGHTLY different.

1. I uninstalled all my nvidia drivers and deleted the nvidia directory.
2. I started in safe mode because the problem was getting so bad that I couldn't even open explorer before the driver failed.
3. I found nvlddmkm.sys and renamed it to nvlddmkm.sys.old as he mentioned.
4. I installed the latest driver, which at the time of me writing this was 195.62 WHQL
5. I restarted and it works great.

Additional info:
pny 8800gtx
windows 7 64 bit

[dleary1]

i have been gettin the nvlddmkm.sys BSOD error. May i please ask how do i fix it and i have also been getting the latest Nvidia driver error 195.62 and has recovered. After the recovery I get the BSOD. Please help me?

Im not sure if Im able to solve my problem but just a couple days ago I have spotted that its actually my graphics card that is having problem nothing to do wit other hardwares. It turn out to my assumption that it might be the failure of a fan on ma display card that is causing the problem. Cause I have noticed that when the fan is running the blue screen or the error doesn't occur but when the fan stop running it error occurs over and over again. Maybe spy on your graphic card while you computer is turned on see if anything unusal is happenin to you graphic card itself rather then other hardwares. Hope this might help you out a bit.

Im not sure if Im able to solve my problem but just a couple days ago I have spotted that its actually my graphics card that is having problem nothing to do wit other hardwares. It turn out to my assumption that it might be the failure of a fan on ma display card that is causing the problem. Cause I have noticed that when the fan is running the blue screen or the error doesn't occur but when the fan stop running it error occurs over and over again. Maybe spy on your graphic card while you computer is turned on see if anything unusal is happenin to you graphic card itself rather then other hardwares. Hope this might help you out a bit.

Well I took ma graphics card in for repair and the reason was the fan was workin and after it got fixed its runnin pretty smooth now.

None of the fixes worked for me. (I'm running w7 not vista btw). Here's my workaround from safe mode:
1. use msconfig to remove all the nvidia stuff from startup
2. change the service to manual or disabled
3. rename the sys file to old
now I'm running at 1024x768 but at least I can boot.

In my case: the hardware was stuck.

After reinstalling, restoring, trying very different scenario's, the videocard finally gave up and he didn't even boot anymore (not even in BIOS).

So I bought new videocard and everything went back to normal.

Nvidia cards work only two years and one month !! (one month after warranty period

I never ever had this problem with Vista 64 Ultimate. But Windows 7 Professional 64 is another story... From my own experience, if I let windows update, update my Gigabit LAN. Then and only then I get the BSOD... I can literally let Windows update everything and its fine. But if i let it update my REALTEK PCIe GBE, it messes everything up.

[kirolord]

I'm getting this error in my brand new laptop. There is a GeForce G210M on it and windows 7 x64 is running.

the file nvlddmkm.sys version is 8.15.11.8647

This may help (or not) you help me: I'm getting bsod's caused by this thing too: ntoskrnl.exe
Bugcheck code: 0x9F (0x3, 0xFFFFFA8003D24E30, 0xFFFFF80000BA2748, 0xFFFFFA8007818010)
Error: DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE

And the most important: all bsod's (caused by nvidia or ntoskrnl) happens only when computer is idle.
I changed power plans to "never do nothing", no effect.

The problem I am having with this process is that DOS tellls me that it cannot open nlddmkm.sy_. I have followed the above to the letter, but just cannot seem to make it work. I am using a GE Force 7500 with 8-2007 ver. with 100.65 as the new ver.

i have the same problem....i boot from windows xp prof or windows 7 ultimate...it starts booting/instaling os...and in same point a bluescreen with the same error appears...it restarts ..choose safe mode or normally....normally it doesnt work....it repeats the process...safe mode it says that it cannot finish the instalation in safe mode and wants bme to restart....what do i do....in windows xp instalation it gives me during instalation some errosr that 'cannot copy driver.cab" or "dvdplay" or "oembios.sys"or something like that..i am not a pc brainiac...take me slowly please..i am about to kill myself

[Strider Ryu]

For those who still need help with this problem; here is a step-by-step solution for one suggestion that has already been posted on this thread that could potentially solve the problem.

HAVE AN EXTERNAL DRIVE ON HAND IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR IMPORTANT FILES AS THE PROBLEM CAN REOCCUR IN A MATTER OF HOURS AFTER IT HAS BEEN "FIXED".

1: If you have a black screen, but your computer STILL turns on, you may be able to fix this problem. All you have to do is plug an external monitor into your laptop to get a display up. IF you connect an external monitor and that fails to work, you're probably out of luck (because your graphics card might really be dead) as you need a display to help you navigate through command prompt later on, or if you're feeling lucky, you can just blindly follow the instructions (assuming you're viewing this answer on another computer, go through the pictures I provide, IE pic of the System Recovery Options) then you still might be able to fix your computer without a monitor.

2: Once you're able to get the display up and you're still getting the BSOD, try to get into command prompt when given a choice. However, if you're not given a choice to do so, press F8 before the splash screen comes up with the loading bar. This will bring up Advanced Boot Options, giving you the option to go to 3 different types of Safe Mode. It is advisable to go to Safe Mode with Command Prompt. IF however, you're not given the option to go into Safe Mode, DO NOT press F8 after a restart, instead wait for the System Recovery Options to appear- Example: <http://img.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/vista-repair-options/advanced-recovery-options.jpg> I know how this goes, most of the options given here on the System Recovery Options will not work, as you WILL get BSOD. Choose Command Prompt.

3: You'll now start off with some directory line in command prompt, something similar to this: C:\User\(Your Account). If for some reason, you're not on the C drive, type "cd\" without the quotes, press enter then type "c:". If you're already on the C drive, type cd\ anyway, you need to go through some other directories in the next step.

4: Type "cd windows\system32\drivers" without the quotes, hit enter. Now type "dir /p" go through the list of drivers and look for nvlddmkm.sys (Notice: this is nvL not nvi), note the date to the left, keep in mind that you'll need a driver that is prior to this date (one that you know will work). Type "ren nvlddmkm.sys nvlddmkm.sys.old" this will put the current driver out of use and get you ready to inject and older version of the driver (one that will hopefully work).

5: Type "cd\" you should now be back to "C:\>". Type "cd nvidia" then "dir". Now I've only fixed a Windows Vista using this method, so I'm not sure if this is the same case for Windows 7, but there should be another folder in C:\Nvidia. For Windows Vista, the folder is called winvista, type in "cd winvista" to access it (now your directory should be C:\Nvidia\winvista>). Type "dir /p" again to view the files in this folder, you should see many files with just numbers (IE 1**.**, the * symbolizing the version number for the driver, so it could be 100.65 or 179.48 etc., depend on what you have). Look to the left at the date, find one that has a date prior to the date listed on the nvlddmkm.sys file in the windows\system32\drivers folder. Once you have chosen which file you want to use, lets say for example 179.48, type "cd 179.48" (you should now be in C:\Nvidia\winvista\179.48).

6: Type "expand nvlddmkm.sy_ c:\windows\system32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys". This will install the version of the driver you've chosen. Your computer may reset automatically.

Congratulations, you've made it this far. You're now able to get to the log in screen, if you have set up any accounts for your laptop. It is advisable that you get an external drive and move important/personal files onto there before you attempt to use your laptop on a full time basis. There have been some reports that the problem came back about 49 hours later.

Comments: As of now, 179.48 works, the update after that is what seems to kill my friend's computer.

************Update***************

After using the above method to access the graphical interface of Windows, click Start, go to Control Panel, then get to Device Manager. You will probably see that your graphics card has a big yellow ! next to it in Display Adapters. Right click the device, click the Driver tab and try to choose Roll Back Driver. This will most likely fix your card and return it to it's original factory state (way before the crash).

[theavatar22]

Hi, i just registered because i managed to find the source of the error for me. I have a M570TU Clevo Notebook with QX9300 CPU and GTX 280m Graphicscard. Its a high-power notebook and i wondered what the error could come from, since i used to notice when i newly got it, that it has a very good cooling system. After trying many things including the registry edit and multiple driver changes, power reduction, and what else i could find a hint on, i opened up my notebook. I saw a little dust on the heatpipes and heatsinks. Since you can use a vacuum cleaner on that, i tried that. BUT, and this is where the problem really lay, you cannot get the thick dust inbetween the copper grids! So i unscrewed the ventilation units and used a toothbrush to clean out those grids. You wouldnt know how much dust had settled there and would only come loose by using a brush. Put everything back together and heres what happened:

- before "cleaning out": about 60°C idle / 99-102°C while playing intensive games; getting the nvldmmkm.sys restarting error.

- after "cleaning out": about 45°C idle / max 83°C while playing the same intensive games; NO FURTHER ERRORS OCCURED!

So, for me it was clearly the error due to heat problems although i at first couldnt think of that since this system has a superior cooling concept.

Hope this helps some of you, especially with the notebooks ;-)

[Eric714]

Possible Solution: Power Problem

I recently had new ISP and VOIP installed at home. The technician moved around some of my plugs. Ever since then, I have been having the dreaded NVLDDMKM.SYS BSOD. I have been trying everything posted all over the place. I even bought a new video card. I just tried replacing the power supply cord (which was about 8 years old and has been moved about hundred dozen times) and moved it directly to a wall plug (not a strip). That allowed me to get further than I have been in a long time. I was actually able to run some stress tests and play a video game. I still got the BSOD after about 10 minutes. But, the power thing was definitely something that helped the situation.

So, I have concluded that, for me, this is POWER PROBLEM.

I guess that maybe it could be my PSU. (Ultra 1000W - I know, not the greatest, but I live about 4 miles from TirgerDirect/CompUSA.) I am going to look into replacing that PSU this weekend. Was also thinking of adding a UPS with the hopes that it might help will power conditioning.

I hope that helps some people. For those of you on laptops, you may want to check your power supply. Are you using an aftermarket one? Is it plugged into a strip with a dozen other devices?

[Eric714]

Ignore that power thing. I thought that was the problem, but it wasn't. I replaced the power supply and I am still having issues.

[Eric714]

Yeah... I fixed it. After doing the whole driver thing, replacing video card (twice), new power supply, RAM, reinstalling OS, and spending hours... days... just messing with it... I finally determined it was my motherboard.

New motherboard, same chipset (but different manufacturer - only because my model was out of stock), and it works fine.

The tech at the local computer store thought that the issue was a problem with the Northbridge. I can't confirm that. But, I do have a happy PC now.

Good luck to you all.

[bitsnitch]

I found what was causing *my* blue screen
I only got this error after a cold boot

Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed
Technical Info.
*** STOP: 0x0000016 ......
** nvlddmkm.sys

Fix / Solution
It was my Realtek Audio driver software Vista_Win7_R252

I uninstalled the package and let windows install its own driver.
Before doing that I had tried different display drivers thinking they were the cause but it was actually the Realtek Audio for me.

My specs:
Asus P5NE-SLI
North Bridge nVIDIA nForce 650i SLI (c55)
South Bridge nVIDIA nForce 430i (MCP51)
Intel Q6600
2x2GB DDR2
Windows Server 2008 sp2 64 bit

[bhushan8805]

*** Solved 100% ***

hi guys.. i'm using the same nVidia 8600M GS and had the same issue.
i'm using windows 7 x64.

here are the steps to resolve this issue.
1. download the latest version of drivers from nvidia.com
2. DO NOT INSTALL STRAIGHT AWAY.
3. restart your computer in safe mode.
4. install the driver.
5. after completing the installation, restart the computer in SAFE MODE again and log in.
6. now restart your computer in normal mode. DONE..