Vista BSOD nvlddmkm.sys on boot

System: Windows Vista Ultimate fully updated, Intel E6600, Nvidia 7600GT,
4Gb Ram, one LCD VGA and one lcd via DVI etc, nothing is over clocked

Problem: I built this system 6 months ago and it has been running perfectly
since. On August 27th my system tried to automatically update the existing
Nvidia driver from Windows Update (groan, I know, I’ve changed it and will
never let this happen again). My previous driver had been working perfectly.
I was at work and came home, my system was unstable, I was getting TDR’s,
artefacts on screen and before I could really work out what was going on my
system crashed with BSOD on nvlddmkm.sys error 116.

Now it is in a loop. No matter what I do or what display drivers I try Vista
always crashes on reboot with the same BSOD nvlddmkm.sys error 116.

With an Nvidia driver loaded I get a BSOD nvlddmkm.sys at boot with error
116. Regardless of driver – 97.46, 100.64, 162.22, 162.44 etc

If I let my system update itself, ie with a Microsoft minimal driver, it
boots but all I get displayed is a blank black screen with a mouse cursor.
Microsoft Nvidia WDDM driver 25/01/2007 So it shows a mouse cursor that
actaully moves about but the desktop is not present, blank, black etc.

If I uninstall whatever driver is currently installed from safe mode,
removing all driver files, removing those in system32 and renaming
nvlddmkm.sys in system32/drivers, and then reboot, my system boots up with no
driver file loaded for the adaptor at all. This actually allows me to boot
into Vista and gives me a desktop but clearly this means I have no display
driver running and have no more than basic display functionality.

I really need help. My own view is Windows update partially installed a
driver or partially updated the driver that was on my system prior to August
27th. Somehow it never completed that operation and my system has residual
registry entries that point to incorrect driver files.

I have tried sweeping registry and I did find residual NVidia files but they
were minimal and when I installed driver again I had the same nvlddmkm.sts
BSOD error.

I have two monitors one a Sony 17” LCD VGA and an LG 22” DVI. They were both
working fine prior but now they don’t, obviously. I have seen messages about
dual displays and the drivers/registry becoming confused. So I tried various
configurations of monitor - VGA only, DVI only, connected to different ports
etc. Each time same error BSOD nvlddmkm.sys 116.

It's now three weeks since this happened and my system is still farquhared.
I need some serious help, I am way behind on some lucrative projects and I
might pay for help to get this resolved. Help!!!

'The screen may go blank when you try to upgrade the video driver on a
Windows Vista-based computer' (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932539/)


--
geezer10

Well this is interesting. And I think this is definitely related to my
problem. Whatever Windows Update downloaded and installed as a new Nvidia
driver for my machine included the CAUSE of this error as the previous 6
months have been trouble free for me and since that download I have seen this
error variously whenever I ventured to allow windows update try to install
their suggested driver for my card.

Now waiting for hotfix... Meanwhile my system is still farqhuared for about
the 20th day..

I can confirm this is not a specific problem with Nvidia cards. I went out
and bought a new ATI graphics card because I could not afford to wait any
longer.

I immediately installed this card and my system immediately sprang into
life. And in the two hours it was working I managed to backup or otherwise
retrieve all my data.

The next I saw was a 'display driver stopped working' error in Vista, also
know as a TDR error, where timing between Vista and graphics card is lost
somehow. Basically this error appeared maybe 4 times then my system crashed
again with the same error BSOD 116 but with the ATI driver file instaed of
the nvidia driver.

THIS IS A VISTA UPDATE problem where my system has been corrupted by a
wayward Vista Update. SOmehow this is killing graphics systems...

I hope they fix it soon.... Vista is becoming unusable

your video cards are not resetting - you might have a motherboard
problem - i would reset the cmos with the jumper next to the battery -
and update BIOS - also try with only 1 monitor - 2 monitors will push
your graphics to the limit.

This problem can sometimes be fixed by upgrading power supply or
switching ram but as you were working before this is not likely, still
driver updates can change the power requirements etc.

good to hear you saved your data - now you can experiment a bit more -
i would get drivers direct from video card sites - perhaps reduce your
system to minimal state and if you get it working again set a restore
point

sorry i cannot be more help but let us know if you do find the cause -
good luck!


--
geezer10

Possibly a WinUpdate made a Vista change to fix a security problem which
your current MOBO Bios does not support properly on your PCI bus.
I suggest checking to be sure you have the latest BIOS.
Since the problem does not occur constantly If could be related to a PS
issue, an overheating problem or a memory problem.
I suggest suggest running a memory diagnostic or switching your memory dims.

It is widely reported both on the internet and at nVidia's forums:
http://forums.nvidia.com/ - just Google nvlddmkm.sys and see what you get.
It's an intermittent problem that has been with us for a while.

I have the same problem with ATI and a X1600 AGP card.

ATI is TOTALLY useless since AMD bought them! (Note to self, never buy ATI
again) They have given me some of the most lame and ridiculous suggestions.
My card also stopped working in August and I have spent hours working on it.
First the ATI uninstall program is VERY sloppy. After a COMPLETE ATI
uninstall there were still 650mb of ATI files on my hard drive!

As I see it there is is a couple problems. First ATI is totally out of sync
with Microsoft and will not admit it. They release drivers that are poorly
written and sloppy re-installation and removal.

The problem seems to affect AGP cards on slight older systems. I could be
wrong but my computer with a PCIE card works fine.

In August Microsoft "pushed" a download called SilverLight. My computer has
never worked right since. Naturally to even ask MS the want 59 BUCKS. I have
a funny feeling this Silver Light program may have changed the way vista
supports AGP cards, seeing as the same program works fine with my computer
with a PCIE card.

This does NOT let ATI off the hook. It the want to be the leader of video
cards then they MUST know about Silverlight and subsequently write fixes for
their drivers! The problem may have been caused by SilverLight, but it is the
ATI card that is not working.

Does this sound familiar to anyone. Take a look and see if MS Silverlight is
in your program install/install list.

Does anyone have the hotfix KB932539 as MS will not release it even though
they wrote it. They want you to pay the $59.00 to beg for it

Does anyone have the hotfix KB932539 as MS will not release it even though
they wrote it. They want you to pay the $59.00 to beg for it

There is no charge for hotfixes.

Follow the link on the page to get to the web hotfix request form.

Microsoft will not give out this hotfix. I quote from them.

"I understand that you would like to obtain hotfix mentioned in KB 932539.

Hotfix for x86 is not available. For assistance you may contact a Microsoft
Support Professional. You have several options for contacting technical
support, which include Self-Help Resources and Assisted Support. You may try
to resolve the problem on your own using the no-charge self-help resources
listed below. However, if you prefer assistance from a Microsoft Support
Professional, please choose the Assisted Support option mentioned below.

Assisted Support:

You may work with a Microsoft Support Professional via e-mail, telephone,
and for some products, chat to resolve your issue. Depending on how you
obtained your software, there may be fees to use the Assisted Support option.
Please visit the following link to contact Technical Support:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=11732"

They have the hotfix, but only want to give it out through tech support. I
tried requesting the free hotfix and got the above response.

Did you try and get the hot-fix with this article? Everytime I try they tell
me it is unavailable, been going round and round with Microsoft support since
march Nvidia points you to this article which is still posted, you do
everything the article tells you to and support promptly emails you back
saying the hot fix is no longet available!! I believe that this is a gray
area problem which Microsoft and Nvidia could fix, but who the heck wants to
be responsible these days??? this sort of problem is part of a launch of new
operating systems/ the bleeding edge hardware buyer always iron out the
problems for the rest of Humanity. just be patient!!

"geezer10" wrote:

>
> 'The screen may go blank when you try to upgrade the video driver on a
> Windows Vista-based computer' (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932539/)
>
>
> --
> geezer10
>

Just the answer I got from Microsoft. I have an Nvidia GeForce 7600 GS card
and have just started getting the BSOD yesterday. I have now gone back to
just using the Microsoft Driver which won't allow my monitor use it's optimal
resolution. If I try a Nvidia driver I either don't get into windows or get
the BSOD a short while after booting into windows. As I have an OEM version
of Windows Vista Home Premium , Microsoft won't even allow me to send an
e-mail to support.
All my problem history recently points to the Video Hardware and I am
beginning to think it may be the display card. All forums suggest it is a
known software problem but I have been operating with this setup trouble free
until yesterday. A search of my Windows Update shows nothing has been updated
recently. I also hadn't added, upgraded, etc anything. My system is barely 8
months old.
Why won't Microsoft at least let me have the hotfix? (KB932539). It probably
won't work but I am willing to try anything. I purposely bought this machine
with an Nvidia card due to all the problems I had on my last machine with an
ATI card.
I am not willing to pay for support they may/may not work. When is Vista SP1
coming out to the public?.

Scratch that one. It is all back again.
I really need the hotfix in question which should be provided for free from
Microsoft.