"Display Driver 320.49 Stopped Responding and Has Successfully Recovered."

Hey guys

The title pretty much says it all.. but - I'll provide with a little background:

I have my laptop for 3 weeks now (m17x R1 with Core 2 Quad Q9000 and nVidia GTX 280 SLi) and all was working properly up until now. I managed to update driver to the latest - 320.49 and with some help from you managed to enable SLi.
Yesterday all of a sudden while I was browsing the internet my fans kicked in and my screen started to flash; after several of flashes it stopped and I received this message "Display Driver 320.49 Stopped Responding and Has Successfully Recovered." in a bubble in the low left corner (in the taskbar). After 1 minute the screen just died (blackout) and never came on. I restarted the system manually and everything was fine - played some games, watched a movie.
Today after some hours of playing games I watched a movie (around 2 hours of the movie had passed) and again the same error, only this time the computer felt laggy for a second and the screen again died after several flashes.
I tried to find a solution on the internet but got some random advice as to update my driver (which is not possible) or to dedicate my GTX 280 (2) to PhysiX only from the nVidia center.. but that doesn't let me have SLi

Is there any other solution? Please help!

 

Well, it's a common problem since the release of 320.18 (SLi and TDR problems)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/721878-nvidia-320-18-driver-warning.html

The NV forums are full of it. You'll need to get a modded 314.22 as the last known good driver. LaptopVideo2Go: Drivers and see if that helps.

 

So I should:

1. Uninstall current driver and nVidia center, PhysiX
2. Run Safe Mode and clean registry
3. Download 314.22 fron nVidia
4. Download modified file from site you gave me

5. Extract driver files
6. Replace modified file in directory I extracted driver files
7. Run driver installation
8. Enjoy "new" stable driver?

P.S. Will I notice any decrease in performance if I install older driver?

Thank you!

 

I found that simply overwriting the driver wait a clean install option worked just fine every time _ I've been testing all the latest drivers (and yes my card died and had to be replaced).

The drivers on that site are unmodified and you need to follow the link to the inf file for that release. When the screen opens up you have to manually save it using the name in the URL (FF does this automatically with a 'save'). Then put it in the correct driver folder. The inf file often changes name but has always worked for me on other machines. As long as you get a 'replace' dialogue you have done it right.

You may see a slight drop in games of a few FPS but the latest one gave me exactly the same results as 314.22, within 4 FPS using in-game benches

 

I got lost on the site you gave me.. I can't find the modified inf file I need for 314.22 Windows 7 64bit.
I downloaded the driver from the official nVidia site.

 

Click on the driver link. A window will open to download the driver and inf, and then you will see the INF link at the bottom of the page. Not easy or obvious, I know...

Try this if you still have problems: View attachment nvwin.zip

 

Yes but the only options in the first place are Windows XP 32/64 and Windows 8 32/64 I don't see a link for Windows 7 64 so I can click and then navigate to the INF link
Out of curiosity I opened the Windows 8 version and the last thing I saw was a white screen and a lot of text I don't understand How can I make this text into the actual modified .inf file?

 

Yeah it's confusing as hell. For this site win8=win7 as well. The text you saw is what you have to use the browser 'save as' feature on. I did it for you above

 

Jesus.. It's a miracle I actually managed to install the 320.49 in the first place But then again - I manage to find and download the modified file form this forum
But it's a good experience to learn how to actually do it by my self! Thanks a lot for the guide lines!

So I downloaded your file and now all I need is to extract files for driver (from the one I downloaded from nVidia) and replace the original file with yours?

 

Yup, that should be it

 

Ok, all is done - I didn't bother to uninstall and clean stuff in Safe Mode; I just ran the setup.exe and let it do it for me
All seems to be Ok (but I think I'm hearing a strange sound coming out of the laptop.. like a very low hum that wasn't there before the installation..)

I'll let you know what happens in a day or two.

Thank you very much

 

Cool

New noise is strange, unless it's a fan

 

It could indeed be the fan, can you monitor the fan speed using HWinfo and let us know?

 

I just downloaded the program. I have to click on "Sensors" in the top left-ish corner, yes? A window pops up and somewhere in the middle there is "fan" and numbers "I'm guessing it's spin rate?


Is this the information you need?

P.S. It doesn't sound like a fan to me.. My english is bad and I can explain, but it just doesn't feel like a fan noise It's more like a buzzing sound.

 

The 'buzzing' sound you here are probably the video cards themselves making that noise. It mostly noticeable when the fans are still at low speed when you start gaming. It's not a continuous sound, more like a cricket sound. If you're fan is on its way out, the sound would be continuous. Some of the fans have a little sticker in the middle that tends to get loose and then it might rattle against the metal casing. Your card temp looks fine to me.

 

A little update:
I re-installed the driver. This time I clean up in safe mode before performing a clean install - nothing changed. Sound is still here

@Belien, the sound is continuous all the time. It's just a low buzz coming from the right side of the laptop (but the exact location can be just my imagination).
What I do found (and find very worrying) is that the sound is "on" only when the screen is on. When my screen blacks out for some reason (like laptop sleep mode) there is no sound. The second my screen comes to life the sound starts!

I ran AlienAutopsy - no problems detected.
I'm really troubled and have the feeling something is dying in there

P.S. I ran the fan tests - nothing seems troubling to me: 2000-ish rpm on current use (internet and movies) 4000-ish rpm after intensive gaming Temps don't tend to get high (84C was maximum for primary GPU).
Please help
P.P.S. After clean installation of 314.22 I lost the ability to change my screen brightness. Icon pops up on screen but actually nothing happens

 

That might be also a familiar sound, in my case it seems to come from 'behind' the alien head in the middle. I think it has more to do with power supply on the motherboard. In my case it is sometimes noticeable, sometimes not, but when it's there, it's continuous. Anyhow, mine didn't die for the last 4 yaers (let's keep it that way). I hope in your case it's the same (harmless) sound. Btw, nVidia released 326.80 drivers which (in my case) seem to be a bit faster (benchmark)

 

Problem with the display driver "stopped working and has recovered" is back..
This time with 314.22 I made a clean install.. there should not be a problem!

Please help.. I can't use my laptop properly

Is there a problem in the 2xx series of drivers? Will I gain something if I try to use them.. e.g. hybrid cards support and so on? Will I loose a lot of juice from my GTX 280?
Will the problem with the stupid driver crashes stop? This time for real?

P.S. I still need help with identifying the source of the buzzing noise

 

Hmm, that does not sound good

I did read that a recent windows update had caused this to happen for some. It's a trawl but I believe I read it here: https://forums.geforce.com/default/...ay-driver-feedback-thread-released-8-20-13-/1 to get the number to try removing.

The sound might be a sign that the card is failing . Can you open it up running and see if you can track it down?

The last WHQL in the 2xx series may get you running but there are features in the 3xx series that some games are working with. I recall a few games warning me that I needed to use a 3xx driver for optimal performance. How true or by how much I have no idea.

The usual thing after all else fails is a fresh windows install but I've seen a lot of people try this without success - so very frustrating.

 

I will read the topic you gave me, try to remove the update and let you know if I get more crashes afterwards.
If I remove the update will I be able to update the driver again to 320.49? Or this fix will help me (if it helps me) only for 314.22?

I'm a doctor, not a technician.. Opening it is out of the question - I'll either break something or I won't be able to put it back together Plus I don't have proper anti-static environment or bracelet.

Witch is the last WHQL in the 2xx series and where can I get it? Mainly I play Blizzard games - Diablo 3, StarCraft 2.. will I be able to run them with 2xx driver?
And I didn't understand if I'm correct that I'll be able to use hybrid cards with 2xx drivers (and gain some battery life)?
Btw will I be getting crashes with 2xx series?

P.S. - Well I can make a fresh Windows install.. anyways I didn't use my Alienware disc and made an install flash-pen from a random windows I found in the internet.. Maybe this is causing the problems?

Thanks, Micky!

 

LOL! OK 'Bones', opening it up is very simple, there are two screws under the battery. Then the whole base comes off with a small slide then lift. You can reconnect the power cord and switch it on. You should then be able to hear if the noise is the GPU. If you hear where it comes from take a pic and post, I'll see if I can identify the part.

Don't worry too much about anti-static at this point it's when you remove something that you can 'zap' it.

You can find the drivers here: LaptopVideo2Go: Drivers

You should find the games work fine but maybe with a little loss of frame rate, and yes you should find that the hybrid feature works but I have no idea of how well or what it gives, somehow both GPU's are utilised.

Always worth trying a fresh install if all the above does not work, I wouldn't think the install you made will have any bearing unless you tested it by actually installing from it?

What I'd really like to know if that noise is the GPU, it is sounding like it is failing with one problem after another. Mine went this way recently and finally (after a couple of weeks) gave up just getting into windows.

 

Ok, I'll open it up tomorrow morning and take some pictures; try to locate the sound. But isn't the GPUs actually on the left and right side? If I open it in the middle, I'll be only able to see the CPU fan, HDDs and RAM or am I mistaken (watched a video on youtube)?
I'll uninstall the windows update as well and if nothing works I'll do a clean install of Windows from the AW disc

Thank you for your time, you are really helpful. +Rep

 

You're very welcome, just hope we can get it working!

Ah, I made a boo-boo there with the opening up, I was thinking of mine not an R1

I would think that getting to the GPU slots would be simple enough, plenty of people change them or add a second card.

Good luck with it and I'll try to help as you go.

 

I did a clean installation of Windows from my Alienware CD. I do find it a bit slower.. but actually I can't imagine why..
Anyway the noise is still here - so it's not a software based problem.. I just hope it's not indicating that something is going to die on me..
Made a fresh install of 314.22 and all seems to work just fine for now (2 days)..

All keep you posted.

P.S. Still need a differential diagnosis on the noise from some of the Alienware staff members here!

Scratch that thought..
I just got a blackout (several flashes and screen died, and never recovered).

I'm really getting annoyed with this laptop.. I'm beginning to thing that the best thing I can do for me is just get rid of it and never think back on that brand (and windows machine for that matter)..

 

That's a shame , the card has almost certainly gone bad. Mine did this and at first a rollback worked, then it started happening again. Dell replaced it a couple of weeks ago and all is fine (so far!)

 

Yeah, I guess so I'm a bit over-reacting because I feel frustrated.. My problem is that the machine is out of warranty and to be honest I actually have no idea if DELL even has an official technical support in my country. Sadly for me I live in Bulgaria (which is a middle-eastern European, forgotten by God, country).
Best thing I can do is (if needs be) buy new cards from ebay.. which will cost me a small fortune and pretty much I'm sure I don't want to do that

Pretty much things are getting screwed up..

 

Even if there was support there from Dell my experience of E. European countries support has been poor (and the R1 is not a dell anyway if I recall correctly). You might find a old card like this is quite reasonable, and then look for a small local repair shop if you are not comfortable with a screwdriver. I do recall when I was in Hungary there was a lot of small PC repair/build shops - still a good business where the OEM's are not present.

Do you have one or two cards?

 

Hungary is in West Europe compared with my country There are a lot of small local repair shops here as well.
I have 2x GTX 280 cards if that's what your questions is

Btw can it be a trivial problem - dust piling up, or the fact that this laptop never had a paste job (anyways it doesn't overheat).. Can it be something like that and not the actual video card dying?

 

Sorry for my poor geography

Since you have two then you should be able to just remove them one at a time and once the faulty card is out it should at least work OK.

You could use msiafterburner and setup the on-screen-display to monitor temps as overheating could be an issue if you have never cleaned out the heatsinks. Overheat usually results in a complete shutdown or a slowing down in games.

 

I do monitor the temperature and get anywhere from 63C to 69C for the different cores and 46C for my primary GPU and 41C for the secondary one (that are the readings I'm getting atm with HW Monotor Pro). While gaming CPU gets to 72-73C and GPUs up to 80C +/- 2C..
I don't think that's bad? But my room is dusty.. and I have to blow at my GPU vents every 2-3 days But I'm pretty sure there is a lot of dust that piles up anyways..

 

Maybe a little high on the GPU but I don't know what they usually run at - I always get concerned with mobile GPU's above 75C. Since you have two cards a little swapping around should identify which card is causing the problem so hopefully you won't waste any money on it

 

I'm giving up.. The video card/computer is FUBAR.
It crashed 2 more times.. I went in the other room to get a cold drink.. and what do you know - I come back and the screen is dead!

 

Update:

Used 314.22; 320.49 and some other from the 2xx series - I've been getting crashes and the error with all of them. Noise is still present.
Today I decided to open the machine (I did some photos as well, but nothing seems to be out of order..) - I managed to close it with almost no damage: everything is working.. I just snapped some of the plastic pins on the top bazel.
AlienAutopsy doesn't detect anything wrong with it.. So I decided to try out some of the "fixes" that I found online.

First I tried to delay the response time from the Registry from 2 to 8 seconds.. that didn't help. And now I just disabled the error (again from the Registry) - so far so good.. I'll keep you posted if it stops crashing.
If it doesn't last thing I found as a solution is razing the voltage to the GPU (has a small chance that I can fry it up if I do something wrong.. but anyways - the GPU is a goner).

Any thoughts you have for me?

 

Today I was running some more stress-test (first with AlienAutopsy then with BurnIn Test Pro) and all passed! And I was starting to think - Ok, not a single program can detect my hardware problems but the random freezes and crashes are here.. Even more - today I saw that my monitor froze but my laptop is still "running" (I was able to enable/disable AlienFX Lights, T-Pad etc.).. witch led me thinking that there might be some other reason that is causing all the problems..
First I ran some virus tests - all were negative, and then it just came to me.. 100% of the crashes were happening with FireFox running in the background.. more than 50% happen immediately after me trying to access a new page in the internet.. and since I have been using FireFox for more than 7-8 years the first thing I do when I get a new PC is to open Internet Explorer and download FireFox..

So I searched Google for topics on FireFox crashing other people's PCs.. and guess what - I found more than 30 topics from the last month.. This is my last Glimmer of Hope! If the stupid browser was causing all my problems I'll be really, really relieved and angry! I went trough all the stress, even opened my laptop and (broke some plastic pins in the process) only to find out it's god-damned FireFox causing my problems..

On the other hand - this will be the best thing that will happen to me Because this means my laptop is Ok and I get to keep it and not play several hundred euros for repair

 

That's great - On mine it just locked solid in FF, even did it yesterday on 314.22. I found that disabling hardware acceleration in the FF options worked for me (up to yesterday!).

I can tell when it's going to happen as the cursor gets stuttery and scrolling is not smooth. Around 3 mins after that it locks.

 

Let's hope this is it.. I haven't seen the Display driver error in some time now.. just random crashes that can be caused from FireFox.. I just uninstalled the browser and installed Safari
I don't care which browser I'm using as long as I don't have any problems with it..
I'll update in 2-3 days if everything is going well (hopefully).