Help with my Sager NP 9262

Hello all and thanks for any help with this. I know there are quite a few of you that are quite knowledgeable and I am not sure what I need to do without spending a lot of money.

I bought my Sager(second one) coming on 2 years ago now and just a few weeks ago I started to have trouble with it. I was playing world of warcraft and I started to experience massive graphical slowdown. Within a few minutes my computer locked up and I had to manually restart it. After I restarted I tried to re open wow and I kept crashing. I went and downloaded a new video driver from Nvidia website but when I installed that driver I became afflicted with the dreaded display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding error. From this I kept BSoDing and having to manually restart every time I tried to open any app that used my graphics card. I ended up doing a reformat and just using the drivers from the CD I got with the Sager and now I CAN get into world of warcraft about 1 out of 3 attempts. I will still experience crashes and pixilated distortion of images when I open any games. I still also get the nvlddmkm error at times and while in game I still 'feel' like I am experiencing graphical lag.

So my question(s) are; is my graphics card shot? and if it is what card can my Np9262 take? I do not mind upgrading the card if this is the best solution. is it a driver problem? what driver is recommended? is the nvlddmkm the problem? how do I fix it? basically what is wrong with my rig and how can I fix it?

Here is some information about my setup; if there is anymore information that is needed please let me know. Thanks again.

OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
Version 6.0.6002 Service Pack 2 Build 6002
System Manufacturer CLEVO
System Model D900C
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz, 3000 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies LTD 6.00, 4/23/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.83 GB
Total Virtual Memory 8.17 GB
Available Virtual Memory 7.01 GB
Page File Space 4.29 GB

Name NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_060C&SUBSYS_09021558&REV_A2\6&9E87A63&0&00080008
Adapter Type GeForce 8800M GTX, NVIDIA compatible
Adapter Description NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX
Adapter RAM 512.00 MB (536,870,912 bytes)
Installed Drivers nvd3dum,nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2um, nvwgf2umx.dll
Driver Version 7.15.11.7482
INF File oem3.inf (nv_G8x section)
Color Planes Not Available
Color Table Entries 4294967296
Resolution 1920 x 1200 x 59 hertz
Bits/Pixel 32
Memory Address 0xE1000000-0xE3FFFFFF
Memory Address 0xD0000000-0xFEBFFBFF
Memory Address 0xE2000000-0xE3FFFFFF
I/O Port 0x00002000-0x00002FFF
IRQ Channel IRQ 17
I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB
I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys (7.15.11.7482, 9.10 MB (9,544,864 bytes), 3/29/2008 9:04 AM)

 

The first thing you want to do is check all of your system temps. Run HWMonitor Download

Do a screen shot of your temps. Also take a look here Atikmdag / nvlddmkm fix update

You should also do a quick google of ''nvlddmkm stopped responding'' to see if any of the other fixes mentioned may work. If it is a temperature problem it might just need a good clean and re application of thermal paste. I also recommend you uninstall your current GPU drivers again, restart into safe mode and use Driver Cleaner to ensure they are fully removed. Reboot and then install the most up to date official Nvidia WHQL certified Drivers for your GPU.


If it turns out to be a hardware problem, you can source a new GPU and replace it but they are expensive, usually up to $500+. Some say the GTX280M will work but not in (dual) SLI mode. The the 9800M will work but I am not sure if you would be able to get hold of one of those so easily though.

 

You should try cleaning out the vents and fans in your machine with compressed air as well, regardless of current temperatures it is a good habit to practice.