Nvlddmkm and artifacts

Hi,

I have a three year old m860tu/np8662 from RK Computers. Two days ago my screen froze while playing League of Legends and then after I rebooted my laptop became progressively less functional. I began receiving green vertical lines evenly spaced across my screen as windows was starting up, followed by a string of "the display driver has stopped responding and has recovered" until eventually it would BSOD.
http://imgur.com/kPbIb.jpg

I tried a few things, like installing the latest Nvidia drivers: 301.42 and eventually decided to reinstall windows (I had a few other problems too; I accidentally installed a toolbar malware once, etc.)

After my clean install of Windows 7 x64, I was able to login, but once I installed any graphics driver and rebooted, I would experience even worse green artifacts and inevitably a crash or indefinite freeze.
http://imgur.com/yNI2N.jpg

I have a system restore point just prior to installing any nvidia graphics driver (I've tried 301.42, 296.10 275.xx, and 197.16). I've run chkdsk /f at boot. I'm able to load Windows if I either use safe mode, or if I delete the driver from device manager or control panel (so basically I can login if there's no video driver loaded).

My interesting components are a Q9000 processor, nVidia GTX 260m, and 2x4gb sticks of G.Skill DDR3.

I can't recall changing anything immediately prior to these crashes. I opened my laptop after the first string of crashes, prior to reinstalling Windows, and blew all of the dust out with a can of compressed air (there wasn't much). I've had the 2x4 gb sticks of ram in for about a year. I use a second monitor connected through HDMI (although I haven't been able to use it since reinstalling since I can never login to windows when I have a video driver installed). I have used a Cooler Master Notepal U2 cooling station for about 2.5 years.

I'm considering buying some thermal grease (I think I will also need to buy a thermal pad, but I'm not sure) and I'm considering baking my card. Any other advice? The most perplexing thing to me, is that I don't have any problems until I install a graphics driver, at which point I can't even load windows (which is also preventing me from underclocking my card, since it seems like most underclocking software requires a graphics driver to be present to function).

 

It sounds like that your gpu is going to die soon, it happens with gtx 2xx cards and it happened with other g92b based Gpus.

The fact that those errors pop up only after driver installation is because the components raise clock speeds along with others that manage power/display out etc etc.

Before attempting a repaste you should monitor your temperatures both idle and while gaming to see if it reaches alarming zones.

Even thought it does you have problems to begin with even while idling on desktop?

You can try to bake your card but that isn't a permanent fix, it just work for a while but it could happen again.
If you bake your card be sure to use a good TP like ICD to get things rolling much more, or you may want to start thinking either a gpu upgrade or a laptop upgrade.

 

Interesting to know

I can't game on it, I can't login to windows while I have graphics drivers installed, I get an endless string of artifacts as per http://i.imgur.com/82Noi.jpg.

I'm supposed to apply the thermal paste before I bake?

Yeah, I'm not really excited about spending lots of money on hardware, but I can see that I may have to.

 

In order to bake your card, you need to pull it out. Remove any metal parts from it such the gpu retention bracket, leaving only the pcb exposed.

Then proceed as alot of tutorials around.

After your gpu is baked, let it cooldown, then reassembly it and put some new TP before mounting the heatsink.

You dont want to apply TP before baking, as it doesnt make sense. TP is used to fill the gap between gpu core and heatsink, effectively creating an heat dissipation thru the paste itself.

Its vital that you apply it properly, also every TP comes with his own application method.

If you got down the ICD route, all you need is a small blob in the center of the gpu core, nothing much. The paste will spread by pressure and heat evenly, since its very thick compared to other TPs. Be sure to screw the heatsink back evenly by doing half quarter circle motion on all the screws and pay attention to the numbers of them. Do it clockwise (1-2-3-4) and do it counterclockwise when putting everything in place.

Probably you dont need thermal pads at all, your ones should be good. Even because since youre dealing with an half functional card, it doesnt justify the price youre paying them, even if those are cheap.

Hope it helps and good luck!

 

thanks kingpinzero

 

Youre welcome. Let us know how it turns out. Baking the card isnt hard if you follow the instructions, and the m860 cooling system is really easy to remove, you shouldnt have any problems doing it even if its your first time.

Remember that if you attempt repaste, be sure to clean any TP residues before applying the new one.
Youll need some alcohol (rubbing is fine as long as it is 90%) and a lynth cloth. Clean both GPU die and Heatsink.

 

sadly that does look like a dying card and have to admit its the first 260 ive seen die compared to the previous 9800GT where hundreds died. (pic attached)

i will try and hunt down a repasting walkthrough but this is only a temporary solution as all it is doing is melting the solder so the contacts reconnect. it can last for weeks,months or even longer.

edit. cant find the original guide as forum search is buggered but found this: http://www.overclockers.com/the-oven-trick-repairing-your-broken-video-card-with-an-oven/

 

Thanks, I have actually already baked it and am just waiting for it to cool now

 

hope it works.

as long as you didnt do like some numpty did on here and used a microwave oven and blew up his kitchen

 

Prior to stripping and cleaning
A different kind of baking
385F for 10 minutes (I waited until I could really smell the solder)
75 min of cooling
Victory! Now to do something about stock windows theme

My thermal paste doesn't arrive until Tuesday, sadly, so I'm watching my GPU's temp with HW Mon and I'll try to refrain from any autocad

 

nice one. no gaming until new thermal paste arrives.