retexan599

My desktop system is experiencing unexpected shutdowns, apparently related to the NVIDIA Graphics Driver per the Windows problem report. Basically, the system will not now reboot into Normal mode. I have done a System Restore to a date prior to the first unexpected shutdown, but the system will still not reboot into Normal mode.

Here are some particulars:
• Windows Vista Home Premium (32 bit) with SP1.
• All available Windows updates are installed.
• HP Pavilion; 2 GB RAM; system is about 1.5 years old; problem first surfaced on 9/8/2008; never had a problem before.
• Intel Core2 Duo cpu
• NVIDIA GeForce 7500LE graphics card
-Original NVIDIA driver version: 7.15.11.6230 dated 8/27/2007
-Updated NVIDIA driver version: 7.15.11.7519 dated 5/16/2008 (downloaded from NVIDIA web site)
• No new hardware, no new software; no over-clocking.

What I observe:
• The windows problem report says: “The problem was caused by NVIDIA Graphics Driver……there is no solution for this problem at this time” – and it recommends updating the drivers which I did.
• The ‘blue screen’ reporting the crash has vertical red lines; some of the boot screens have only filled zeros.
• The ‘blue screen’ ‘Technical Information’ says:
o "Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed". This line is on the page that notes the nvlddmkm.sys as part of the 'Technical Information'.
o STOP: OXOOOOO116 + other data in parentheses.
o Nvlddmkm.sys – Address 8BC0800 base at 8BC03000 and a date stamp value.
• I opened the case and there is practically no dirt at all, and each of the four fans is running fine.
• I ran the HP Memory Test that came with my HP computer; all tests passed. I also ran the 'Windows Memory Test' at restart, and all tests passed.
• I posted some photos of the screens during the crash and restart process if they would help. They are at:

http://tinyurl.com/5uhjxa

• When I restart the computer, it will not boot into a Normal Mode; it immediately crashes with the same display driver timeout error. What I do to get it to run at all is: Restart into Safe Mode; Uninstall the graphics driver; clean with Driver Sweeper; Restart. It will go into (what I call) Semi-Normal Mode, with a low resolution Vista desktop. I get a message saying that I need to Restart to get the graphics device to function normally, but a restart will just start the crash cycle again. Device Manager says that the loaded driver is the Microsoft WDDM one, Version 7.14.10.9687 dated 8/22/2006; I am assuming this is a kind of default driver that it chose after I Uninstalled the most recent driver.

I am guessing that there is a hardware issue with my graphics card, but wanted to see what others might think before removing or replacing it. Thoughts appreciated and thanks.

__________________
John Hanley
Sugar Land, TX