Comments on: Techie frustration “how to” post – nvlddmkm

By: Nicholas Chan

Nicholas Chan — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:55:01 +0000

Hi. I’m trying to collect all of the data about this stupid nvlddmkm error and put it all into one place so people won’t be spending that much time scouring all over Google for the solutions. This website is at http://www.nvlddmkm.com please let me know if there should be anything that I should add to the website. Thanks!
-Nick

By: ryan

ryan — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:04:51 +0000

I was having the same problem with Fallout 3. I also have a Dell Laptop with a Nvidia 8600M GT. I downloaded the driver from Dell’s support website and everything seems to be working fine now. I also disabled ffdshow beforehand which seemed to work for awhile.

To disable ffdshow on Vista:
1. Start Menu type in search bar “ffdshow”
2. Click the ffdshow video decoder config program
3. Click DirectShow control on the left pane
4. Check the box that says “Don’t use ffdshow in:”
5. Click edit and add the .exe file for whatever game

By: Peter Colby

Peter Colby — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:43:51 +0000

Only one nvlddmkm error in two weeks … with profound gratitude, I nominate you for your “Librarian of the Century” *smiling

By: Kathryn Greenhill

Kathryn Greenhill — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:49:37 +0000

W00ty w00t w00t w00t ! Fingers crossed for you. Now that the error seems to have settled a bit more, I’m really enjoying the machine.

By: Peter Colby

Peter Colby — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:45:28 +0000

Woo Hoo ! ! ! No crashes in six hours … *fingers crossed for future …

By: Kathryn Greenhill

Kathryn Greenhill — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:35:02 +0000

Hi Peter. I tried installing a different driver for the card about 2 weeks ago, available from here: http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=18049

Since then the whole system seems to run a bit slower, but I’ve only crashed with the nvlddmkm error three times. If it keeps doing it, however, I will be asking Dell to replace the card.

By: Peter Colby

Peter Colby — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:24:31 +0000

Kathryn -
It is June 29 here in USA but half a world away from you my situation is identical: I just got a new Dell XPS1530 primarily to run Second Life and am having the same problem you were reporting on earlier this month … plan to try your solutions tomorrow … wondered how things have progressed since your last post on this issue. AND thanks for writing your story … I now have faint hope emerging from my frustrations!

By: UnlicensedFish

UnlicensedFish — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:22:31 +0000

*Edit*
The bios in question is on an Asus Striker Extreme Motherboard, and I’m running DX9 & DX10 apps in Vista Ultimate 64bit with a GeForce 8800 Ultra and 4gigs of RAM

By: UnlicensedFish

UnlicensedFish — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:15:36 +0000

Two quick things I’ll mention:

First, not that its important, I’m a ‘he,’ rather than a ‘she’ as you assumed.

Second, my latest update on the driver issue is that I’ve gone into Bios and turned on “NVidia Ex,” after checking what it was online. In frustration, I also *under*clocked my RAM, lowered its timing, and underclocked my CPU. With all of that done (I had left them alone because I had them all set to what they’re **supposed** to be), I was able to run a few 3D apps without stability issue.

Then, I went back into Bios and started resetting things to how they ought to be – RAM timing at standard values, removed underclock settings – one by one, with minimal stability tests between each one. Now my bios is as it has been these many problematic months, except I’ve left “NVidia Ex” enabled.

I’ll be testing it continually, and if I (pray for me here!) DON’T encounter the TDR again within a week, I’ll return and let you all know.

If it does pop up, I’ll be back sooner….

By: Mick Leyden

Mick Leyden — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:26:25 +0000

Simple answer – Get a Mac!