Display driver keeps crashing, please help.

[Reeno]

It happens once in a great while, Sometimes when I'm playing FFXI, FFXI will crash and I'll get a little pop up saying Display driver stopped responding and has recovered, and when I try starting FFXI back up it will crash again when I get to character screen. Everything in my PC is brand new so I really don't know what the problem could be.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[LinktheDeme]

This could also be a sign of a faulty graphics card. Does this happen with other games that actually use the graphics card capabilities? Otherwise it might be an isolated instance and it could be FFXI not agreeing with your card drivers (I believe that this has been a trend recently).

What other games do you have?

[Sonomaa]

do you have a 460? had to RMA a 460 not long ago with the same exact issue

[Cephius]

Most PCs dont ship with the latest drivers. Use a program like driver sweeper (google for it) in safe mode to wipe out the current drivers, then download and install the latest.

[Zansho]

I'm almost wanting to ask if you have a Dell XPS M1530. I have one, and I found out the video card that came with the system was a faulty video card made by Nvidia - apparently, that particular card had bad quality control and was made of parts that couldn't withstand the heat generated for graphics extensive work.

I'm a photographer by trade, and as such, I do a lot of graphics heavy work. The card failed on me last week, I took it in to get the motherboard and card replaced, but apparently, regardless of what I do, the card keeps faiing. Check to see if your board/card combo is one of those that have that kind of recall notice or reputation for failing, and call Nvidia/Dell to see if you can get the board/card replaced for free.

Right now, I'm looking for a new computer. -.-;

[Reeno]

Windows 7 Home Premium x64
Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 945 3.00GHz
RAM: 6GB
GFX: ATI Radeon HD 5800

is my current specs. im going to do the driver wipe.

[Byrthnoth]

I have the exact same problem with my laptop, though I've kind of decided it's just because the card is a piece of shit.

Dell "Vostro 3500"
Windows 7 Professional x64
Processor: Intel i5-520M @2.4 GHz, 3M Cache x4
RAM: 6GB (4/2)
GFX: Nvidia GeForce 310M <--- lol ; ;

I run into the "OEM onry" problems if I try to install a new codec, so let me know if updating outside official channels solves your problem!

[Mafai]

I have the exact same problem with my laptop, though I've kind of decided it's just because the card is a piece of shit.

Dell "Vostro 3500"
Windows 7 Professional x64
Processor: Intel i5-520M @2.4 GHz, 3M Cache x4
RAM: 6GB (4/2)
GFX: Nvidia GeForce 310M <--- lol ; ;

I run into the "OEM onry" problems if I try to install a new codec, so let me know if updating outside official channels solves your problem!

Laptops are difficult in general with their drivers. You can find desktop card drivers to match your laptop card which allows them to install correctly.

Take a look at this site, basically they modify the ini files to force the desktop drivers to work on laptop cards.

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/



As for OP, I'm putting money on a bad PSU or video card.

[Reeno]

How would I check if any of those are bad?

[Byrthnoth]

Laptops are difficult in general with their drivers. You can find desktop card drivers to match your laptop card which allows them to install correctly.

Take a look at this site, basically they modify the ini files to force the desktop drivers to work on laptop cards.

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/

As for OP, I'm putting money on a bad PSU or video card.

Yeah, I actually went there to try again just after posting. The last time I tried to update from there I ended up with a strange watermark when I played some stuff with VLC.

Installed the most recent NVidia codec. Instead of going from 60C to 100C with two FFXI accounts running on the lowest settings, now my laptop goes from 60C to 80C with two accounts running on the highest settings and a DVD playing. Service technician from my last service call told me that most service techs wouldn't think about reporting someone for installing non-Dell approved codecs (though it technically voids the warranty).

[hey]

(though it technically voids the warranty).

...seriously?

[Byrthnoth]

...seriously?

Yeah, installing drivers that have not been certified by Dell voids the warranty, technically. From the Dell tech people I've talked to though, I doubt they'd ever call me on it. Especially now that it has fixed the problem they spent two motherboards, two heat sinks, two fans, and ~five hours of local technician time on.