All fixes / Any game, Windows

Blue screen 0x116 VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE (nvlddmkm.sys / amdkmdag.sys) while gaming

0x116 0x00000116 VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE

Your graphics card stopped responding, Windows tried to reset it, and the reset failed. The usual causes are a bad driver install, an overclock, heat, or power problems.

Why it happens

Windows gives the GPU about 2 seconds to respond. If it hangs longer, Windows resets the graphics driver. If that reset fails, or it happens over and over in a short time, you get this blue screen. The file named in the error tells you whose driver crashed: nvlddmkm.sys is NVIDIA, amdkmdag.sys is AMD, igdkmd64.sys is Intel. Microsoft lists outdated drivers, overclocking, memory settings, cooling, and power as the main causes.

How to fix it

1. Do a clean driver install: download the latest driver from NVIDIA or AMD, run DDU in Safe Mode to remove the old one, then install the new one. If the crashes started right after a driver update, install the previous version instead.
2. Remove all overclocks: reset your GPU in MSI Afterburner (or your tuning tool) to default, and turn off XMP/EXPO in the BIOS for testing.
3. Check temperatures: run your game with a monitoring tool like HWiNFO and watch the GPU temperature. Clean dust out of the case and fans if it's running hot.
4. Check power: make sure each GPU power connector is fully seated. If your card needs two 8-pin connectors, use two separate cables from the power supply, not one cable with a split end.
5. Close background programs and overlays while gaming, and install pending Windows updates.

Still broken?

Run Windows Memory Diagnostic or MemTest86 to rule out RAM. If the crashes continue on a clean driver with everything at stock, the GPU or power supply may be failing. Book a session and we'll read your minidump together.

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