nvlddmkm error (probably nvidia driver related)

[Koldheart]

I'm having the same issue described in the following link:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Gaming-Notebooks/nvlddmkm-error-nvidia-driver-related/m-p/9036908#M586...

While playing certain games (ex: The First Descendant, Cyberpunk 2077, ...) I'm encountering random issues (mostly after a few minutes but sometimes it can happen after hours of activity) where the game freezes for a couple of seconds, and sometimes it recovers, while other times it simply crashes to desktop.

Checking the Event Viewer I see an entry at exactly the time the crash happened, which states as follows:

The description for Event ID 153 from source nvlddmkm cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.

If the event originated on another computer, the display information had to be saved with the event.

The following information was included with the event:

\Device\Video3
Error occurred on GPUID: 100

The message resource is present but the message was not found in the message table

I've been reading through the steps suggested in the link above, and I've tried doing a clean installation of the latest nVidia driver and updating the BIOS to the latest version suggested by HP Support Assistant, but to no avail.

[Koldheart]

I should also mention that I noticed another similar issue regarding the same model of laptop:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Gaming-Notebooks/Please-help-my-charger-causes-my-graphics-card-to-cra...

since my previous laptop was also an omen I tried using the old power supply (which is 200W, while the current one is 230W) and I verified that with the old one, I didn't experience any crashes, but I could barely reach 20 FPS, after tuning all settings to minimum.

[ThangTLQ]

I have the same issue with NVIDIA since last month (and after I get installed Windows 11 23H2). So is it the problem with the same windows version? Previously the issue never occurred, even with 230W charger

[Koldheart]

In my opinion, I don't think this problem is related to the 23H2 Windows update, because I've been experiencing the issue visibly since the release of The First Descendant (since the 4th of July, specifically) which was earlier than the date in which the windows update mentioned was installed (10th of July).

I've checked that the nvlddmkm errors date back to the 13th of May, which is around the time I've purchased this computer, so I believe I've had random crashes occurring for quite some time, but I've always blamed the issue on specific applications or overheating, while it could be a more generic one.

Recently I've downloaded the latest update of the nVidia driver, and checking the release notes I've seen an entry stating that in case of random crashes, it could be a solution to enable "Debug mode" in the nVidia settings application. They say it should prevent the graphics card from being overclocked, and I didn't think it could be helpful, but I tried anyway. So far, I haven't experienced crashing for a couple days. Today they happened again twice and I checked nVidia settings which for some reason had disabled debug mode. I need to test this workaround some more to see if this is a stable solution or if it was just a random lucky streak.

[Koldheart]

I've tested the workaround I mentioned, and it did not matter, the crashes kept occurring seeming at a random pace so my experience in the first couple of days after the nVidia update, and enabling Debug Mode, was only a lucky coincidence.

I'm going to try to do a system wipe to bring it back to how it was when I purchased this laptop and check if this is going to solve any issues, but I'm skeptical.

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @Koldheart,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand you've been through a lot trying to resolve this issue. The nvlddmkm error is commonly associated with NVIDIA graphics drivers, and the symptoms you're describing—game freezes, crashes, and errors in Event Viewer—are often linked to driver problems or hardware issues.

Here’s a summary of additional steps you might consider:

Verify Driver Integrity:

• Clean Install: Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to remove all traces of the NVIDIA drivers, then reinstall the latest driver from NVIDIA’s website. Make sure to download the driver directly from NVIDIA rather than relying on automatic updates.
• Rollback: Sometimes the latest drivers can introduce new issues. If you started having problems after a driver update, try rolling back to an earlier version that was stable.

Check for Overheating:

• Ensure your laptop is well-ventilated and check the internal temperatures. Overheating can cause instability. Tools like HWMonitor can help you monitor temperatures.

Update System Firmware and BIOS: Update the firmware on an HP printer

• You mentioned updating the BIOS, but make sure you're on the latest version for your specific laptop model. Sometimes, BIOS updates address compatibility issues.

Test Hardware: HP PCs - Testing for hardware failures

• Memory: Use tools like Memtest86 to check for RAM issues.
• GPU Stress Test: Run stress tests on your GPU to check for stability. Tools like FurMark or 3DMark can be useful.
• Check for Physical Issues: If you're comfortable, ensure that the GPU and other components are properly seated and that there’s no visible damage.

Check Windows Event Logs:

• Look for other error messages in Event Viewer that might give additional clues about what's causing the crashes.

System Wipe:

• If all else fails, a clean installation of Windows might help. It can resolve issues that are related to corrupted system files or settings. Ensure you back up your data before proceeding with this.

Refer to this document: OMEN 16.1 inch Gaming Laptop PC 16-b0000 - HP Support User manual

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.