Nvidia graphics card no longer works in Windows 10 (error: Code 43) but works in Ubuntu

Question

Currently, when I boot into Windows, one monitor stays black (undetected), and the other can only display 800x600 resolution.

When I look at Device Manager > Display Adapters > NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 > General > Device Status, it says "Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)".

Details > Problem Code says "00002b". Details > Status says:

01802400
DN_HAS_PROBLEM
DN_DISABLEABLE
DN_NT_ENUMERATOR
DN_NT_DRIVER

When I then click into the Events tab, it says "Device PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13C2&SUBSYS_29763842&REV_A1\4&25438c51&0&0008 requires further installation."

I have a EVGA Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 graphics card with the latest drivers (376.19 from 12/1/2016).

My Windows 10 Pro has the latest updates and is at Version 1607, OS Build 14393.576.

My ASRock Z170 Pro4 motherboard BIOS is also updated to the latest version (7.00 from 10/4/2016).

I have dual Acer monitors with 1920x1080 resolution.

I downloaded Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS onto a bootable USB drive and booted into the Ubuntu operating system instead of Windows. Both monitors immediately worked at full 1920x1080 resolution. So the hardware seems functional! My remaining challenge is to figure out why my video card has stopped working within Windows.

What I Have Tried

• I've tried using Display Driver Uninstaller from Guru3d in Safe Mode to delete all drivers and try to install fresh.
• I've tried many different versions of the driver dating back more than 12 months.
• I've tried reseating the card.
• I've tried moving the card to a different slot.
• EVGA's phone support told me to reinstall windows (Windows > Reset this PC > Keep my files). Unfortunately, I followed their advice (and now don't have any of my programs), and I still get Code 43 with the EVGA Nvidia card.

What I Have NOT Tried

• I would love to try installing this card onto a different Windows 10 computer to see what happens, but I don't have access to any other computers. If you live northeast of Atlanta, let me know. ;-)

I'd appreciate any other ideas you have!.

Solution 1

I have searched the Web for solutions to the problem of "Event ID 14 from source nvlddmkm", and it seems to be a problem of the Nvidia driver. It also happens for you with the Windows generic driver, because that driver also comes from Nvidia, although normally behind the one found on the Nvidia website.

The only people who reported success were ones who uninstalled all Nvidia software (see the utility Display Driver Uninstaller) and installed an older version of the driver. As they only changed the Nvidia driver, this is definitely a driver problem, born out by the fact that it does not happen on Ubuntu.

Solution 1

Since this used to work, but doesn't any more, probably Windows has updated the driver. As first try, you could roll the driver back :

1. Open Control Panel -> Device Manager, or enter Device Manager in WIN+X
2. Locate the device
3. Right-click and choose Properties
4. Click the Driver tab
5. Click Roll Back Driver
6. Click Yes and then Close
7. Your computer will automatically restart

Solution 2

If this does not work for you, you will have the time-consuming task of finding a driver version that works. Your current driver version is 376.33 from 2016.12.14. Here are some driver versions that were reported as working:

• 353.06 from 2015.5.31, reported as working here, but later retracted here.
• 347.88 from 2015.3.17, reported as working here together with the procedure used

Prevent Windows Update from reinstalling the bad driver

Once you find a driver version that works for you, you will have the problem of preventing Windows from automatically updating it again. See this answer of mine for how to block these updates.

Solution 2

Removed answer From OP

The RMA replacement just arrived from EVGA on 2016-12-27, and as soon as I installed the new hardware, both of my monitors worked at full resolution. So I guess even though the hardware seemed to work on Ubuntu, replacing the hardware was a solution for making it work on Windows

Solution 3

Your GPU may have hardware failure and need to be RMA'd or replaced.

Re: your comment https://superuser.com/a/948795/149636, my similar problem was caused by a faulty GPU. I had to RMA it, and the new one works great.

[What I could never figure out was either my bad one went bad at the same time as I did my upgrade to Win10 from Win7, or Win10 is using some (bad) part of the GPU that Win7 wasn't. I didn't try any other OS with the GPU, sorry. I did not have any other indication that the GPU was bad before I upgraded. It just literally stopped working the same week I upgraded.]

Comments

[magicandre1981]

also try older drivers, not the latest one: nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us

[magicandre1981]

also put the GPU into a different PCIe x16 slot . also check if your PSU supports the required power of the GPU.

[Ryan]

@magicandre1981 Interesting update: I downloaded Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS onto a bootable USB drive and booted into that. Both monitors immediately worked at full 1920x1080 resolution. So the hardware seems functional! My remaining challenge is to figure out why it stopped working within Windows.

[Ravindra Bawane]

Have you tried deleting the card from your Device Manager and uninstalling all the software for it, then rebooting and letting Windows reinstall everything before updating?

[Ryan]

@music2myear Yes, I tried all of that.

[Ramhound]

You have the monitor plugged into the GTX 970 instead of the port on the motherboard which is connected to your Intel iGPU?

[Ryan]

@Ramhound Yes, of course. 😊 (The 2 monitors are plugged into the GTX 970, and both work when I boot into Ubuntu.)

[harrymc]

Go to the page NVIDIA Driver Downloads, click Graphics Drivers, then let Nvidia suggest a driver (requires Java or Internet Explorer). If the suggested driver does not work, then the problem is hardware. You might also look for a BIOS update.

[Ryan]

@harrymc Thanks but how could it possibly be a hardware failure if the hardware currently works in Ubuntu?

[harrymc]

You wouldn't be the first to be in that situation. The drivers are different, or the Linux driver ignores the error. Have you looked for interesting errors in the Event Viewer?

[Ryan]

@harrymc The Java tool recommends nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/113448/en-us, which I've already tried. Not sure what to look for in Event Viewer but the only suspicious item I found: The description for Event ID 14 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.

[Shadur]

Another check in linux would be to run glxinfo and look for anything suspicious (Lot of output tho) or just run something that requires 3D acceleration. Maybe the reason it's still working is because it's using safe fallbacks?

[magicandre1981]

ok, thanks for reporting that your GPU was damaged.

[mach]

I should have been more clear: my proposed answer to the OP's GPU problem is to RMA/replace his GPU because I believe it is due to hardware failure. I am definitely not requesting clarification from or critiquing the OP. I have clarified my answer.

[Ryan]

@mach The RMA replacement just arrived from EVGA, and as soon as I installed the new hardware, both of my monitors worked at full resolution. So I guess even though the hardware seemed to work on Ubuntu, replacing the hardware was a solution for making it work on Windows. This has been a painful 2-3 weeks. But the only remaining step is to get refunded from EVGA, and I'll be back to normal!

[Dave]

OP had put the answer in the post, so moved it to an answer!

[mach]

@Ryan Good to hear!! Very interesting that you had such a similar experience.

[Erhannis]

For the GTX 1080, use driver 368.25 - nvidia.com/content/DriverDownload-March2009/…