Display driver stopped responding and has recovered

What Causes the Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered Error?

Understanding the root cause is the first step towards resolving the “Display driver stopped responding and has recovered” error. Here are some common triggers:

• Outdated Graphics Driver: An outdated or incompatible graphics driver is a primary suspect in causing this issue.
• Overloaded GPU: If the GPU is overwhelmed with operations, it might stop responding temporarily.
• Registry Errors: Incorrect registry values can misconfigure how Windows handles graphics operations.
• Insufficient System Resources: Low system resources can affect the communication between Windows and your display driver.
• Software Conflicts: Certain applications running in the background may interfere with the graphics driver.

Solutions for Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered

1. Update Your Graphics Driver

The first recommended step is to ensure your graphics driver is up-to-date. Follow these steps to update your driver:

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the menu.
2. Expand the Display adapters section.
3. Right-click on your graphics driver and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.

2. Modify TDR Settings

Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) is a Windows feature that resets the graphics driver if it does not respond within a certain time. You can modify the TDR delay:

1. Press Windows + R and type regedit, then press Enter.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetControlGraphicsDrivers.
3. Right-click and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it TdrDelay.
4. Double-click TdrDelay and set its value to 8.
5. Restart your computer for changes to take effect.

3. Increase Virtual Memory

Increasing your system’s virtual memory can provide additional resources to handle graphic-intensive applications:

1. Press Windows + R and type sysdm.cpl, then press Enter.
2. Go to the Advanced tab and click Settings under Performance.
3. Switch to the Advanced tab and click Change… under Virtual memory.
4. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
5. Select your drive and choose Custom size.
6. Set an appropriate amount for the Initial size and Maximum size.
7. Click OK to apply the changes.

4. Close Unnecessary Background Applications

Background applications can take up valuable resources, impacting the performance of your graphics driver:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Under the Processes tab, identify and right-click unneeded applications.
3. Choose End Task to terminate the application.

5. Perform System Scans

Corrupted system files can also lead to the “Display driver stopped responding and has recovered” error. Run these scans to detect and repair corrupt files:

1. Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. After the scan completes, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
4. Follow any on-screen instructions to complete repairs.

6. Reinstall the Graphics Driver

If updating the driver did not resolve the issue, a clean reinstall might help:

1. Open Device Manager and expand Display adapters.
2. Right-click your graphics driver and select Uninstall device.
3. Check Delete the driver software for this device and click Uninstall.
4. Restart your computer. Windows should automatically reinstall the graphics driver.

7. Check for Windows Updates

Ensure that your operating system is up-to-date, as updates may include fixes for your issue:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Update & Security and click Check for updates.
3. Follow any prompts to download and install available updates.

8. Seek Professional Help

If none of the above solutions work, it may be time to seek professional help. A technician can perform a detailed analysis and further diagnosis of equipment problems. Sometimes you have to sit down, we’re not pros.

We draw conclusions…

The “Display driver stopped responding and has recovered” error can be disruptive, but it usually has straightforward fixes. Start with the simplest solutions, like updating drivers and changing settings, before moving to more advanced troubleshooting. Regular system maintenance and keeping your software up-to-date can help prevent this error from reoccurring in the future. Leveraging these tips, your system should return to a smooth performance.