Artifacts after Windows update, persists after roll-back.

[TheMasti]

I've run into a big problem, and I'm currently forced to use my 5750, instead of my GTX 760. Quite the downgrade.
The problem started when I decided to try Windows 10 1709 again, since I'd read that they fixed some issues I were having when I first tried out the update.
But this time, when it finished updating, I was getting alot of artifacts (Lines, black boxes, color failures etc.) So I tried rolling back, and when it was finished, I still had the artifacts.
I've tried uninstalling GPU drivers with DDU, and that works, but as soon as I install ANY of the Nvidia drivers, it starts again.

So my problem is that as soon as I install a driver for my GTX 760, it starts going crazy and crashes.

Is my card dead? It's just weird to me that it works in safe-mode and without drivers.

 

[jr9]

It sounds like an issue between the card's drivers and this particular Windows 10 update. A drastic solution would just be to reset or reinstall Windows and not update to 1709 or upgrade to a newer graphics card. I don't think the card is failing or at fault. If it works in safe mode that means the driver is the issue.

 

[TheMasti]

Hi.

That's why I'm so confused about this, because; I've already rolled back to 1703 (the one I was one before this started happening, and where everything was working fine) and I tried resetting Windows, and have made sure that it's the correct version, and it is. My PC is basically at the same state, as it was BEFORE all of this started happening.

I've even made sure that I'm on the exact same video driver that I was before all of this.
But yes, it works in safe-mode, and without any drivers installed, it goes crazy as soon as I install a driver.

 

[TheMasti]

I can also try and put my GTX 760 into my old PC, that I know it has been working on a long time ago, before I bought a new one.
I'm just really scared that it might mess up my old PC or something, hell, I'm even scared that updating to 1709 on a future and newer PC might mess it up.

I simply don't have the money to blow PCs like this. And it's getting me paranoid.

 

[jr9]

One thing I would try to do is test the card on another machine to see if you can reproduce the issue there. If you do not have access to another PC many places can perform this service for you. If it does the same thing on another machine then it's the card that is the issue. If it doesn't then I would clean install (full partition delete, reformat) and try again.

 

[TheMasti]

Okay, I'll try putting it in my old PC.
That PC uses Windows 7 64 bit though, do you think that'll change anything?
Or would it be the same, of course if it happens instantly, then it's the card.
I'm just having a really hard time imagining how a Windows update and roll-back could do mess up my graphics card so much, that it doesn't even work with a driver.

 

[TheMasti]

I found out that I can't test it on my old pc, since I don't have a 6pin to 8pin, which I must've lost somewhere.

Anyway, now I've tried with a full clean reinstall, from an ISO on my USB.
And it still doesn't work. Still artifacting like crazy. Works in safe-mode, and without drivers installed.

So exactly the same as before.

 

[jr9]

It doesn't have the PCIe 6+2 pin plug coming from the PSU? You could swap the power supply in from the current machine to get around that. If the other machine uses another OS that's fine.

Updating BIOS and chipset drivers may help. I would also try using nVIDIA autodetect to ensure you aren't downloading the wrong driver.

Artifacting on a clean Windows install suggests a hardware issue with the card.

 

[TheMasti]

Hi again.

My old PC doesn't have a 6+2 pin no, it's an 8 year old PC or something like that.
And to be honest, I'm not sure I'll be able to switch it out.

I'm starting to think that it's the card too.
It's just weird to me how it works without drivers and in safe-mode.
I'll take it to some PC shop on monday, to have them check it, I've kinda done what I can think of and am able to. I'll show them a picture of the artifacts and ask if they could test it in another machine.

Thanks for the help!

 

[jr9]

Let us know what they say. It's a smart move if you have nowhere to test the card. Artifacts are generally a sign of failing/overheating/overclocked GPU or bad drivers. Artifacts with multiple drivers and a clean OS install singles out the card for me. It's supposed to work with the newest drivers no matter what. The only other idea I could suggest is DDU and download a driver from a year ago and see if that works.

 

[TheMasti]

Hi again.

So I went to a shop yesterday, and asked their 'Knowhow' corner, to see what they said. (I was hesitant to just give them the PC and ask them to fix it, since it's pretty expensive)

He said that it's really weird too. And that all the things I've done to test it out, he would've done too. So he didn't think he would be of much help, and he actually said that it would almost guaranteed be a waste of money for me to pay them to check it out.

TL;DR, I have already done all the things he could think of.
He can't say it for certain since he doesn't have it in front of him, but he would single out the card too.

So that's what I'm working on now.
Thanks for the help again!

 

[jr9]

The only service that would be actually performed would be testing the card on another system. You're already done all you can and just need confirmation that the hardware issues lies in either the card or your PC. If someone described this issue and say they tried a Windows reinstall with new drivers and the artifacting issue remained I'd say it's probably the card as well though.

 

[TheMasti]

Hi again.

I know this is some time ago now, but I forgot to ask; can a Windows update kill it in the first place? It doesn't make sense to me.
Would it have happened if I had just restarted my PC, or is the update at fault?
Can my PC start "hating" Nvidia in a sense?

I'll buy a 6-pin to 8-pin and check it on my old PC, I can get them pretty cheap, 3$ or so.

 

[jr9]

A Windows update cannot physically damage a GPU but it can create software level conflicts or issues that stop the GPU from working properly. Windows update can cause things to stop working. By testing the card on another machine you will know if it's the GPU or the PC that is the issue.

If it actifacts on another system then the card is failing and if it doesn't I would reinstall it in the original PC and start over with a fresh Windows install. I'd also install Windows with the PC disconnected from the Internet and install the GPU drivers offline. If it artifacts then I'd look at other PC hardware as being the issue. If it did work I would then let Windows update off the leash and hope it doesn't start artifacting again. If it that went OK I'd install all the programs and then create a full system image so if it happens again you can just go back much easier.

 

[TheMasti]

Okay, thanks for the help.
I've ordered a 6-8 pin power cable for my old pc, then I'll be able to see if it's the card or not.
Sure hope it's the card.

 

[TheMasti]

Hi again.

Just throwing out an update: I got the 6-8 pin cable today and tested it on my old PC, and it's also a problem over there, even on drivers that are at least 3 years old, and also on a driver from October 2017, so it's the card.
Only difference is that my old PC is Windows 7 and that it didn't BSoD, probably because Windows 10's 'fail-safes' kicks in earlier or something like that, but my games crashed on it.

Very happy that it's just the card.
Thanks for the help through this problem!