[SOLVED] Constant graphics driver error on Windows 10 laptop

[adrian_h46]

Hi, about two weeks ago I encountered a BSOD DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE a couple of days after updating to 21H1, upon reboot, I could login, but everything breaks from there.

1. Task Manager would run, but would freeze and crash seconds after, the shut down menu does nothing, running applications does nothing, I had to hard shutdown my laptop with the power button.

2. I decided to format my whole laptop. I didn't factory reset but used a fresh install with the Windows Installation Media. it would run fine for the first 2-3 reboots (after driver installs and updates), then the problem would come back again.

3. I actually went and got a copy of 20H1 from Rufus, and the problem still persists, even without the cumulative updates.

Let's just say I had to format my laptop about 4 times to realize that the problem can be "solved" by uninstalling my Intel Graphics driver with DDU, but this is where I'm stuck.

4. I tried to install the drivers from the automatic windows update, Dell SupportAssist, and from Intel's website directly, all with varying results, more times than not this reproduces point 1, but rarely, would solve the problem for some time, until breaking randomly again, either after I shutdown the laptop, or while currently in use. So I cannot reliably reproduce this issue.

Laptop and current drivers:
Dell Inspiron 15 7567
Intel i7 7700HQ
Nvidia GTX 1050ti M
.
Intel Graphics DCH 27.20.100.8854 (from SupportAssist)
Nvidia Geforce 471.11 SD

 

[Colif]

often with laptops it helps to get both Intel & Nvidia drivers from the Laptop makers website. If those don't work you have to wonder about why, its the CPU so we can't really go and replace it.

Can you follow option one on the following link - here - and then do this step below: Small memory dumps - Have Windows Create a Small Memory Dump (Minidump) on BSOD - that creates a file in c windows/minidump after the next BSOD

1. Open Windows File Explore
2. Navigate to C:\Windows\Minidump
3. Copy the mini-dump files out onto your Desktop
4. Do not use Winzip, use the built in facility in Windows
5. Select those files on your Desktop, right click them and choose 'Send to' - Compressed (zipped) folder
6. Upload the zip file to the Cloud (OneDrive, DropBox . . . etc.)
7. Then post a link here to the zip file, so we can take a look for you . . .

I don't think win 10 is cause of the errors, 21H1 update could just be a coincidence. Since it happens still in 20H1. Its more likely a driver.. especially given error. Its possible 21H1 came with updated drivers. its possible Windows update catalog has newer drivers that all versions of win 10 use now...

 

[adrian_h46]

often with laptops it helps to get both Intel & Nvidia drivers from the Laptop makers website. If those don't work you have to wonder about why, its the CPU so we can't really go and replace it.

Can you follow option one on the following link - here - and then do this step below: Small memory dumps - Have Windows Create a Small Memory Dump (Minidump) on BSOD - that creates a file in c windows/minidump after the next BSOD

1. Open Windows File Explore
2. Navigate to C:\Windows\Minidump
3. Copy the mini-dump files out onto your Desktop
4. Do not use Winzip, use the built in facility in Windows
5. Select those files on your Desktop, right click them and choose 'Send to' - Compressed (zipped) folder
6. Upload the zip file to the Cloud (OneDrive, DropBox . . . etc.)
7. Then post a link here to the zip file, so we can take a look for you . . .

I don't think win 10 is cause of the errors, 21H1 update could just be a coincidence. Since it happens still in 20H1. Its more likely a driver.. especially given error. Its possible 21H1 came with updated drivers. its possible Windows update catalog has newer drivers that all versions of win 10 use now...

Here's the link for the minidump
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Eah96povUV0ksp_WYCexPKCSS4ZcDzQC/view?usp=sharing

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Colif]

i will ask a friend to check dump files, he should be asleep now.

 

[gardenman]

Hi, I ran the dump file through the debugger and got the following information: https://jsfiddle.net/8un3L2k7/show This link is for anyone wanting to help. You do not have to view it. It is safe to "run the fiddle" as the page asks.

File information:	071121-23375-01.dmp (Jul 11 2021 - 02:10:30)
Bugcheck:	DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE (9F)
Probably caused by:	memory_corruption (Process: System)
Uptime:	0 Day(s), 14 Hour(s), 38 Min(s), and 47 Sec(s)

System: Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming

This information can be used by others to help you. Someone else will post with more information. Please wait for additional answers. Good luck.

 

[Colif]

Have you run the Intel support assistant on it?

https://www.intel.com.au/content/www/au/en/support/intel-driver-support-assistant.html
i see this installed but I have the above on my PC and I don't have this driver

Jul 18 2019

semav6msr64.sys

Intel Driver Update Utility http://www.intel.com/ OR (SEMA Software) http://www.sema-soft.de/en/home/

dump isn't very enlightening, a thread ended but I couldn't tell you why that caused error.

 

[adrian_h46]

Have you run the Intel support assistant on it?

https://www.intel.com.au/content/www/au/en/support/intel-driver-support-assistant.html
i see this installed but I have the above on my PC and I don't have this driver

Jul 18 2019

semav6msr64.sys

Intel Driver Update Utility http://www.intel.com/ OR (SEMA Software) http://www.sema-soft.de/en/home/

dump isn't very enlightening, a thread ended but I couldn't tell you why that caused error.

yes, I've always used the Intel DSA before to update drivers. The Intel graphics driver I'm using now is from the Dell support site, since it seems to be the only one that temporarily fixes the problem.

I think I forgot to mention that with the Intel graphics driver uninstalled my laptop would run fine. No errors, crashes, nothing at all. it's only after I installed the Intel graphics driver again that the problem comes back.

Temporary workaround right now is to uninstall the Intel driver with DDU in safe mode on every restart and shutdowns, since after installing the Intel graphics driver, it's only good for one session and would break again after reboot.

also apologies for saying "Intel graphics driver" a lot, just don't want to create any confusion on what drivers I meant.

 

[Colif]

Temporary workaround right now is to uninstall the Intel driver with DDU in safe mode on every restart and shutdowns, since after installing the Intel graphics driver, it's only good for one session and would break again after reboot.

hmm, try turning fast startup off and see if you still need to do that - https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4189-turn-off-fast-startup-windows-10-a.html
just curious, I mean we know its a driver but not which.