Question Games suddenly stopped working on Windows 11, startup CTDs on multiple titles ?

[PoiuytZxc]

Spoiler: Specs

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D 12-Core
Graphics: ZOTAC Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Ryzen 7000
Mem: GSKILL TRIDENT Z5 DDR-5 32GB RAM
OS: Win 11 Home 10.0.22 Build 22000
Harddrive: Samsung 980 Pro 1TB SSD
Harddrive: WDC Ultrastar DC 14TB
Temp: Deepcool LT720 Liquid Cooler
Temp: LianLi UNI Fan SL-INF (6)
PSU: Corsair HX1000 1000watt

New computer, been running more or less fine for about a month. Last week, though, several of the games I was playing stopped working, and by stopped working I mean refused to even load; trying to run the games results in an almost instantaneous CTD, usually without an error message.

It occurs with every game I've tried, including Cyberpunk 2077, Hitman 3, Far Cry 6, and Grounded. All of these games are well within specs and working previously; Cyberpunk itself was working perfectly no more than a few hours before the CTDs started.

I believe, but am not certain, that the CTDs started after Armoury Crate, the ASUS driver management software, updated a bunch of drivers while my PC was experiencing moderate to severe internet connectivity issues.

I've tried the usual steps for game issues - verify integrity of the game, uninstall/reinstall, etc - with no luck.

I've also tried

• rolling back my graphics driver, via [Device Manager>Display Adapter>(rightclick)>Rollback Driver],
• reinstalling the latest NVIDIA graphics driver,
• and manually installing AMD's recommended chipset drivers, from the AMD website.

The CTDs continue.

Any ideas as to what could be causing CTDs for multiple games, or what troubleshooting steps I should take next?

edit-
additional info

The Reliability History window shows all the CTDs, and about two hours before the first logged CTD event displays a "Windows Error" with the following information:

Spoiler

Description​

A problem with your hardware caused Windows to stop working correctly.​

​

Problem signature​

Problem Event Name: LiveKernelEvent​

Code: 1cc​

Parameter 1: fffff80406846140​

Parameter 2: ffffa78f5b1e2040​

Parameter 3: 1a​

Parameter 4: 2d​

OS version: 10_0_22000​

Service Pack: 0_0​

Product: 768_1​

OS Version: 10.0.22621.2.0.0.768.101​

Locale ID: 1033​

Two sample CTDs (Cyberpunk and Hitman3):

Spoiler

Description
Faulting Application Path: C:\Users\Computer\AppData\Local\Programs\CD Projekt Red\REDlauncher\REDlauncher.exe

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BEX
Application Name: REDlauncher.exe
Application Version: 2.14.0.20
Application Timestamp: 64995e1a
Fault Module Name: StackHash_2beb
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 00000000
Exception Offset: PCH_F2_FROM_ntdll+0x0007672C
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Data: 00000008
OS Version: 10.0.22621.2.0.0.768.101
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 2beb
Additional Information 2: 2beba6fb4680d73a8c78ca7c24ccdb46
Additional Information 3: a648
Additional Information 4: a648dc5e56ef038962a5853d26f8da23

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: f8d763f3f1c8eefbe1895ebecc89d1a1 (1263645344022516129)

Spoiler

Description
Faulting Application Path: D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\HITMAN 3\Retail\HITMAN3.exe

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: hitman3.exe
Application Version: 3.160.0.0
Application Timestamp: 64ac5b80
Fault Module Name: hitman3.exe
Fault Module Version: 3.160.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 64ac5b80
Exception Code: 80000003
Exception Offset: 000000000136e16d
OS Version: 10.0.22621.2.0.0.768.101
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: d8b3
Additional Information 2: d8b3ed0f32451cf59d317004b3c677a5
Additional Information 3: 5ca4
Additional Information 4: 5ca45d225c0b0cf5e20efe69c071b78a

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: a6f7900ffb1c6581a90f4ee40bc64364 (1805748716955911012)

Also X4 Foundations gives the following error message:

Spoiler

Exit Code 119​

Last modified by Daniel Turner on 2023/07/17 16:01

---

You have landed on this page because a crash has been detected in X4: Foundations.
The issue occurs because the graphics engine failed to create a so-called render target. Note that this can happen either upon starting the game (startup error) or while the game is running (crash).
We are currently investigating the conditions which trigger this crash.

 

[Ralston18]

PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)? History of heavy gaming use?

Look in Reliability History/Monitor for error codes, warnings, or even informational events that occurred just before or at the time of the crashes.

Start with Reliability History - much more end user friendly and the time line format can reveal patterns.

Event Viewer requires more time and effort to navigate and undertand.

FYI:

How To - How to use Windows 10 Event Viewer | Tom's Hardware Forum (tomshardware.com)

 

[PoiuytZxc]

PSU is a Corsair HX1000 1000 Watt. afaik brand new, but could be wrong...?

Again, whole computer is only about 1 month old. I game pretty heavily on weekends, but not sure if it's physically possible to put THAT much wear in so little time.


The Reliability History window shows all the CTDs, and about two hours before the first logged CTD event displays a "Windows Error" with the following information:

Spoiler

Description​

A problem with your hardware caused Windows to stop working correctly.​

​

Problem signature​

Problem Event Name: LiveKernelEvent​

Code: 1cc​

Parameter 1: fffff80406846140​

Parameter 2: ffffa78f5b1e2040​

Parameter 3: 1a​

Parameter 4: 2d​

OS version: 10_0_22000​

Service Pack: 0_0​

Product: 768_1​

OS Version: 10.0.22621.2.0.0.768.101​

Locale ID: 1033​

Two sample CTDs (Cyberpunk and Hitman3):

Spoiler

Description
Faulting Application Path: C:\Users\Computer\AppData\Local\Programs\CD Projekt Red\REDlauncher\REDlauncher.exe

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BEX
Application Name: REDlauncher.exe
Application Version: 2.14.0.20
Application Timestamp: 64995e1a
Fault Module Name: StackHash_2beb
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 00000000
Exception Offset: PCH_F2_FROM_ntdll+0x0007672C
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Data: 00000008
OS Version: 10.0.22621.2.0.0.768.101
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 2beb
Additional Information 2: 2beba6fb4680d73a8c78ca7c24ccdb46
Additional Information 3: a648
Additional Information 4: a648dc5e56ef038962a5853d26f8da23

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: f8d763f3f1c8eefbe1895ebecc89d1a1 (1263645344022516129)

Spoiler

Description
Faulting Application Path: D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\HITMAN 3\Retail\HITMAN3.exe

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: hitman3.exe
Application Version: 3.160.0.0
Application Timestamp: 64ac5b80
Fault Module Name: hitman3.exe
Fault Module Version: 3.160.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 64ac5b80
Exception Code: 80000003
Exception Offset: 000000000136e16d
OS Version: 10.0.22621.2.0.0.768.101
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: d8b3
Additional Information 2: d8b3ed0f32451cf59d317004b3c677a5
Additional Information 3: 5ca4
Additional Information 4: 5ca45d225c0b0cf5e20efe69c071b78a

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: a6f7900ffb1c6581a90f4ee40bc64364 (1805748716955911012)

I'm also seeing a small number of other sporadic crash events logged, such as NVIDIA Container (might have been when I was reinstall the drivers?), C++ framework, and something called LEDKeeper.

There's also several Informational Events listed about thirty minutes after the initial Windows Hardware Error, and again about one minute before the first CTD. These are all updates to various things, including Windows, Microsoft.NET, and Armoury Crate

 

[kerberos_20]

that seems to point to a bad driver
run this before updating drivers
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup
sfc /scannow

then reboot to safe mode, run DDU to nuke gpu driver
and reinstall gpu, chipset, etc

 

[PoiuytZxc]

OK, so to make sure I'm following:

1. I use Run to launch those four commands, in order.
2. Then I reboot to safe.
3. Uninstall the graphics driver with this software: https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html
4. Still in safe mode, reinstall gpu and chipset drivers
5. Reboot out of safe and test

Is there anything I should be looking for when I run DISM and scannow, or is it all automatic?
Do I uninstall the chipset drivers, or just the gpu?

(should add: I found a reddit thread indicating that Armoury Crate had completely borked some chipset drivers for at least one user, which is one of the reasons I was suspecting it was a driver issue too.)

 

[TerryLaze]

If you installed any kind of app that displays info on screen, including MSI afterburner or an equivalent of your mobo, turn it off and see if the games start.
There are games that crash if they are enabled.

 

[PoiuytZxc]

If you installed any kind of app that displays info on screen, including MSI afterburner or an equivalent of your mobo, turn it off and see if the games start.
There are games that crash if they are enabled.

I have not (at least not with my knowledge and consent). I don't use overlays, including Steam ones, and hadn't enabled any new software, or know of any new software installing, before the crashes started.

 

[PoiuytZxc]

Hi, sorry to bump, but this issue is still not resolved and I would like to make sure I'm going about fixing it right, lest I make things worse.

I am going to try and uninstall and reinstall all of my chipset and gpu drivers.

Microsoft's Uninstall Troubleshooter tool lists over a dozen AMD programs, including 8 drivers and the rest being God knows what.

Do I uninstall everything listed as AMD, including non-drivers, or just those things listed as drivers?

Also, what is the best way to make a backup? I was using the Backup and Recovery tool on Win 7, but that seems to have been removed in Win 11.