Question Windows resetting on its own (don't know if BSOD, File Explorer crash, etc) while HDMI is unplugged and Chrome is up.

[Dr_Cheesesteak]

I work from home and sometimes unplug my HDMI cable from my PC and into my work laptop so my laptop displays on my main monitor.

I have noticed when I plug the HDMI cable back into my PC video card, Windows has reset. Every program I had up is off, it is as if Windows just freshly started and shows my desktop with no open apps. So I'm assuming it's crashing and resetting somehow. I am not sure if these are BSODs or something else.

But what I have noticed that is if I close Chrome on my PC, or even minimize it (I tested minimizing it just once), then Windows does not crash/reset while the HDMI cable is unplugged. I am not sure if this has to do with the video card not having an HDMI plugged in or the fact that I do still run a screensaver and that somehow is causing some bad interaction with Chrome to cause crashes/resets or what. I do not think it is the screensaver, because I have seen the screensaver come up before while the HDMI is plugged in and there was no crash/reset. Although I did not keep track if Chrome was the main tab.

But yeah, basically, if Chrome is the main Windows tab, something is causing Windows to crash/reset while I have the HDMI unplugged. And I'm 99% sure this is not caused by the screensaver if the HDMI cable IS plugged in.

I do have the crash event docs in a Google Drive folder below from one of these crashes/resets today. I was not able to attach the memory.dmp file as it is deemed "File unreadable" by Google Drive. My PC specs are in my signature.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cnxwpe4S-XHwymWGMt43ZRtrfVvVjG1I

Any help or input is appreciated! I've obviously found a workaround (close/minimize chrome when I unplug the HDMI), but I'd like to still see if the problem can be narrowed down to something specific I can maybe fix. Thanks.

 

[Aeacus]

but I'd like to still see if the problem can be narrowed down to something specific I can maybe fix.

I'd use KVM Switch to switch between two PCs, rather than unplugging/plugging the HDMI cable constantly.

E.g this thing: https://www.amazon.com/Monitors-Computers-Switches-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B0D5D4FK1H

This way, you will not wear out the HDMI port on your GPU/laptop. Also, switching around would be far faster and more convenient.

As of why your PC reboots while you don't have HDMI connected - hard to tell.
PC should not reboot when there is no monitor connected (unless you've enabled some setting that makes PC act like so).

PSU - SeaSonic 100-240VAC M12ii Bronze Evo Edition 620W

I suggest that you replace it sooner than later. Since it is a miracle + then some, that it still works.

Seasonic M12II-620 Evo was released in 2013. And it ever came with 3 year warranty. So, your PSU now is 12 years old and WAY past it's service life (that's Seasonic reliability for you). Still, nothing lasts for forever and better to replace the PSU.

Do note that your PSU is group-regulated and doesn't do well with CPU low power states, making the PC to reboot. (Usually manifests itself when putting PC to sleep and then waking it up, where PSU fails to wake up the PC, instead rebooting it.) So, it could very well be the PSU issue.

In regards of new PSU, 650W unit does fine and good PSUs to go for, are: Seasonic Focus/Vertex/PRIME, Corsair RMx/RMi/HXi/AXi, Super Flower Leadex Gold/Platinum/Titanium.
Or if you want the latest ATX 3.x PSU, then: https://hwbusters.com/best_picks/best-atxv3-pcie5-ready-psus-picks-hardware-busters/

(My 3x PCs are also powered by Seasonic. I have 2x PRIME TX-650 units and one Focus PX-550 unit. Full specs with pics in my sig.)

 

[ubuysa]

Are you unplugging the only monitor on the PC?

From that limited information, the BSOD you're seeing (yes, it's BSODing) is a 0x116 bugcheck. That's a VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE, meaning that Windows detected a graphics hang and the timeout detection and recovery feature (TDR) attempted to reset the graphics driver and graphics card but failed to resolve the issue. This might well be consistent with you unplugging (or plugging in) the only monitor.

A KVM switch would be much safer, as suggested.

 

[Ralston18]

Also look in Reliability History/Monitor and Event viewer for error codes, warnings, and informational events that occurred when you unplugged or plugged in something.

Agree with the preceding posts regarding KVM switch and new PSU.

 

[johnbl]

interesting error code
0: kd> !error 0xc000009a
Error code: (NTSTATUS) 0xc000009a (3221225626) - Insufficient system resources exist to complete the API.

I would look for gpu overclocking problem, or bad software running on gpu. (look for common reasons for a gpu hang)
best to provide the actual memory dump file so we can look at in the debugger.

if you can not figure out the reason, you might google "how to force a memory dump using a keyboard on windows" make the registry changes. Then change the memory dump type to kernel and then the next time your system hangs you can force the memory dump and someone can look and see what the problem is.
(assuming it does not bugcheck before the forced memory dump)
it could be something like video streaming software using up the resources.