VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSOD Error on Windows PC
BSOD or Blue Screen of Death is a critical system error screen infamous among Windows users. BSOD errors generally occur due to outdated drivers, missing system files, etc. The BSOD that we are discussing here is the VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED error screen. It is a GPU-related error, triggered when the system encounters an issue with the display drivers or when there is a hardware issue.
This is a graphics-related issue where TDR means Timeout Detection and Recovery. This error screen pops up unexpectedly during an intensive task like rendering or gameplay. The system hangs up and crashes, following which it displays this BSOD. VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED creates a dump value of 0x00000117 or 0x117 and is caused when the display driver fails to respond promptly.
Another similar BSoD error — VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE, having a dump value of 0x00000116 or 0x116, is also generated in some cases due to “an attempt to reset the display driver and recover from a timeout has failed.”
Sometimes, the system generates the error codes alongside the VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE error. Here are those –
· nvlddmkm.sys — This error is triggered by faulty or outdated Nvidia drivers. It can be resolved by updating the drivers.
· atikmpag.sys — This error is triggered by faulty or outdated AMD or ATI drivers. Updating or rolling back the drivers could solve this issue.
· igdkmd64.sys — This error is triggered due to outdated Intel drivers. Updating these drivers can resolve the issue.
· Dxgkrnl.sys — This is triggered when there is some issue with Microsoft DirectX drivers. Updating or reinstalling them might resolve this issue.
Now that we have a basic understanding of the VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSoD generation, let’s have a detailed look at it causes, along with the ways to fix it.
Causes Behind the Generation of VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSoD –
There could be multiple reasons behind the generation of VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSoD. It could be due to corrupted or outdated display drivers, faulty hardware, intensive graphics operations causing the system to hang, etc. We have listed below some possible causes behind this blue screen, which would help you better understand this error.
· Display driver problem
· Hardware related issue
· Overclocked components
· Incompatible components or settings
· Insufficient system cooling
· Insufficient power
Methods to Fix the VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSoD –
While circling out the exact cause behind a BSoD is a bit tricky, understanding all possible causes and working around them could help us fix this pestering issue. Let’s look at some of the ways to fix the VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSoD –
Method 1 — Update Device Drivers
Outdated display drivers could cause the system to hang up, crash and display the VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSoD. Updating outdated device drivers is the most common fix, which helps a lot of users in getting rid of this issue. Follow the steps and update your drivers –
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· Press WIN + X and click on Device Manager from the list.
· Expand Display Adapters, right-click on the entries under it one-by-one and click on Properties.
· Click on Update Driver to check for any available updates.
Though keeping your device drivers updated is the way, sometimes the updates cause problems that lead to the unexpected generation of BSoD errors. In such a scenario, rolling back or uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers are the two solutions.
To roll back the device driver to the previous version –
· If you are already on the latest driver and want to roll back to the older version, click on Roll Back Driver to restore the older driver.
To uninstall the device driver –
· If you want to uninstall and reinstall the driver, click Uninstall Device and download the drivers from the device manufacturer’s official website.
Method 2 — Underclock Any Overclocked Components
Overclocking is a great way to get the maximum performance out of your components like GPU, CPU, and RAM. However, overclocking causes heating issues, which could make your system work more than its threshold, causing system crashes and BSoD. If you have any overclocked components, revert to factory settings to see if this eliminates this issue.
Method 3 — Insufficient Cooling Inside the System
When was the last time you opened your system and removed dust sitting inside it? Dust accumulation happens over time, where it gets settled on the internal components. This leads to improper airflow, causing heating issues and various BSoD errors like the VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSoD. Dust not only accumulates on the components but also on the heatsinks and fans of various components, affecting the system’s overall performance. If you haven’t cleaned your system in a while, it is time to do so. You can follow this guide to get detailed steps on how to properly clean your system.
Method 4 — Check for Faulty Hardware
Defective memory modules, GPU, etc. could generate the VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSoD. Because the problem lies somewhere with the components, it is time for you to troubleshoot the old-school way. Start from the cables and then the components. Look for any cuts in the cables, check the GPU and the CPU cooler for any damage. If these all look good, there could be a problem with your CPU or motherboard, which could potentially cause major issues and generate more BSoD error screens.
Method 5 — Insufficient Power Supply
Components inside your desktop require a certain amount of power to operate at optimal levels. Overclocking them means you need more power to get the best out of them. Both the CPU and GPU are power-hungry components that require the maximum of the system’s total power requirement. If you have a PSU rated at an output rating lower than the combined power demand of all your components, then you should change your PSU. Otherwise, your PSU could fail and you’ll have to replace it anyway. There are a lot of power supply calculators on the web that you can use to calculate the power demand of your system and choose the right PSU.
Expert Tip
Done with the above-suggested methods and still facing the VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSoD issue? Try this. Frequent BSoD errors could prove fatal for your precious data and can cause data loss. If you have a crashed system with important data on its hard drive, you can recover it using sophisticated data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Professional. It is feature-rich software that allows easy data recovery in various data loss scenarios. It also allows you to make a bootable recovery media using a different system and then run it on the crashed one to recover your data on an external hard drive without any hassle.
Conclusion
VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED BSoD is a type of blue screen error, which is random in nature and annoying. In this article, we discussed various causes behind it that range from outdated or corrupted drivers to overclocked components. We also discussed various ways to resolve this issue and get our work back on track. We hope this guide has helped you resolve this issue and get your system up and running.
