Windows 7 crashes on startup, "Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed"

Anonymous
2009-11-03T13:00:54+00:00

Right, so I'm using an HP laptop, and it seems to be consistently crashing on startup, with a bunch of strange coloured lines and pixels before the login screen appears. I usually dont even get a BSOD, but I did just once, with the error code 0x000000001E and the error message "Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed".

I'd had this problem using Windows Vista as well, and thought an upgrade to 7 might fix it, but apparently not. Listing my computer specs below in case they're of any use.

HP Pavilion dv9830us

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit edition, formerly Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit edition

RAM: 4GB

Processor: Dual Core Intel T5550, its a 64 bit processor, I believe.

Video Card: Nvidia Geforce 8600GS (mobile), 512MB VRAM.

What I've tried so far:

Every edition of Nvidia drivers that I can find for my card, using 3dguru's driver sweeper each time I install a new one. I've used the new 195.39 beta drivers as well, and those did work for a few hours. However, when I shut my pc down it wouldnt start up again, reverting back to the same crashes.

Flashed my BIOS to the latest version as per HP's driver page for my laptop.

Checked that my chipset drivers are up to date.

Disabled all Aero effects (just in case that was the problem)

Basically, if my PC has an Nvidia driver installed on it, it crashes. If I go to safe mode, uninstall the video driver, it boots up fine in normal mode with the regular VGA driver. When I then install an Nvidia driver again, back to the crashes.

Since I do tend to use my PC quite a bit, any assistance is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-11-05T18:40:50+00:00

    what about safe mode?

    please run your computer  in safe mode

    how do i do this?

    restart pc

    press f8 key also press f9 key   many times  before you see windows loading bar...

    choose safe mode!

    how log can you use windows with out a crash????????? test and tell me the time!!

    also put laptop next a fan for cooling!

    click start in windows

    in the white box type in

    msconfig

    look for strartup

    uncheck all box and apply!!!

    restart!   does it crash now?

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-11-05T18:46:23+00:00

    if you want to test memory try this

    http://www.memtest86.com/

    or

    download this file

    http://www.memtest86.com/memtest86-3.5.iso.zip

    unzip the file

    you will see a file called      memtest86_3.5.iso

    put a blank cdr in the cd burner and jet click on  the memtest86  file it will burn automatic!

    restart with cd inside!

    it will test you ram it will take awhile!

    test eah ram like this .

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-11-05T18:52:38+00:00

    Well, I can run my pc in safe mode with no problem. Also, if I uninstall the Nvidia drivers, I can run my pc with standard VGA drivers normally, for ages. I only have these problems when the Nvidia drivers are installed, in which case my pc doesn't boot at all.

    As for the memory test, I'll run it tonight, but I'm not going to be able to get back to you till late tonight on that. Both Rain77 and windowsfanny, I appreciate all the help you've given me, and I'll get back to you later tonight.

    Cheers

    Rohan

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-11-05T19:32:31+00:00

    i am glad you PC works in standard vga , "most pc will"  but you will not able to run games or anything with that!

    ** if remove nvdia display driver you pc  will put standard  vga driver back in  this is not a problem***

    but try this

    so jest go to hp.com

    look up your model!

    look for windows vista x64 driver "windows7 can use vista drivers!!"

    look for nvidia drivers download it install it!    this may  work!!

    or download this

    this driver is made by hp not by nvida most likely work well!!

    ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp42501-43000/sp42635.exe

    if you get blue screen jest safe mode remove the display drivers!

    generic display drivers suck!

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  5. Anonymous
    2009-11-06T12:23:34+00:00

    Hi again, and sorry for the late reply. I've run memtest and it says all my memory is fine. I've tried both the drivers you suggested in the previous post as well as the ones from Nvidia, but whenever there is a driver installed, the system just crashes.

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