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

yeah this really sounds like a faulty graphics card, especially since you see the issue in both Vista and Windows 7.

All the troubleshooting that Rain77 has provided was spot-on and really helped to clarify the issue, but after all that with no progress, and everything works in VGA mode with the driver disabled I would bet the problem is due to bad hardware.

Do you have another video card you can use to test with?  Maybe find a store that has a good refund / return policy and get a new card and test.  If you see the same problem just bring it back and look at a new motherboard at that point.

It's either the video card or the PCI-E / AGP slot that it's being inserted into that sounds to be bad.

I hope this helps.

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Thanks for the reply, Kevin. My problem is that I'm using a laptop, and its not easy to get a new video card, specially seeing as I'm out of warranty. I'm concerned that this may be similar to the issue described in the links here:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/psg/board/message?board.id=Display&message.id=6271

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/all-nvidia-8400m-8600m-chips-faulty/

They seem to suggest that a lot of notebooks containing the video card that I'm using, and manufactured between 2007-08 have this problem. I'm not entirely sure, but a lot of the troubleshooting seems to be pointing me to this.

Rohanr

thanks for trying all the options because blue screen " bunch of strange coloured lines and pixels" means many things.

ram, video card drivers, cpu ,motherboard  problem!  you need to narrow down! to see what is the real reason!

here is a dirty truth about all big manufactures!

so your video card is made by nvidia right ?      did you know some other customers who bought the same model got Intel video card?????

if you got to intel ask for new drivers they say to go to hp for help!           if you got hp they say go to intel!  you will say omg wtf!!!!!!! all pc are frankenbuild  "they use parts form other company to make a super monster!!  "  intel cpu or amd cpu , Microsoft os, nvidia video card  or amd video card  ,ram made by some company "there are many" , motherboard "asus,evga,xfx,intel,bfg so many,,   hp put them together put there logo on.   when these things loose harmony they crash!

you can not buy new video card for laptop. they will make new laptop soon that you can sawp out video cards" does not apply to you!"!

y our problem is jest a software problem!!!!  if hp make a driver for windows 7 it will work 1000%. they will not do this because they got bigger fish to fry!

on other hope is that windows update! if Microsoft  might give you a new driver this!

but if you upgrade from xp that hp gave you it may work! why? they try to preserve the file in the laptop "like drivers!". make sure you back all it could crash and make you loose everything!

--------------------------------------------------- my last option!-------------------------------

go back to xp with  hp recovery cd!

back up the drivers with         http://www.drivermagician.com/ in widows xp

clean install windows 7!         install and  restore the the driver with driver magician

worth a try!

i found a video on youtube that show what i saw back in 1999 when ram fails.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXpacp\_ifb8&feature=player\_embedded#

do you have the same ?            when driver is installed?

Certainly Standard Display Drivers are not the best for gaming, yet, when someone requires functionality, and stability, they are heaven-sent.

Rohan, hope something works out for you, but as for this,unfortunately, i am not sure there is much more left to do. i, myself, would choose to run the Standard VGA till something better comes along (atleast it works). i'll continue to watch the thread, for some time. if for whatever reason that 'light' in my head turns on, i will let you know.

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