Windows 10 crashes after installing latest AMD graphics drivers

I have a solution. I solved it and wanted to come back to this forum post because it was so sad that there were 3 pages with no answers.

So when I was trying to update my AMD GPU drivers, the installation would get to around 50%, my monitor would turn off for a moment, then it would turn back on with a BSOD. This happened every time, no matter which version of the drivers I was trying to install. I didn't even know what was going on.

Here are the two lessons I learned. One will help you diagnose the problem, the other will hopefully help you solve it. These are actually pretty basic things to do, but it wasn't super apparent to me when I was doing it.

1. Install the driver that's causing you to crash, in SAFE MODE. When I did this, instead of hitting BSOD, the installer let me actually see the error instead of crashing my PC. I forget the exact error number I had, but it suggested reasons for why that error was occurring. One was Windows version, two was I just had a wonky install of a previous driver that wasn't allowing me to install the new ones correctly, even despite "Clean install" selected. And it recommended #2:
2. AMD Cleanup Utility. This is AMD software to wipe your AMD GPU drivers clean so you can do a clean install. I know you can select the option to do a clean install on new driver installs, but that didn't work for me. I had to wipe the drivers with this tool so I was sure I was clean, and what do you know, the new driver I was trying to install, installed perfectly..

So that's it. Really the AMD Cleanup Utility should be more clearly advertised as the go-to solution for driver issues, but I wasn't really made aware of it - despite a lot of internet and forum research - until I saw the error message displayed to me in safe mode.

Good look everyone! I hope this at least helps one person in the future.

Why you always don't help us, you always give us a silly solution that never works?????

Hi All,

I have the exact same issue , is there any solution?

BR

Ahmad

I have the same issue as the original post.

I have tried to flash the bios, update the bios with original settings, and do Fresh Windows 10 install with all latest updates. I have also updated the Intel and AMD drivers from manufacturer, my laptop manufacturer’s website and also have tried previous AMD driver versions.

The Intel driver works fine.

The AMD driver causes the screen to freeze and go black as soon as you install it. This happens with stand alone driver from Microsoft, doing device manager driver install only and also using the AMD provided driver package.

Error is “Driver Stuck In Device Thread”, meaning there is an issue with the driver and Windows 10. My machine is now crippled by either AMD or Microsoft. =((

Hi Mayank,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

I understand that you are facing issues with freezing issues after installing the latest AMD graphics drivers.

Ideally, when booting the PC in Safe Mode only basic Windows drivers are loaded and that is the reason the PC will is not crashing. If there is a conflict in drivers with Windows, then you will see a freezing issue on the PC.

One of the things that you can try is installing the older version of AMD graphics drivers and see if you are able to boot the PC normally. The drivers available on AMD website

Note: Do check for the version installed on your PC before proceeding with the installation of graphics drivers

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,

Prakhar Khare

Microsoft Community – Moderator

Hi Prakhar,

Yes, I tried to see if the older version of the drivers work. I installed version 19.12.3, The system still froze when the driver completed install. And then crashed at the welcome screen after force reboot.

The latest AMD driver version is 20.2.1