VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR in Windows 11

Anonymous
2025-06-18T08:06:29+00:00

Hello

Every time i started the laptop, it suddenly crashes into blue screen and the fans seem to go full speed creating a very loud sound with error message VIDEO DXGKRNL FATAL ERROR

I have already tried resetting the PC and updating the graphic card and reinstalling them

My laptop is Lenovo ideapad gaming 3, intel i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650

In addition, I tried the DDU tool for NVidia and Intel drivers and reinstalled the most recent version, but the problem persists

I have used all CMD commands, including scan and restore health, windows troubleshooting, Lenovo software to check hardware issues, but no issue or problem has been detected and all tests have passed

Please Help

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Display and graphics

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Anonymous
2025-06-18T13:16:56+00:00

Thanks for sharing the BlueScreenView result.

From your screenshot, the consistent error across all crash dumps is:

Bug Check Code: 0x00000113

Bug Check String: VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR

Caused by Driver: watchdog.sys

Related Module: dxgkrnl.sys

Highlighted File: watchdog.sys+1316

What This Error Means:

The VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR (0x113) typically occurs due to issues with your graphics driver or GPU. It signals that the DirectX graphics kernel subsystem has encountered a fatal error, often due to:

-Corrupt or outdated GPU drivers

-Hardware acceleration issues

-Conflicts between GPU drivers and recent Windows updates

-Overheating or failing GPU hardware

How to Fix It:

  1. Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

Go to Device Manager → Display adapters.

Right-click your GPU (e.g., Intel, AMD, NVIDIA) → Uninstall.

Then:

Download the latest official driver from the manufacturer’s website.

Install it cleanly (use DDU - Display Driver Uninstaller for a fresh removal if needed).

  1. Disable Hardware Acceleration (Temporary Test)

Try disabling hardware acceleration in:

Web browsers (Chrome, Edge)

Office apps

Discord or similar apps

Windows Settings → System → Display → Graphics settings → Turn off hardware acceleration per app

  1. Update Windows

Go to Settings → Windows Update, install all optional and critical updates.

  1. Check for Overheating

Monitor GPU temperature using tools like HWMonitor or GPU-Z.

Clean internal fans or check if your laptop/desktop needs servicing.

  1. Run DirectX Diagnostic

Run dxdiag → Save all information.

Check for signs of driver issues or DirectX problems.

  1. Scan for System File Corruption

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

sfc /scannow

Then:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

  1. Consider Rolling Back Recent Updates

If this started happening after a Windows update, try:

Settings → Update & Security → Recovery → Go back to previous version

If Problem Persists

If none of these steps resolve it, you may be dealing with:

A failing GPU (especially if on a dedicated card)

A conflict between third-party software and your GPU drivers (like overclocking tools or screen recorders)

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-06-18T08:41:38+00:00

    Hi

    I totally get how rough this is — that particular blue screen error is a nightmare, and the fan blasting at full speed like a jet engine doesn’t help the stress either 😓

    You've clearly done a ton already — DDU, driver reinstalls, SFC, DISM, Lenovo diagnostics, the whole nine yards. That tells me the issue might be a bit deeper than a typical driver glitch. Let me throw out a few ideas that might help push this forward:

    What might still be causing the crash:

    1. Conflict Between Intel + NVIDIA Drivers

    On laptops with both Intel integrated graphics and a discrete NVIDIA GPU (like yours), Windows 11 updates can sometimes cause driver handshake issues, especially with newer builds. Even with DDU, if Windows reinstalls a weirdly matched Intel graphics driver automatically, it can break things again.

    Fix idea:

    Try installing the OEM-provided driver combo package from Lenovo instead of NVIDIA's or Intel’s latest directly. Go to Lenovo’s support page for your exact model and download both the Intel and NVIDIA drivers from there. Even if they seem older, they’re tested for your hardware.

    1. Check Windows Feature Updates

    You mentioned the crashes started recently — was this after a recent Windows Feature Update (like 23H2 or 24H2)? Sometimes major updates mess with DXGKRNL.sys or WDDM-level graphics handling.

    Fix idea:

    Try temporarily rolling back the last feature update:

    Settings > System > Display > Graphics settings

    1. Registry Leftovers from Old Drivers

    Even after DDU, sometimes registry entries or system files related to the DirectX Kernel Interface remain.

    You could try:

    Booting into Safe Mode with Networking

    Running sfc /scannow again while in Safe Mode

    And then install drivers manually one by one in Safe Mode before rebooting into normal mode

    Bonus Troubleshooting:

    Run WhoCrashed or BlueScreenView to double-check if the actual crashing module is the NVIDIA driver (nvlddmkm.sys) or if something else is triggering it.

    You can also try lowering your GPU power profile in the NVIDIA Control Panel or disable GPU Boost temporarily using tools like MSI Afterburner (just as a test).

    You’re not crazy this kind of issue sucks because it feels like you’ve tried everything and yet nothing is showing up as “wrong.” It’s especially frustrating when all diagnostics pass, but the system still dies on startup.

    From what you’ve described, I’d lean toward driver conflict or something messed up in how Windows 11 is handling the hybrid graphics setup not hardware failure (since you passed all the Lenovo diagnostics).

    Let me know if you want help walking through driver rollback or grabbing Lenovo’s latest stable driver versions happy to dig in more.

    Hang in there. You’re super close to cracking it, I can feel it.

    Someone who's wrestled with dxgkrnl.sys more than I’d like to admit

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