BSOD Windows 11 Education 26H2

Hi,

I’d be happy to help. If possible, could you test the laptop using the "Balanced" battery mode (the default mode) instead of "Silent" mode, and let me know how the tests go.

Thanks.

Sure, I'll test both modes and let you know if another BSOD occurs or if I notice anything concerning. Again, thank you for the advice

Hi,

I’m happy to help. Please also let me know if the BSOD does not occur.

Thanks.

Hi Ivan,

I would like to provide another update regarding my ongoing BSOD issues.

Unfortunately, I experienced another crash on October 18, 2026, while using the laptop on battery power in Quiet Mode (blue performance profile).

The latest WinDbg analysis shows:

Bugcheck: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (0x50)

Process: dwm.exe

Module: dxgkrnl.sys

Failure Bucket: AV_dxgkrnl!DXGADAPTER::AcquireCoreResourceShared

Exception: 0xC0000005

Memory violation: Execute

Interestingly, this is the same failure bucket as the BSOD on October 15. The stack trace involves the Windows graphics subsystem, particularly functions related to mouse cursor positioning.

I have already performed a clean removal of the Intel graphics driver using DDU and reinstalled the driver. Unfortunately, the issue has persisted.

I am now testing the white (Balanced) performance mode on battery power to see whether the crashes are specifically related to Quiet Mode or occur under different power profiles as well. No conclusions can be drawn from this test yet.

What concerns me most is that the laptop frequently crashes during light workloads on battery power, while demanding games can run for hours without any issues.

Could these recurring dxgkrnl crashes still originate from the Intel integrated graphics driver, or should we consider a broader issue involving Windows graphics memory management, power management, or hardware?

I would appreciate your opinion, particularly regarding the repeated failure signature.

Thank you again for your continued assistance!

Best regards

dmp file new
https://1drv.ms/f/c/6ad0c041b5bd5e06/IgDKQCvLN4TbTKNQRyfRrdxLASeBBz_tByRyW1A_DmHl26Y?e=hKxilq

Hi,

The dxgkrnl.sys error can be related to graphics drivers, audio, or a failure involving DirectX.

Please create a system restore point:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/backup-recovery/system-protection

Run your test using the "Balanced" power plan.

If a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) occurs, please perform the following test.

Let’s determine if the issue is related to the iGPU (integrated GPU).

Access your BIOS and change the MUX switch setting to use only the dGPU (Nvidia). Once Windows boots, verify that the laptop display is being driven by the Nvidia GPU: go to Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display, and check if "Nvidia" is listed for the display.

Also, check the Lenovo Vantage software to ensure it is set to "dGPU only."

If it is, open Device Manager and look under "Display adapters." If both Nvidia and Intel are listed, disable the Intel adapter—but only after you have confirmed that the laptop display is indeed running on the Nvidia GPU. Do not disable it until you are certain.

Thanks

Hi Ivan,

Thank you for your suggestions and continued support!

For now, I am testing the laptop on battery power using the white (Balanced) performance mode to see whether the BSODs occur under this profile as well.

If another BSOD occurs, I will follow your instructions and test the system in dGPU-only mode, making sure that the laptop display is driven by the NVIDIA GPU.

I will keep you updated on the results.

Thanks again for your help!

Best regards

Hi,

Understood; I will await your response.

Thanks

Hi Ivan,

Unfortunately, I have another important update.

The laptop crashed again on October 19, 2026, at approximately 20:01, this time while connected to AC power and using the white (Balanced) performance mode.

I was performing only light tasks — browsing with Google Chrome, checking email, and running a few basic background applications. HWiNFO and other hardware monitoring tools were not running.

The latest minidump (101926-20390-01.dmp) shows:

Bugcheck: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (0x50)

Process: dwm.exe

Module: dxgkrnl.sys

Failure Bucket: AV_dxgkrnl!DXGADAPTER::AcquireCoreResourceShared

Failure Hash: {ea68fb24-d507-488d-00b3-5dce3c196ff6}

Exception: 0xC0000005

Access violation type: Execute

System uptime: 1 day, 7 hours, 50 minutes

The most interesting finding is that the October 18 and October 19 crashes have exactly the same Failure Bucket AND Failure Hash.

The October 15 BSOD also had the same Failure Bucket.

Furthermore, the latest stack trace is almost identical to the previous one:

dxgkrnl!DXGADAPTER::AcquireCoreResourceShared
dxgkrnl!SetPointerPositionForDisplaySource
dxgkrnl!DxgkSetPointerPosition
dxgkrnl!DxgkCddSetPointerPosition
cdd!DrvMovePointerEx
win32kfull!GreMovePointer

This appears to involve an invalid memory execution attempt during graphics subsystem operations related to cursor positioning.

This is now my 11th documented BSOD.

Until now, most crashes occurred on battery power in Quiet Mode (blue). However, this latest failure confirms that switching to Balanced Mode (white) and using AC power does not prevent the problem.

Interestingly, demanding games such as Gothic Remake can run for several hours without any crashes, while basic desktop activities continue to trigger BSODs.

I have already performed a clean Intel graphics driver removal using DDU and reinstalled the driver, but the instability persists.

As you previously suggested, the next logical step would be to test the laptop with the NVIDIA RTX 5070 as the only active GPU, verifying the internal display connection and disabling Intel UHD Graphics only after confirming the dGPU configuration.

Given that the same dxgkrnl failure signature keeps recurring under different power configurations, do you still consider the Intel iGPU the main suspect, or could this indicate a broader graphics subsystem or hardware problem?

Would you recommend proceeding with the fully verified dGPU-only test before considering a clean Windows installation?

Thank you again for your time and continued assistance.

Best regards

NEW DUMP file
https://1drv.ms/f/c/6ad0c041b5bd5e06/IgDKQCvLN4TbTKNQRyfRrdxLAd9TEUf6Jugt-PAGtCIsiww?e=mLfM6c

Hi,

Well, since it’s a DXG error, it could potentially involve more than just the graphics driver—audio or HID-related issues are also possible. However, I still suspect the iGPU (integrated GPU), especially given that the problem doesn't occur during more demanding games when the dGPU (dedicated GPU) is in use. Furthermore, the minidump files point to an "IGDK" (Intel Graphics) failure, so it remains quite possible that the issue is limited to the iGPU.

Thanks.

Hi Ivan,

Thank you again for your help and your thoughts regarding the Intel integrated graphics driver.

I agree that the iGPU remains a possible cause, especially considering the earlier crashes involving the Intel graphics driver and the stability observed during demanding games on the NVIDIA GPU.

However, I noticed something interesting in the three most recent graphics-related crashes.

The BSODs from October 15, 18, and 19 all have the same failure signature:

AV_dxgkrnl!DXGADAPTER::AcquireCoreResourceShared

All three occurred in the dwm.exe process and involved the Windows graphics subsystem. Their call stacks also show functions related to cursor positioning.

I would appreciate your opinion on three questions:

Do these newer crash dumps contain any direct indication of an Intel graphics driver issue, or is that suspicion mainly based on the earlier crashes?

You mentioned possible HID or audio-related issues. Could the recurring cursor-positioning functions suggest a mouse, touchpad, or HID driver interaction? Or could this simply be where an earlier problem becomes visible?

One earlier BSOD occurred with dGPU-only mode selected. Is there a reliable way to verify whether the Intel iGPU is fully disabled in this mode?

I have already tested different Intel graphics drivers, updated the Lenovo chipset and firmware components, restored BIOS defaults, and completed four MemTest86 passes without errors.

Unfortunately, the crashes continued.

At this point, I would especially appreciate your recommendation for one or two targeted diagnostic steps that could help identify the underlying cause.

Thank you once again for your time and assistance.

Best regards, Mateusz

Hi,

You are correct, though this is a matter of experience—based on the information provided, I suspect it might be the iGPU (integrated GPU). It could also be an issue with Windows 11, given that you are using a non-standard version (which might contain bugs), or perhaps other drivers—not just the graphics driver—are involved, according to the minidumps. Furthermore, the mention of the mouse pointer caught my attention; what’s particularly notable is that two minidumps point to "IGDK" (which doesn't seem right), while another points to a kernel issue that couldn't be specifically identified.

The goal here is to investigate further to determine which driver is responsible and whether the root cause is hardware or software—hence the tests.

Did you experience a BSOD while using only the dGPU (dedicated GPU)?

Thanks.

Hi Ivan,

Thank you for your response.

Yes, I experienced one BSOD while using dGPU-only mode. However, the crash occurred after I launched HWiNFO, which may have accessed or awakened the Intel integrated GPU while monitoring hardware sensors.

I cannot confirm whether HWiNFO actually activated the iGPU, but I believe this detail is worth considering when interpreting that particular crash.

I have now verified that:

The BIOS is set to Discrete Graphics.

Lenovo Legion Space confirms dGPU-only mode.

Windows confirms that the laptop's internal display is connected directly to the NVIDIA RTX 5070.

Intel UHD Graphics is disabled in Device Manager.

I am now testing this configuration without HWiNFO or other hardware monitoring applications to see whether the BSODs still occur.

I will let you know the results.

To be precise, I am referring to BSOD #7, which occurred on October 15, 2026, at 00:09:42 (101526-17531-01.dmp). The bugcheck was DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (0xD1), with failure bucket AV_nt!KiPageFault. The laptop was running in dGPU-only mode, but HWiNFO had been used, potentially interfering with the GPU isolation test. This has not been confirmed.

Thank you again for your help!

Best regards

Hi,

I understand; please keep me informed about the tests.

Since it was a specific instance, it might have been due to the "12-hour hardware maintenance" option—a feature within HWiNFO itself.

Thanks.

Hi Ivan,

I wanted to give you an update on my laptop and the troubleshooting steps I've taken so far.

First, some positive news: After switching to dGPU-only mode (NVIDIA RTX 5070), the laptop remained stable for over 24 hours without a single BSOD. This is particularly interesting because most of my previous crashes occurred while using hybrid graphics, especially on battery power.

However, Lenovo Support recommended performing a completely clean installation of Windows 11 to rule out potential software or driver conflicts. I decided to follow their recommendation.

Here is exactly what I did:

1. I have switched back to hybrid graphics mode (Intel UHD + NVIDIA RTX 5070).
2. Before starting, I restored the BIOS to its factory default settings once again.
3. I performed a clean installation of Windows 11 using a bootable USB drive.
4. I kept the laptop disconnected from the Internet during the installation and initial driver setup to prevent Windows Update from automatically installing drivers.
5. I manually installed the previously downloaded, manufacturer-recommended drivers for my Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16IRX10, including Intel chipset, Management Engine, DPTF, graphics, and other essential system drivers.
6. After completing the manual driver installation, I connected to the Internet and installed the remaining updates through Windows Update and Lenovo Vantage.

My plan is to test system stability under normal everyday conditions, both on battery power and while connected to the charger, using different performance profiles.

For now, I want to avoid making any further unnecessary changes so that the results are as reliable as possible.

I will report back either if another BSOD occurs or after 3–5 days of stable operation.

The fact that the laptop ran for over 24 hours without any crashes in dGPU-only mode still makes me suspicious of the Intel integrated graphics driver or the interaction between the two GPUs. However, I understand that this alone does not prove the root cause.

Hopefully, the clean installation will finally resolve the issue.

Thank you again for your time and assistance. I really appreciate your help!

Hi,

A clean reinstallation of Windows serves as a new test. As I mentioned, I wanted to verify whether the use of Windows 11 Education—a version not typically intended for home/personal use—might have caused an OS-level issue leading to the BSODs related to the Intel driver.

Since you have now performed a clean reinstallation of Windows 11 (hopefully using a standard version) and installed the original Lenovo drivers along with the latest NVIDIA driver updates, this should definitively confirm whether the previous issues were caused by the specific version of Windows you were using.

A good approach would be to test the three different modes—MSHybrid, dGPU, and iGPU—to see how the system behaves. If no further issues occur, I would consider the problem resolved.

Please keep me updated.

Thanks

Hi Ivan,

Thank you for your response and your continued support.

Just to clarify, I am still using Windows 11 Education after the clean reinstallation. I have not changed the Windows edition. Because I don't have any other orginal Win 11 Key.

The system was installed from a fresh official Microsoft installation image, followed by the original Lenovo drivers.

I will continue testing the system in MSHybrid, dGPU, and iGPU modes to check its stability and will keep you updated on the results.

Thanks again for your help!

Best regards, Mateusz

Hi,

I understand; however, using Windows 11 Education is not recommended—though I realize that is the license you happen to have.

I will be waiting to hear about the results.

Thanks

Hi Ivan,

Just a quick update on my Lenovo Legion Pro 5.

I performed a clean installation of Windows 11 Education on October 20, and so far, I haven't experienced any BSODs!

The laptop has been stable for approximately three days, including testing on battery power, AC power, different performance modes (Quiet, Balanced and Performance), and gaming.

Before the reinstall, I had 11 BSODs between October 8 and 19.

Intel reviewed the available information but couldn't determine the root cause and referred me back to Lenovo for further OEM-specific investigation.

I'm continuing to monitor the system, but the improvement is very encouraging. It seems the previous Windows installation or driver configuration may have contributed to the instability.

Thank you again for your help and suggestions!

Best regards, Mateusz