What causes display driver stopped responding error in Windows?

The “Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered” error is a very common issue faced by many users of the Windows operating system. This error occurs when the display driver installed on your computer stops responding or fails to respond correctly when a program or application requests it. In other words, this error occurs when the display driver fails to work properly and provide the necessary resources for a program or application to run properly.

Since this error can be triggered by a multitude of causes, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact problem. However, in most cases, this issue is caused by outdated or corrupted device drivers, compatibility issues between a program or application and display drivers, insufficient power supply to the graphics card, overheating of the graphics card, and other hardware or software malfunctions.

Outdated or corrupted device drivers are the most common cause of the “Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered” error. Device drivers are responsible for allowing the operating system to communicate with hardware components such as the video or graphics card. When these drivers become outdated or corrupted, the system may not be able to adequately communicate with the video or graphics card and this can cause the display driver to stop responding.

To resolve this issue, first check if the device driver installed on your computer is up to date. If it is not, then download and install the latest version of the driver from the manufacturer’s website. Alternatively, you can use a dedicated driver updating utility which will automatically update all your device drivers.

Compatibility issues between a program or application and the display driver can also lead to the “Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered” error. This is because the display driver may not be compatible with the program or application and hence cannot properly provide the necessary resources for it to run. To resolve this issue, uninstall the program or application that is causing the compatibility issue and then reinstall a compatible version of it.

Insufficient power supply to the graphics card is another common cause of this error. This is because modern graphics cards require a certain level of power to operate properly and if the power supply is inadequate, the display driver may fail to respond. To fix this issue, make sure that your power supply unit is providing enough power to the graphics card and that all the connections are securely connected.

Finally, overheating of the graphics card can also trigger the “Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered” error. Heat build-up can cause the display driver to malfunction, leading to it stopping responding or recovering slowly. To prevent the graphics card from overheating, ensure that the case has adequate ventilation and that the fans are working properly. Additionally, lower the graphics settings in games or applications and reduce the resolution of the monitor if possible.

In conclusion, while the “Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered” error can be caused by a variety of reasons, the most common cause is outdated or corrupted device drivers. To fix this issue, make sure that the device driver installed on your system is up-to-date, and if not, then download and install the latest version. Additionally, check for compatibility issues between programs and applications and the display driver, ensure that the power supply to the graphics card is sufficient, and keep the graphics card cool by ensuring proper ventilation and reducing the graphics settings if necessary.