1. Update the Graphics Card Driver
The most common reason for a “display driver stopped responding and has recovered” error is that your graphics card driver is out-of-date or corrupted. Before attempting any other solutions, updating your graphics card driver should be the first step.
You can manually update the driver by searching online for the latest version of the driver and downloading it from the manufacturer’s website. It may be necessary to uninstall the current driver before installing the new one.
2. Use the Latest Version of DirectX
Another issue that can cause this error message is an incompatibility between the graphics card and its software. If you are using an older version of DirectX, there may be a compatibility issue.
Check to make sure you have the latest version of DirectX installed on your system. You can find the latest version of DirectX from the Microsoft website.
3. Disable Overclocking
Overclocking is a process of increasing the frequency of the processor and graphics card beyond their recommended settings. This process can cause instability in the system which can lead to errors like “display driver stopped responding and has recovered”.
If you are overclocking your system, try disabling this feature and seeing if the error persists.
4. Reduce the Stress on the System
Highly intensive applications such as video games and graphic-intensive programs can place extra stress on your graphics card and cause the error to appear.
If you recently upgraded to a newer version of a program or game, try uninstalling it and reinstalling the previous version to see if the error persists.
5. Check Hardware Connections
Errors like “display driver stopped responding and has recovered” can also be caused by loose or faulty hardware connections. Make sure all of the cables connecting your monitor and graphics card are properly connected and seated firmly into the slots.
If possible, try to use a different cable to eliminate the possibility of a faulty connection.
6. Clean the Fans and Heat Sinks
Dust and dirt buildup inside the computer can cause overheating which can lead to errors. Make sure to regularly clean out the inside of your system to get rid of dust and dirt buildup.
You can use compressed air to blow out the dust from the fans and heat sinks. Make sure not to touch any of the internal components as electrostatic discharge can damage them.
7. Update BIOS
Outdated BIOS version can also cause display issues so it’s worth checking to make sure your BIOS is up-to-date. You can look for a BIOS update on the manufacturer’s website or use a third-party tool like CPU-Z to check the current version.
8. Rollback to an Older Driver
If none of the above solutions work, you may have to rollback to an older driver version. This may cause some performance issues but it may help prevent the error messages.
To rollback to an older driver, go to the Device Manager, locate the graphics card and right-click on it. Select “Update Driver Software”, then select “Browse my computer for driver software”. Click “Let me pick from a list of device drivers” and select an older driver version from the list.
9. Reset Windows
If all else fails, you may have to reset Windows to factory settings. This will remove any changes that were made since the last update and may help fix the driver errors.
Before resetting Windows, make sure to back up all of your important files as the process will delete everything from the computer.
10. Replace the Graphics Card
Lastly, if none of the above solutions work, you may need to replace the graphics card. Old or damaged cards can cause driver errors, so try getting a new card and replacing the old one.
This should solve the issue if all else fails.