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f4 error code after graphics driver update

Tags:
  • Stop Error
  • Windows Vista
  • Nvidia
  • System Restore
  • Graphics
Last response: in Windows Vista
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March 11, 2014 6:56:57 AM

Hello,
I recently updated an NVIDIA graphics driver, updated Java and updated a driver for a Lexmark printer for a client of mine. Everything was working fine when I left her house. About 4 days later, she reported that her screen went blank while playing her ITunes music. Since she could not see to properly shut it down, she just did a hard shut down by pushing in the button on the tower....she did this several times and unplugged the monitor to make sure it was not just the monitor. By the time I arrived and plugged in my own monitor, it would not load Windows and went into repair mode....after that ran, repair mode could not fix the issue and restarted. Upon restarting, it gave an f4 stop error code. The only choices given when restarting are start Windows normally or start-up repair....no safe mode selection, etc. System Restore failed all 4 times I tried it. I could do a system recovery (the OS is in another partition) but I was hoping I could avoid having to do that. Any ideas or has anyone else experienced something similar? This is a Compaq Presario rs512nx desktop with Vista Home Premium installed. I am typing this from outside of my work area so if you need more specs, I can post them later. Thanks in advance!

More about : error code graphics driver update

Best solution

March 11, 2014 12:20:45 PM

Could be a corrupt install (software) or indicative of a hardware issue.

Reinstalling the OS fresh sounds like the best option. This would give you a great opportunity to check if the hard drive is in good shape by doing a full format of the drive... or is this one of the models where the OS installer is in a separate partition? Although, if you can get the recovery cd you can start fresh.... If not, maybe run a scan on the drive to see if maybe it could be failing.

If you can get a copy of the crash dump in the C:\Windows folder, it might tell you exactly what the problem is... but trying to read the file is bit of an effort. :) 

Other than that maybe run a memtest, and check the temperatures on the CPU and GPU while simultaneously stressing the system (both processor and GPU at same time) to see if any hardware issues might be present.
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March 12, 2014 5:32:06 AM

Memtest run...no issues. CPU and GPU checked out too. The OS installer is on a separate partition so if I have to do a system recovery, I will. I am going to try to get it into safe mode using command prompt and perhaps uninstall the driver I believe to be corrupt. I have read that NVIDIA has had driver issues that cause crashes, etc. Thanks for the suggestions!
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