The Video TDR Failure error often relates to your graphics card or display drivers, but it isn’t difficult to fix.
The VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE error signifies that your graphics card is faulty or the display drivers may be outdated/malfunctioning. But there could be other reasons, such as overheating components or corrupt system files. TDR is short for Timeout, Detection, and Recovery, a method used by Windows to identify and fix malfunctioning software components.
If you’re encountering this error, fear not because the following methods will fix the VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE error faster than you’d expect.
As mentioned above, the error is usually the result of malfunctioning or outdated display drivers. Thus, you should update your graphics card drivers. If that doesn’t fix it, reinstall them. Depending on your graphics card, you may encounter different filenames pertaining to the error.
If the video tdr failure BSOD persists after updating display drivers, it’s best to reinstall these drivers. It’s advisable to do so while Windows is booted into safe mode. But before doing that, you should head to your graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of the graphics drivers.
The most common manufactures are Nvidia, AMD, and Intel.
To boot into safe mode, follow these steps:
After booting into safe mode, it’s time to reinstall the display drivers.
Related: How to Find & Replace Outdated Windows Drivers
SFC is an in-built Windows utility that can be used to scan and fix corrupt system files. In the case of a BSOD, it’s highly likely that some system files are corrupt so running this utility is imperative. It’s only one of the several useful utilities available at a Windows user’s disposal.
To run SFC, just follow these steps:
For users who get the error as soon as they boot Windows 10 or shortly after signing in, Startup repair is a godsend. This Windows feature checks for anomalies during startup and immediately fixes them.
Since this section is aimed at users whose computers have been rendered unusable due to the error, i.e., they cannot open Settings, they’ll have to hard reboot to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (winRE).
Follow these steps to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment:
Windows power management settings are usually well optimized, but sometimes they may interfere with how your computer handles graphics. This is especially true when the computer has a discreet GPU. Optimal settings to avoid getting the VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE BSOD are given below:
Overheating is never a good thing, and usually, the reason behind it is dust buildup. It’s recommended that users clean out their PC components from any dust every month. But be careful. It should be done gently.
Make sure to clean the tops of your graphics card, CPU fan, power supply unit, and cabinet fans. All in all, be sure to avoid maintenance mistakes that could damage the expensive components.
If the error still appears after trying everything listed above, there may be a fault in the hardware itself. Users who have a dedicated graphics card should remove it and boot the computer. If the error is resolved, then it’s a hardware fault in the GPU itself. You could attempt to contact the manufacturer and try to get your unit replaced.
Related: How to Test Your PC for Failing Hardware: Tips and Tools to Know
When using onboard graphics, try disabling them and booting. To disable them, follow these steps:
For most users, a simple update or reinstall of their display drivers will fix the issue. But if bad comes to worse, you may have to reset your PC or replace some hardware.
Want to know how to factory reset a PC? Here are the best methods to reset a Windows computer.
About The Author
Manuviraj Godara
(15 Articles Published)
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