NVIDIA GPU error Code 43: how to fix "Windows has stopped this device"

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Code 43 means a driver reported your NVIDIA graphics card as failed, so Windows stopped the device. Start by updating or rolling back the driver, then uninstall the device and let Windows detect it again. If that fails, try a clean driver reinstall and a direct monitor connection.

Applies to:Windows 10NVIDIA GeForce, Quadro and RTX graphics cardsdesktop and laptop
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What it means

In Device Manager, your NVIDIA card has a yellow triangle and the status reads "Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)". This is a generic Windows code, not one that belongs only to NVIDIA. Microsoft's driver documentation says it means the driver controlling the device reported to Windows that the device has failed. Microsoft recommends uninstalling and reinstalling the device.

Microsoft's documentation does not list causes, so the cause depends on your machine. Intel's article about the same code on its own graphics points to hardware faults or corrupted drivers and settings, and to third-party adapters or docks. The steps below start with the quickest and safest, using Microsoft's procedure. The Microsoft graphics article covers Windows 10, so I can't confirm the exact menus on other Windows versions. I could not open an NVIDIA support page for this error, so nothing below is NVIDIA-specific procedure.

Symptoms and causes

You are likely dealing with this problem if:

  • A yellow triangle on the NVIDIA adapter in Device Manager, with the status "Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)".
  • The screen drops to low resolution and the adapter is listed as Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.
  • NVIDIA Control Panel is missing.
  • It often starts right after a driver update or a Windows Update.

The usual causes, most common first:

Corrupt or incompatible driver
Often seen after a driver update, or after Windows Update replaced the NVIDIA driver with a different version. Intel's article also names corrupted drivers or settings.
Hardware fault
Intel's article lists a hardware fault as a possible cause of this code on its graphics. If software fixes do not help, the card itself may be at fault.
Adapters, docks or hubs
Intel documents third-party adapters and docks as a trigger on its graphics. The same idea is cheap to test with an NVIDIA card.

How to fix it

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and move to deeper repairs; stop as soon as the problem is gone.

1.Update the driver

Easy

If the installed driver is old or damaged, a newer one may start the card normally.

  1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Display adapters, right-click the NVIDIA card and choose Properties.
  3. Open the Driver tab, choose Update Driver, then Search automatically for drivers.
  4. If Windows finds nothing, download the driver from the manufacturer's website and install it. On a laptop, prefer the driver from the laptop maker.

2.Roll back the driver

Easy

Use this when Code 43 began right after an update. Microsoft notes that rolling back can also stop the problem driver from being reinstalled at the next Windows update.

  1. In Device Manager, open the NVIDIA card's Properties and go to the Driver tab.
  2. Choose Roll Back Driver and follow the prompts. If the button is greyed out, there is no earlier driver to return to, so move on to the next fix.
  3. Restart the PC.

3.Uninstall the device and let Windows detect it again

Easy

Microsoft's driver documentation recommends this as the resolution for Code 43.

  1. In Device Manager, right-click the NVIDIA card, choose Uninstall device, then confirm with OK.
  2. Right-click the PC name at the top of the list and choose Scan for hardware changes.
  3. Open the card's Properties. On the General tab, Device status should read "This device is working properly."

4.Test without adapters, docks or converters

Easy

Intel lists third-party adapters and docks as a trigger for this error on its graphics. It costs nothing to rule out here.

  1. Unplug any dock, hub, DisplayPort or HDMI converter between the PC and the monitor.
  2. Connect the monitor directly with a plain cable and restart the PC.

5.Do a clean driver installation

ModerateChanges settings

Removing the driver completely and then installing a fresh copy clears leftovers from a normal update. This procedure is Intel's, published for Intel graphics. The same logic applies to other graphics drivers, but it is not an NVIDIA-documented procedure.

Before you start: Create a restore point first (search for Create a restore point in the Start menu). You will briefly be on a low-resolution display.

  1. Download the latest driver first and save it where you can find it. On a laptop, use the laptop maker's driver, since those versions are customised.
  2. Disconnect from the internet (unplug Ethernet or turn off Wi-Fi) so Windows does not swap in its own driver.
  3. In Device Manager, uninstall the NVIDIA display adapter and any display audio device that belongs to the card.
  4. Restart and check that the adapter now shows as Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.
  5. Run the downloaded installer.
  6. Reconnect to the internet once the install has finished and restart.

Check that it worked

  • In Device Manager, the NVIDIA card has no yellow triangle and sits under Display adapters with its real name, not Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.
  • The card's Properties, General tab, shows "This device is working properly."
  • The screen is at its normal resolution and the NVIDIA Control Panel opens.

If it still fails

  • If the error returns after a clean install, a hardware fault is possible. Contact the card maker or retailer about diagnosis, repair or replacement.
  • On a laptop, contact the laptop manufacturer's support, especially if it is under warranty.
  • If the card is passed through to a virtual machine, check the documentation for your hypervisor and the driver version you use.

Questions

Is Code 43 only an NVIDIA problem?

No. It is a generic Windows Device Manager code, and Intel documents it for its own graphics too. An NVIDIA card shows it when its driver reports a failure.

Does Code 43 always mean the card is dead?

No. Microsoft's wording only says a driver reported the device as failed. A bad driver is one possibility and a hardware fault is another, so try the software fixes first.

Sources

  1. Fix graphics device problems with error code 43Official · Microsoft Support
  2. CM_PROB_FAILED_POST_START (Code 43)Official · Microsoft Learn
  3. Error Code 43 with Intel graphicsOfficial · Intel

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