Random monitor shutdowns, event viewer shows dwm.exe as issue


Recommended Posts

For the last few weeks, whenever I leave my system alone (idle) I have, on occasion, come back to both monitors in standby and do not come back on with mouse/keyboard activity. Up until this one this morning, the event viewer has not shown any possible issues, just the standard Kernel Power events due to improper shutdown, etc. Now today I get about 6 errors regarding dwm.exe, so I ran sfc and no integrity violations were discovered. Power management is disabled for turning off the display, and I have double checked that it is still configured that way. Windows is up to date as is the Nvidia drivers. I am not sure what else can be causing this issue.

Hello,

That would be the Desktop Window Manager (filename: DWM.EXE).  Perhaps a conflict with a third-party start menu, user interface tweaker or wallpaper management program?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

  On 14/04/2022 at 16:36, goretsky said:

Hello,

That would be the Desktop Window Manager (filename: DWM.EXE).  Perhaps a conflict with a third-party start menu, user interface tweaker or wallpaper management program?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

Expand  

Thanks for the response, I was aware of what DWM was, the only program that I have that it might be conflicting with is DisplayFusion, which I use for multi monitor support, but I have been using it for sometime without issue.

something like that more often then not points to an issue with the GPU or display drivers from my experience.

 

which GPU do you have? Could try a clean install of the drivers to see if that makes any difference

  • Like 1

Hello,

Have you tried uninstalling the third-party DisplayFusion app for testing purposes?  Even though it may not have changed, it is possible that Microsoft Windows or your Nvidia video card's device drivers contained a change that introduced an compatibility with the software.

 

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

  • Like 1
  On 15/04/2022 at 13:08, Brandon H said:

something like that more often then not points to an issue with the GPU or display drivers from my experience.

 

which GPU do you have? Could try a clean install of the drivers to see if that makes any difference

Expand  

I agree on this. For example, here is an instance where Intel drivers were causing DWM issues https://www.neowin.net/news/new-intel-3001011191-driver-fixes-stability-issues-in-windows-10-and-11-dwm-and-more/

 

Do you have some spare video cards that you can use or borrow from someone?

  On 15/04/2022 at 13:08, Brandon H said:

something like that more often then not points to an issue with the GPU or display drivers from my experience.

 

which GPU do you have? Could try a clean install of the drivers to see if that makes any difference

Expand  

Asus ROG Strix 2080, I do a clean install of the drivers each time a new version is released

  On 16/04/2022 at 05:44, goretsky said:

Hello,

Have you tried uninstalling the third-party DisplayFusion app for testing purposes?  Even though it may not have changed, it is possible that Microsoft Windows or your Nvidia video card's device drivers contained a change that introduced an compatibility with the software.

 

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

Expand  

Not yet, as the problem is so random that it has not happened again.

  On 16/04/2022 at 06:41, hellowalkman said:

I agree on this. For example, here is an instance where Intel drivers were causing DWM issues https://www.neowin.net/news/new-intel-3001011191-driver-fixes-stability-issues-in-windows-10-and-11-dwm-and-more/

 

Do you have some spare video cards that you can use or borrow from someone?

Expand  

I do not have a spare GPU, I also really need to RMA this card due to a fan issue, that apparently is common on this specific card, but since I do not have any other GPU, I would be without the system for however long it takes to get the card repaired/replaced.

  • Sad 1
  On 16/04/2022 at 14:36, jnelsoninjax said:

Asus ROG Strix 2080, I do a clean install of the drivers each time a new version is released

Not yet, as the problem is so random that it has not happened again.

I do not have a spare GPU, I also really need to RMA this card due to a fan issue, that apparently is common on this specific card, but since I do not have any other GPU, I would be without the system for however long it takes to get the card repaired/replaced.

Expand  

Just buy a super cheap GPU to enable you to use the PC for basic tasks.

  • 2 weeks later...

So I have had no problems for 2 weeks, then today it did it again while I was away. I have captured the event viewer errors and put them here: https://pastebin.com/kb7wvJ48

It looks like DWM.exe and the Nvidia driver seem to the responsible files.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Ubuntu gets second-ever snapshot release for Questing Quokka by Paul Hill Canonical has announced the release of Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka Snapshot 2, a monthly development build that gives testers and developers a base from which to work on software for the upcoming release. Snapshot 1 was released at the end of May and Snapshot 3 is scheduled for July 31. Notably, the release date of Snapshot 2 and 3 have moved since last month. The Snapshot 2 update is available for various Ubuntu spins, such as Kubuntu and Lubuntu. To download, head to Ubuntu CD Image and go to the link for the version you want, such as ubuntu/. Once you’ve picked, go to releases/ > 25.10/ > snapshot-2/ and download the appropriate image for your computer - most people will want ‘64-bit PC (AMD64) desktop image’. The announcement mentions that these snapshot builds are not production ready, so you should not be installing them on a machine you use to do your work and daily computing. Canonical said that these builds should be seen as “throwaway artifacts”, whatever that means. If you’re an Ubuntu developer, you should submit your changes in the Ubuntu archive by July 28 to see it in the third snapshot. If you make any changes, Canonical asks you to update the Release Notes with the updates that you have worked on, so everyone knows what changed. Speaking of release notes, Canonical has been updating them incrementally. So far, we know that GNOME 48 is being used alongside the Linux 6.14 kernel. The use of GNOME 48 means that Ubuntu 25.10 only supports Wayland sessions as X.org has finally been dropped. Wayland has been used for a while on Ubuntu, so most people shouldn't have any issues as a result of the switchover. If you want to try out Ubuntu 25.10 Snapshot 2, you can find the download links over on the Ubuntu website. Just remember, these are not intended to be used on production machines!
    • Garmin Dash Cam X310: 4K dash cam on sale at lowest price for $334.99 by Paul Hill Dash cam footage can be vital for drivers who get into accidents as it can be used to help with insurance claims if you’re involved in an accident, outside of that, it can be used for filming your trips or recording freak events such as asteroids burning up in the atmosphere. If you’re still without one, or looking to upgrade, take a moment to read about the Garmin Dash Cam X310 which has been reduced by 16% from $399.99 to $334.99. To briefly touch on the features before we get started, the X310 is a compact 4K Ultra HD touchscreen dash cam with a 140-degree field of view, ensuring it captures everything. There’s also a built-in Clarity Polarizer to reduce glare from the windshield and it features automatic recording. The main attraction of the Garmin Dash Cam X310 is undoubtedly the 4K Ultra HD video which will capture fine details, and the 140-degree field of view that ensures it doesn’t miss anything important. Coupled with this, the Clarity Polarizer helps to reduce glare from the windshield so that your video footage is better. It also includes HDR which improves the night vision. Aside from having a touchscreen, the X310 comes with voice control allowing you to save video and audio hands-free, meaning you can focus on driving. It supports multiple languages - English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Swedish. Other features include built-in GPS for recording the location, date, and time of incidents; parking guard and live view for security while parked (required a paid Vault subscription); and its compact design which allows it to sit “virtually unnoticed” on the windshield. Please note that the product description says some jurisdictions may restrict the use of dashcams, so check your local laws before buying. If you are looking for a high-resolution dash cam with voice control and advanced parking surveillance (paid subscription), the X310 could be for you. The main downside of this product is that it’s still at a premium price point, despite it being at its lowest price on Amazon. If you don’t mind this, it could definitely be a great choice for you. Garmin Dash Cam X310: $334.99 (Amazon US) / MSRP $399.99 This Amazon deal is US-specific and not available in other regions unless specified. If you don't like it or want to look at more options, check out the Amazon US deals page here. Get Prime (SNAP), Prime Video, Audible Plus or Kindle / Music Unlimited. Free for 30 days. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • I have a Motorola B12, and it's been working pretty solidly for a year now. 
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      Marites earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Year In
      runge100 earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Month Later
      runge100 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      jfam earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • First Post
      TheRingmaster earned a badge
      First Post
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      563
    2. 2
      +FloatingFatMan
      177
    3. 3
      ATLien_0
      169
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      125
    5. 5
      Xenon
      118
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!