2008 iMac Screen Freezes Shortly After Installing Nvidia Driver Windows 10

[vinceventresca]

Ive successfully installed windows 10 1909 on an early 2008 imac with nvidia 8800 gs graphics. When using the microsoft basic display driver it is stable, but anytime i install a nvidia driver it freezes after 5 or so minutes. I have tried installing the following, rebooting, then after it freezes reboot to safe mode and remove the driver with ddu:
Version 342.01: the latest supported driver, froze after 5 mins
Version 341.96: screen turned off after 5 or so minutes
Version 341.74: froze after 5 minutes
Bootcamp win 7 drivers: gave a code 43 error in device manager, forcing it to use microsoft basic display

Its wierd,before it crashes the driver works fine, i get hardware accel in chrome, everything is smooth, temps are reported etc.
Also to note I have disabled automatic driver installs, automatic windows updates, and wifi

 

[Darewa85]

Hi,

got the same Problem, every time installing W10 gave me a freeze after a certain time.
Disabling automatic driver update, installing nvidia 334.89 driver (found this somewhere in WWW)
The driver is for W8 x64 but works flawlessly win W10 1909 x64. The automatic installed driver from Windows seems to have a problem with the powermanagement.

So how to fix it:
1. Start Windows in save mode (F8 / ctrl+ F8 on start might work
- As an alternative right after boot to desktop klick on restart but hold "shift" key pressed (the one above ctrl).
- Troubleshooting -> alternative start save mode (with network) .
2. In save mode disable automatic driver download (you can force it manually later per device)
Here a screenshot - sorry it´s german but I simply have no english installation
-

3. uninstall nvidia driver

4. Download driver 334.89 for W8 64. During installation you can also choose fresh install instead, it will uninstall even newer drivers.
- as an alternative:
- - to be save use ddu but without restart.
- - use uninstall driver in device manager (In the popup select delete for complete removal of old driver)
After restart it might be windows tries again to install it´s own driver for the 8800 but simply wait until you get the messag for ready to install / restart for update.
- Got to device manager, the driver will have a yellow icon in details you will see (restart required or driver could not be load yet. The driver will be the 2015 version wihch freezes
- Select previous driver and in the form select "Problems with apps or whatever".
- The form closes and afterwards you will see the driver will switch to the 2014 version again (might take some time, the window will freeze until rollback is ready).
After a restart everything is fine.

TL;DR

That´s how I did it. Playing XCOM currently on my iMac8,1 .

 

[vinceventresca]

Hi,

got the same Problem, every time installing W10 gave me a freeze after a certain time.
Disabling automatic driver update, installing nvidia 334.89 driver (found this somewhere in WWW)
The driver is for W8 x64 but works flawlessly win W10 1909 x64. The automatic installed driver from Windows seems to have a problem with the powermanagement.

So how to fix it:
1. Start Windows in save mode (F8 / ctrl+ F8 on start might work
- As an alternative right after boot to desktop klick on restart but hold "shift" key pressed (the one above ctrl).
- Troubleshooting -> alternative start save mode (with network) .
2. In save mode disable automatic driver download (you can force it manually later per device)
Here a screenshot - sorry it´s german but I simply have no english installation
- View attachment 911128
3. uninstall nvidia driver

4. Download driver 334.89 for W8 64. During installation you can also choose fresh install instead, it will uninstall even newer drivers.
- as an alternative:
- - to be save use ddu but without restart.
- - use uninstall driver in device manager (In the popup select delete for complete removal of old driver)
After restart it might be windows tries again to install it´s own driver for the 8800 but simply wait until you get the messag for ready to install / restart for update.
- Got to device manager, the driver will have a yellow icon in details you will see (restart required or driver could not be load yet. The driver will be the 2015 version wihch freezes
- Select previous driver and in the form select "Problems with apps or whatever".
- The form closes and afterwards you will see the driver will switch to the 2014 version again (might take some time, the window will freeze until rollback is ready).
After a restart everything is fine.

TL;DR
View attachment 911130

That´s how I did it. Playing XCOM currently on my iMac8,1 .

Thanks for the reply! Just to make sure is it running in the full 1920x1200? Mine works fine if i set it to 1680x1050 but crashes shortly after i increase the screen resolution
Edit: this with the newest nvidia drivers, ill try the version you suggest if it works for you at 1920x1200

 

[Darewa85]

Thanks for the reply! Just to make sure is it running in the full 1920x1200? Mine works fine if i set it to 1680x1050 but crashes shortly after i increase the screen resolution
Edit: this with the newest nvidia drivers, ill try the version you suggest if it works for you at 1920x1200

I didn‘t change resolution so I can‘t tell you.

Well I One day after writing windows did an Update and now I have freezes / Black screen again. Interestingly it seems to be rechable via rdp.

I‘ll do some research and let you know. I will also Try win8.1 with a custom DVD. If it is the driver itself it should freeze as well, if not it‘s simply incompatible with w10. With MS Basic Adapter it‘s Rock solid only Gaming and Video acceleration is Not working.

Sorry for typos, typing from iphone and it always tries to translate to german .

 

[vinceventresca]

I didn‘t change resolution so I can‘t tell you.

Well I One day after writing windows did an Update and now I have freezes / Black screen again. Interestingly it seems to be rechable via rdp.

I‘ll do some research and let you know. I will also Try win8.1 with a custom DVD. If it is the driver itself it should freeze as well, if not it‘s simply incompatible with w10. With MS Basic Adapter it‘s Rock solid only Gaming and Video acceleration is Not working.

Sorry for typos, typing from iphone and it always tries to translate to german .

that sucks, did the windows update update the nvidia driver? Also what version did it update to? Im on 1803 i believe

 

[Darewa85]

that sucks, did the windows update update the nvidia driver? Also what version did it update to? Im on 1803 i believe

I used 1909. it has something to do with the powermanagement (power Saving Mode). If you run gpu-z or and program which keeps clocks high to not Power down it works.
Verified in high Sierra with XCOM that the 8800 is Not broken as well.

If we simply could disable power down the card I think we have a fix.

 

[vinceventresca]

interesting, that makes sense as mine was stable while playing a game. I just followed this tutorial: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforc...to-properly-disable-power-saving/?topicPage=5
Its been maybe 10 minutes just sitting on the desktop and it hasnt frozen yet. In that tutorial if the programs he mentions are not in the list, manually add them (he states where they are)

Edit: its been an hour or so now and its still stable, i dont want to jinx it but i think it fixed the issue

 

[Darewa85]

Will Check that tommorrow.

If it‘s only this Setting Then also the newest supported driver should do the job .

 

[vinceventresca]

Will Check that tommorrow.

If it‘s only this Setting Then also the newest supported driver should do the job .

I havent tried the newest driver, if you do try it let me know if it works so i know i can update mine. Also to note i changed control panel>hardware>edit power plan>change advanced power settings>pci express to off. Im not sure if this made any difference but I did it to be safe

 

[Darewa85]

Well, according to the guide simply adding wdm and set Max power in general Settings might do the Job already. Have to repair my Installation in cause of repeating freezes. Bit beside that I see no clock down in gpu-z on Desktop. After repair I‘ll try newest driver.

Praise to the 2008 iMac .
[automerge]1588508550[/automerge]
BTW: Following this guide also fixed brightness control with Bootcamp 6.1 :

Topic: Bootcamp Display Brightness on NVIDIA #GeForce Forums

Posted by jmcnizzle: “Bootcamp Display Brightness Problem With 340.52 WHQL driver”

www.nvidia.com

Trying now to update to latest driver.
[UPDATE]
342.01-notebook-win10-64bit-international installed and it seems to work (nearlly 30 minutes on desktop, only gpu-z open).

The trick:
You cannot install the driver in save mode as it requires installing a visual C restribution.

Simply boot to normal windows, as we know we can force power up with gpu-z as long a working driver is installed (I did it after clean remove of current driver in safe mode as it will install the microsoft basic adapter so you have some time until windows tries to install all a driver).

During installation all settings from previous settings will be overwritten so you have to start the "Render Test" in gpu-z right after "short black screen" when driver installs. This keeps clocks at high level.

After install finished (DO NOT CLOSE THE GPU-Z "RENDER TEST"):
1. Set global power management to "maximum performance" (I only can see the german version but it should be clear what is meant).
2.As described in the nvidia guide you found add dwm and explorer to the profiles with "maximum performace" as well.

With the global setting you ensure for programs with no profile it´s always full power.
With dwm.exe and explorer.exe you simply set always started processes to trigger no power down.

I cannot see a difference when using browser or steam that the power goes down so it might not be necessary to add every program started.

Keep you updated. but it seems that it´s working.

 

[vinceventresca]

Well, according to the guide simply adding wdm and set Max power in general Settings might do the Job already. Have to repair my Installation in cause of repeating freezes. Bit beside that I see no clock down in gpu-z on Desktop. After repair I‘ll try newest driver.

Praise to the 2008 iMac .
[automerge]1588508550[/automerge]
BTW: Following this guide also fixed brightness control with Bootcamp 6.1 :

Topic: Bootcamp Display Brightness on NVIDIA #GeForce Forums

Posted by jmcnizzle: “Bootcamp Display Brightness Problem With 340.52 WHQL driver”

www.nvidia.com

Trying now to update to latest driver.
[UPDATE]
342.01-notebook-win10-64bit-international installed and it seems to work (nearlly 30 minutes on desktop, only gpu-z open).

The trick:
You cannot install the driver in save mode as it requires installing a visual C restribution.

Simply boot to normal windows, as we know we can force power up with gpu-z as long a working driver is installed (I did it after clean remove of current driver in safe mode as it will install the microsoft basic adapter so you have some time until windows tries to install all a driver).

During installation all settings from previous settings will be overwritten so you have to start the "Render Test" in gpu-z right after "short black screen" when driver installs. This keeps clocks at high level.

After install finished (DO NOT CLOSE THE GPU-Z "RENDER TEST"):
1. Set global power management to "maximum performance" (I only can see the german version but it should be clear what is meant).
2.As described in the nvidia guide you found add dwm and explorer to the profiles with "maximum performace" as well.

With the global setting you ensure for programs with no profile it´s always full power.
With dwm.exe and explorer.exe you simply set always started processes to trigger no power down.

I cannot see a difference when using browser or steam that the power goes down so it might not be necessary to add every program started.

Keep you updated. but it seems that it´s working.

Awesome thank you for the help im glad we fixed this! Im using bootcamp 4.0 and brightness always worked, but only through bootcamp control panel, not the built in windows control. Does your brightness show up in windows display settings? Also may I ask what wifi driver your using, bootcamp didnt install one for me so I found one online but its slower then when im on Mac OS, so im wondering if you found a better one or if its a bootcamp 6.1 driver.