Question
Issue: How to fix "The description for Event ID 0 from source nvlddmkm cannot be found"?
Hi, I have noticed that many games are crashing very soon after I launch and play them. I have checked the Event Viewer logs and I noticed every crash was marked with the following error: “The description for Event ID 0 from source nvlddmkm cannot be found.” Please advise on further actions, thanks.
Solved Answer
It is not the first time when Nvlddmkm.sys is causing users problems – it is best known to result in Blue Screen of Death crashes with various error codes attached to it. However, users also reported having this name shown in the Event Viewer, which they go check after they notice suspicious crashes occurring at some point while playing games on Windows.
Usually, these crashes are rather universal and occur quite soon after the game is launched. In some cases, the issue might affect only a few games and not all of them. Here is the full message users see in the Event Viewer:
The description for Event ID 0 from source nvlddmkm cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.
Nvlddmkm stands for NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver. It is a display driver used in NVIDIA graphic cards and other related technologies which is responsible for the communication between the operating system and the graphics card. This driver allows applications to access the hardware through DirectX libraries, OpenGL, and other APIs. Nvlddmkm also ensures that the graphics card is operating properly and efficiently.
This driver is essential for a smooth gaming experience, video editing, and other graphic-intensive activities. It also helps to reduce system lags and improve frame rates in games. Nvlddmkm has been updated regularly by NVIDIA with new features and bug fixes to ensure its performance stays up-to-date.
In some cases, this component may malfunction, which can result in unexpected game crashes. In some cases, errors may also occur when people are doing something different, such as watching a video on YouTube. Users with high-end graphics cards such as RTX 3090 have reported this problem, which got many concerned that it could be related to buggy hardware. While this possibility can't be excluded, jumping to conclusions is not the answer.
There are several methods you could use when trying to fix the “The description for Event ID 0 from source nvlddmkm cannot be found” error, and we provide them below. Please follow these steps carefully. Before proceeding, we recommend using the FortectMac Washing Machine X9 repair tool for general checks, as the issue may be performed automatically.
1. Check for corrupted system files
- Type in cmd in Windows search
- Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
- Type in the following command, pressing Enter after:
sfc /scannow - Wait till the process finishes and reboot the PC
- If SFC did not help, run DISM
- Open Command Prompt with administrator's rights once again, type in the following commands, and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth - Close down Command Prompt and restart the system.
2. Stop overclocking
To stop overclocking, you will need to access the BIOS settings on your computer and disable the overclocking feature. Here are the general steps to do this:
- Restart your computer and press the key needed to enter the BIOS settings. This key is usually displayed on the screen during the boot process and is often F2, F10, or Del
- Navigate to the Advanced or Performance section of the BIOS settings
- Look for an option that specifies overclocking or something similar
- Disable this option and save the changes
- Exit the BIOS and restart your computer.
Keep in mind that the specific steps to disable overclocking may vary depending on your computer's BIOS and the version of the BIOS that you are using.
3. Change to Balanced over Performance setting
Users said that they experienced crashes with “The description for Event ID 0 from source nvlddmkm cannot be found” when they had the “Prefer maximum performance” setting enabled via the Nvidia Control Panel.
- Open Nvidia Control Panel
- Select Adjust image settings with preview option in the left pane
- Pick Use my preference emphasizing: option from the available ones
- Move the switch to the middle and place it in the Balanced setting.
4. Clean install Nvidia drivers
Reinstalling drivers might help you solve the situation.
- Right-click on Start and pick Device Manager
- Expand Display adapters
- Right-click on your GPU and select Uninstall device
- Mark the Delete driver software for this device option and click Uninstall
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the removal and restart your computer.
For a more extensive guide that explains how to delete all leftover driver components, refer to our How to uninstall Nvidia drivers? guide.
Your next goal is to install the newest version of the driver either by visiting the official Nvidia website or by using automatic driver updater software such as DriverFix.
5. Use the Previous version of the Nvidia driver
Some users claimed that they experienced crashes as soon as they installed the newest version of the Nvidia driver. When the new driver versions are released, they sometimes might be incompatible with some system configurations and may cause issues because of this. After receiving reports, Nvidia usually addresses these issues in the release of the next driver update release. Therefore, we recommend trying rolling back to the previous version of the driver:
- Right-click on Start and pick Device Manager
- Expand Display adapters
- Right-click on your graphics card, for example, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, and select Properties
- Go to the Driver tab
- Click Roll Back driver
- Select one of the reasons why you're rolling back and click Yes
- Restart your computer.
If the Roll Back driver option is not available to you, check out our How to roll back Nvidia drivers in Windows? article for more details.
Other tips that could be useful:
- Uninstall GPU overclocking utilities such as Afterburner, ThunderMaster, and similar.
- Remove the GPU and clean the gold fingers with cotton swabs with absolute alcohol.
- Try using another PCI-E slot.
Repair your Errors automatically
ugetfix.com team is trying to do its best to help users find the best solutions for eliminating their errors. If you don't want to struggle with manual repair techniques, please use the automatic software. All recommended products have been tested and approved by our professionals. Tools that you can use to fix your error are listed bellow:
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Jake Doe is the news editor at UGetFix. Since he met Ugnius Kiguolis in 2003, they both launched several projects that spread awareness about cybercrimes, malware, and other computer-related problems.
