Windows shut down while in SL

Hi guys,

can anyone tell me why my PC shuts down windows while in SL? I can play for about 5 minutes and then the screen freezes and the horrible blue display appears saying :

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage
to your computer
The problem seems to be caused by the following file: NV4_disp
This usually indicates problem with the device itself or with the device
driver programming the hardware incorrectly
Please check with your hardware device vendor for any driver updates

*Technical information:

nv4_disp
beginnning dump of physical memory
physical memory dump complate.

I would really appreciate if anyone can help me! Thank you in advance!

Try this:

http://www.christopherjason.com/articles/nvidia-nv4disp-problem/

Uh, all that guy did was upgrade his video driver. Well give that a shot first but if it still happens..

One thing that might be causing the problem is your video card over heating. If you can play form idle for exatly 5-10 minutes then crash every time your card may be overheating and locking up.

Take the card out, blow the dust out, if the fan is not spinning then fix or replace it (or get someone to do it for you). Sometimes machines run cooler with the case off, sometimes with it on.

Get and install the nforce software so you can monitor the temp of your video card.

Try adding another fan to the case to increase airflow etc...

SL also "burns out" vidio cards. If this behavior is new and the fan and other cooling conditions have not changed... the card may be going bad. SL runs them so hot for so long (Like twice as basd as ANY other video game I've ever seen) that it literally wears out the memory or the gpu or some other component on the card which age much faster than normal at high temps, or exposes chips that were barely "good" to begin with.

Don't run your computer with the case open........that will burn the thing up in a hurry. If you think it's overheating, clean the inside of the case, get more fans, replace fans, but never open it up because you think that may cool it better...........it does the opposite. Fresh air moving in and hot air exhausting.

Bad advice!

Thank you all so much! I will try your suggestions!!!!!

I do not give bad advice. I've owned maybe 25 computer cases in my life and some of them run cooler open and others run cooler closed.

Unless you have a case that is truly desicgend for cooling (and a lot of them arent!) it's usually a crapshoot. Especially if you have a CPU cooler that vents inside the case. Sometimes the amount of heat is too much for the normal PSU and stock case fan to deal with. Your GPU could be sucking air coming off the CPU cooler instead of fresh air from outside.

Monitor temps and experiemt with case open/closed, additional fans etc. In fact a good extreme test is t open the case and put a big fan on the floor blowing into it to make sure there is NO lingering preheated air and see if that makes any differrance. If that cools things off then you know you need more fresh airflow into the case.

Or just think laterally and open the case, then put a big old office fan about a foot away.

Cases with airflow-optimised designs are designed in fluff-free environments: truly astounding amounts of gunk can build up inside a home environment, especially if there are smokers present (the tar glues all the dry dust together). Don't just take the side of the case off, also find out how to remove the front panel BUT (big hint) do it on your back steps or by a window!

I recycle so many PCs these days that I have a dedicated handy Vac for case fluff. Averages 1 empty per 4 cases...

Well NV4_disp.dll is an NVidia driver file, so I'd definitely give driver reinstallation or upgrade a shot before taking the computer apart. It could be something as simple as a driver conflict. This particular file is notorious for BSODs with certain motherboards. So..

1) Check motherboard drivers are up to date before...
2) Checking graphics card drivers are up to date.
3) If it still crashes...get the screwdriver out.

Mm. Good airflow is certainly the most optimal way to keep components at their coolest in an enclosed PC, but opening the case certainly can achieve dramatic temperature drops. An Athlon Thunderbird (notorious for running hot) I owned back in 2000 ran at 75C with the lid on...but at 45C without. I ran it that way for about two years (checking the temperature daily) because I was so paranoid about that particular processor.

If taking the cover off the case drops the temperature, you've got problems with your airflow. A *properly* set up & working case should always run cooler with the covers on.

Anyway, to the OP, it's your video card drivers. Head to nvida.com and update your drivers - you're probably running an old one which is unhappy with SL.

*Had* not *got*. We're going back years here, back when Athlon Thunderbirds used to give everybody sleepless nights, and sauna-like computer rooms.

No matter how well designed the internal airflow, a motherboard killer like a 1st gen Athlon Thunderbird will run cooler with the lid off - provided the ambient temperature of the room is pretty low.