Windows Hardware Error LiveKernelEvent Error 117

Jaguwaar20 · 15 Aug 2020

I received two critical errors in reliability monitor between the space of three days. The description in RM is “a problem with your hardware caused Windows to stop working correctly”
I noted the exact time stamp of the occurances and found in Event Viewer under Windows Logs>System the NVIDIA graphics driver ‘nvlddmkn’ stopped responding and successfully recovered. I believe this process of detection and recovery is TDR. The GPU scheduler calls the display miniports drivers to reinitialize the driver and reset the GPU.

I don’t know whether it might be virtually impossible to find what caused the Windows Hardware Errors without some sort of understanding of the circumstances that caused it. A starting point would be narrowing down hardware or software.
My system specs are visible on the forum. The discrete graphics card is a GTX 1060 6GB. I think the minimum recommended power spec is a 400W PSU. My PSU is rated 460W. I’m not a games player. I’ve never experienced a BSoD leading up to or after these LiveKernelEvents. The only accessories connected are a monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and printer. The desktop tower’s fans always run extremely quiet.

The concern isn’t whether it was operating within its 460W limits, but the response when a change in demand occurred while just performing basic fundamental tasks. I’m guessing there may be a power transient response issue. Basic fundamental tasks like web surfing, retrieving emails, opening saved files in Windows file explorer were being perfomed just prior to these errors. Now there are 2-3 second delays from keyboard strokes and even no keyboard response at all from the command prompt window.

The PC manufacturer incorporated a built-in diagnostics that can be performed on all the hardware from outside Windows in the advanced boot menu. The scans only test basic functionality of components and it also doesn’t perform stress tests. All tests passed when I ran the hardware scan.
I don’t know if the consistency of the two events on the two different days when the graphics driver stopping and recovered could be considered a validated fault. Nevertheless, I performed a clean uninstall/install of the graphics driver on the same day immediately after the second LikeKernelEvent error occurred.

Its been five days since the second LiveKernelEvent 117 without any re-occurrences.
When I read about the Furmark GPU stress Test on this forum and performing the benchmark, my first concern was a slowdown of the graphics card due to putting the GPU under immense stress and hitting an over-temperature or disabling over-current protection mechanisms designed in the card and causing permanent damage.

It’s not like I have a box of spare components sitting around to start swapping out. Even if I had a higher rated modular PSU, replacing it is an undertaking in itself, but that’s my opinion. Removing the motherboard, heat sink, and fan, plus adding an adapter for the factory installed optical drive.

Any suggestions on doing a fault-find to address correcting the errors?

- - - Updated - - -

when over 3,200 views fail to initiate a reply, maybe :
the post was treated too newb and
suggestions offered wouldn't likely have been helpful

try for a clean install of Win10 to see whether there's any improvement. Thanks Jaguwaar20. You're quite welcome Jaguwaar20

EdTittel · 19 Aug 2020

I get these on my desktop PCs with Nvidia cards from time to time. Usually means a driver problem of some kind. But Nvidia drivers come and go so quickly, it's usually just transitory. Here's one from a recent "blackscreen with cursor" event:

Windows Hardware Error LiveKernelEvent Error 117-blackscreen-relimon.jpg

Unless they're frequent, one learns to live with them. If they are frequent, you must usually find a stable graphics driver through trial and error and try to keep it running as long as you can. It's not a pretty story, and it doesn't always have a happy ending.
HTH,
--Ed--

Jaguwaar20 · 28 Aug 2020

Thanks so much Ed for your insight. Its very much appreciated.
There had been a few - meaning three, of these Hardware Errors, all error 117.
The first time the error happened, I had the previous NVIDIA driver version installed.
The second and third times the error happened, the "most recent version" available at that time was installed.
Now a newer version is available. As you say, the NVIDIA drivers come and go so quickly... and if they become more frequent, it'll take a stable driver through the trial and error method.

P.S. a lot of dust was cleaned out the other day on the fan fins of the full length NVIDIA card. After making certain it was properly seated, I fired up the PC with the monitor connected. That's when the third hardware error occurred. Go figure.