NVIDIA Code 43 means Windows received a failure report from one of the drivers controlling your graphics device and stopped that device. The message “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems” does not identify one specific defect: the cause can be a damaged or incorrect driver, Windows or BIOS firmware, inadequate GPU power, or a failing graphics card.
Start with the reversible fixes—restart, remove and rescan the device, then reinstall the correct NVIDIA driver. Apply Windows and BIOS updates and verify power connections before paying for diagnosis or deciding to replace graphics card hardware.
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What NVIDIA Code 43 means
In Device Manager, Code 43 is a Windows Configuration Manager status called CM_PROB_FAILED_POST_START. Microsoft describes it as a situation in which “one of the drivers controlling the device notified the operating system that the device failed in some manner.” Microsoft’s support wording is also explicit that the message indicates a driver-reported device failure, not a diagnosis of one particular component.
NVIDIA calls Code 43 a generic hardware-or-software problem. On some systems the details mention nvlddmkm.sys, the Windows kernel-mode component used by NVIDIA’s display driver. Seeing that filename does not, by itself, prove that the graphics processor is physically damaged. The same status can follow a bad driver installation, a conflict after an update, firmware problems, or a power-delivery issue.
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- Code 43 is a report from the device driver to Windows, not a standalone NVIDIA failure code with one universal cure.
- The error can occur on desktop cards and on NVIDIA graphics hardware built into laptops.
- Official guidance treats driver and operating-system checks as the first line of troubleshooting, followed by power and hardware diagnosis if the status persists.
There is no official prevalence figure or guaranteed success rate for any individual fix. Your result depends on which of those causes is present.
Before you start: record the evidence
Capture the current state before changing anything. This gives you a comparison point if the error returns and helps a manufacturer support technician identify the failing layer.
- Press Windows key + X, choose Device Manager, expand Display adapters, and double-click the NVIDIA adapter.
- On the General tab, record the exact status text and error code.
- On the Driver tab, note the provider, driver date, version, and the buttons that are available.
- Write down the computer or motherboard model, the graphics-card model, and whether the problem began after a driver, Windows, BIOS, hardware, or power change.
Save your work before removing the device. During a reinstall Windows may temporarily use a basic display driver, change the screen resolution, or leave the NVIDIA adapter unavailable until the scan or installation completes.
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1. Restart Windows and recheck Device Manager
Choose Start > Power > Restart; do not use sleep or hibernation for this test. After Windows loads, open Device Manager again and check the NVIDIA adapter’s status.
A restart can clear a one-time driver initialization failure. If Code 43 remains, continue rather than repeatedly rebooting. The status and driver details you recorded tell you whether the device is still present and whether Windows has changed the installed driver.
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2. Uninstall the device, then rescan for hardware
Microsoft’s documented repair sequence removes the current device registration and asks Windows to detect it again:
- In Device Manager > Display adapters, right-click the NVIDIA adapter and choose Uninstall device (the label may appear as Uninstall on some Windows builds).
- Confirm the removal. If Windows offers a checkbox to remove the driver package, read the prompt carefully and proceed only if you have a replacement driver ready from NVIDIA or the computer manufacturer.
- When the adapter disappears, select Action > Scan for hardware changes.
- Wait for Windows to rediscover the card. If Windows requests a driver, provide one downloaded from the hardware vendor.
- Open the adapter’s Properties again and check whether the Code 43 status has cleared.
This step is reversible and costs nothing. It addresses a damaged device registration or driver instance, but it cannot repair a physically defective card or an incorrect power supply. If the scan does not rediscover the adapter, shut down normally and continue with the vendor driver and power checks rather than repeatedly forcing rescans.
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3. Reinstall the correct NVIDIA driver
NVIDIA’s official checklist starts with updating the graphics-card driver from NVIDIA. Download the package that matches the exact GPU model and your Windows edition from NVIDIA’s official driver source or from the computer manufacturer for a branded desktop or laptop.
- Identify the model in Device Manager, the computer’s specifications, or the label supplied with the system.
- Download the current driver package before removing the old one if your display is already unstable.
- Run the installer with administrator permission and follow its installation choices.
- Restart Windows when the installer requests it, then inspect Device Manager for the status message.
Do not substitute a driver for a different NVIDIA model simply because the package name looks similar. On laptops, the computer manufacturer may provide a customized package; use that source when its instructions require it. If the adapter still reports Code 43 after a correctly matched installation, move to platform software and power checks instead of installing random versions from unofficial download sites.
4. Install current Windows updates
Open Settings > Windows Update (or Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update on older Windows editions), select Check for updates, install the offered updates, and restart when prompted. Recheck Device Manager after the restart.
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Windows updates can include display-driver compatibility fixes and changes to the device framework. Keep the NVIDIA driver and Windows on versions intended for the same edition; a partially completed update can leave the adapter in an intermediate state, so allow every requested restart to finish before judging the result.
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NVIDIA includes the system BIOS or SBIOS in its Code 43 checklist. Obtain the firmware only from the computer or motherboard manufacturer and follow that model’s update instructions exactly.
- Confirm the exact model and revision before downloading a BIOS file.
- Read the manufacturer’s power, battery, and recovery requirements.
- Do not interrupt the update once it starts.
- After Windows restarts, load Device Manager and test the NVIDIA adapter again.
A BIOS update is a platform-level change rather than a graphics-driver reinstall. It can address compatibility or initialization problems, but it is not a guaranteed fix and an interrupted or incorrect firmware update can make a computer unbootable. If the manufacturer does not list a BIOS update for your model, do not install firmware intended for another system.
6. Verify GPU power delivery
For a desktop graphics card, turn the computer off, disconnect it from mains power, and check the physical power path only when you can do so safely. NVIDIA advises confirming that the power supply meets the card’s minimum recommendation and that every required PCIe supplemental power connector is plugged into the card.
- Compare the installed power supply’s rating with the card’s stated minimum recommendation.
- Check that each required PCIe connector is fully seated in the graphics card.
- Look for a connector that is loose, partially inserted, or connected through an unsuitable adapter.
- After reconnecting, close the case, restore power, boot Windows, and inspect the Device Manager status.
Do not open a power supply or bypass a connector. Laptop users generally cannot reseat an internal GPU power lead; use the manufacturer’s service procedure instead. A card that works only intermittently under load, or that reports Code 43 again after a correct driver installation and adequate power, deserves hardware diagnosis rather than repeated software changes.
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7. Decide whether the card needs professional diagnosis
If the error remains after the driver reinstall, Windows updates, BIOS check, and power verification, NVIDIA says the graphics card may be defective. At that point:
- Record the final Device Manager status and the driver version that was installed.
- Contact the computer or graphics-card manufacturer and provide the model, Code 43 text, and the steps already completed.
- Follow the manufacturer’s warranty or diagnostic process before buying parts.
- If the manufacturer confirms a failed card, choose a replacement that fits the system’s power supply, connectors, case, motherboard slot, and regional availability.
Replacing a graphics card is the least reversible and usually the most expensive option, so it belongs after the free software, firmware, and power checks. If a replacement card produces the same Code 43 on the same system, stop and have the platform diagnosed; the original card may not have been the only possible fault.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which step fits which possible cause?
| Action | Primary cause addressed | Reversibility | Technical effort | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restart and inspect Device Manager | One-time driver initialization or transient Windows state | Fully reversible | Low | Free |
| Uninstall, then Action > Scan for hardware changes | Corrupt device registration or driver instance | Reversible; Windows can rediscover the device | Low | Free |
| Reinstall NVIDIA driver | Incorrect, damaged, or incompatible display driver | Reversible by installing another supported package | Low to moderate | Free download; internet access required |
| Windows Update | Operating-system compatibility and device-framework fixes | Usually reversible through Windows recovery options | Low | Free |
| BIOS/SBIOS update | Firmware-level initialization or compatibility | Model-dependent; recovery varies by manufacturer | Moderate | Free firmware; service may cost money |
| Power-supply and PCIe connector check | Insufficient power or an unconnected supplemental lead | Reversible | Moderate for desktops; limited for laptops | Free inspection; replacement power hardware may cost money |
| Manufacturer diagnosis or a replacement card | Confirmed physical graphics-card failure | Replacement is not readily reversible | High | Warranty service or the price of a compatible GPU |
Common mistakes that make Code 43 harder to solve
- Jumping straight to a replacement: Code 43 is not proof of a dead GPU. Complete the driver, Windows, BIOS, and power sequence first.
- Installing a near-match driver: Match the exact NVIDIA model and Windows edition; a package for another card can leave the device unusable.
- Ignoring the platform: NVIDIA’s checklist includes BIOS/SBIOS and the card’s power requirements, not just the display driver.
- Updating firmware from the wrong source: BIOS files are model-specific. Use the computer or motherboard manufacturer’s instructions.
- Repeating rescans without recording results: Note each driver version and status so support can distinguish a persistent failure from a changing configuration.
- Assuming
nvlddmkm.sysnames the failed part: It identifies a driver component involved in the report; it does not independently establish a physical GPU fault.
When to stop troubleshooting and replace graphics card hardware
Escalate when the same Code 43 status survives a correctly matched NVIDIA driver reinstall, current Windows updates, an appropriate BIOS/SBIOS check, and verification that the power supply and PCIe connectors meet the card’s requirements. That combination leaves a defective graphics card as a credible explanation according to NVIDIA’s guidance.
Before ordering a replacement, verify the card’s power requirement, connector type, physical length and thickness, motherboard compatibility, and the seller’s regional warranty terms. If the system is under warranty, use the manufacturer’s diagnostic process first. A replacement should be the result of that diagnosis, not a guess based on the error code alone.
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