AMD hardware users encounter one of the most widespread problems when the system randomly goes black and reloads the whole screen, whether during gaming or other graphically intense work. When the GPU driver stops responding for a lengthy period, the display freezes, goes black, or the system becomes unresponsive. Many customers have reported seeing an error message stating We Detected a Driver Timeout Has Occurred on Your System. If you’ve ever encountered such an issue, you know how aggravating it can be. In this post, let’s look at the various causes of the problem and how to solve AMD Driver Timeout on Windows PC
Why Does the AMD Driver Timeout Error Occur? Reason Behind the Error
The AMD Driver Timeout error is a classic problem that can arise for various reasons. One of the most common causes of this problem is a lack of Windows or application/game updates, which can lead to conflicts with the graphics driver. Another cause is a damaged Windows registry or system files, which can lead to driver failure. This issue can also be caused by corrupted or outdated graphics drivers incompatible with the present hardware or software setups.
Overclocking and overheating the GPU can also cause a system to become unstable, resulting in the AMD Driver Timeout issue. Lastly, malfunctioning hardware, such as broken graphics cards or power supplies, might result in system crashes or freezes. Understanding these causes allows users to take precautions to avoid the AMD Driver Timeout problem and keep their system running correctly.
Fix AMD Driver Timeout Has Occurred Error in Windows
While there is no one solution to the problem, there are several tried and proven ways and options advised by the manufacturer to try to solve the TDR or Timeout Detection Recovery error.
- Run SFC
- Disable Multi-Plane Overlay
- System Restore
- Adjust Power Plan, Refresh Rate
- Uninstall and Install the AMD Graphics Driver
- Disable Fast Startup
- Reset Graphics Card
- Check Hardware
You will need an administrator account to execute these suggestions.
1] Run SFC
The SFC (System File Checker) tool scans the system files for any corrupted or missing files and helps repair them automatically. Running the SFC in this situation is an excellent choice to fix the AMD Driver Timeout error because it helps to ensure that the graphics driver and other system components are working correctly and can prevent the occurrence of the error.
Read this post to learn how you can run the SFC to diagnose and fix file system errors in Windows.
2] Disable Multi-Plane Overlay
One potential workaround to the AMD Driver Timeout problem is to disable the Multi-Plane Overlay (MPO) functionality in Windows, which has been reported as a viable repair by several users online. MPO (Multi-Plane Overlay) is a Windows feature that allows multiple video and graphics planes to be simultaneously shown on the same screen. MPO may occasionally create issues with graphics drivers, resulting in driver timeout errors, freezing, or system crashing. Read on to learn how to disable Multi-Plane Overlay in Windows.
Warning: Changing the Windows Registry Editor can be risky and may cause irreversible damage to your operating system if done improperly. Before making any changes, it is strongly recommended to back up your system and create a System Restore point to revert to in case of any issues. Only make changes if you are confident in what you are doing and have the necessary knowledge and experience.
- Strike the Win key on your keyboard to quickly launch the Start Search Box, key in Registry Editor, and choose the main listed option. Also, click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
- Next, navigate to the following path under the Registry Editor. As a quick hack, you may copy and paste the location into the address bar to quickly navigate.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm
- Now, right-click the Dwn key, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value from the drop-down, name it OverlayTestMode, and save.
- Next, right-click on the newly created 32-bit DWORD OverlayTestMode and choose Modify.
- Finally, in the Value data field, key in 5 and click OK to save changes.
Close the Registry Editor, and restart your computer for changes to come into effect. This should solve your problem. Keep using your computer as usual and check if the AMD Driver Timeout error ever occurs again.
3] System Restore
System Restore is a wise choice for resolving the AMD Driver Timeout problem since it may restore the system to a prior state where the error did not exist. This feature returns the system configuration, registry, and driver settings to their previous state.
If the error occurs during the installation of new software or drivers, a recent update, or a system change, returning the system to a previous state may resolve the problem.
Learn how to perform a System Restore on a Windows machine.
4] Adjust Power Plan, Refresh Rate
Adjusting the Power Plan and Refresh Rate settings may resolve the AMD Driver Timeout problem by reducing the pressure on the graphics card and preventing it from overheating.
The power plan options regulate how much power the system consumes, and choosing the right one may assist in lessening the load on the graphics card and increasing its performance.
Similarly, lowering the monitor’s refresh rate can assist in minimizing the stress on the graphics card by reducing the number of times the screen is refreshed every second.
Read this post to learn how to adjust the refresh rate in Windows.
5] Uninstall and Install the AMD Graphics Driver
A prevalent source of the issue is corrupted or outdated graphics drivers, and updating the driver might assist in verifying that it is running correctly. Reinstalling the driver can help install the correct version and configuration for the user’s machine.
- Launch Device Manager by right-clicking on the Windows icon in the Taskbar and choosing Device Manager.
- Next, expand Display Adaptors, choose your AMD adapter, right-click, and select Uninstall Device.
- While you can let Windows automatically find and install the right driver for you with the Scan for Hardware Changes button on the top of the Device Manager. It is recommended that you download the latest driver from AMD’s website.
6] Disable Fast Startup
Fast Startup is a Windows feature that allows the computer to boot up faster by hibernating the kernel rather than entirely shutting it down. This functionality, however, can occasionally cause issues with graphics drivers, resulting in the AMD Driver Timeout error.
Preventing Fast Startup can help avoid these conflicts while improving system stability and performance. With Fast Startup enabled, your computer can prevent some system settings, such as driver configurations, from properly resetting, which might cause issues with graphics drivers.
Read this post to learn how to disable Fast Startup on your PC.
7] Reset Graphics Card
If you have an overclocked GPU, you should consider resetting the GPU to the factory default settings to check if this solves the problem. Overclocking, overheating, or conflicts with other hardware or software can cause the graphics card to malfunction and trigger the error.
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- Boot into BIOS or UEFI and Locate the GPU section
- Go to Advanced > Performance
- Locate the option that says OverClicking or similar
- Disable to restore to default
- Exit the BIOS/UEFI and restart your PC.
Some OEMs also offer software that can help you remove the overclocking of the CPU and GPU.
8] Check the Hardware
If none of the preceding solutions have worked, you should consider replacing the power supply and graphics card. A faulty or inadequate power supply might cause the graphics card to malfunction and create an error.
Monitoring the power supply and graphics card can assist in confirming that the system is getting adequate power and that the graphics card is working correctly, preventing the AMD Driver Timeout issue.
Conclusion
The AMD Driver Timeout error can be frustrating, but numerous solutions are available. SFC may be used to restore corrupted system files, and deactivating Multi-Plane Overlay can assist in preventing issues with graphics drivers.
System Restore can return the system to a previous state before the error occurs while altering the power plan and refresh rate can improve system performance. Uninstalling and reinstalling the AMD Graphics Driver will resolve any driver-related difficulties, and deactivating Quick Startup will prevent conflicts during boot-up.