SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED — nvlddmkm.sys

When the blue screen or minidump names nvlddmkm.sys, treat it as an NVIDIA kernel display-driver fault first — not a generic Windows reinstall.

First cut If the BSOD does not show nvlddmkm.sys, return to the home decision tree or matching module (ntoskrnl, etd.sys). Boot-loop with no readable module → boot loop then minidump.

Step 1 — Confirm nvlddmkm.sys

Disable automatic restart if the screen flashes by. Confirm the stop code and failing file. SERP for this module is dominated by NVIDIA forums and Microsoft Answers threads that start with driver cleanup.

Blue screen mock with SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED and nvlddmkm.sys circled in red — The module name on the stop screen decides this branch.

Step 2 — Get into Safe Mode

Use Safe Mode (WinRE Startup Settings). You need a session where the full NVIDIA stack is not loaded so uninstall does not re-crash mid-way.

Step 3 — Roll back or clean-install the NVIDIA driver

Device Manager → Display adapters → NVIDIA device → Roll Back Driver if available.
If roll back is grayed out, uninstall the device (check “attempt to remove the driver”), reboot, then install a current Game Ready or Studio package from NVIDIA’s official download site.
Prefer a clean install option in the NVIDIA installer. Avoid beta packs and third-party “driver packs.”

Microsoft Answers and NVIDIA GeForce forum reports for nvlddmkm.sys + this stop code repeatedly land on rollback or clean reinstall — not registry cleaners.

Device Manager NVIDIA adapter properties Driver tab with Roll Back Driver button circled in red — Roll back first when the crash began right after a Game Ready update.

Step 4 — Retest under the same load

Reproduce the previous trigger (game launch, shader compile, multi-monitor wake). If crashes return only under load after a clean driver, check GPU power connectors and thermals next — then leave this page for hardware service.

Started after Windows Update Also see after update.

Module is ntoskrnl.exe instead ntoskrnl page.

Branches

Still BSOD after clean driver Try a slightly older WHQL driver; test another GPU if available; verify PSU capacity.

Cannot reach Safe Mode boot loop

Need dump confirmation minidump

Different stop code 0x3B system service exception

FAQ

What is nvlddmkm.sys?

NVIDIA’s kernel-mode display driver. A stop code that names it usually means the GPU driver crashed a system thread — fix the driver path before rewriting Windows.

Do I need to reinstall Windows?

Not as the first step. Clean driver install from Safe Mode resolves many reports. Reinstall only after driver, update, and hardware checks fail.

DDU?

Display Driver Uninstaller is a common community tool used from Safe Mode. If you use it, still install the replacement driver only from NVIDIA — never from a bundled pack on this site (we host none).