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Windows crashes games - Windows 10 throws games to desktop without any message

jokeros69 31650 11
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  • #1 20346907
    jokeros69
    Level 2  
    Hello
    I have a rather strange problem. My Windows 10 kicks me out of games to the desktop without any message. The problem is strange in that I've been playing games for a few weeks and then suddenly at some point I'm thrown to the desktop, and from then on a given game after starting is thrown to the desktop every time after only a few seconds. For example, I was playing Fallout 4, and after several hours of playing it crashed to the desktop, and now it crashes every time after a while. Call of Duty WWII the same, Metro the same, and for example in Forza 5 I play and play and everything is ok.... Fallout New Vegas also runs without a problem. I've already checked the disks and they are ok, RAM is the same, the comp is not overheating, the power is not lacking (well after all Forza is running and nothing is happening).
    My configuration is:
    * i5 12600KF Silientium PC Fortis3
    * Asus RTX 2060 12GB
    * MB Asus B460m plus wi-fi
    * DDR4 RAM (2x8 Good Ram Irdm)
    * SSD M2 Good Ram Irdm 512 for Windows 10
    * WD 1GB M2 SSD for games
    * SSD and 2x HDD for the rest of the junk.
    * Thermaltake Smart SE 730W 80plus bronze power supply.

    Anybody have any good advice? Because it's already driving me nuts....
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  • Helpful post
    #2 20347155
    Borygo123
    Level 28  
    Check what you see in system events (control panel/administrative tools/event view) Maybe there will be a message in them.
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  • #3 20347518
    jokeros69
    Level 2  
    Gee, thanks, I'm already on the trail. It's throwing the nvlddmkm error and there's already something written about it on the net. If it helps I'll write for others and close the topic. Give me some more time ;) .

    Added after 5 [hours] 57 [minutes]:

    I kicked out the driver, cleaned the PC of nvidia, reinstalled and the same thing. I am surprised that for example Forza runs normally, some time ago I played Fallout 4 and it started to crash - I left it, installed Metro - played and after a few days it also crashes, and Forza continues normally. I don't get it, in events there is nvlddmkm error all the time, but the lift runs normally....
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  • #4 20348577
    manfi
    Level 14  
    1. check that you have "High Performance" set in the nVidia panel power options.
    2) Test the memory for any errors.
    3. run CHKDSK
    4. you can also gently slow down the GPU core and memory clocking
    Uninstall drivers via DDU and then cleanly install new drivers.

    Generally this error can cause many things.
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  • #5 20348611
    jokeros69
    Level 2  
    manfi wrote:
    1. Check that you have "High Performance" set in the nVidia panel power options.
    2. test the memory for any errors.
    3. run CHKDSK
    4. you can also gently slow down the GPU core and memory clocking
    Uninstall drivers via DDU and then cleanly install new drivers.
    .

    1- Yes
    2- was done is ok
    3- was done is ok
    4- is at a minimum
    5- It was done like this

    And now the best thing - for 2 hours I've been playing Forza Horizon at max - the computer is hot and everything works as it should. I turn on Fallout 4 - it crashes, I turn on Metro 2033 - it crashes - but already in the event log there are no errors, nothing at the time when I start the games or when they shut down. The only thing I've done is to 2 times crash drivers with DDU, but the second time I installed some old drivers from a year ago - what did it do? -> errors are not in the log but games continue to crash....
  • #6 20348889
    manfi
    Level 14  
    Maybe make yourself some sort of resource usage log. Maybe there is some strange parameter when the crash occurs, or a repeat situation where two different games crash at the same time. Have you also checked if it's the same with V-Sync on / off or some kind of limit on max FPS?
  • #7 20348924
    jokeros69
    Level 2  
    I've checked everything, v-sync off, frames at 60, 80, 120, it makes no difference, even graphics set to low and nothing helps.... Is it possible that "something" interferes with the game itself? Well, for example I played Call of Duty and after about 2 weeks it crashed the game and kept crashing after every maybe 2 minutes. I gave up, played Metro and the same thing happened, half a game behind me and it crashed, Fallout the same - played for 2 weeks and crashed. And Forza Horizon has been on my PC for a few months now and I play it once (as I do everything else) and it works normally....
  • #8 20348930
    manfi
    Level 14  
    To be sure, you might want to scan your PC decently for some sort of malware. If you don't know what's going on, it's worth checking and ruling out such things. You could also still try playing Offline, physically disconnecting the PC from the network.
  • #9 20349081
    marcin878787
    Level 23  
    To be sure it's a software problem, test your PC for at least several minutes occt power tab.

    As for the log, there must be some errors immediately after the game crashes. Check it carefully by relating it to the time it crashes to the desktop. Preferably save the whole for system and application and provide here for review.
  • #10 20586734
    performanceeager8868
    Level 2  
    jokeros69 wrote:
    I've checked everything, v-sync off, frames at 60, 80, 120, it makes no difference, even graphics on low set and nothing helps....
    If the game shuts down spontaneously without any error messages, there are several potential causes for this problem. Check that your computer or games console is not overheating. Overheating can lead to sudden shutdowns to avoid damage. Ensure that the cooling system, such as fans or vents, is working properly and is not clogged with dust or debris. Remove accumulated dust if necessary. If the game shuts down suddenly, this may be due to insufficient power supply to the system. Ensure that the power supply unit (PSU) is able to provide sufficient power to the hardware components. If necessary, replace the PSU with a more powerful one, as I did. All because I couldn't play casino games properly. After that, I was knocking out that visit day.
    Is it possible that "something" interferes with the game itself? Well, for example I was playing call of duty and after about 2 weeks it crashed the game and kept crashing after every maybe 2 minutes. I gave up, played metro and the same thing happened, half a game behind me and it crashed, fallout the same - played for 2 weeks and crashed. And forza horizon for a few months on the PC and play once (as in everything) and it works normally ...
    .
    There's probably a bug in the system files, because the game can't drop so drastically.
  • #11 20704988
    artaa
    Level 43  
    jokeros69 wrote:
    * SSD M2 Good Ram Irdm 512 for windows 10
    * SSD M2 WD 1GB for games
    * SSD and 2x HDD for the rest of the junk
    .

    Post inch SMART screenshots from CDI SE for each drive
    https://crystalmark.info/en/software/crystaldiskinfo/
    For all SSDs: noGoodRam, WD, etc.
    do the whole test with graph in Victoria 537
    https://www.dobreprogramy.pl/victoria,program,windows,6628627349895297
    Full surface scan witch graph
  • #12 20720550
    twari1234
    Level 1  
    Increasing the virtual memory should solve the problem.
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Topic summary

✨ The user experiences random crashes while playing games on Windows 10, where the system unexpectedly returns to the desktop without error messages. The issue began after several weeks of stable gameplay, affecting titles like Fallout 4, Call of Duty WWII, and Metro 2033, while Forza Horizon remains unaffected. Initial troubleshooting included checking system events, reinstalling NVIDIA drivers, and ensuring power settings are optimized. Despite these efforts, the crashes persist, with the nvlddmkm error noted in event logs. Suggestions from the community include checking for malware, adjusting virtual memory, and performing hardware diagnostics, such as memory tests and SSD health checks.
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FAQ

TL;DR: Most no‑message game CTDs are GPU driver resets: Windows triggers a reset after 2 seconds of no response ("Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR)"). Check Event Viewer, clean‑install NVIDIA drivers, stress‑test power/thermals, and verify game files. [“Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR)”]

Why it matters: This FAQ helps Windows 10 gamers fix crashes-to-desktop quickly by targeting the most common, verifiable causes.

Quick Facts

  • Windows TDR resets a hung GPU after 2 seconds; use only for diagnostics if adjusting TdrDelay. [“Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR)”]
  • Event clues live under Windows Logs > System (Display) and Application (Error) in Event Viewer. [“View event logs in Event Viewer”]
  • Typical RTX 2060 recommended PSU is 500 W; sufficient headroom reduces power-induced resets. [“GeForce RTX 2060 — Specifications”]
  • Prefer System managed virtual memory; manual sizing helps only when pagefile is constrained. [“Change the size of virtual memory”]
  • OCCT “Power” test loads CPU+GPU together to expose thermal/PSU instability fast. [“OCCT Documentation”]

Why do my Windows 10 games crash to desktop with no error?

Windows may reset the graphics driver when the GPU stops responding. This TDR reset closes the game without messages. Check Event Viewer for Display or Application errors. Then update or clean‑install GPU drivers, and stress‑test power and thermals. Verify game files too. [“Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR)”]

What is the nvlddmkm error and how does it relate to crashes?

nvlddmkm.sys is the NVIDIA Windows kernel-mode driver. When it hangs or resets, games can crash to desktop. If you see nvlddmkm in Event Viewer, perform a clean GPU driver install, reduce GPU overclocks, and test stability. The thread reporter saw nvlddmkm during crashes. [Elektroda, jokeros69, post #20347518]

How do I check Event Viewer for crash clues?

Open Event Viewer. Go to Windows Logs > System and filter for Source: Display around the crash time. Also check Windows Logs > Application for Error entries from the game executable. Note Event ID, Source, and timestamps for correlation with crashes. [“View event logs in Event Viewer”]

How do I clean‑install NVIDIA drivers with DDU?

Use this 3‑step method:
  1. Download latest NVIDIA driver and DDU; disconnect from the internet.
  2. Boot Safe Mode; run DDU to remove NVIDIA driver; reboot.
  3. Install the downloaded NVIDIA driver; reboot; reconnect internet; test. This removes remnants that can trigger nvlddmkm resets. [“Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU)”]

Do V‑Sync or FPS caps help stop CTDs?

They can. Enabling V‑Sync or setting an FPS limit smooths frame pacing and reduces transient spikes that trip marginal stability. Test with caps at 60–120 FPS and compare crash frequency. The thread author tested this approach while isolating the issue. [Elektroda, manfi, post #20348889]

Should I underclock or power‑limit my GPU to stabilize crashes?

Yes, try small reductions. Lower core and memory clocks slightly, or apply a modest power limit. This can stabilize borderline silicon or aggressive factory OCs that trigger resets. Revert if no change after testing. "Gently slow down the GPU core and memory clocking." [Elektroda, manfi, post #20348577]

How can I stress‑test for power or thermal issues quickly?

Run OCCT’s Power test for several minutes. It loads CPU and GPU simultaneously, revealing PSU sag, VRM throttling, or overheating that games may trigger. Watch temperatures, clocks, and voltage stability during the run. Stop the test immediately if instability appears. [Elektroda, marcin878787, post #20349081]

Is a 730 W PSU enough for an RTX 2060 build?

Yes. NVIDIA’s typical recommendation for RTX 2060 is 500 W. A quality 730 W unit provides ample headroom. If crashes persist, focus on driver integrity, thermals, and cable seating rather than wattage alone. Replace only if the PSU is low‑quality or failing. [“GeForce RTX 2060 — Specifications”]

Will increasing virtual memory (pagefile) stop crashes?

Use System managed size first. Windows scales the pagefile to meet demand, which prevents memory‑related CTDs. Manually increasing the pagefile can help if it was limited or disabled. Reboot after changes and retest the same game scenario. [“Change the size of virtual memory”]

How do I rule out disk or SSD problems causing game crashes?

Check SMART health with CrystalDiskInfo for all drives. Then run a full surface scan with Victoria to catch weak sectors. Review temperature and reallocated sector counts. Move the game to a known‑good SSD and retest if concerns appear. [Elektroda, artaa, post #20704988]

Could malware or being online cause CTDs?

Yes. Malicious hooks or unstable overlays can terminate games silently. Scan the system with a trusted AV/AM tool. Then test entirely offline by disconnecting the network to rule out online services, overlays, or sync features interfering with the game. [Elektroda, manfi, post #20348930]

How can I log resource usage around a crash?

Create a usage log while gaming. Track GPU load, clocks, VRAM, CPU usage, and temps. Look for repeatable spikes or thresholds just before crashes. Correlate logs with Event Viewer timestamps to pinpoint triggers. [Elektroda, manfi, post #20348889]

Why does one game work while others crash repeatedly?

Different engines stress hardware differently. One title may avoid a driver code path that others hit. Corruption, mods, or overlays can affect specific games. Verify game files, remove mods, and test clean. The thread author noted Forza worked while others crashed. [Elektroda, jokeros69, post #20348611]

What if Event Viewer shows nothing when a game closes?

That points to an app‑level crash or external process terminating the game. Disable overlays, capture tools, and third‑party injectors. Verify files and reinstall the game if needed. The thread author observed CTDs with no new events after driver changes. [Elektroda, jokeros69, post #20348611]

Advanced: Can I adjust TDR settings to reduce false resets?

Only for diagnostics. You can temporarily raise TdrDelay to allow longer GPU work before reset. Test stability, then restore defaults. Do not use this as a permanent fix; address the underlying driver, power, or thermal cause. [“Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR)”]

What baseline checks should I run first?

Run a memory test, CHKDSK, and set NVIDIA power management to Prefer maximum performance. Reinstall drivers cleanly and test with a slight underclock. These quick checks catch many intermittent issues. "Generally this error can cause many things." [Elektroda, manfi, post #20348577]
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