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Windows 10 & AMD Drivers - Causes machine freezing

Anonymous
2017-12-29T06:07:44+00:00

I have a number of laptops (Dell) with AMD APUs.

The latest updates to Windows forces a driver update to the AMD R5 video cards installed in these devices. This causes the system to freeze every few seconds. If you move a mouse cursor around, it will stop responding every 2-3 seconds for about 1/4 of a second making it extremely frustrating to use.

I have confirmed that it is Windows 10 builds with newer AMD drivers. It doesn't matter if it's the default drivers Windows Update installs from Microsoft, or the AMD Crimson software. One of my systems that had older drivers worked fine until 1703 which over-wrote the old AMD drivers with the new ones (and won't allow me to roll back).

If I uninstall ALL video card drivers and let the system default to 'Microsoft Basic Graphics Adaptor' then the response returns to normal. Install the video card drivers - either via Windows Update or direct from AMD - and the freezing behaviour returns.

I'm not entirely sure if it's a Windows issue, or an AMD issue, but it needs to be fixed. It has made 3 PCs in my house unusable!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-07-15T03:56:45+00:00

    I had the same problem but i manage to resolve it, i went to administration devices, in screen adaptor i go to the options, then i go to controllers and i press return to previous controller and my problem was result.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-12-29T11:29:41+00:00

    Thanks Xylee. 

    I can certainly download the program to prevent Windows from installing the device specific driver via Windows update in the future. I can then uninstall the driver on the system - there is no rollback available - knowing it wont auto re-install. 

    This then leaves me with 2 choices.

    1. Install the AMD Crimson drivers from AMD which cause the same problem as the Windows Update drivers. 
    2. Leave the system with only the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter drivers installed by default - which are not capable of acceleration meaning even simple programs/games like Minecraft will not run. 

    Is there a flaw in my thinking there? Is there a magical option 3 im not aware of?

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-12-30T10:44:56+00:00

    Thanks again for the reply Xylee.

    Unfortunately my error is entirely different to the one you linked to in your post. It relates to freezing as a result of the drivers, not an issue with multiple monitors.

    23.20.15002.11 (06/12/17) is the driver version that is currently installed.

    The previous version 22.19.677.257 (22/09/17) has the same issue.

    After deleting the driver it replaces the AMD R5 graphics with a generic 'Video Controller (VGA Compatible' under Other devices.

    I then rebooted the computer. It shows only as the above controller and is quite happy to run under 'Video Controller (VGA Compatible). While this device is considered as being installed I don't get the machine freezing. It runs smoothly - as long as I don't actually want to use it for any form of even basic 3D-based gaming.

    Doing a scan for hardware changes doesn't show any changes.

    If I download AMD Crimson package 16.12.2 which installs driver 21.19.407.0 (19/12/2016) it appears to work.

    I have used the troubleshooter to force the system to remain on these year old drivers - however this doesn't fix the issue.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-03-09T14:13:25+00:00

    I also have this problem on my:

    HP 15 f205dx

    AMD A6 5200

    4gb ram

    I am posting to ask if there has been any fix for this issue?

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-05-28T03:18:42+00:00

    I am having the same problem now with my computer. 

    I have a Dell Inspiron 15, 3000 series, with AMD A8 and Radeon 5 drivers on Win 10, 64bit. I decided to update my AMD drivers to see if this would fix graphical issues I was having with a game, and now my display freezes for a fraction of a second every few seconds, making my mouse lag and causing other annoying micro graphical issues. 

    Not tech-savvy and don't want to go fudging up my computer before receiving advice. Any thoughts?

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