BSOD 0x133 (DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION) during Genshin Impact - MSI Katana 15 B12VGK (RTX 4060 Laptop)

Question

Laptop Specifications

Model: MSI Katana 15 B12VGK

Processor: 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12650H (2.30 GHz)

RAM: 32.0 GB DDR5

Dedicated GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8 GB VRAM)

Integrated GPU: Intel(R) UHD Graphics

• Storage: Internal 512 GB NVMe SSD

OS: Windows 11 Home 64-bit (Version 25H2, Build 26200.8655)

Problem Description

While running Genshin Impact, the system freezes completely after a few minutes of gameplay:

Symptoms: The screen freezes on a static image, game/background audio continues playing for 10–30 seconds, the mouse becomes unresponsive, and the laptop automatically restarts or requires a forced power off.

• Previous vs. Current Behavior: Initially, the system displayed the black screen showing "Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart" before rebooting. Currently, the freeze leads directly to a black screen or an immediate reboot without rendering the BSOD UI.

Confirmed Error Code:

Bugcheck 0x133 — DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION (P1: 133).

  `WER / Application 1001` events logging memory dumps at `Minidump\081926-19984-01.dmp`.
  
     Repeated driver timeout events pointing to `nvlddmkm.sys`.
     

Troubleshooting & Attempted Solutions (Unsuccessful)

Storage Isolation Test:

Test: Reinstalled/moved the game from an external SD card/USB drive directly to the internal NVMe SSD.

  _Result:_ The exact same freeze and crash persisted, ruling out the SD reader or external drive.
  
  __PCIe Link State Power Management Adjustment:__
  
     _Test:_ Changed _PCI Express -> Link State Power Management_ to __Off__ (for both On Battery and Plugged In) via `powercfg.cpl` to prevent the PCIe bus from entering low-power states.
     
        _Result:_ No change; the crash occurred on schedule.
        
        __Manufacturer Software Isolation (MSI Center):__
        
           _Test:_ Tested the game after completely stopping `MSI_Center_Service` and `MSI Sendevsvc`.
           
              _Result:_ System froze identically, ruling out MSI Center service overhead as the direct cause of the Watchdog timeout.
              

1. Clean Driver Reinstallation via DDU in Safe Mode:

Test: Performed a complete driver purge using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode while disconnected from the internet.

Driver Tested: Installed the official factory-certified OEM driver provided on the MSI support page (528.92 / Driver Version 31.0.15.2892).

• Result: Upon rebooting and launching the game, the system froze and rebooted with the exact same symptoms.

  Laptop Specifications

- __Model:__ MSI Katana 15 B12VGK

- __Processor:__ 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12650H (2.30 GHz)

- __RAM:__ 32.0 GB DDR5

- __Dedicated GPU:__ NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8 GB VRAM)

- __Integrated GPU:__ Intel(R) UHD Graphics

- __Storage:__ Internal 512 GB NVMe SSD (350 GB used)

- __OS:__ Windows 11 Home 64-bit (Version 25H2, Build 26200.8655)

 ### __Problem Description__

 While running _Genshin Impact_, the system freezes completely after a few minutes of gameplay:
 
- __Symptoms:__ The screen freezes on a static image, game/background audio continues playing for 10–30 seconds, the mouse becomes unresponsive, and the laptop automatically restarts or requires a forced power off.

- __Previous vs. Current Behavior:__ Initially, the system displayed the blue screen showing _"Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart"_ before rebooting. Currently, the freeze leads directly to a black screen or an immediate reboot without rendering the BSOD UI.

- __Confirmed Error Code:__

  - `Bugcheck 0x133 — DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION` (`P1: 133`).
  
  - `WER / Application 1001` events logging memory dumps at `Minidump\081926-19984-01.dmp`.
  
  - Repeated driver timeout events pointing to `nvlddmkm.sys`.
  
 ### __Troubleshooting & Attempted Solutions (Unsuccessful)__

1. __Storage Isolation Test:__

     - _Test:_ Reinstalled/moved the game from an external SD card/USB drive directly to the internal NVMe SSD.
     
     - _Result:_ The exact same freeze and crash persisted, ruling out the SD reader or external drive.
     
1. __PCIe Link State Power Management Adjustment:__

     - _Test:_ Changed _PCI Express -> Link State Power Management_ to __Off__ (for both On Battery and Plugged In) via `powercfg.cpl` to prevent the PCIe bus from entering low-power states.
     
     - _Result:_ No change; the crash occurred on schedule.
     
1. __Manufacturer Software Isolation (MSI Center):__

     - _Test:_ Tested the game after completely stopping `MSI_Center_Service` and `MSI Sendevsvc`.
     
     - _Result:_ System froze identically, ruling out MSI Center service overhead as the direct cause of the Watchdog timeout.
     
1. __Clean Driver Reinstallation via DDU in Safe Mode:__

     - _Test:_ Performed a complete driver purge using __Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU)__ in Safe Mode while disconnected from the internet.
     
     - _Driver Tested:_ Installed the official factory-certified OEM driver provided on the MSI support page (`528.92` / Driver Version `31.0.15.2892`).
     
     - _Result:_ Upon rebooting and launching the game, the system froze and rebooted with the exact same symptoms.
     

Answer 1

Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

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Please share the minidump files.

These files are in C:\Windows\Minidump.

Copy any files you have to your desktop and store them in a ZIP file. Then, upload the ZIP file to the cloud (OneDrive), choose to share it, and get the link.

Then, post the link to the ZIP file here so I can have a look.

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Looking forward to your reply.