Hi JB,

My husband and I spent 29 days of HE-L getting the nvlddmkm message and
watching the games crash. Unfortunately, we installed Vista and NVidia at the
same time. After all the frustration of trying to download updates, talking
to thousands who had this problem, this is what we found and how we fixed our
computer:

1.  NVidia is not compatible with Vista at this time. They are working on
drivers. The more updates Windows installed, the worse the problem got. We
changed our Windows Update settings so that we can pick and chose them,
rather than have all the new ones installed. It only further confuses the
problem.
2.  In order to run games, movies, etc. with Vista you MUST have at least
1-2 gb of RAM for anything to run and not stall out on you... no black
screens.

It's worth the money to get as much RAM as you can. We were told that unless
you have the RAM, the programs constantly "borrow" from each other when
things are running. It even makes our screens look nicer. If you're running
NVidia, take it back to the store and get VisionTek X1550. It's awesome!! If
the store gives you problems, tell them you KNOW NVidia won't work with Vista.

Hope this helps,
Sarah

Hello JB.

This is probably caused by a bug in the nVidia graphics drivers.  It is
certainly disappointing that HP choose to sell a product with such a blatant
flaw.

However I suspect the drivers on your machine are at least a couple of
months behind the latest release.  So I'd recommend heading over to:

http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

And downloading the latest graphics drivers, if you're not sure what model
card you have (GeForce 8 series for example) if you follow the directions on
this webpage:

http://www.windowsresource.net/vista/guides/hardware.php

There's a walkthrough on how to get up all your computers hardware details.

You're probably running Windows Vista 32-bit so select that in the final box
and download the driver.  Once its downloaded try installing it and seeing
if that clears the problem up.

I have tested both ATI and Nvidia and they have both the same problem and I
have that problem that you have right now, AND the problem is the VISTA not
the Nvidia or ATI, the problem is that nvlddmkm.sys is old in the VISTA(if
your use Nvidia graficcard then it´s nvlddmkm.sys that will install when you
install VISTA and it´s from 2006 somthing)that need to replace with the new
one.... and here comes problem number two.... I have tested to delete and
even replace the old nvlddmkm.sys with the new one but it seems that even if
I´m log in as admin i dont have authority not even when i´m in safemode and
disconnected the UAC............
SO i hope that Microsoft do something that fix that problem and fast,
because you go crazy everytime it happens, i can have it every hour,
everytime i play a game or when i watch a movie....
SO VISTA = NO FUN.......

Ok since none of the other responders EVEN REMOTELY addressed you question, I
will attempt to answer with what I know.  I have vista Ultimate x64.  I began
having the same error when playing BF2142.  I was losing my mind trying to
figure out what was causing it, and pretty much went through every LAME
"sollution" found on the web.  It has been about 5 mos, and five nvidia
driver versions later, and guess what...I still get it from time to time.  I
am pretty sure that Microsoft (who promised a gaming OS) could care less, I
know for sure that Nvidia could care less, and I am absolutely convinced that
there is not ONE complete sollution for this problem.  

What has helped my system, however, is to turn down my RAM settings to cool
my chipset.  I am currently running an E6420 core 2 duo on an Asus P5N32-E
Sli with 4 GB of DDr2-800 RAM, and an 8800 GT ACS3.  The other thing that has
become a catch 22 is that I cannot run any 3rd party vendor software like
Rivatuner 2.4 because of the driver signing issue with vista.  Therefore, I
can not increase my fan speeds to help cool my chipset which is overheating
because I can't cool it with Rivatuner.  VISCIOUS CYCLE brought on by
MICROSOFT controlling everything we do on OUR systems, and 3rd party vendors
not getting their software signed to run on microsoft vista OS'es.  

Basically people, we are getting screwed by microsoft and all the other
software manufacturers.  I have a creative SB audigy2 ZS gamer that STILL
does not have FULL drivers for Vista x64.  iTunes WILL NOT work with Vista
x64 and I just bought an iPhone.  In order to use an iPhone, you have to use
iTunes.  SEE MY FRUSTRATIONS????!!!!!!  I have sent requested to Microsoft,
Creative, Nvidia, Asus, and Intel.  Noone, after all this time since Vista
released, has done anything to correct these issues.  

Basically, everyone that bought Vista to game on is going to have major
problems.  Everyone that bought Vista x64 is going to have MASSIVE MAJOR
PROBLEMS!  Especially until SP1 and SP2 are released.  ERRRRRR!!!!!  

BG if you are listening, which I highly doubt, WHY DON'T YOU DO WHAT YOUR
COMPANY PROMISED!  You have billions, most of us barely survive and we spend
a ton of money on your products that are VERY expensive.  The least you can
do is MAKE THEM WORK.