Crash/Freeze CS2

NVIDIA Error Code 43 - CS2 Graphics Driver Crash Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 41 ⚡ Severity: 🟡 Medium

🎯 Quick Answer

Perform a clean installation of the NVIDIA graphics driver using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Windows Safe Mode to resolve the driver state mismatch causing error code 43.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The NVIDIA error code 43 is a Windows Device Manager status indicating the operating system has stopped the graphics hardware due to a reported problem. In the context of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), this error manifests as a critical graphics driver crash, forcing an application termination. This issue is specific to the Windows platform, affecting versions 10 and 11. The problem correlates with CS2 updates, with a notable increase in occurrences following the February 01, 2026 game patch. This is a common issue with high severity, as it is game-breaking and prevents application execution. The exact error message presented is "Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)" within the Device Manager properties for the NVIDIA display adapter. The crash is often accompanied by a Windows notification stating the display driver failed and has recovered.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application terminates during the initial loading sequence or immediately upon reaching the main menu. A black screen persists after the Valve intro video plays. Severe frame rate degradation occurs for 2-3 seconds prior to application closure. The Windows Device Manager displays a yellow exclamation mark on the display adapter with the status code 43. The Windows Reliability Monitor logs a critical "LiveKernelEvent" code 141 or 117, indicating a video hardware fault. The Windows Event Viewer System log contains an Error from source "nvlddmkm" with Event ID 0 or 14, detailing a timeout detection and recovery (TDR) failure.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Incomplete or corrupted NVIDIA driver installation where registry entries, driver files, and the NVIDIA Control Panel are in an inconsistent state. This causes the Windows Driver Foundation (WDF) to fail driver initialization for CS2's Vulkan renderer. Why this causes the problem: The driver fails to load correctly, triggering Windows device failure protocols and generating error code 43. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: An incorrect or overly aggressive Windows Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) delay value in the registry. The default delay is insufficient for CS2's shader compilation, causing Windows to falsely flag the GPU as unresponsive. Why this causes the problem: The system preemptively resets the graphics driver, interpreting legitimate processing time as a hardware hang. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: Insufficient or unstable power delivery from the Power Supply Unit (PSU) to the GPU under load. CS2's load transitions can cause voltage droop that triggers GPU protective shutdowns. Why this causes the problem: The GPU reports a power fault to the driver, which then reports a hardware failure to Windows, resulting in code 43. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Outdated or incompatible motherboard UEFI/BIOS firmware, particularly related to the PCI Express root port settings and Resizable BAR (ReBAR) support. Why this causes the problem: The firmware-level communication protocol between the CPU and GPU is faulty, causing data corruption that the driver interprets as a fatal error. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Third-party software hooking into the graphics pipeline conflicts with CS2's anti-cheat (VAC) or the NVIDIA driver. Common conflicts originate from RGB control software (MSI Afterburner, iCUE), screen recorders, or overlay applications (Discord, Xbox Game Bar). Why this causes the problem: Multiple software layers attempt to control the same GPU resources simultaneously, causing a deadlock and driver timeout. Category: Game Bug Specific technical explanation: A fault in CS2's video configuration files (video.txt, videodefaults.txt) specifying an invalid display mode, refresh rate, or resolution that exceeds the driver's validated capabilities. Why this causes the problem: The driver receives an illegal command stream from the application, forcing a protective stop and error reporting. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: The GPU is operating in a PCIe slot that does not provide adequate electrical bandwidth (e.g., running at x4 instead of x16) due to motherboard layout or BIOS settings. Why this causes the problem: Data throughput bottlenecks cause command buffer overflows, which the driver logs as a hardware communication failure.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Clean Graphics Driver Installation

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 20 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Administrator access, internet connection to download drivers. Steps:

Download the latest NVIDIA Game Ready Driver from the official website and save it to C:\Drivers.
Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from www.wagnardsoft.com and extract it to C:\DDU.
Restart the Windows system and press F8 during boot to access Advanced Startup Options. Select "Safe Mode with Networking."
Navigate to C:\DDU and execute Display Driver Uninstaller.exe.
In DDU, select "NVIDIA" from the device type dropdown. Click "Clean and restart."
After the system reboots normally, navigate to C:\Drivers and execute the downloaded NVIDIA driver installer.
During installation, select "Custom installation" and check "Perform a clean installation." Complete the installation and restart.

Technical Explanation: This process removes all residual driver files, registry entries, and configuration data, allowing a pristine driver state. A clean installation eliminates conflicts between driver components and ensures correct registration with the Windows Driver Store. Verification: Open Device Manager, expand "Display adapters," right-click the NVIDIA GPU, and select "Properties." The Device status must read "This device is working properly." Launch CS2 and observe stable operation through the main menu.

Solution 2: Adjust Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) Registry Values

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access. Steps:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers.
Right-click in the right pane, select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it TdrDelay.
Double-click the new TdrDelay value, set the Base to "Decimal," and enter a value of 10.
Create another DWORD (32-bit) Value named TdrDdiDelay. Set its Decimal value to 10.
Close the Registry Editor and restart the computer.

Technical Explanation: This increases the delay before Windows resets the GPU from the default 2 seconds to 10 seconds. The extended timeout accommodates CS2's intensive shader compilation and asset loading phases, preventing false-positive hardware hang detection. Verification: After restart, confirm the registry values persist. Monitor CS2 startup; the initial loading stall should complete without a crash. Check for the absence of "nvlddmkm" Event ID 14 errors in Windows Event Viewer.

Solution 3: Disable GPU Overclocking and Third-Party Control Software

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None. Steps:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Navigate to the "Startup" tab. Disable any entries for MSI Afterburner, EVGA Precision, ASUS GPU Tweak, iCUE, Corsair Link, NZXT CAM, or other hardware monitoring/control software.
Restart the computer.
If using NVIDIA's performance tuning, open NVIDIA Control Panel. Under "Help" in the menu bar, select "Debug mode." This applies default clocks.
Launch CS2 without opening any other overlay or monitoring application.

Technical Explanation: Third-party software often injects custom DirectX or Vulkan hooks to monitor data. These hooks conflict with CS2's own rendering calls and NVIDIA's driver scheduler, causing deadlocks that trigger a TDR event and error code 43. Verification: CS2 launches successfully. Confirm the absence of third-party process names in Task Manager's "Processes" tab during gameplay.

Solution 4: Reset CS2 Video Configuration and Launch Options

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: None. Steps:

Navigate to the CS2 configuration directory at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\[Your Steam ID]\730\local\cfg.
Rename the file video.txt to video.txt.backup.
Rename the file videodefaults.txt to videodefaults.txt.backup.
Open Steam, right-click "Counter-Strike 2" in your library, and select "Properties."
In the "LAUNCH OPTIONS" field, ensure only the following parameters are present: -novid -tickrate 128. Remove any -vulkan, -dx11, -fullscreen, or -w/-h resolution flags.
Launch CS2. The game will generate new default configuration files.

Technical Explanation: Corrupted or invalid settings in the video configuration files can command the driver to initialize an unsupported display mode. Resetting to defaults ensures the driver receives only standard, well-tested command streams. Verification: CS2 launches at the default resolution and graphical settings. Check the newly created video.txt file to confirm it has been regenerated.

Solution 5: Update System Firmware and Configure PCIe Settings

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 15 minutes Prerequisites: Ability to enter motherboard UEFI/BIOS. Steps:

Identify your motherboard model via System Information (msinfo32).
Visit the manufacturer's website and download the latest stable UEFI/BIOS firmware. Update according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Enter the UEFI/BIOS setup utility during system boot (typically via Delete or F2 key).
Locate PCIe settings (often under "Advanced" -> "PCI Subsystem Settings").
Ensure the PCIe slot is set to "Gen3" or "Gen4" (not "Auto") and that the link speed is configured for the maximum lanes (e.g., "x16").
Disable "Resizable BAR" / "Above 4G Decoding" if currently enabled. Save and exit.

Technical Explanation: Outdated firmware can contain bugs in the PCIe ASPM (Active State Power Management) implementation. Forcing a specific PCIe generation and disabling advanced memory addressing features stabilizes the data link between the CPU and GPU, eliminating communication errors. Verification: After booting into Windows, use GPU-Z to verify the "Bus Interface" shows the correct generation and link width (e.g., "PCIe x16 4.0"). Launch CS2 to test for stability.

Solution 6: Perform a System File and Memory Integrity Check

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: Administrator access. Steps:

Press Win + X and select "Windows Terminal (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)."
Execute the System File Checker command: sfc /scannow. Allow the scan to complete and repair files.
Execute the Deployment Image Servicing and Management check: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
To check for memory faults, press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter. Select "Restart now and check for problems."
After the memory diagnostic completes and the system reboots, view results in Event Viewer under Windows Logs -> System, looking for a source named "MemoryDiagnostics-Results."

Technical Explanation: Corrupted Windows system files can damage the DirectX or Vulkan runtime libraries. Faulty system memory (RAM) can corrupt the driver's command buffers in transit, causing the GPU to interpret garbage data as a fatal instruction. Verification: The sfc /scannow command outputs "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations." The memory diagnostic reports "No memory errors were detected."

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain a regular driver update schedule using NVIDIA's official release channel, but delay updates by 48 hours to monitor for widespread issues. Configure Windows Update to exclude driver updates via "Group Policy Editor" or "Advanced System Settings." Establish a stable GPU clock profile without aggressive undervolting or overclocking. Monitor system thermals using HWInfo64 to ensure GPU hotspot temperatures remain below 95°C. Create monthly restore points before major system or game updates. Periodically clean the C:\Windows\Temp and %TEMP% directories to prevent file system clutter.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact NVIDIA or your hardware manufacturer's support if error code 43 persists across multiple driver versions and other graphically intensive applications. Escalate to Steam Support if the error is isolated to CS2 and all above solutions fail. Prepare the following diagnostic information: the CS2 crash log from C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo, the NVIDIA System Information report (from NVIDIA Control Panel -> Help -> System Information), and the minidump file from `C:\Windows