How to Disable TDR (Timeout Detection and Recovery) in Windows 7 and Vista

Windows 7 Error:

 Windows Vista Error:

I have been very annoyed with my screen freezing and displaying an error message that says, "Display driver stopped responding and has recovered."  After months of research I found a fix, it was to change the visual settings so that they were on the lowest.  But I love Window 7's Visual effects like Aero, and Aero Snap.  So I did some more research and found a fix.  I hope this helps you as much as it helped me.

About Timeout Detection and Recovery a.k.a. TDR
Timeout Detection and Recovery is a part of the Windows OS that recovers your graphics driver when it runs a a very low FPS.  This keeps Windows from freezing due to display driver issues.

How to Disable TDR/Fix Display driver stopped responding and has recovered


For Windows Vista:
1) open your vista registry editor
2) go to the key : HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\
3) highlight it then right click on this key
4) Add DWORD TdrDelay
5) Set value of TdrDelay to the number of seconds you allow your GPU to run with no feedback to the system (ie Timeout watchdog..)

For Windows 7:

Radical Solution  Stop TDR-detection and you should not have any resets of your graphics subsystem anymore

1)  Start 'regedit' from command-line
2)  Go to:  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Con trol\GraphicsDrivers
3)  Right click 'new' dword
4)  Enter name: "TdrLevel"
5)  Double click
6)  Enter value: "TdrLevelOff"



Alternative  Increase TDR-Timeout-value to 5 seconds(max possible) from hidden defaultvalue 2 sec
1)  Start 'regedit'
2)  Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Con trol\GraphicsDrivers

3)  Right click 'new' dword

4)  Enter name: "TdrDelay"

5)  Double click 

6)  Enter hex-value: "00000005"

Another fix is to use Modified Drivers from http://www.tweakforce.com/.   I have used them and they seem to work pretty well.

If you are trying to uninstall your Nvidia drivers, visit http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/ and download their Driver Sweeper.

For more information and registry-settings just visit:  http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/display/wddm_timeout.mspx