Windows 10: dwm.exe errors with KERNELBASE.dll leading to black screen crashes

Hello,I have been having persisting problems with both screens blacking out and being unable to input any command with any input device. This forces me to have to reboot manually to use the PC again. They seem to be happening randomly, although more often while gaming. In the event viewer, before the crash event there are multiple repeating dwm.exe errors:"Faulting application name: dwm.exe, version: 10.0.19041.4355, time stamp: 0x6564cf4eFaulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll, version: 10.0.19041.4648, time stamp: 0

:)

 

What is causing dwm to crash?

Hello, matt__thomas

Thanks for posting your report here.

Based on the information provided in the crash log, the crash of dwm (Desktop Window Manager) is caused by an exception with the error code 8898008d. The error message states: "No HW rendering device is available for this operation." This suggests that the crash is related to a problem with the hardware rendering device, which is responsible for rendering graphics on the screen.

If we need to dig deeper into this issue, can you please share additional information such as:

1. What rendering software is currently running before the crash occurs? If it is rendering software, can you describe the name of this software.
   
2. As of now, can you share the hardware information of the current PC? For example, the hardware of your GPU/CPU/RAM/motherboard. The version of Windows 11(Press Windows+R to call run window > Type winver.exe > then take a screenshot of version and attach it here.)
   

From the log analysis results, the following are some possible causes:

1. Graphics driver issues: The crash may occur due to outdated or incompatible graphics drivers. It's recommended to update your graphics drivers to the latest version compatible with your system. Assuming that the latest driver has been installed before and caused dwm.exe to crash, please try to Roll back driver version.
   
2. System resource limitations: Insufficient system resources, such as memory (RAM) or GPU memory, could cause dwm to crash. Ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements for running graphics-intensive applications and consider closing unnecessary programs or upgrading your hardware if needed.
   

In this regard, factors that may need to be considered include software issues and hardware issues, such as:

• Graphics hardware problems: There could be an issue with the graphics hardware itself, such as a malfunctioning GPU or insufficient hardware resources. In such cases, troubleshooting or replacing the graphics hardware may be necessary.
  
• Conflicting software: Certain software applications or utilities installed on the system could interfere with the operation of dwm, causing it to crash. Try to identify any recently installed software or updates and uninstall them to see if the issue is resolved.
  

The following are some discussions about the dwm.exe program in the Microsoft Learn community. Some users have solved the problem by re-plugging the graphics card, replacing the PSU, and removing the PCIe cable or USB-C device. You can try them one by one. and see if these steps work for your situation.

DWM Crashing randomly causing Black Screen - Microsoft Q&A

If the problem persists, you can also try to upload the newly generated dump file to the your cloud drive and post the link here to share with me, which will help us discuss how to proceed next.

Best regards,



Chandy |Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

DWM crash (black screen on login) in shcore.dll on every Samsung NP300

None of this help. DWM keep occasionally crashing before login with permanent black screen (until next successful boot).

Drivers are all up-to-date.

 

Black screen error

Hello,

There are several reasons why you are facing a black screen issue. One of these is due to outdated or incorrect device drivers. For us to figure out what's causing this, provide more details by answering the listed questions:

• Can you confirm to us if you are using a laptop or a computer?
• Have you made any recent changes to your device prior to this happening?
• What exactly were you doing when the error occurred?
• Have you tried any troubleshooting steps to resolve this? If yes, specify all of the steps that you have done.

As an initial part of troubleshooting, we suggest following the steps given on this article:

Troubleshoot black screen or blank screen errors. This will help you diagnose and rectify most of the known black screen concerns.

We will wait for your response.