Dell XPS 15 9560 Blue Screens

Hello, 

Perhaps if all contact support and transmit the link of this discussion, DELL make something... or not...

Personnaly, i think seriously my next computer will be a mac...

I do understand the frustration everyone is feeling. However, I would say this particular issue is the only serious one I've had with this XPS since buying it. Yes it is very annoying, but don't be fooled into thinking an Apple MacBook or iMac is going to be better!

I've been using an iMac to develop for the iPhone using Xcode since 2018 and more recently a MacBook Pro 16". The MacBook was supplied by my current employer, which I'm very relieved about as it was £2700 worth of kit (32GB RAM, 512GB SSD etc) which is a a big chunk more than I paid for my XPS 9560 (32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 4K Touch Screen). I would say I was quite disappointed during the unboxing process of the MacBook considering the cost, it didn't impress me as a manufactured product whereas the XPS really did when I bought that! 

Xcode is also a very unreliable IDE which constantly breaks. Having previously used Microsoft Visual Studio for C++ & C#/.NET and Eclipse for Java - both of which were great to use & reliable - using Xcode is a pretty awful development experience. If Xcode itself isn't broken at some point, then the iOS simulators are broken instead. I can't believe how much of my working week is wasted trying to fix some new issue or workaround it.

The MacBook was also a real nuisance to get plugged into anything else since it only has 4 Thunderbolt ports and nothing standard like HDMI or USB. I had to get my employer to also fork out for various cables and adapters before I could use any of my existing keyboards, mice or monitors. It's now a mess of cables & adapters spreading out behind my monitor...

Both the iMac and MacBook have had a multitude of issues. I seem to be forever experiencing some new issue and burning huge amounts of time online trying to research ways to workaround it or fix it. I could list all the problems I've had over several years, but it would be a very long list...

When you do get a Mac issue, it's awful to sort out as you are prevented from doing a lot of things you can do on Windows. macOS security behaviour and related prompts/popups are a nightmare to deal with as an advanced user. It also seems you can't get anything serious done without understanding how to use Terminal and type in some ridiculous command with unhelpful syntax to apply some change or fix. I'm often totally reliant on web forums for someone else to post a command line to change some part of the macOS configuration - and often I have little idea what it's really doing. I really hate this sort of thing. I really don't understand why a supposed 'user friendly' product like the Mac requires typing in a lot of stuff to a Terminal window to get it to work. Why isn't there a simple system dialog with UI to do this sort of stuff? ... I really would not recommend one to friends of family for these reasons.

When it comes to repairing hardware issues on a Mac you are going to be in a world of hurt. The XPS is fairly well designed and easy enough to get into with the correct tools (refer to one of my previous posts about this experience). I was able to replace the thermal paste on the XPS CPU & GPU without too much hassle at all. I've watched YouTube videos on how to try to do something similar on an iMac or MacBook and it's horrifying. I wouldn't even attempt a DIY repair on an Apple product so would be forced to take it to a certified Apple service shop - at some ridiculous cost to myself.

Even with the current issues with my XPS and the GTX 1050 workaround to avoid BSODs, at the end of a working day I am always relieved to come back to my XPS and Windows after a day of fighting with the clunky MacBook and macOS.

FWIW,

Other than this brand new bluescreen issue mine's been super reliable for 4+ years.  Can't ask for more than that.

I've replaced the battery once, and the fingerprint reader once.  That's it, other than a yearly or so de-dusting (and dog hair removal).  Worth noting, that I do all my own repairs; I work in IT by trade (and have fixed pinball machines for years) ... these laptops are super super easy to work on.

I've more than gotten my money's worth out of it.

the BSOD though, it's beyond annoying - it's work destroying.  You lose EVEYRTHING not saved (key phrase, there) when it crashes.

In my opinion Dell should fix it. Fresh install is not a solution when everything works after switching off geforce. It should be last option. Do You know how to get support afer warranty period?

Just an update following my post on 7/5 - two days ago, after a new install of Windows 10, Dell Updates and running Driver Easy to install all latest drivers no further blue screens, the Nvidia/Intel GPU's are working fine with all apps I've thrown at them.  Would suggest you try the same with a fresh install - I used the Dell Recovery tool to do this which backed up files in the user profile folders (I actually cloned the NVME disk to a larger new one first), downloaded a fresh copy of the latest Windows 10, installed the Dell drivers, and then applied latest Microsoft, Nvidia and Intel drivers with Driver Easy Pro.  Doing these same updates on the previous (original) install which had been a previous version of Windows before didn't solve the issue but a fresh O/S install did.

Hi Guys do You if Dell found the issues and fixed it? 

I`m having the same problem and for me helped to switch off Geforce1050 in Device Manager. If I want to play/edit video Im just turning it on and works well since that time. Thus i think it strictly connected with the software. And during loading something wrong happening. Unfortunately mine is after warranty period so i cannot pass the hint to dell. Could You check how it worked for You?

Hi guys, same problems over here with Dell XPS 9560 and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 resulting in Windows blue screens VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR. I work on Adobe graphic suite, mainly Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro. Problems started around may/june. Before that i always had installed all new Nvidia studio drivers along with Intel generic drivers for Intel HD Graphic 630. Before may/june i had no problems at all, since i bought my laptop i was very pleased with its performance and stability. It all ended suddenly with blue screens emerging while working on Adobe software which use CUDA acceleration from Geforce GTX 1050 intensively. I dont play so i dont have experince with games related problems but i can imagine its similar.

I contacted Nvidia support, they proposed uninstalling graphic drivers for both Nvidia and Intel cards using Display Driver Uninstaller in Windows safe mode and later clean installing latest drivers from Dell website for Nvidia and Intel. Tried all that with no joy - still blue screens VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR. After that Nvidia support concluded i should contact Dell support, unfortunately my warranty is over and i didnt try that yet. I ended here looking for more answers. I also tried uninstalling last Windows Updates because i felt it might be problem. It didnt help much. I tried and disconnected external monitor, hard to say - it might decreased blue screens a little bit but definitely didnt get rid of them.

From a lot of testing i ended getting scenario which always ends in VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR in my case:
- i work in Adobe Premiere or Adobe After Effects using CUDA acceleration from GTX 1050
- taking a break for some website reading, calling someone etc (pause around 5-10 min is enough)
- when i return and want to resume working i see my Adobe app preview is freezed, when i try to do anything on app computer suddenly gives VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR

Several conclusions:
1) Getting GTX 1050 CUDA cores under load for some time and than stopping the load for some minutes ends with VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR
2) When i work with no pause all the time - keeping CUDA cores under load i can work without VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR very long (so when i'm going to go to take a break i start rendering or play long preview in Adobe app which keeps GPU under load). It prevents blue screens in most of the cases but results in computer getting crazy hot and fans almost fly away.
3) When i took pause from loading GPU and Adobe app is freezed I just kill it without trying to use it - that sometime prevents VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR before it takes place. After that i can go to Nvidia Control Panel and under Manage 3d settings when i look at one of drop down menu options (where you choose Nvidia GPU or Intel integrated one) there should be available option "Geforce GTX 1050" and instead its just "GPU". It looks like system "lost the card" and can't see it anymore... Thats when i know Geforce stopped working fine and anything i try to do requiring use of this GPU results in VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR. In this situation I can turn off GTX 1050 in Device Manager and turn it back on and in most cases it reappers in Nvidia Control Panel aswell and after a minute or so i can try and use Adobe apps with GTX 1050 CUDA suport again.

Knowing all that nowdays i just try to work everyday with Nvidia card turned off in device manager depending just on Intel integrated one and OpenCL acceleration in Adobe apps. It is slower but only stable option if I want to keep working and getting paid...
Sometimes when i got heavy projects i risk turning Geforce back on with autosave in Adobe apps every 2 minutes...

Is Dell, Microsoft or Nvidia try and do something about that or we are just another batch of forgotten customers who paid once for laptop and now can be swept away under carpet when situation like this occurs?

SOLUTION/FIX/Resolution!!!

My Resolution from the video_dxgkrnl_fatal_error on XPS 15 9560

- I tried everything, vendor updates, windows, drivers, restore points, etc.

- Chrome likes to crash it a lot it seems, but not always and random, usually early in startup or when I need it to stay on for software development.

- Disable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050

  - Device Manager

  - Display adapters

  - Right click NVIDIA and choose disable.

(0 changes to my laptop) I noticed nothing but no blue screen.

- I also went into services as Administrator and disabled the following services and then restarted.

NVIDIA Dispaly Container LS
NVIDIA FrameView SDK service
NVIDIA LocalSystem Container

Enjoy, as I am.  Makes me wonder if I ever needed the NVIDIA. 

Greetings. I have same laptop model and exact same problem - NVIDIA GPU either stops working if not used and then to use it again have to disable device in device manager and then enable it again or it gives out that same BSOD. Driver version does not matter it seems. All troubleshooting software says, that everything is fine with GPU, however. No idea what to do, so I hope it either gets fixed if it's computer firmware related or at least guidance would be offered by Dell, NVIDIA or anyone.

@shblobo How is this a solution if you just disable piece of hardware which suppose to be working. I personally need power of CUDA cores from Nvidia GTX 1050 for my work and that's why i bought this laptop. It's just a temporary "solution" which helps us to wait for real fix.

My "current" attempt at fixing this has been the following :

1) use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to remove both nvidia and intel drivers

2) reinstall Intel driver

3) reinstall Nvidia using, specifically, the 472.12 Studio driver (the crypto miner people like this one, so one would think it is the stable-est to choose from)

Then, I went into nVidia Control Panel and set my graphics heavy apps to specifically use nVidia and not auto-choose (e.g. Illustrator, Photoshop, Vegas, etc)

Fingers crossed .....

Try what I did, along with setting the Power setting in the nvidia control panel to maximum (so it stays active)

Created an account just to say that I've got the same issue and the only way I've managed to stop the crashes is by disabling the GTX 1050 in device manager. I'll try a reinstall later this week but I doubt it will do much. If I had to guess it seems to happen on mine when switching between the iGPU and dedicated.

Just makes me wonder how many of these devices are going into landfill due to something that appears to be a software bug...

Tried that weeks ago, didnt help