Section 1: Update the Video Driver
One of the first steps you should take when troubleshooting a video driver crash is to update the driver. Outdated drivers can often cause compatibility issues and instability. Here's how you can update your video driver:
1. Right-click on the Start menu and select "Device Manager".
2. In the Device Manager window, locate and expand "Display Adapters".
3. Right-click on your video driver and select "Update Driver".
4. You will be given two options: "Search automatically for updated driver software" or "Browse my computer for driver software". Choose the first option to let Windows search for the latest driver automatically.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
Section 2: Re-install the Video Driver
If updating the driver didn't fix the issue, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the video driver. This can help resolve any conflicts or corruption that may be causing the crash. Here's how you can do it:
1. Go back to Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting "Device Manager".
2. Locate and expand "Display Adapters".
3. Right-click on your video driver and select "Uninstall".
4. Confirm the uninstallation and then restart your computer.
5. Visit the manufacturer's website to download and install the latest version of the video driver.
6. Follow the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Section 3: Use Smart Driver Care Utility Tool
If updating or reinstalling the video driver manually doesn't work, you can try using a driver utility tool like Smart Driver Care. This tool scans your computer for outdated or missing drivers and helps you update them with ease. Here's how you can use it:
1. Install Smart Driver Care Utility Tool on your computer from a trusted source.
2. Launch the tool and let it scan your system for outdated or missing drivers.
3. Once the scan is complete, review the results and identify any video drivers that need updating.
4. Follow the prompts provided by the tool to update the identified video drivers.
5. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
Section 4: Adjust Launch Options for Specific Games (e.g., Ark: Survival Evolved)
Sometimes, video driver crashes can be specific to certain games. In such cases, adjusting the launch options for the game can help reduce the burden on your PC and prevent crashes. Here's how you can adjust launch options for a specific game like Ark: Survival Evolved on Steam:
1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on the game experiencing issues (e.g., Ark: Survival Evolved) and select "Properties".
3. In the Properties window, click on the "General" tab.
4. Click on "Set Launch Options".
5. Research specific launch options for your game and enter them in the provided text box. These options can vary depending on the game and the issue you're facing. Some common launch options for reducing PC burden include "-novid" to skip the intro video, "-high" to set the game's priority to high, and "-windowed" to run the game in windowed mode.
6. Save your changes and try launching the game again.
By following these steps, you should be able to fix video driver crashes effectively. Remember, keeping your drivers up-to-date is crucial for optimal performance. If you encounter any further issues, consider seeking additional support from the manufacturer or relevant forums. Happy gaming!