VIDEO_SHADOW_DRIVER_FATAL_ERROR
What is this error?
The GPU shadow driver (miniport) encountered a fatal error. This is a low-level GPU driver crash in the display miniport driver.
Common causes
- GPU driver bug
- GPU hardware error
- driver conflict
- corrupted driver installation
- Windows update breaking driver compatibility
How to fix it
- DDU clean install GPU driver
- try older driver version
- check for Windows update conflicts
Too many steps? Crashless can diagnose this automatically — checks your drivers, temps, VRAM, and 400+ known error patterns.
Get free AI diagnosis Detailed analysis
Bug check 0x00000114 (VIDEO_SHADOW_DRIVER_FATAL_ERROR) is a low-level GPU driver crash. The display miniport driver (the core GPU driver component) hit a fatal error.
This is more severe than a TDR — the driver crashed so badly that a blue screen was necessary.
How to fix it:
- DDU clean install of GPU driver — boot into Safe Mode, run DDU, install the latest stable driver from NVIDIA or AMD
- If the crash started after a driver update, try the previous driver version from the manufacturer's archive
- Check for recent Windows updates that might conflict — try uninstalling the latest Windows update
- Reset GPU settings to defaults (NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D Settings > Restore Defaults)
- Reseat the GPU physically — remove and reinsert the graphics card
- Check PCIe power connections
- If the crash persists across multiple driver versions, test the GPU in another system — it may be a hardware failure
- Run 'sfc /scannow' to ensure system files aren't corrupted
When to seek help
If this error keeps happening after trying the fixes above, it may point to a deeper hardware or system issue. Consider professional help if:
- The crash occurs across multiple games or applications
- You see the same error after a clean Windows install
- Your PC is less than a year old (could be a warranty issue)
- You smell burning or hear unusual sounds from your PC
Or let Crashless do the deep analysis for you -- our AI checks drivers, temps, event logs, and 400+ known patterns automatically.
Chat with AI about VIDEO_SHADOW_DRIVER_FATAL_ERROR
Describe your setup and get a personalized diagnosis in seconds. Free, no signup needed.
Get AI diagnosis Chat with AI about this error
Describe your setup and what you were doing when the crash happened. Our AI checks against 400+ known crash patterns — free, no download needed.
Let Crashless handle it
The desktop app scans your drivers, temps, VRAM, event logs, and 400+ known patterns — then walks you through the fix step by step.
