NVIDIA CTD FIX. 12 Hours no CTD!

I have seen a lot of these posts around 100% CPU load and system freezing but a handful of users are reporting only a CTD (crash to desktop). I played through all the acts before the CTDs started happening in maps. Some users have identified crashes being trigged by certain ability or weapon affects on or off screen.

Mine are specifically triggered on certain maps and always with a lightning arrow AOE trigger. My screen freezes and then crashes to desktop after 2-3 seconds.

Having scoured the forums and internet for answers I have found a few thing to be true. The newest Nvidia drivers are an issue. All users reporting the crash have continued to experience issues on current driver release or after updating to
GeForce Game Ready/Studio Driver Version: 566.36 - Release Date: Thu Dec 05, 2024.

Things I have done: TURN OFF NVIDIA REFLEX AND TEST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. It may be this simple (Untested)

1) Run System File Checker
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command, and press ENTER:

sfc /scannow

RESULTS: Corrupted files found and restored. Played for 2 hours and CTD reoccurred.

2) Check for windows updates

None found.

3) Reinstalled direct X 12.

Result: No Change - CTD after 15 minutes.

4) Game file integrity check.

Result: No corrupt files found.

5) Installed Nvidia Driver Driver Version: 566.36
Result: Same CTD after 15 minutes.

6) Added POE windows Custom graphic options.

Type graphics in search bar. Select System > Display > Graphics > Browse. Find POE in your POE root folder in steam or in the drive you installed it.

POE > Select PathOfExile.exe and "Add" Then choose high performance.

You can skip this if you want but I had added this before changing drivers and without testing for CTD afterwards so I am adding here for the purpose of further community testing. Please try to see if CTD returns after this change. If so proceed with step 7 and 8.

7) Installed GeForce Hotfix Driver Version 566.45 WITH NVIDIA APP as recommended by Unkzz#5820. First launch the game through the Nvidia app. Some users were mentioning that the crash was caused by windows not recognising the game window or something. Not sure of this but it was an extra step I took just in case. Afterwards you can open the game through steam or standalone and set your settings how you like.
Result: No CTD after 3 hours.

8) TURN NVIDIA REFLEX OFF!! Find this in Advanced setting under graphics in game.

My Event viewer error for my CTDs were as follows:

Crash 1

Faulting application name: PathOfExile.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x6760cbdd
Faulting module name: PathOfExile.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x6760cbdd
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0000000000dbf1c5
Faulting process id: 0x0x6374
Faulting application start time: 0x0x1DB5AC4CD24C7D9
Faulting application path: F:\POE2\PathOfExile.exe
Faulting module path: F:\POE2\PathOfExile.exe
Report Id: 4e6429d1-fcfe-4222-8c2b-780b87829500
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:


In additions to the above were a continuous list of warnings and errors relating to Kernel-Event tracing.

Error setting traits on Provider {77811378-e885-4ac2-a580-bc86e4f1bc93}. Error: 0xC0000005

Game input service errors:

The Game Input Service service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 2 time(s). The following corrective action will be taken in 1000 milliseconds: Restart the service.

- <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
- <System>
<Provider Name="Service Control Manager" Guid="{555908d1-a6d7-4695-8e1e-26931d2012f4}" EventSourceName="Service Control Manager" />
<EventID Qualifiers="49152">7031</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8080000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2024-12-30T15:49:30.7800873Z" />
<EventRecordID>206031</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="1708" ThreadID="1520" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>DESKTOP-UGSJTTG</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
- <EventData>
<Data Name="param1">GameInput Service</Data>
<Data Name="param2">2</Data>
<Data Name="param3">1000</Data>
<Data Name="param4">1</Data>
<Data Name="param5">Restart the service</Data>
<Binary>470061006D00650049006E00700075007400200053006500720076006900630065000000</Binary>
</EventData>
</Event>

Also DistributedCOM warning:

The application-specific permission settings do not grant Local Launch permission for the COM Server application with CLSID
Windows.SecurityCenter.WscBrokerManager
and APPID
Unavailable
to the user NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM SID (S-1-5-18) from address LocalHost (Using LRPC) running in the application container Unavailable SID (Unavailable). This security permission can be modified using the Component Services administrative tool.

- <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
- <System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM" Guid="{1B562E86-B7AA-4131-BADC-B6F3A001407E}" EventSourceName="DCOM" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">10016</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>3</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8080000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2024-12-30T15:51:32.8204124Z" />
<EventRecordID>206075</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="2008" ThreadID="2432" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>DESKTOP-UGSJTTG</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
- <EventData>
<Data Name="param1">application-specific</Data>
<Data Name="param2">Local</Data>
<Data Name="param3">Launch</Data>
<Data Name="param4">Windows.SecurityCenter.WscBrokerManager</Data>
<Data Name="param5">Unavailable</Data>
<Data Name="param6">NT AUTHORITY</Data>
<Data Name="param7">SYSTEM</Data>
<Data Name="param8">S-1-5-18</Data>
<Data Name="param9">LocalHost (Using LRPC)</Data>
<Data Name="param10">Unavailable</Data>
<Data Name="param11">Unavailable</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

After installing the GeForce Hotfix Driver Version 566.45 and running the game once through Nvidia app and adding the game under graphics settings in windows I have had 0 problems. I have also checked the event viewer in windows and ALL warnings and errors have stopped. Not one error or warning since installing the hotfix driver. This was interesting to me. I really think this points to a driver issue for the CTDs. Not sure if this will help with the 100% CPU use issue. The start up animation when loading the game is also running more smoothly. not that it matters but was something I noticed.

Can anyone that tries this please leave feedback if it works for you so we can help others.

Many thanks in advance and hope it helps you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!