Nvidia’s latest driver, version 572.83, released on March 18, has stirred quite a commotion among users of Windows 11 and Windows 10. Reports indicate that this update is causing unexpected black screens during installation, after rebooting, and even while gaming. While driver updates are not mandatory like Windows updates, many users opt to install them in hopes of enhanced gaming performance and crucial fixes.
According to the official release notes, the 572.83 driver was intended to address specific issues, including:
- A bug affecting the RTX 5080 and 5090 graphics cards, which may not perform at full capacity when the system is overclocked.
Ironically, despite the update’s promise to fix black screen issues with the GeForce RTX 50 series, it appears that the solution fell short. Testing and user reports suggest that the black screen problem is particularly prevalent among newer 50-series GPUs, such as the 5070 Ti, 5080, and 5090, while also impacting many users with 40-series cards.
Nvidia driver 572.83 causes a black screen with a cursor on Windows 11
The manifestation of the black screen varies among users. Some experience it during the driver installation, while others encounter it post-reboot. One user recounted their experience: “The monitor suddenly goes dark and never recovers. I waited several minutes, but the screen stayed black. The only way to continue was by forcing a system reboot via the power button.”
This sentiment is echoed across various online forums, with numerous users sharing similar frustrations. One Reddit user stated, “4090 here, same issue. Black screen during driver update. Waited and waited, had to force restart—never had any of those issues in the past.” Another noted, “Driver 572.83 install is running, then black screen and PC freeze. Power reset, PC loads fine, Nvidia app showing drivers installed. It does make me nervous that something didn’t install correctly.”
Even for those who manage to install the driver successfully, a black screen may appear after a routine reboot. Reports indicate that users with GPUs from the 50-series, 40-series, and even some older 30-series cards are affected.
Blue Screen of Death and other issues
In addition to the black screen dilemma, isolated reports of the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) have surfaced following the driver update, though these occurrences seem less common. The error message “DRIVERIRQLNOTLESSOR_EQUAL” points to the nvlddmkm.sys file, associated with the NVIDIA driver, suggesting that the fault lies with the driver rather than the Windows operating system.
In some instances, the driver update has led to more severe issues, such as random white lines appearing on the screen and crashing the entire Windows 11 installation. The root cause of these problems remains unclear. Initial speculation linked the issues to DisplayPort handshake problems at certain refresh rates, particularly with monitors operating at 144 Hz, 165 Hz, or 240 Hz. However, this theory has not been conclusively proven. Additionally, some users have reported blackouts when G-Sync HDR and VRR are enabled.
What can you do if you get stuck on a black screen with a cursor after driver updates?
If you find yourself facing black screens or system crashes on Windows 11 or 10, reverting to a previous stable driver version, such as 566.36, is advisable. Alternatively, if you prefer to keep the Nvidia GeForce 572.83 driver, consider trying the following workarounds, which have proven effective for some:
- Disable G-Sync or Frame Generation in your games, and consider turning off overlays from applications like Discord, NVIDIA in-game, and MSI Afterburner.
- Lower your refresh rate to 144 Hz or below.
For those who have yet to experience these issues and are using an older driver version, it may be wise to hold off on updating to the latest GeForce Game Ready drivers until Nvidia provides an official statement addressing these concerns.
