How to Fix NVIDIA’s ‘nvldumd.dll’ Bad Image Error on Windows

NVLDUMD.DLL is a component of NVIDIA’s graphics driver loader, which is essential for enabling various applications to interact with the GPU for rendering visual elements. It often causes issues when there’s a corrupt driver, an incompatible file, or a conflict with third-party software.

NVLDUMD.DLL Bad Image Error

This DLL file serves as the DirectX DDI and OpenGL ICD driver for NVIDIA’s chips. It acts as an intermediary, allowing both DirectX and OpenGL to utilize hardware acceleration, wrap up API calls, and pass them to the GPUs through the Windows kernel. When a “Bad Image” error occurs, it can crash the application and may result in a black screen.

NOTE: A “Bad Image” error usually appears when an application you’re trying to launch fails to start properly, a system process is interrupted, or if a service has corrupted files.

1) Update or Reinstall Your NVIDIA GPU Drivers

This error might be related to a corrupted driver file, possibly due to third-party interference or an incomplete installation. To address this, you should check for a driver update.

1. Open the NVIDIA app (formerly known as GeForce Experience).
2. On the right-hand side, select Drivers.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. If an update is available, click on Download.

   

5. Once the update is installed, opt for a Custom installation, and select the clean install option for the drivers.

   

If driver updates do not resolve the issue, try reinstalling your drivers. Be sure to use a tool like DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to completely remove older drivers. Appuals has an in-depth guide on cleanly reinstalling NVIDIA drivers on Windows.

2) Check for Corrupted Windows Files

The problem might also be due to corrupted system files. To fix this, you can run the built-in System File Checker (SFC) tool, which can help resolve Windows file issues.

1. Press Windows + X, and select Terminal (Admin).
2. Type sfc /scannow to start the scan.
3. The system will take some time to go through the system files.
4. Once completed, it will notify you of any integrity violations.

3) Perform a System Restore

If the previous solutions don’t work, consider restoring your system to an earlier point. If System Restore is not configured, a clean Windows installation may be necessary.

1. Press Windows + R, and open Run.
2. Type rstrui, and press Enter.

   

3. Click Next, and select a restore point from the list where the error was not present.
4. Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions to initiate the restore process.

4) Clean Install Windows

If you’re unable to use a restore point or encounter issues reverting to a previous version of Windows, a clean reinstallation of Windows might be the best solution. This will eliminate any software conflicts or system glitches.

Before proceeding, ensure all your important data is backed up, as it will be erased during a clean install. Appuals offers an in-depth guide on clean installing Windows 11 and Windows 10, with detailed step-by-step instructions.

NOTE: Before resetting your system, check for any hardware-related issues, such as reseating the GPU and ensuring stable GPU temperatures. You can monitor these using tools like GPU-Z or HWMonitor. Also, verify that all cable connections are properly secured.