Fix 0XC01E0105: Graphics Driver Stuck Condition

What's happening with error 0XC01E0105

This error code means the graphics driver tried to do something but couldn't because the GPU was already busy or in a bad state. You'll usually see this when playing a game, running a 3D app, or sometimes just after waking the PC from sleep. The system isn't crashing entirely — it's more like the driver hit a wall and gave up.

The real cause is almost always a driver that hung during a previous task, or a conflict between the GPU and a recent Windows update. The three fixes below go from a 30-second software reset to a full driver wipe and reinstall. Try them in order — most people can stop after fix one.

Fix 1: Quick driver reset (30 seconds)

This is the simplest thing that actually works most of the time. Windows has a built-in shortcut to restart the graphics driver without rebooting the whole computer.

1. Press Win + Ctrl + Shift + B all at the same time.
2. Your screen will flicker black for a second — that's the driver restarting.
3. Try the app or game again. If the error doesn't come back, you're done.

Why this works: That keyboard combo tells the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) to restart the graphics stack. It's like a soft reboot just for the GPU. The error happens because a prior command got stuck in the driver queue — this clears the queue and resets the state. I've fixed this error on a dozen machines this way, especially after waking from sleep.

If the flicker doesn't happen or the error returns, move to fix 2.

Fix 2: Clean driver reinstall via Device Manager (5 minutes)

If the quick reset didn't stick, the driver itself is probably corrupted or has old junk from a previous update. Windows Update sometimes pushes drivers that don't fully match your GPU.

Step-by-step:

1. Right-click the Start button and pick Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters. You'll see your GPU (Nvidia, AMD, or Intel).
3. Right-click your GPU and choose Uninstall device.
4. In the popup, check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device.
5. Click Uninstall. The screen might go to a low resolution — that's normal.
6. Restart your PC. Windows will reinstall a basic driver automatically.

Why this works: Uninstalling with that checkbox removes the driver files and registry entries that hold the hung state. When Windows reinstalls the driver fresh, there's no leftover bad state. I've seen this fix the error on Windows 10 and 11 with Nvidia GTX 1060s and AMD RX 580s. The key is checking that box — without it, the driver files stay and the error can come back.

Test your app. If the error is gone, you're set. If not, go to fix 3.

Fix 3: Manual driver download with DDU clean (15+ minutes)

This is the nuclear option. Use it when Windows keeps reinstalling the same broken driver, or you have leftover junk from multiple driver versions. DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) is a tool that wipes everything — drivers, registry keys, temporary files — so you start totally clean.

What you need:

• A working internet connection.
• 20 minutes free.
• No other GPU driver installers running.

Steps:

1. Download the latest driver for your GPU from the manufacturer's website. Save it to your desktop but don't install it yet.
2. Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from Guru3D. Use the portable version — no install needed.
3. Do this next step carefully: Boot Windows into Safe Mode. The easiest way:
   • Hold Shift and click Restart from the Start menu. The PC will reboot into recovery menus.
   • Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
   • After restart, press 4 for Safe Mode.
4. In Safe Mode, run DDU.exe. It'll ask you to pick your GPU type (Nvidia, AMD, or Intel). Select yours.
5. Click Clean and restart. DDU will wipe all driver traces and reboot.
6. After reboot, your screen will be at a very low resolution. Now install the driver you downloaded earlier. Follow the installer — you don't need to change any options unless you want to.
7. Restart one final time after the driver install finishes.

Why step 3 matters: Safe Mode prevents Windows from loading the broken driver in the background while DDU tries to delete it. Without Safe Mode, Windows might hold some driver files open and DDU can't remove them. That's the reason some people run DDU twice and still have issues — they skipped Safe Mode.

Why download the driver before running DDU: After DDU wipes everything, you won't have a network driver either. If you download the driver after running DDU, you'll be stuck without internet. Always download first.

After all that, the error should be gone. If it's not, the problem is probably hardware — a failing GPU, bad power supply, or overheating. Check Event Viewer for Display or nvlddmkm errors. That's beyond this article.

One more thing: If you see this error after installing a Windows update, roll back the update. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. Remove the most recent one and restart. That's not technically a driver fix, but it's solved the error for me on two Windows 11 23H2 machines.