Microsoft is working to fix a weird problem that causes the Windows Desktop Manager (DWM) to crash when a user repeatedly opens and closes their laptop.
The issue reportedly affects laptops running any version of Windows 10 and are configured to run at 4K resolution, either through an external monitor or the device’s display.
According to a recent Microsoft support entryThe DWM crash is caused by a bug in the Microsoft DirectX Video Memory Management component and has nothing to do with a hardware problem.
Windows 10 crash
First introduced with Windows Vista, Desktop Windows Manager dictates how a given application displays pixels on the screen.
“When desktop composition is enabled, individual windows are no longer drawn directly on the screen or on the main display device as they were in earlier versions of Windows,” explains the documentation on the Microsoft website.
Instead, his drawing is redirected to off-screen surfaces in video memory, which are then rendered on a desktop image and presented on the screen. “
Simply put, the Windows 10 feature is responsible for enabling visual effects linked to desktop activities and supporting high-resolution viewing, including 4K.
According to members of various online forums, DWM locks can have a variety of different effects, ranging from minor to debilitating.
Some users found that their desktop icons had been reorganized and resized, others were unable to activate Windows Aero themes (which support changing 3D windows, taskbar previews, and transparency), while most Unluckily they got a black screen, which can only be fixed with a reboot.
As demonstrated by two scenarios set by Microsoft, the problem only triggers if multiple specific criteria are met.
Scenario 1:
- Connect an HDMI monitor to a laptop running Windows 10
- The monitor is configured to operate at 4K resolution
- You repeatedly play 4K H264 video on Movies and TV on computer
- In Control Panel, open the Advanced Settings screen for the Power Options item and then set the Close Cap action to Do nothing.
- While 4K video is playing, repeatedly close and open the computer cover
Scenario 2:
- Connect two 4K monitors to a Thunderbolt 3 docking station
- Connect a laptop that has a 4K solution monitor to the docking station, and then configure a triple 4K display setup in “clone” or “extend” mode
- You undock and dock the laptop again
The company is currently working to deliver a patch for the DirectX problem, but has not specified when it might arrive.
