The last issue to detect Windows 10 is a new issue that causes the Desktop Windows Manager (DWM) to stop responding when the lid of a laptop is repeatedly opened and closed, or the laptop is docked and undocked multiple times. As a result, laptops fail unexpectedly.
According to Microsoft Technical Support, “This problem occurs because of a problem in the Microsoft DirectX Video Memory Management component (Dxgmms2.sys).” The documentation also indicates that this is related to a bug in the Microsoft DirectX Video Memory Management software and not a hardware problem.
Under certain circumstances, repeated opening and closing, or docking and undocking of a laptop when combined with external monitors, will cause the Desktop Windows Manager (DWM.exe) process to stop responding.
Desktop Windows Manager is software that supports adding monitors, adjusting the screen for different resolutions, managing visual effects for desktop activities, and managing desktop activity on multiple screens. Errors in this software can lead to everything from incorrectly sized icons to complete system crashes that require a complete reboot.
Microsoft has identified two scenarios that trigger this Desktop Windows Manager error:
Scenario 1
Connect a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) monitor to a laptop running Windows 10.
The monitor is configured to operate at 4K resolution.
Repeatedly play 4K H264 video in Movies & TV on the 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 re-dock the laptop repeatedly.
What to do if it affects you
In either of these situations, switching between monitors and the laptop seems to cause problems in the DWM.exe process.
Microsoft is working on a solution for this problem. In the meantime, the simplest solution is to avoid unnecessary closing or uncoupling of the lid, and restart the system to return to normal operation if a problem is found.
