Corrupted Windows 11 from using DDU

[dorishuntt]

So I had just installed the newest version of DDU today, version 17.0.5.3

I am running a Windows 11 OS (Pro), with an NVIDIA Gtx 960 (manufactured by EVGA).

I'm using no additional software for OC'ing, but I do use MSI Afterburner to set my own custom fan speed on the card.

I have used DDU multiple times before this with no errors. Also, I have system restore disabled on my OS, with no backups currently. I was running version 378.49 NVIDIA driver, and when I DDU'ed it in safe mode, the computer restarted really slowly and couldn't boot up properly. I was forced to unplug the power, and once it booted up Windows seem to be working very badly: Network connection services do not work (even though I can still connect to my network just fine on my phone and other laptops still), hardware is no longer recognized (E.G doesn't recognize my I5 4690 CPU anymore),

I'm not exactly sure what happened, but all I know is upon running DDU (the clean drivers and restart computer option in safe mode) Windows stopped working properly, and I don't know what to do from here.

[Wagnard]

So I had just installed the newest version of DDU today, version 17.0.5.3

I am running a Windows 11 OS (Pro), with an NVIDIA Gtx 960 (manufactured by EVGA).

I'm using no additional software for OC'ing, but I do use MSI Afterburner to set my own custom fan speed on the card.

I have used DDU multiple times before this with no errors. Also, I have system restore disabled on my OS, with no backups currently. I was running version 378.49 NVIDIA driver, and when I DDU'ed it in safe mode, the computer restarted really slowly and couldn't boot up properly. I was forced to unplug the power, and once it booted up Windows seem to be working very badly: Network connection services do not work (even though I can still connect to my network just fine on my phone and other laptops still), hardware is no longer recognized (E.G doesn't recognize my I5 4690 CPU anymore),

I'm not exactly sure what happened, but all I know is upon running DDU (the clean drivers and restart computer option in safe mode) Windows stopped working properly, and I don't know what to do from here.

Hi,
17.0.5.3 is a super old version of DDU. 18.0.8.1 is the latest at the time of writing this.

Also, DDU always do the same things, it's like a script, so if it was working in the past for you, very weird now it doesn't.
I suspect something else and also the fact that you use this old version there could be bugs.

[besaidaurocks]

Windows 11 Pro (up to date) CPU: 5800x3D rafm 3600mhz ddr4 32GB GPU: Palit 5080

I can say I pretty much same issue, over a span 3 days I used DDU 18.0.9.2 a few time to removed AMD driver and go Nvidia (also remove nvidia and redo) it worked about 4 out of 7 times but for 5,6 and 7 after rebooting from safe mode, I would have the following issues.

1) loading after windows pin was taking minutes vs seconds

2) window load black with only 1 screen working and no task bar, with no networking and any click on start bar or to open file explorer would get end process notification for windows explorer.

3) in process testing I noticed all services were not running as if it was in safe mode and think install or windows update would not run (almost every single service was stopped)

4) doing ms config and trying force normal boot had no effect.

5) when I would attempt certain actions like installing nvidia I would get warning saying windows scheduler service not running. With some things it give error saying this action not available in Safe mode.

6) after 5 minute of windows the task manager or such being open, the explorer would suddenly work my desktop background come back and a lot more windows would work like settings tab (wouldn't do anything before). Before then all clicks would crash explorer only way get the menu was window key.

I did restore to 2 days previous and worked again but nothing else worked at all including restarting services. To me it seemed as windows still stuck in safe mode with core functions restricted but it is clearly not in safe mode.

as a test I restored twice and ran DDU twice more and each time it would corrupt windows. Curiously if I was patient and got cmd to run in this curropt state, SFC /scan now would run and find no corruption. It seems me whatever is keeping services paused or fooling windows programs in thinking they safe mode is the issue. I can be sure that DDU ran from safe mode is the trigger with 100% certainty.

I don't know if this help with more information. It worth noting I have run DDU a lot over last 2 year AMD never issue. Only now with NVIDIA my gut is telling me is weird NVIDIA specific interaction but I do not know what.

[Wagnard]

Windows 11 Pro (up to date) CPU: 5800x3D rafm 3600mhz ddr4 32GB GPU: Palit 5080

I can say I pretty much same issue, over a span 3 days I used DDU 18.0.9.2 a few time to removed AMD driver and go Nvidia (also remove nvidia and redo) it worked about 4 out of 7 times but for 5,6 and 7 after rebooting from safe mode, I would have the following issues.

1) loading after windows pin was taking minutes vs seconds

2) window load black with only 1 screen working and no task bar, with no networking and any click on start bar or to open file explorer would get end process notification for windows explorer.

3) in process testing I noticed all services were not running as if it was in safe mode and think install or windows update would not run (almost every single service was stopped)

4) doing ms config and trying force normal boot had no effect.

5) when I would attempt certain actions like installing nvidia I would get warning saying windows scheduler service not running. With some things it give error saying this action not available in Safe mode.

6) after 5 minute of windows the task manager or such being open, the explorer would suddenly work my desktop background come back and a lot more windows would work like settings tab (wouldn't do anything before). Before then all clicks would crash explorer only way get the menu was window key.

I did restore to 2 days previous and worked again but nothing else worked at all including restarting services. To me it seemed as windows still stuck in safe mode with core functions restricted but it is clearly not in safe mode.

as a test I restored twice and ran DDU twice more and each time it would corrupt windows. Curiously if I was patient and got cmd to run in this curropt state, SFC /scan now would run and find no corruption. It seems me whatever is keeping services paused or fooling windows programs in thinking they safe mode is the issue. I can be sure that DDU ran from safe mode is the trigger with 100% certainty.

I don't know if this help with more information. It worth noting I have run DDU a lot over last 2 year AMD never issue. Only now with NVIDIA my gut is telling me is weird NVIDIA specific interaction but I do not know what.

That is weird and unusual, on my side I do more nvidia usually.
Can you zip the DDU logs folder (located within the ddu directory) and email it at [email protected] so I can see if I see something obvious.

[besaidaurocks]

Hi wagnard,

I have emailed the zipped logs over now the logs from the 04/02/2025 are one that likely to show the issue.