Screen goes black, turns off/ on by itself "Display driver stopped working nvlddmkm

This is a continuation of a problem I am having. As I am using the computer, the screen turns off and back on again with only the cursor visible then it turns to my normal screen with "Display driver stopped working and has recovered driver nvlddmkm", it then immediately lags, freezes and the screen goes black again. Driver won't update when I try, says update failed. Vista says it is up to date.

Problem info and etc

Product
Windows

Problem
Video hardware error

Description
A problem with your video hardware caused Windows to stop working correctly.

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: LiveKernelEvent
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 4105

Files that help describe the problem
WD-20110211-0136.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt

Extra information about the problem
BCCode: 117
BCP1: 86EEB3E8
BCP2: 8F014EB0
BCP3: 00000000
BCP4: 00000000
OS Version: 6_0_6001
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 768_1

driver version 7.15.11.6960 driver date: 10/01/2008

Computer info:
HP AMD Phemon(tm) quad-core processor 2.20Ghz 3 gb 32 bit OS, 640 gig hard drive, processor 9500,
Nvidia GeForce 8500 GT graphics card
Vista home premium

Scanned with MalwareBytes, Superantispyware, AVG, etc I do not think it is a problem with a virus? No hiccups or noise from the computer when it freezes and goes black.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Re: Screen goes black, turns off/ on by itself "Display driver stopped working nvlddm

Go to the Nvidia site and DL and install the latest graphics driver for your version of Windows (you don't say what version you are using so I can't provide an exact link).

 

Re: Screen goes black, turns off/ on by itself "Display driver stopped working nvlddm

The info I list is Nvidia GeForce 8500 GT and when I try to update the driver it says the update failed every time.

 

Re: Screen goes black, turns off/ on by itself "Display driver stopped working nvlddm

just to make sure, are you using the latest version, 266.58?
when running the setup, select custom, and then select the box, clean install. It will remove any preferences you have saved, but might help.