Understanding and Troubleshooting Windows Crash Issues When Using Fullscreen Mode with Duplicated Displays on Windows 11
If you’ve encountered frequent system crashes or restarts when pressing the Windows key during fullscreen gaming sessions with display duplication enabled, you’re not alone. This issue can be particularly frustrating for gamers and professionals who rely on multiple display configurations. In this article, we’ll explore this specific problem, analyze possible causes, and provide steps to troubleshoot and resolve it.
Scenario Overview
Many users report that pressing the Windows key while playing games like Fortnite or FIFA 25 in fullscreen mode, with their display set to “Duplicate,” leads to system instability. The symptoms include:
- Immediate or delayed game crashes.
- Screens turning black or exhibiting unusual colors (e.g., thermal vision effects).
- The game closing unexpectedly.
- Whole PC becoming unresponsive, displaying an “application hang” error.
- In some cases, complete system restarts.
Additionally, some users observe artifacts such as parts of the screen turning black following benchmarking tests or graphics-intensive activities, which can sometimes be temporarily remedied by refreshing or closing affected applications.
Hardware and Configuration Context
The typical hardware setup reporting this issue includes:
- Graphics Card: AMD RX 580 2048SP.
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500.
- Motherboard: SOYO B450.
- Memory: 16GB RAM.
- Power Supply: ASA600W.
Display connections are via both HDMI and DisplayPort, connected to the same monitor.
Software configuration specifics include:
- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro.
- Graphics Driver: AMD Radeon 24.9.1 (driver-only installation, avoiding full Adrenalin suite).
- Display Mode: Fullscreen versus Borderless Windowed.
- Display Mode: Duplicated (mirrored) display versus “PC Screen Only” or extended desktop.
Potential Causes and Analysis
This problem is complex and could stem from several underlying issues:
-
Driver-Related Conflicts:
Even with the latest drivers, issues can persist if certain configurations or driver bugs are present. Driver-only installations tend to be more stable, but inconsistencies can still occur. -
Display Configuration Conflicts:
Using “Duplicate” mode, especially in fullscreen, can sometimes lead to conflicts between the graphics driver and Windows’ display management, causing system hangs or crashes. -
Hardware Limitations or Faults:
Although less likely if temperatures are normal, faulty hardware components
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