I purchased the game 4 days ago and it crashes more than a wreck at a demolition derby. I have follwed every thread I could find in order to rectify the problem but I give up. It took me well over 40 reloads to get through the Wandering in the Dark quest .

I rolled back my Nvidia drivers after using the uninstall tool to 353.62
I disabled GeForce experience
I disabled the GoG Galaxy after loading game
I have ran game at everything from lowest to highest settings
I have disabled anything that I thought could possibly be having an effect
I have tried it in non SLI and SLI mode

Crash reason: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (3221225477), Error reading location 0xa12615a
Crash reason: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (3221225477), Error reading location 0x324a15ac
Crash reason: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (3221225477), Error reading location 0xa12815ac
Crash reason: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (3221225477), Error reading location 0xa16015ac

Crashed Thread:

Thread ID: 10772

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xd544 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xbf4fbd - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xbf3aaf - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xbf0e92 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb9ad05 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>::Prepend() + 0x27422 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>::Prepend() + 0x2719e - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb7bb80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>::Prepend() + 0x235487 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>::Prepend() + 0x23562e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)


And on and on and on.


I am running a Windows 10 Platform Here are System Specs Game installed on my D drive.

SiSoftware Sandra

ID
Computer
Model : GigaByte G1.Sniper
Chassis : GigaByte Desktop
Mainboard : GigaByte G1.Sniper
BIOS : Award (OEM) F1 01/17/2011
Total Memory : 12GB DIMM DDR3

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU X 990 @ 3.47GHz (6C 12T 3.6GHz, 2.66GHz IMC, 6x 256kB L2, 12MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC LGA1366

Chipset
Memory Controller : Gigabyte X58 I/O Hub 2x 3.19GHz (6.38GHz)
Memory Controller : Gigabyte Core Desktop (Gulftown) Uncore 2x 3.19GHz (6.38GHz), 3x 4GB DIMM DDR3 1.33GHz 192-bit

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Corsair CMZ12GX3M31600C9 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-24 5-34-10-5)
Memory Module : Corsair CMZ12GX3M3A1600C9 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-24 5-34-10-5)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : ACR G276HL
(1920x1080, 27.2")
Video Adapter : 2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (7CU 1344SP SM5.0 1.11GHz/1.32GHz, 384kB L2, 3.9GB 6GHz 192-bit, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (1344SP 7C 1.11GHz/1.32GHz, 384kB L2, 2GB 6GHz 192-bit)
OpenCL GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (1344SP 7C 1.11GHz/1.32GHz, 384kB L2, 2GB 6GHz 192-bit)
Compute Shader Processor : 2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (1344SP 7C 1.11GHz/1.32GHz, 384kB L2, 3.9GB 6GHz 192-bit)
CUDA GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (1344SP 7C 1.11GHz/1.32GHz, 384kB L2, 2GB 6GHz 192-bit)
CUDA GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (1344SP 7C 1.11GHz/1.32GHz, 384kB L2, 2GB 6GHz 192-bit)

Storage Devices
OCZ-VERTEX2 3.5 (115GB, SATA300, SSD) : 107GB (C:)
INTEL SSDSC2BW180A4 (180GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD) : 168GB (I:)
WDC WD2001FASS-00W2B0 (2TB, SATA300, 3.5") : 2TB (E:)
WDC WD2001FASS-00W2B0 (2TB, SATA300, 3.5") : 2TB (D:)
HL-DT-ST BDDVDRW CH10LS20 (SATA150, BD-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 4MB Cache) : N/A (F:)
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24NS50 (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (G:)
Disk (267.5MB, DVD+-R, CD-R, 512kB Cache) : 255MB (H:)
Disk (4.1GB, DVD+-R, CD-R, 512kB Cache) : 4GB (J:)

Logical Storage Devices
System Reserved : 100MB (NTFS)
Action (I:) : 168GB (NTFS) @ INTEL SSDSC2BW180A4 (180GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD)
Data and Music (E:) : 2TB (NTFS) @ WDC WD2001FASS-00W2B0 (2TB, SATA300, 3.5")
Games and Apps (D:) : 2TB (NTFS) @ WDC WD2001FASS-00W2B0 (2TB, SATA300, 3.5")
Operating System (C:) : 107GB (NTFS) @ OCZ-VERTEX2 3.5 (115GB, SATA300, SSD)
Hard Disk : 450MB (NTFS)
Optical Drive (F:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST BDDVDRW CH10LS20 (SATA150, BD-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 4MB Cache)
Optical Drive (G:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24NS50 (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
FAMILY_FARM (H:) : 255MB (UDF) @ Disk (267.5MB, DVD+-R, CD-R, 512kB Cache)
T4-EFG (J:) : 4GB (CDFS) @ Disk (4.1GB, DVD+-R, CD-R, 512kB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Gigabyte LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : ITE IT8720F
Audio Device : Gigabyte GK104 HDMI Audio Controller
Audio Codec : nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra [NV40.0]
Audio Device : Gigabyte GK104 HDMI Audio Controller
Audio Codec : nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra [NV40.0]
Disk Controller : Gigabyte 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
Disk Controller : Gigabyte 91xx SATA 6G Controller
Disk Controller : Gigabyte JMB36X PCIE-to-SATAII/IDE RAID Controller
USB Controller 1 : Gigabyte USB UHCI Controller #4
USB Controller 2 : Gigabyte USB UHCI Controller #5
USB Controller 3 : Gigabyte USB UHCI Controller #6
USB Controller 4 : Gigabyte USB EHCI Controller #2
USB Controller 5 : Gigabyte USB UHCI Controller #1
USB Controller 6 : Gigabyte USB UHCI Controller #2
USB Controller 7 : Gigabyte USB UHCI Controller #3
USB Controller 8 : Gigabyte USB EHCI Controller #1
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Something is wrong with your graphics. Whether it is settings (nVidia drivers), GPU or some other software (security software are notorious) interfering with proper operation is unclear, because your callstacks are pointing to "Unknown File". Try disabling all post processing features. Also disable any antivirus, firewall or other system monitor software. Unfortunately you're going to have to do some detective work to pinpoint what's causing the access violations.

Irrelevant. No it doesn't.

Do you run the game trough Steam as a game link?
Do you have any other software which might inject itself into the game? ShadowPlay (that should have gone away after uninstalling Experience), FRAPS, stuff like that?
Have you tried to do a clean driver install? There's an option for that in advanced settings for NVidia driver installation.
Have you verified Witcher 3 trough Galaxy? In Galaxy, click Witcher 3, click the 'More' button -> Manage -> Verify/Repair

I am not running this game through Steam, I have the box GoG set
I do not run FRAPS, I have disabled Experience and have gone through loaded processes in Task Manager and shut down everything not required, even shutting down Razer Cortex, anything NVIDIA in task manager,
I used the driver uninstall tool, Uninstalled the latest Nvidia driver and rolled it back to the one suggested as stated above.
Verified through Galaxy, although it downloaded about 32 mb it stated "no changes applied"

One thing to mention after my last post I went into the Galaxy client settings on bottom and unchecked the box for :In Game Overlay" Game ran fine for about 2 hours (longest ever) before crashing again where Ciri fights the Wyvern at the tower. Now as soon as it reloads that scene it crashes, even if I go back to Geralt where I had it saved just prior to the conversation with the Baron that starts the Ciri cut.

At least I had 2 hours of uninterrupted play.


Edit:

Going through Windows Event Viewer

Numerous Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered.

But I also have this showing up more than once.

Application witcher3.exe has been blocked from accessing Graphics hardware.

Log Name: System
Source: Display
Date: 2016-02-29 1:10:49 AM
Event ID: 4109
Task Category: None
Level: Warning
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer:
Description:
Application witcher3.exe has been blocked from accessing Graphics hardware.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="[url=http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"&gt]http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"&gt[/url];
<System>
<Provider Name="Display" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">4109</EventID>
<Level>3</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2016-02-29T08:10:49.000000000Z" />
<EventRecordID>13752</EventRecordID>
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>r>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>witcher3.exe</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Okay, that reminds me of that time when ...
Download/Install - check if something's overheating in your system (temperatures above 80-90°C, that's like 180-190F)

Not temperature. Running with a Thermaltake level 10 GT case with enough fans to start a hurricane plus liquid cooling. GPU temps rarely push over 80C.

It is related to NVIDIA graphics but I still cannot put a finger on it. I am getting a crash icon in system tray but unable to open it. Back to the drawing board.

80 degrees with good cooling still sounds like quite a lot, but honestly I have no clue what optimal running temperature for 660ti is. Have you tried disabling both cards in turn to find if one them isn't starting to fail? That's how procedural death of my old GPU started - at first I blamed it at Dead Island or something like the as it was the only game in which graphic issues (driver crashing - which by the sounds of it is what's happening to you, computer hard freezing) manifested, but over time it started spilling into other games too.

I think I may finally have it although it will require more testing and my head is pounding. After tweaking everything I could change, removing Razer Cortex, Geforce Experience I finally went to a single card mode (not SLI) and then swapped my monitor cable to the second card. Ran for the last couple of hours with no issue but I will know for sure tomorrow. The card works for other games so it has not failed yet but I have a nagging feeling that since they were factory overclocked the one card is running at the edge of its limits. When I feel like monkeying around I will try and drop the Core clock and then see what happens.

Thanks for the assist!


Sigh No such luck. I removed one video card completely, tried it, swapped it out and tried the other. The game just does not like my vid cards. I though maybe both cards are going out so loaded up and ran a couple of other graphically intensive games and they ran on one card (at a time) with no issues whatsoever, they run in SLI mode together without a problem. When I load up Witcher 3 it invariably fails with a video card error in 10 to 15 minutes sometimes not even loading the game, just immediately crashing. I can play Witcher 2, with everything maxed out again with no issues. For now I give up. The longest the game ran, no matter what I tried was 2 hours.

Don't give up. Make sure that The Witcher 3 is set to Fullscreen exclusive mode and not to Windowed or Windowed Borderless. For some reason Witcher 3 really stresses my system in windowed mode, and my GPU gets up to 76 degrees celsius, but in full screen it never breaks 56 degrees, if that.

Please make sure Fullscreen is selected; I have a funny feeling your graphics cards are overheating. The driver stopping and recovering can mean a lot of things, and this is one of them. It's your graphics cards' way of ensuring they don't melt but force closing the driver, effectively crashing the game.

Please let me know if this solves it. Unfortunately, I don't have any other ideas because I use an AMD R9 380, and haven't used Nvidia since I had a 260 GTX.

~Leu

Problem solved. The 660TIs that I had were running at their limits even with everything, and I mean everything, dialed down to off or minimum. I downloaded GPU-Z and ran it while I ran the game. When the crashes occurred I was pushing 70C as well as utilizing 100% of GPU memory. Went out today and bought a GTZ 960 FTW, 4 gb card, replaced my 2 660 tis and have been running smoothly since. Have it at medium settings currently and GPU temp is running no higher than 50C.

Glad to see you got the problem fixed. The game is a beautiful piece of art, I'm also glad now you can enjoy it.

So you think it was a temperature issue after all? Doesn't seem like a memory issue, the worst that would happen is the card switching to swap memory and ... Well, that just kills performance, not the game

In my experience Witcher 3 has problem with overclocking, i had to experiment for nearly an hour with my gtx 970, before finding values that kept the game from crashing every 30 minute or so

I had to make some special settings only for this game, that are at least 8-9% lower then normal, values that work perfectly for pretty much every other game

Don't be surprised if you can't push your new card to what seems perfectly reasonable levels, you'll need to experiment a little with this engine