How to fix PC crashes when using Internet Explorer and graphics or image intensive web sites.

Problem

If you use Internet Explorer (IE) on some graphically intensive or image intensive web sites, systems with older integrated graphics may crash. For example, if you use Internet Explorer with Google Maps Satellite mode to view landscape images of an area, and then move or scroll the viewed area, the browser window may become unresponsive or the system may suffer a blue-screen crash.

Cause

The cause of this is the advanced rendering engine available in Internet Explorer (IE) and Windows Vista or newer. Internet Explorer will use graphics card rendering technologies where available to improve the smoothness and performance of the image to be viewed, allowing for quicker screen re-draws, zooms etc.

Windows incorrectly identifies that some lower integrated graphics solutions are capable of the required functionality in hardware, when Windows Vista, 7 or 8 are being used.

Known problem chipsets include:

Intel 945
Intel Q965 and G965
Intel G31, G33, G35 and Q35 chipsets

Generally, updating the graphics card driver or increasing the dedicated video memory does not solve this issue.

How to Solve this Issue

Turn off GPU rendering in Internet Explorer

To do this, open up IE tools (by clicking Tools, or the star symbol) and then go to Internet Options. Go into the "Advanced" tab and then turn on "Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering". The result should look like the example below.

Note: If you are deploying Windows 7 or Windows 8 for the first time across your network we always recommend that you perform usability and reliability testing to ensure that all of your applications, including web browsing, works as planned. Contact your account manager at Stone Computers if you would more information on the services which we can offer.

Applies to:

Systems running Windows Vista, 7 or 8 and integrated graphics solutions such as as Intel 945, 965 and 3-Series chipsets.