Laptop Freezing

[Wariz__]

HP EliteBook 840 G3 freezes/crashes whenever Intel HD Graphics 520 driver is enabled — Microsoft Basic Display Adapter is stable

Hello Intel Support Community,

I am experiencing a persistent graphics-related freezing/BSOD problem with my HP EliteBook 840 G3 running Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, and I would appreciate help identifying the root cause.

System information

* Model: HP EliteBook 840 G3
* CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6300U @ 2.40 GHz
* GPU: Intel HD Graphics 520
* OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
* Windows build: 10.0.19045
* BIOS: HP N75 Ver. 01.62, dated 17/03/2024
* GPU hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1916&SUBSYS_8079103C&REV_07

Original problem

The laptop started experiencing:

* Screen flickering
* Random freezing
* Complete system hangs
* Black screen after the display turned off
* Occasional fan/humming sound while the system was unresponsive

The problem was especially noticeable during normal Windows use. Interestingly, the laptop was stable in Safe Mode.

First driver tested

The Intel graphics driver originally installed was:

Intel HD Graphics 520 — 27.20.100.9416

After uninstalling this driver, Windows switched to:

Microsoft Basic Display Adapter

The laptop immediately became much more stable and ran for several hours without freezing.

I also uninstalled Avast Antivirus and later Avast Driver Updater, so there is no third-party driver-updating software currently managing the drivers.

BIOS update

The BIOS was originally:

N75 Ver. 01.59 — 15/12/2022

I updated it to:

N75 Ver. 01.62 — 17/03/2024

After the BIOS update, I continued testing with Microsoft Basic Display Adapter and the laptop remained stable for more than an hour.

Testing the HP Intel graphics driver again

I then installed the HP Intel graphics package SP115295, which installs:

27.20.100.9416

However, the Intel graphics driver did not properly bind, and Device Manager continued showing Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.

The Intel GPU was still detected by hardware ID:

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1916&SUBSYS_8079103C&REV_07

and Device Manager reported:

This device is working properly.

The Microsoft Basic Display Adapter driver information was:

* Provider: Microsoft
* Date: 21/06/2006
* Version: 10.0.19041.3636

Windows Update then installed another Intel driver

Windows Update subsequently offered:

Intel Corporation – Display – 31.0.101.2111

I allowed it to install.

Immediately after the installation/restart, the freezing problem returned.

The installed driver showed:

* Provider: Intel Corporation
* Date: 19/07/2022
* Version: 31.0.101.2111
* Signer: Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher

I subsequently disabled the Intel HD Graphics 520 device in Device Manager.

Once disabled, Windows returned to using Microsoft Basic Display Adapter and the laptop became stable again.

BSOD information

During one of the earlier crashes, Reliability Monitor recorded:

Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
Code: D1

Parameters:

fffff800786f4370
ff
0
fffff800786f4370

The blue screen also appeared to reference:

win32kfull.sys

The crash occurred after reinstalling the Intel graphics driver.

Current situation

At the moment, the Intel HD Graphics 520 is disabled in Device Manager.

The laptop is currently operating normally using:

Microsoft Basic Display Adapter

This configuration has been significantly more stable than when the Intel graphics driver is enabled.

I have tested two different Intel driver versions:

1. 27.20.100.9416 → freezing/BSOD
2. 31.0.101.2111 → freezing shortly after installation

Microsoft Basic Display Adapter → stable

I have also updated the BIOS to N75 01.62 and removed Avast Antivirus and Avast Driver Updater.

What I would like help with

I would appreciate advice from anyone familiar with the EliteBook 840 G3 on the following:

1. Could this be a known Intel HD Graphics 520 / EliteBook 840 G3 power-management or BIOS compatibility issue?
2. Is there a specific Intel graphics driver version known to work reliably with the i5-6300U + HD Graphics 520 + Windows 10 Pro on the 840 G3?
3. Are there BIOS settings such as Deep Sleep, Extended Idle States, Panel Self Refresh, or other graphics/power-management settings that should be changed?
4. Could the behavior indicate an underlying hardware problem with the Intel integrated GPU, even though the GPU works normally when using Microsoft Basic Display Adapter?
5. Is there a recommended HP driver package other than SP115295 that should be tested?

I am currently keeping the Intel graphics device disabled because this is the only configuration that has remained consistently stable.

I would prefer not to keep reinstalling graphics drivers blindly, because enabling the Intel driver repeatedly causes the laptop to freeze.

Any advice on the safest next diagnostic step would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.