Intel Arc iGPU instability after long uptime (CPU info missing + DWM failure + Chromium trigger)

[ReginaldChen]

Possible regression since driver 32.0.101.8247

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System Configuration

- Device: MSI Claw 8 AI+ (A2VMX)
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (Lunar Lake)
- GPU: Intel Arc 140V iGPU (16GB shared)
- RAM: 32 GB
- OS: Windows 11 25H2 (Build 26200.8039)
- Current Driver: 32.0.101.8626
- Suspected Regression Driver: 32.0.101.8247 (released 2025/10/23)

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Problem Description

After approximately 24–48 hours uptime, the system enters a degraded state with the following symptoms:

1. Random short freeze / system hang
2. DWM / desktop composition failure
- Observed error:
System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80263001)
Desktop composition buffer has been disabled
3. Chromium-based applications trigger instability
- Discord, Brave frequently reproduce the issue
4. Incorrect GPU utilization reporting
- Task Manager shows near 100% GPU usage
- Actual workload does not match utilization
5. Critical symptom: CPU information missing
- Windows Settings → System → About → Processor field becomes empty "()"
- Indicates system unable to retrieve CPU information

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Important Observations

- System does NOT crash completely (no BSOD)
- Video playback may continue normally
- No screen flicker
- No TDR (Timeout Detection and Recovery) triggered
- Reboot fully restores system to normal state

This suggests:

«A system-level desynchronization involving power management / ACPI / device state, rather than a simple GPU crash»

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Reproducibility

- Occurs consistently after long uptime (~1–2 days)
- More likely when:
- Chromium-based apps are running
- GPU acceleration is active

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Regression Timeline

- System was previously stable under similar usage patterns
- Issue started to appear around October 2025
- This timing coincides with installation of:
- Intel Arc Driver 32.0.101.8247

No hardware changes were made during that period.

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Validation / Isolation

- Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (HAGS): Disabled
→ Issue still occurs
- Clean OS reinstall performed
- Disk health check passed
- DISM / system integrity checks passed
- Drivers fully updated
- Issue occurs even when:
- WSL / WSA / NPU workloads are NOT running
- Not audio-related (reproduced under Bluetooth audio)

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Technical Interpretation

The issue appears to involve:

- Loss of CPU information (WMI / kernel provider failure)
- GPU scheduling inconsistency (false 100% utilization)
- DWM composition failure (0x80263001)

These symptoms strongly suggest:

«Power management framework instability (PEP / IPF) leading to system-wide state corruption»

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Impact

- System becomes unreliable after long uptime
- Application crashes (especially Chromium-based)
- Installation processes may fail after issue occurs
- Requires reboot to recover

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Request

Please investigate potential issues related to:

- Intel GPU driver state handling over long uptime
- Interaction between:
- Intel Power Engine Plug-in (PEP)
- Innovation Platform Framework (IPF)
- Windows ACPI / WDDM / DWM
- Possible power state or context leak leading to system desynchronization

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Summary

This appears to be a regression introduced around driver 32.0.101.8247, involving:

«Long-uptime instability in the Intel power management + GPU stack, resulting in CPU information loss and DWM failure.»

[Jobert_Intel]

Hi ReginaldChen,

Thank you for reaching out to the Intel Community Forum.

I understand you're experiencing system instability after extended uptime with driver 32.0.101.8247 on your MSI Claw 8 AI+. Your detailed technical analysis indicates a potential power management regression.

Intel is aware of reports regarding issues with the performance and performance profiles of the MSI Claw*. We are working closely with MSI to improve the gaming experience.

Please try these steps:

Update your BIOS to the latest version available. Contact MSI Support for instructions.

Install Intel® Arc™ Graphics Driver 31.0.101.5444 or newer (this may resolve the regression you identified in 32.0.101.8247).

Configure MSI Center M to Balanced Mode and Enable Over Boost with the toggle selector (requires BIOS 108 or newer and system restart).

For additional MSI Claw-specific guidance: Performance on the MSI Claw* with Intel® Core® Ultra Processors with Built-in Intel® Arc™ graphics https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000098650/graphics.html

Given the specific symptoms you've documented (CPU information loss, DWM failures, power management issues), rolling back to driver 31.0.101.5444 may resolve the instability while we continue investigating the regression.

Please let me know if these steps resolve your concern.

If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank you.

Best Regards,

Jobert T.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[ReginaldChen]

You suggested rolling back to driver version 31.0.101.5444, but that driver is from April 2024. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ was released on December 23, 2024, so the preloaded driver was clearly already newer than 5444, and the issue did not exist at that time. Additionally, the earliest driver version currently available for download on the website is 8136.
Also, the BIOS is the latest version from MSI’s official website.

[Jobert_Intel]

Hi ReginaldChen,

Thank you for the clarification and correction. You are absolutely right - driver 31.0.101.5444 from April 2024 would not be appropriate for the MSI Claw 8 AI+ released in December 2024, and the earliest available driver 8136 is indeed much newer than what I suggested.

Your point about the system being stable with the preloaded driver before the 32.0.101.8247 update further confirms this is a legitimate regression issue that occurred with that specific driver version.

I acknowledge that you already have the latest BIOS from MSI's official website as well.

I would like to recommend the official graphics driver from your device manufacturer: https://www.msi.com/Handheld/Claw-8-AI-Plus-A2VMX/support?sub_product=Claw-8-AI-Plus-A2VM#driver

Important information about OEM vs Intel generic drivers: There are differences between OEM and Intel generic drivers. Your device manufacturer may have altered features, incorporated customizations, or made other changes to some components for better compatibility with your system. The generic Intel driver provides users with the latest feature enhancements and bug fixes that computer manufacturers (OEMs) might not have customized yet. OEM drivers are handpicked and include customized features and solutions to platform-specific needs. Installing Intel generic graphics drivers will overwrite your handpicked OEM graphics driver.

Please let me know if these steps resolve your concern.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you.

Best Regards,

Jobert T.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Jobert_Intel]

Hi ReginaldChen,

Could you please confirm if you have reviewed the information I posted? Your feedback at your earliest convenience would be greatly appreciated so we can decide on the best way to proceed with resolving this matter.

Best Regards,

Jobert T.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[ReginaldChen]

I've tried the OEM driver, but the issue still persists. It seems more like an ACPI-related problem. I’ve observed ACPI HAL errors in the Event Viewer; they do not occur exactly at the moment of the freeze, but appear periodically. Typically, there are already 2–3 ACPI HAL errors logged before a freeze occurs. I will provide detailed error information (Event ID and full message) after I get back home.

[ReginaldChen]

I found a relevant HAL error in Event Viewer:

- Source: Microsoft-Windows-HAL
- Event ID: 21
- Level: Error
- Message: "The hardware system clock was not set because evaluation of the ACPI time and alarm device method failed."
- Status: 0xC0000001

After reviewing the logs more carefully, I need to correct my earlier observation regarding the timing:

The HAL error does not occur strictly at fixed intervals. However, when multiple HAL errors appear consecutively, the interval between them is consistently either around 30 minutes or 1 hour.

This suggests a recurring time-based pattern rather than a random occurrence.

Also, these HAL errors do not necessarily coincide exactly with the moment when visible symptoms occur (such as freeze or crashes). Instead, they appear to be a periodic low-level background signal.

The more visible symptoms (freeze, Explorer crash, installer failures, etc.) tend to occur only after the system has been running for an extended period (typically 24–48 hours), which may indicate a longer-term state degradation rather than a direct one-to-one trigger relationship.

[Jobert_Intel]

Hi ReginaldChen,

Thank you for providing the requested information. I will now further investigate this and will get back to you once a resolution is available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Best Regards,

Jobert T.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Jobert_Intel]

Hi ReginaldChen,

Thank you for your patience.

I'd like to provide some specific recommendations that should help resolve this issue.

• Have you tried Intel® Graphics Driver 32.0.101.8629? Please perform DDU and use the latest driver version released.

Also, according to the article Performance on the MSI Claw* with Intel® Core® Ultra Processors with Built-in Intel® Arc™ graphics, Set the user scenario in MSI Center M to Balanced Mode and Enable Over Boost with the toggle selector (upper right corner) to enable optimized in-game performance. The Over Boost feature requires BIOS 108 or newer and a system restart when toggled. It is also suggested to have the OS in balanced mode while gaming.

Please try these recommendations and let us know if the issue continues.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you.

Best Regards,

Jobert T.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[ReginaldChen]

I have already tried driver version 32.0.101.8629, but the issue still occurs.

My current BIOS version is E1T52IMS.112(lastest). Additionally, the interface shown in the article you mentioned is from MSI Center M 1.0, while the current version is already 2.0 (Claw 8 ships with 2.0 by default), and the option you described is not available.

[Jobert_Intel]

Hi ReginaldChen,

Could you please confirm if you have reviewed the information I posted? Your feedback at your earliest convenience would be greatly appreciated so we can decide on the best way to proceed with resolving this matter.

Best Regards,

Jobert T.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Robin_Intel]

Hi ReginaldChen,

Thank you for providing the requested information. I will now further investigate this and will get back to you once a resolution is available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Best Regards,

Robin G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Jobert_Intel]

Hi ReginaldChen,

Please try updating to Intel Arc Graphics driver version 32.0.101.8724 from the Intel Arc Graphics - Windows driver page.

If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank you.

Best Regards

Jobert T.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Jobert_Intel]

Hi ReginaldChen,

Please check your email inbox, as we have sent you a message regarding our concern.

Thank you, and have a great day ahead!

Best Regards

Jobert T.

Intel Customer Support Technician