Kernel Mode Driver Failure?

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

First of all what is the Kernel Mode driver? How is it related to graphics cards? What prevents if from being started propperly/failing?

I am just curious because with the frequent load-shedding power failures here in SA my PC routinely just suddenly loses power when they descide to load-shed my area. When power returns my PC restarts and loads up normally most of the time...just sometimes ATITool either fails to start by itself, or starts but nothing is shown and a Kernel Mode Driver failure was reported beforehand. In both cases just closing ATITool and then reinstalling it fixes the problem and it runs propperly then. ATI Tray Tools and the Catalyst Control Center both do not seem to suffer from this problem.

It's nothing too serious, I am just curious why it's only ATITool that fails and only sometimes?
It's failure causes my card to revert to it's 5% factory fan setting making it run at about 60 degrees celsius on idle...so it's slightly annoying...nothing big...I am just curious about the symptoms.

[S.SubZero]

The app probably gets currupted with an improper shutdown.

Kernel mode drivers run in the same space as the kernel, at the core of OS operations. Very little is supposed to run here, but the graphics driver is one thing that does, for speed reasons.

I recommend a battery backup UPS solution that can talk to your system and do a proper shutdown while safely on battery power.

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

Yeah I will have to look into a UPS eventually I guess. Thanks for the tip and the info.