Page Fault in NonPaged Area Error | Blue Screen Of Death

You may encounter the “Page Fault in NonPaged Area” error Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) after a recent Windows update, driver update, installing a new hardware device, etc. This error usually occurs when the system tries to access a section of memory that is supposed to remain in RAM (nonpaged) but can’t find it there. Several factors cause Blue screen of death error, faulty hardware (like RAM), corrupt system files, or problematic drivers are common. Whatever the reason, here are five effective solutions that can help you resolve Page Fault in NonPaged Area error in Windows PC.

Fix “Page Fault in NonPaged Area” Error

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors commonly occur due to critical system issues such as hardware failures (e.g., faulty RAM or hard drive), driver conflicts, software bugs, or corrupted system files.

• Faulty Hardware (RAM or Hard Drive): Defective or failing RAM modules, or issues with the hard drive, can corrupt data in the NonPaged area, triggering this error.
• Driver Conflicts: Incompatible or outdated drivers, especially those related to hardware like graphics cards, can cause this error.
• System File Corruption: Corrupted system files can interfere with memory management, leading to this BSOD.
• Faulty Software or Antivirus Programs: Certain software or antivirus programs that interfere with memory allocation or paging can cause this error.
• Overclocking: Overclocking hardware components like CPU or RAM beyond their safe operating limits can result in memory errors, including “Page Fault in NonPaged Area.”

Disconnect External Devices and Restart Your PC

• Turn off your computer and disconnect all external devices (USB drives, printers, external hard drives, etc.).
• Restart your computer and see if the error persists.
• If the error is resolved, reconnect the devices one by one to identify the culprit.

This step helps isolate any external device that might be causing memory-related issues.

Start the Computer in Safe Mode

If you frequently get blue screen error, start your Computer in Safe Mode. Safe Mode starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services, which can help identify whether third-party software or drivers are causing the error.

• Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
• In the System Configuration window, go to the Boot tab.
• Under Boot options, check the box next to Safe boot and select Minimal.
• Click OK and restart your computer.
• If the error doesn’t occur in Safe Mode, it indicates that a third-party application or driver might be the cause.

Running your computer in Safe Mode can help you identify if background software or drivers are responsible for the error

Check for Faulty RAM

The problem with the Memory module (RAM) is a common cause of this error. Testing and replacing faulty memory can resolve the issue.

• Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.
• Choose Restart now and check for problems.
• Allow the tool to run its tests during the restart. If it finds errors, you may need to replace the faulty RAM.

Testing your RAM ensures that it is functioning correctly and is not causing memory-related errors.

Adjust Page File Settings

The page file (also known as the swap file) is a portion of your hard drive that Windows uses as virtual memory when your physical RAM is full. Incorrect page file settings can lead to memory management errors. Adjusting the page file size or letting Windows manage it automatically can help resolve these issues.

• Press Win + R, and type sysdm.cpl, press Enter to open the System Properties window.
• Go to the Advanced tab and click on Settings under the Performance section.
• In the Performance Options window, go to the Advanced tab and click on Change under Virtual Memory.
• Uncheck the option Automatically manage paging file size for all drives if it’s checked.
• Select your system drive (usually C:) and choose System managed size, then click Set.
• Alternatively, you can manually set the page file size by choosing Custom size and entering the initial and maximum size values based on your RAM size (e.g., 1.5 to 3 times your RAM size).
• Click OK and restart your computer.

Disable Fast Startup

Sometimes, Fast startup can cause issues with memory and system processes, leading to this error. A few users report, disable fast startup helps fix the error for them.

• Press Win + X and select Power Options.
• Click on Choose what the power buttons do from the left panel.
• Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
• Under Shutdown settings, uncheck Turn on fast startup.
• Click Save changes and restart your computer.

Disabling fast startup ensures that your system performs a full shutdown and restart, preventing potential memory conflicts.

Check Disk for Errors

Again, Hard drive issues can cause data corruption in the NonPaged area. Checking the disk for errors can help identify and fix these issues.

• Press Win + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
• Type the command chkdsk C: /f /r and press enterkey,
• It will prompt to schedule the check at the next restart, type Y and press Enter.
• Restart your computer and allow the disk check to complete.

Update or Roll Back Drivers

Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause memory access errors. Updating or rolling back drivers can resolve these issues.

• Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
• Check for any devices with a yellow triangle (indicating a driver issue).
• Right-click the device, select Update driver, and choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
• If the error started after a recent driver update, right-click the device, select Properties, and under the Driver tab, choose Roll Back Driver.

Keeping drivers up to date or reverting to a stable version can prevent driver-related memory errors.

Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

Corrupted system files also can lead to memory errors. Running SFC and DISM can repair these files and resolve the error.

• Open the command prompt as administrator and run sfc /scannow command.
• Wait for the scan to complete. If any issues are found and repaired, restart your computer.
• If the problem persists, run the DISM command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• After the scan completes, restart your computer and check if the error is resolved.

Repairing system files ensures that your operating system is functioning properly and is not causing memory management issues.

Uninstall Problematic Software

Certain software, especially those related to security or system optimization, can interfere with memory and cause this error. Uninstalling such software can resolve the issue.

• Press Win + I to open Settings, then go to Apps > Apps & features.
• Scroll through the list of installed programs and uninstall any recently installed or suspicious software.
• Restart your computer to see if the error persists.

Removing problematic software helps ensure that no applications are interfering with the system’s memory management.

In addition, check and install the latest Windows update, which includes patches, bug fixes, and enhancements to improve system stability and performance.