If you have encountered a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with the error PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA on Windows 11 or Windows 10, it means Windows has attempted to reference an invalid system memory address.
This guide outlines 5 proven solutions to resolve this issue.
First: What to do if your PC won't boot normally
If you cannot boot into Windows to perform these fixes, you will need to boot into Safe Mode via the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
- Shut down your PC. Turn it back on and immediately use the manufacturer-specific hotkey to access the recovery screen:
- ASUS: Press and hold F9, then press Power (try F12 if F9 fails).
- HP: Tap F11 repeatedly during boot.
- Acer: Press Alt + F10 simultaneously after powering on.
- Dell: Tap F12 repeatedly during boot.
- Lenovo: Press F11 repeatedly during boot.
- MSI: Press F3 repeatedly during boot.
- Once in WinRE, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Upon reboot, press 4 or F4 to boot into Safe Mode.
Once in Safe Mode, proceed with the troubleshooting steps below.
Fix 1: Roll Back or Update Device Drivers
Faulty or outdated drivers are a common culprit for memory allocation conflicts.
To roll back a recently updated driver:
- Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
- Locate the device driver you recently updated.
- Right-click the hardware component and select Properties.
- Go to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver (if available).
- Restart your computer.
To update your drivers:
If you do not know which driver is malfunctioning, check for pending driver updates through Windows Update, or manually download the latest official drivers from your motherboard, GPU, or network adapter manufacturer's website.
Fix 2: Temporarily Disable Third-Party Antivirus Software
Third-party antivirus utilities use deep kernel-level drivers to protect system memory. Sometimes, these security programs conflict with Windows processes, resulting in a system crash.
- Disable your third-party antivirus temporarily (refer to your specific antivirus guide for details).
- Restart your PC and monitor if the BSOD returns.
- If the crash stops, consider updating the antivirus software or replacing it with Windows Defender.
Fix 3: Run a Disk Check and Memory Test
Physical drive sectors or faulty RAM sticks can prompt this memory error.
Step 1: Check your hard drive
- Type cmd in the Windows search box.
- Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
- Type
chkdsk /f /r and press Enter.
- Press Y to schedule the check on the next reboot.
- Restart your computer. Windows will scan and repair file system corruption during the boot sequence.
Step 2: Run a memory diagnostic
- Press the Windows logo key + R to open the Run box.
- Type
mdsched.exe and press Enter.
- Click Restart now and check for problems (recommended).
- Your PC will reboot into a diagnostic interface (typically taking 15–20 minutes). If hardware faults are flagged, you may need to reseat or replace your RAM modules.
Fix 4: Check and Rebuild Paging File Settings
A corrupted paging file structure can interrupt the exchange of data between physical RAM and virtual disk memory.
- Search for View advanced system settings in the Windows search bar and open it.
- In the Advanced tab, click Settings under the Performance section.
- Navigate to the Advanced tab and click Change in the Virtual memory section.
- Check the box for Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
- Note: If it is already checked, uncheck it, click OK, and then re-check it to force Windows to rebuild the cache file.
- Click OK and restart your computer.
Fix 5: Perform a System Restore
If the issue persists, a system file or registry conflict from a recent background update might be the cause. You can roll your PC back to a stable state without deleting personal files.
If you can boot into Windows:
- Press Windows key + R, type
rstrui.exe, and press Enter.
- Click Next, choose a restore point created before the BSOD loop began, and click Next.
- Click Finish and wait for the restoration process to complete.
If you cannot boot into Windows:
- Use the manufacturer hotkey listed in the Safe Mode section to enter WinRE.
- Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
- Select your account, enter your password, and select a stable restore point. Follow the on-screen prompts to finish the restoration.
Feel free to leave a comment below explaining which step worked for you, or drop your PC specs and Windows version if you need further help!
