Fix Page Fault in NonPaged Area Error | Blue Screen Of Death

Key Takeaways:-

• The ‘Page Fault in NonPaged Area’ error often occurs due to faulty hardware, driver conflicts, or corrupted system files.
• To fix this error, users can disconnect external devices, start in Safe Mode, check for faulty RAM, and reset virtual memory settings.
• Updating drivers, running system file checker, and checking disk for errors are essential steps to resolve the issue.
• Consider reinstalling Windows only if all other fixes fail, as the problem is often software-related and can be fixed.

You may encounter the “Page Fault in NonPaged Area” error or Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) after a recent Windows or 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 can cause the Blue Screen of Death error, including faulty hardware (such as RAM), corrupt system files, or problematic drivers. Whatever the reason, here are five effective solutions that can help you resolve Page Fault in NonPaged Area error in Windows PC.

What Is Page Fault in NonPaged Area Error?

To understand this error, first you need to know how Windows manages memory.

Windows uses two types of memory:

• Paged memory – Data that can be moved between RAM and the page file on your disk (virtual memory). If RAM is full, Windows can temporarily move less important data to disk.
• Nonpaged memory (NonPaged Area) – Data that must always stay in RAM. Windows is not allowed to move this data to disk, because it’s critical for the system to keep running.

When Windows tries to access nonpaged memory and finds that data is corrupted or missing, it triggers the Page Fault in NonPaged Area error and crashes your system with a blue screen.

👉 In simple terms: It’s like Windows looking for a file in RAM that should always be there—but isn’t.

How to 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 hard drive issues can corrupt data in the NonPaged area, triggering this error frequently.
• Driver Conflicts: Incompatible or outdated drivers, especially those for hardware such as graphics cards, can cause this error.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

External devices can sometimes cause conflicts with system processes, leading to memory errors. Whenever you experience a blue screen of death error, the first thing you need to do is disconnect external devices (printer, USB drive, external HDD) and reboot 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. Microsoft describes that 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.
• Your PC will restart and run tests automatically (takes 5-10 minutes)
• Review results after restart

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

What to look for:

• If errors are found, at least one RAM stick is failing
• If tests are completed without errors, RAM is likely fine
• Repeat the test twice to confirm results

If faulty RAM is detected, you’ll need to replace the bad stick.

Reset Virtual Memory (Paging File)

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.

This resets your paging file to stable default settings.

Disable Fast Startup

Sometimes, Fast Startup can cause issues with memory and system processes, leading to this error. A few users report that disabling 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, disk corruption may prevent Windows from properly loading critical files into memory. Checking the disk for errors with the CHKDSK command 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.

CHKDSK will run before Windows starts (takes 10-30 minutes depending on disk size)

What the command does:

• /f = fixes errors found
• /r = locates bad sectors and recovers readable information

Update or Roll Back Drivers

Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause memory access errors. Updating to the latest version fixes compatibility issues. If a recent update caused the problem, rolling back restores stability.

• 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.

Priority drivers to update:

• Graphics (GPU) drivers—especially NVIDIA, AMD, Intel
• Chipset drivers
• Network/Ethernet drivers
• Storage drivers (SATA, NVMe controllers)

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 can cause invalid memory references. Running SFC and DISM can repair and restore Windows system integrity.

• 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
• These scans fix corrupted .dll files, registry issues, and other system damage that causes memory faults.
• After the scan completes, restart your computer and check if the error is resolved.

Repairing system files ensures your operating system functions properly and does not cause memory management issues.

Disable Overclocking / Reset BIOS

Overclocking destabilizes memory timing. Resetting BIOS to defaults restores stable memory behavior.

Steps to disable overclocking (BIOS/UEFI):

1. Restart your PC
2. During startup, press Del, F2, F10, or F12 (varies by motherboard—check your PC’s startup screen)
3. Enter BIOS setup
4. Look for overclocking settings (usually under “CPU Settings” or “Advanced”)
5. Reset all overclocking values to default or disable XMP/DOCP profiles
6. Save and exit (usually F10)
7. Restart normally

If you’re unsure about BIOS, look for a “Load Optimal Defaults” or “Load Default Settings” option—this resets everything safely.

Uninstall Problematic Software

Certain software, especially that 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 > installed apps.
• 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.

How to Prevent Page Fault in NonPaged Area Error

Once you’ve fixed the problem, prevent it from returning:

Keep Drivers Updated

• Enable automatic driver updates in Windows settings
• Periodically check the GPU manufacturer’s websites for the latest drivers

Use Only Trusted Antivirus Software

• Stick with Windows Defender, Bitdefender, or Norton
• Avoid trial antivirus software that leaves residual files

Don’t Overclock Unstable Systems

• If you overclock, keep settings conservative
• Monitor temperatures and stability with tools like Prime95
• Reset to defaults if you experience crashes

Run Regular Disk Checks

• Use CHKDSK monthly on aging drives
• Consider SSD replacement if getting older (5+ years)
• Maintain 15-20% free disk space

Use Quality RAM

• Purchase from reputable brands (Corsair, G.Skill, Kingston)
• Test new RAM before relying on it

Frequently Asked Questions