How to Fix the PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA Error on Windows 10/11

Error codes can be highly frustrating as they disrupt computer operations, potentially leading to data loss, especially in the case of Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) issues. In this article, we will focus on the PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA error and explore potential solutions to resolve this issue.

This is a fatal problem, and the only way out of it is to reboot the system. The error occurs when there are discrepancies within the memory page that the Windows OS requests to carry on with the running processes. If the system does not find the memory page, it crashes and displays the PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA error message.

What is the Windows PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA Error?

The computer uses two different types of memory storage which are Random Access Memory (RAM) and hard drive. Of course, there are other types of memory used by the computer, but let’s focus on these two to clarify the issue for now. A hard drive’s memory is permanent whereas RAM’s storage is temporary. So, the latter is operational as it stores information only when the system is running. The hard drive retains memory if the computer is switched off.

If there is a lot of data for the RAM to process and store, the one meant for idle tasks is moved to a ‘page file’ for temporary storage. A page file’s location is found in a hard drive and used as excess storage space for the RAM. So, when there are a lot of tasks in the process, there is a constant exchange of data between the RAM and the page file.

Now, the NONPAGED area referred to in the error message is a section of memory that the system requires to run. This is the memory that is constantly in use and retained in RAM, which is the non-paged area. So, when PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA error occurs, the system would have failed to fetch necessary memory from the non-paged area.

The issue is a symptom of a corrupt hard drive. It can also happen due to hardware malfunction. When this issue occurs, there are two outcomes:

1. You can reboot the system and continue operating the system as usual until you encounter it again.
2. Windows can’t start at all leaving you with the option to boot in Safe Mode.

How to Fix the PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA Error on Windows 10/11

There are a couple of solutions that you can try out to solve the issue. We advise applying them in their order for the best results. If you were wondering what to do about PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA error on Windows 10/11, check out these proven solutions.

Solution #1: Look for Error in your Hard Drive Disk

The first place to turn to when you encounter PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA error is your hard drive disk. Even if you haven’t encountered the error, we advise checking the disk for errors periodically. Fortunately, Windows 10/11 features a built-in tool to check your disk’s integrity. The utility can scan and detect common errors before applying fixes. To run this tool, you need to launch it via the elevated Command Prompt.

Here is how you can run the CHKDSK utility:

1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to launch the Run dialog.
2. In the text field, type “cmd” (no quotes) and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt with Admin privileges. When you see the User Account Control window, click on Yes.
3. Now, in the Command Prompt field, type “chkdsk C: /f” (no quotes) and hit the Enter key. Note that the letter C represents the misbehaving drive. Therefore, if yours is not C, replace it with the actual one.
4. The chkdsk C: /f command-line scans, detects, then fixes software issues related to the hard drive of concern.
5. To check for hardware issues, type “chkdsk C: /r” (no quotes) and hit the Enter key.
6. Once the previous process is complete, execute the following command:
   chkdsk C: /f /r
7. When done, restart the system and check if the issues have been fixed.

Solution #2: Run a Memory Diagnosis

The PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA BSOD error can also be caused by an issue within the RAM. There is one way to fix a failing RAM, and that’s changing it. However, before going there, you must first ensure this is the actual cause of the error. The Windows Memory Diagnostic utility can help you analyze if that’s the case or not.

You can launch this tool by following these simple steps:

1. In the Desktop taskbar search field, type “memory diagnostic” (no quotes), and click on the emerging results to launch Windows Memory Diagnostic.
2. The tool will provide the option of either restarting the system now to check for the issue or checking for the issue in the next startup process.
3. Select your desired timeframe to execute the process.
4. Once the tool is done, you will receive a report concerning the detected issues related to the RAM.
5. Use the report to decide if the RAM must be changed or not.

Solution #3: Check for Driver Updates

Updating drivers is one way to fixing the PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA issue. You can do this manually or through a trusted dedicated driver updater software. The former is the easiest, time-saving, and can be set to run on the background continuously checking for any pending driver updater. This helps maintain a stable and healthy computer with no crash issues.

Outdated or corrupt drivers can lead to the issue at hand. If you choose to update drivers manually, here is how:

1. In the Windows taskbar search field, type “control panel” (no quotes) and hit the Enter key to launch the Control Panel window.
2. Click Device Manager then check for the particular device which you suspect is causing the issue. If you are not sure, you can go through all devices and update them.
3. To update drivers, right-click on the device and select Update Driver from the emerging floating menu.
4. Then, select the option for Windows 10/11 system to automatically search the Internet for the latest driver associated with the device. Note that the system should be connected to the internet for this to work.

If you already downloaded the drivers to the system, you can select the second option.

1. If the computer is on Safe Mode, make sure you launch it started on Safe Mode with Networking.
2. When done, reboot the system for changes to take effect.

Execute the action that previously triggered the PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA BSOD error to check if it has been resolved.