How to fix “Page Fault in Nonpaged Area” Error on Windows 10

If you’re an IT professional or systems administrator, you’ve likely seen the dreaded blue screen of death (BSOD) with the message “Page Fault in Nonpaged Area”. This error occurs when Windows attempts to access a file in memory that doesn’t exist or has become corrupted. Unlike ordinary crashes, this one usually points to memory management issues, faulty hardware, or corrupt system files.

From my 25+ years in IT, I’ve seen this error caused by:

• Faulty RAM or misconfigured memory modules.
• Corrupted NTFS volumes.
• Incompatible or outdated device drivers.
• Antivirus software interfering with system processes.
• Recently installed software or hardware causing conflicts.

Fortunately, there are several proven methods to troubleshoot and resolve this error, many of which can be done even if Windows will not boot normally.

Step 1: Boot into Safe Mode

Before performing any major fixes, booting into Safe Mode ensures that only essential Windows processes are running, minimizing interference from third-party software.

To boot into Safe Mode:

1. Power on the machine and repeatedly press F8 (or Shift + F8 on some systems).
2. Choose Safe Mode with Networking from the advanced boot menu.
3. Perform the troubleshooting steps below.

Pro Tip: Even if your system cannot boot normally, Safe Mode often works because it loads minimal drivers and skips automatic paging processes that may trigger the error.

Step 2: Undo Recent Changes

If the error started appearing after installing new software or hardware, this is often the quickest fix:

1. Uninstall recently added programs via Control Panel > Programs and Features.
2. Disconnect newly installed peripherals (USB drives, printers, external devices).
3. Restart the system and check for BSOD recurrence.

From experience, hardware conflicts—particularly third-party RAM modules or older PCIe devices—are a frequent culprit.

Step 3: Disable Automatic Paging File Management

Windows relies on a paging file for virtual memory. Sometimes, automatic paging can trigger the “Page Fault in Nonpaged Area” error. Here’s how to manually configure it:

1. Right-click This PC > Properties > Advanced System Settings.
2. Navigate to Performance > Settings > Advanced Tab > Virtual Memory > Change.
3. Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives”.
4. Set a custom size based on your system’s RAM (usually 1.5x the RAM for initial and maximum size).
5. Click OK and restart your computer.

Real-world note: Setting a custom paging file often stabilizes systems with older or partially faulty RAM modules.

Step 4: Run Disk and Memory Checks

Faulty RAM or corrupted disks are a leading cause of this error. Windows provides built-in tools to check both:

Check Disk (CHKDSK)

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run: chkdsk /f /r
3. Press Y to schedule a disk check on next reboot.
4. Restart and allow Windows to scan and repair disk errors.

Memory Diagnostic

1. Open Run (Win + R) and type: mdsched.exe
2. Choose Restart now and check for problems.
3. Wait 15–30 minutes for a complete RAM test.

Pro Tip: If errors appear in the memory test, reseat the RAM or replace the faulty module. From my experience, a single bad stick can cause intermittent BSODs even if the system seems stable most of the time.

Step 5: Temporarily Disable Antivirus

Antivirus programs occasionally interfere with system memory operations:

1. Temporarily disable real-time protection or key antivirus features.
2. Test for BSOD recurrence.
3. If the issue resolves, contact the antivirus vendor for configuration guidance.

Note: Never leave antivirus disabled long-term. Always ensure Windows Defender or another security solution is active after testing.

Step 6: Update or Roll Back Drivers

Outdated or incompatible drivers, especially for video cards, storage controllers, and network adapters, often trigger BSOD errors:

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Look for drivers marked with a yellow exclamation.
3. Right-click and select Update driver.
4. If the problem started after a recent update, consider rolling back the driver instead.

Insider tip: Third-party webcams, audio devices, and older network adapters are surprisingly common culprits. Always verify driver compatibility with your exact Windows 10 build.

Step 7: Run SFC and DISM

System corruption can also cause memory access errors:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run: sfc /scannow

Next, run DISM to repair the system image:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

1. Restart the system and check for error recurrence.

Pro Tip: Running both SFC and DISM ensures that corrupted system files and underlying Windows image errors are fully repaired.

Step 8: Check and Reseat RAM

If diagnostics indicate a RAM issue, follow these steps:

1. Power off and unplug the system.
2. Remove the RAM modules.
3. Clean contacts with compressed air or an eraser.
4. Reseat modules properly.
5. Restart and test.

In enterprise environments, swapping RAM sticks between slots can also reveal faulty motherboard channels causing intermittent page faults.

Final Thoughts

The “Page Fault in Nonpaged Area” error is a multi-faceted problem, but systematic troubleshooting usually resolves it. From real-world experience, I recommend:

• Always start with Safe Mode.
• Check for recent hardware/software changes.
• Run memory and disk diagnostics before touching drivers.
• Keep drivers and Windows updated for long-term stability.

In most professional IT environments, following these steps reduces BSOD recurrence significantly and prevents costly downtime.

Expert Tip: Maintain a small pool of known-good RAM and system restore points in corporate environments. This allows rapid recovery when a page fault error appears without affecting end-user productivity.

Daniel Lutton

From my early days on the helpdesk through roles as a service desk manager, systems administrator, and network engineer, I’ve spent more than 25 years in the IT world. As I transition into cyber security, my goal is to make tech a little less confusing by sharing what I’ve learned and helping others wherever I can.