Introduction
The “PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA” BSOD is one of those Windows stop codes that can feel random and terrifying. It commonly appears on Windows 10 and Windows 11 during normal use, at boot, after waking from sleep, or while gaming. The screen may show the stop code PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA (bug check 0x00000050). While many guides say “just update your drivers,” this error is often rooted in deeper issues like bad RAM, corrupt storage, firmware bugs, or misconfigured system settings.
This guide goes far beyond generic advice. You’ll get a structured, step-by-step process to diagnose and fix the PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA BSOD, including memory and disk checks, minidump analysis, WinDbg and Driver Verifier, firmware guidance, and when to consider hardware replacement or professional help.
Understanding the Error
The PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA stop code (also shown as PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA, bug check 0x50) indicates that a driver or system component attempted to access memory that should always be resident (the “nonpaged” area), but the memory was not present or invalid. Because pages in the nonpaged pool must never be paged out to disk, a fault here generally means:
- A driver used a bad pointer or referenced memory after it was freed.
- The memory itself is faulty or unstable (bad RAM, incorrect timings, overclocking).
- Disk or pagefile corruption caused kernel data structures to be unreadable.
- Firmware or chipset issues caused DMA or memory mapping errors.
- Security or filter drivers (antivirus, disk encryption, VPN) misbehaved.
In plain language: something tried to access memory that Windows expected to be always available. That “something” is often a faulty driver or failing hardware.
Typical scenarios that trigger this BSOD:
- Immediately on boot or after installing a new driver or Windows update.
- During heavy I/O (game loading, copying large files, compiling code).
- After resuming from sleep/hibernation.
- Randomly while browsing or idling, suggesting intermittent hardware errors.
Advanced note: The bug check parameters can help experts. For 0x50:
- Parameter 1: memory address that was referenced.
- Parameter 2: 0 = read operation; 1 = write; 8 = execute (on newer builds).
- Parameter 3: address of the instruction that referenced memory.
- Parameter 4: reserved.
Common Causes
Below are the most likely causes of a PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA BSOD in Windows 10/11 and why they lead to bug check 0x50. These appear often in real-world cases:
- Faulty or mismatched RAM (or unstable XMP/overclock)
- Corrupt pagefile or system files
- Failing SSD/HDD (bad sectors, firmware bugs)
- Buggy drivers (GPU, storage, antivirus, VPN, USB, RGB/OC utilities)
- Misconfigured BIOS/UEFI (memory timings, CSM, legacy modes, out-of-date BIOS)
- Problematic Windows updates or optional driver updates
- Malware/rootkits or low-level filter drivers
- Third-party encryption or security software conflicts
Skimmable overview:
| Cause | Typical Symptoms | Why it triggers 0x50 |
|---|---|---|
| Bad RAM / unstable timings | Random BSODs, errors in memory tests | Invalid memory references; nonpaged pool corruption |
| Buggy or outdated driver | BSOD after installing/updating hardware driver | Driver dereferences invalid pointer or freed memory |
| Corrupt pagefile / system files | BSOD on boot, SFC/DISM find corruption | Kernel data not readable; paging I/O errors |
| Failing SSD/HDD | Slow I/O, chkdsk errors, SMART warnings | Bad sectors corrupt kernel structures or pagefile |
| BIOS/UEFI issues | After BIOS change/overclock, cold-boot BSODs | Incorrect memory mapping; unstable overclock |
| Windows update regression | BSOD soon after update | New kernel or driver bug affecting memory access |
| Security tools (AV/VPN/encryption) | BSOD during network or file scans | Faulty filter drivers at kernel level |
| Peripherals/USB hubs | BSOD when device attached | Bad USB controller drivers or power issues |
Preliminary Checks
Before deep diagnostics, stabilize your system and rule out the basics. These steps are safe and often fix the problem quickly.
- Boot to Safe Mode (Windows 10/11)
- If Windows is bootable:
- Hold Shift while selecting Restart > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Press 4 (or F4) for Safe Mode.
- If Windows is not bootable:
- Interrupt boot 3 times (power off at spinning dots) to trigger Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), then follow the same path above.
- Alternative: From an admin Command Prompt in WinRE:
- bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
- Reboot. To undo later: bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot
- Back up important data
- In Safe Mode, copy critical files to an external drive or cloud.
- If unbootable, use WinRE’s Command Prompt to copy files or boot a Windows/WinPE USB to access drives.
- Run basic health checks
Open an elevated Command Prompt (Run as administrator) and run:
System file check:
sfc /scannow
Deployment Image Servicing and Management:
DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Check disk (system drive will require a reboot):
chkdsk C: /scan
If errors are reported, schedule a repair:
chkdsk C: /f /r
Note: /f /r needs a reboot and can take a long time. Replace C: with your OS drive letter if different.
- Undo overclocks and XMP
- In BIOS/UEFI, load Optimized Defaults. Temporarily disable CPU/GPU overclocks and XMP memory profiles to test stability.
- Disconnect non-essential peripherals
- Remove USB hubs, external drives, DACs, capture cards, etc. Boot with only keyboard, mouse, and display.
If the BSOD stops here, reintroduce changes one by one to identify the culprit.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Follow these steps in order, from least to most intrusive. Stop when your system stabilizes, or continue if the issue returns.
- Ensure the pagefile is enabled and healthy
- Windows needs a pagefile to write minidumps and for memory management.
- Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual memory.
- Check “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.” Ensure the system drive has a pagefile.
- To rebuild a corrupt pagefile:
- Set “No paging file,” Apply, reboot.
- Then set back to “System managed size,” Apply, reboot again.
- Uninstall recently added or updated drivers/software
- In Device Manager, roll back or uninstall recent GPU/storage/network drivers (right-click > Properties > Driver > Roll Back).
- Remove or temporarily disable third‑party antivirus, VPN, tunneling, encryption, RGB/OC utility, or hardware monitoring tools. These often install kernel filter drivers.
- Reboot and test.
- Update critical firmware and platform drivers (safely)
- Update to the latest stable BIOS/UEFI from your PC/motherboard vendor. Read the release notes; use a stable power source.
- Update chipset drivers (Intel/AMD), storage controller (Intel RST/AMD SATA/RAID), and NVMe/SSD firmware from their official vendors.
- Update GPU drivers using clean install options (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel).
- Run Windows Update completely
- Install all important/stable Windows updates. Check Optional Updates but avoid untrusted or unnecessary driver updates. Reboot multiple times until no further updates are pending.
- Check disk and SMART health
- Use a trusted tool (e.g., vendor utility or CrystalDiskInfo) to check SMART:
- Look for Reallocated Sectors, Pending Sectors, Uncorrectable errors. If failing, replace the drive.
- If the system drive showed errors in chkdsk, consider cloning/replacing the drive proactively.
- Memory diagnostics (quick)
-
Run Windows Memory Diagnostic:
-
Press Win + R, type:
mdsched.exe
-
Choose Restart now and check for problems.
-
-
If errors appear, proceed directly to the RAM section below.
- Minidump analysis (quick triage)
- Check C:\Windows\Minidump for recent .dmp files. If present, analyze them (see the Minidump Analysis section below). If a specific driver (e.g., nvlddmkm.sys, cldflt.sys, aswMonFlt.sys) is implicated, update/roll back/remove the associated software and test.
- Reset BIOS to known-good baseline
- Load Optimized Defaults. Disable XMP, custom memory timings, and CPU overclocks. Set SATA to the intended mode (AHCI/RAID) as originally installed. Save and test.
- If stable now, reintroduce XMP/overclocks later carefully.
- Deep RAM testing (definitive)
- Use MemTest86 (free) from a bootable USB. Run at least 4 passes (ideally overnight).
- If errors appear:
- Test each stick individually.
- Test each motherboard slot.
- Replace the faulty module, or run at JEDEC (non-XMP) speeds if marginal.
- On mixed kits, ensure matched modules; mixing can destabilize timings.
- Storage integrity: full scan and cabling
- Power down, reseat SATA/NVMe cables/modules. Try another port if available.
- Run a full surface scan on HDDs. For SSDs, rely on SMART and vendor diagnostics; avoid unnecessary write-heavy scans on SSDs if SMART is clean.
- If the system drive is suspect, migrate to a known-good drive and test.
- System restore or uninstall problem updates
- If the BSOD started recently, use System Restore to roll back to a previous restore point.
- Alternatively, uninstall the most recent Windows updates from Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates.
- In-place repair upgrade (keeps apps and files)
- Use the official Windows 10/11 ISO (Media Creation Tool or MS site) and run Setup.exe from within Windows. Choose “Keep personal files and apps.”
- This refreshes system files/registry without wiping your data and fixes deep corruption that SFC/DISM didn’t.
- Clean installation (last resort software fix)
- Back up everything.
- Create a bootable USB, delete all partitions of the OS drive during setup, and reinstall Windows.
- Install only essential drivers/software first and test for stability before adding more.
Minidump Analysis: Find the Culprit
Enabling and locating minidumps:
- Ensure a pagefile exists on the system drive.
- Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Startup and Recovery > Settings:
- Write debugging information: Small memory dump (256 KB)
- Small dump directory: %SystemRoot%\Minidump
- After a BSOD, check:
- C:\Windows\Minidump*.dmp
- C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP (full dump if configured)
Quick, user-friendly analysis:
- Use BlueScreenView (NirSoft) or WhoCrashed to see the probable driver. Look for patterns across multiple dumps.
Professional-level analysis with WinDbg:
- Install WinDbg (Preview) from Microsoft Store.
- Open a dump (File > Open dump file).
- Set symbols:
.symfix
.reload
!analyze -v
- Look for:
- “Probably caused by:” driver.sys
- The faulting module in the stack (lm, kv)
- Use:
lm
!thread
!verifier
If the same third‑party driver appears repeatedly, update/roll back/remove it and test.
Common offenders:
- GPU drivers: nvlddmkm.sys, amdkmdag.sys, igdkmdn64.sys
- Antivirus filters: aswMonFlt.sys (Avast), mfefirek.sys (McAfee), *bd .sys** (Bitdefender)
- Storage filters: iastor.sys (Intel RST), amd_sata.sys, third-party NVMe drivers
- Network/VPN: tap.sys, ndis.sys
- RGB/OC utilities and monitoring tools
Advanced Diagnostics
When the basics don’t pinpoint the cause, these advanced tools help find root causes—even if they initially cause more BSODs (by design). Proceed carefully.
Driver Verifier (powerful but risky)
Driver Verifier stresses drivers to flush out misbehaving code. It may cause additional BSODs—this is normal. Only target third‑party, non-Microsoft drivers.
Enable (elevated Command Prompt):
verifier /standard /driver *
Recommended safer approach:
- Run “verifier”
- Create custom settings > Select standard settings
- Select driver names from a list
- Check only third‑party drivers (uncheck Microsoft drivers)
- Reboot and use the system normally until a BSOD occurs
After a Verifier-induced BSOD:
- Analyze the new minidump. It might show VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION and point to the faulty driver.
Disable Driver Verifier:
verifier /reset
If you can’t boot:
- Boot to Safe Mode and run verifier /reset, or
- From WinRE Command Prompt:
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
Reboot, run verifier /reset, then remove safeboot:
bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot
Tips:
- Start with a subset of suspect drivers (GPU, storage, network, antivirus) to reduce risk.
- Do not leave Driver Verifier enabled long term.
Event Viewer and Reliability Monitor
- Open Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System:
- Look for “BugCheck” entries listing the code 0x50 and parameters.
- Check for disk errors, driver service crashes before the BSOD.
- Open Reliability Monitor (type “Reliability” in Start). Look for patterns around the crashes: recent app installs, drivers, Windows updates.
Hardware Stress/Diagnostics
- RAM: MemTest86 overnight is the gold standard. Any error means address it (replace/fix configuration).
- CPU: Run a modest Prime95 Small FFTs test for 15–30 minutes (monitor temperatures).
- GPU: Use FurMark or a game benchmark briefly—watch temps and stability.
- SSD/HDD: Run vendor diagnostics (Samsung Magician, WD Dashboard, Crucial Storage Executive). Replace any drive with failing SMART.
BIOS/UEFI Deep Dive
- Confirm memory voltage and timings match module specifications (CPU‑Z > SPD tab vs BIOS settings).
- Try disabling Fast Boot, CSM, or re-enabling Above 4G Decoding and Resize BAR only if supported and stable.
- If you had undervolting/overclocking enabled, return to stock.
When to Seek Professional Help
Consider professional diagnostics or hardware replacement if:
- MemTest86 shows errors even at stock settings.
- Storage SMART shows reallocated/pending sectors or vendor diagnostics fail.
- The BSOD persists across multiple clean Windows installs with minimal drivers.
- WinDbg, Driver Verifier, and Event Viewer implicate different components inconsistently—suggesting deeper motherboard or PSU issues.
- You’re uncomfortable updating BIOS, reseating components, or handling static-sensitive parts.
A competent technician can test with known-good RAM/PSU/GPU/SSD, isolating the failing part quickly.
Prevention Tips
Keep your system stable and avoid future PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA errors:
- Practice driver hygiene:
- Install drivers only from OEM or component vendor sites.
- Avoid driver “updaters” and unverified beta drivers on production systems.
- Manage the pagefile properly:
- Leave it on “Automatically manage.” Don’t disable it.
- Keep BIOS/UEFI and firmware updated—cautiously and only when needed.
- Make changes one at a time:
- After any major driver or firmware change, test stability before proceeding.
- Avoid mixing RAM kits:
- Buy a matched kit. If mixing, run at JEDEC speeds without XMP.
- Maintain good storage health:
- Monitor SMART, keep some free space (10–20%), avoid power loss during updates.
- Use System Restore and keep backups:
- Create restore points before big changes.
- Keep periodic system images and file backups.
- Keep Windows updated, but review optional driver updates before installing.
- Limit kernel-level tools:
- Run only one antivirus, avoid overlapping VPN/filter drivers.
Conclusion
The PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA BSOD (stop code 0x50) signals that something tried to access memory that should never fault—often a driver bug, bad RAM, or disk corruption. While “update drivers” is valid advice, it’s only a small part of the solution.
To fix this reliably:
- Stabilize the system (Safe Mode, backups, SFC/DISM/CHKDSK).
- Ensure a healthy pagefile, undo overclocks/XMP, remove suspect software.
- Update firmware and core platform drivers.
- Analyze minidumps with BlueScreenView or WinDbg.
- Run MemTest86 and vendor disk diagnostics.
- Use Driver Verifier to flush out bad drivers.
- If needed, perform an in-place repair or clean install; replace failing hardware.
Most BSODs are fixable with a systematic approach. Take it one step at a time—you’ve got this.
FAQ
Q: Can I ignore the PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA BSOD if it only happens once?
A: A single BSOD can be a fluke, but this specific stop code often indicates deeper issues. Run basic checks (SFC, DISM, CHKDSK) and monitor. If it happens again, follow the full troubleshooting steps.
Q: Does this error mean my RAM is failing?
A: Not always, but RAM is a common culprit. First undo overclocks/XMP and test with Windows Memory Diagnostic. If issues persist, run MemTest86 overnight. Any error means you should replace or reconfigure the memory.
Q: Can malware cause this BSOD?
A: Yes. Low-level rootkits and faulty filter drivers from malicious software can corrupt memory. Run a full scan with Microsoft Defender Offline or a trusted bootable antivirus.
Q: Will disabling the pagefile stop this error?
A: No—disabling the pagefile can make things worse and prevent dump creation. The nonpaged area should never page out; a pagefile isn’t the cause but is essential for memory management and debugging. Keep it enabled.
Q: Is a clean install always necessary?
A: No. Many cases are resolved by fixing drivers, firmware, RAM settings, or disk issues. Use a repair install (in-place upgrade) first. Reserve a clean install for persistent problems or when corruption is severe.
Commands Reference (copy/paste)
Run from an elevated Command Prompt:
System file check:
sfc /scannow
Repair Windows image:
DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Check disk (online scan):
chkdsk C: /scan
Schedule full disk repair on reboot:
chkdsk C: /f /r
Enable Safe Mode (from WinRE if needed):
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
Disable Safe Mode:
bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot
Driver Verifier enable (all third-party—use GUI for safer selection):
verifier /standard /driver *
Driver Verifier reset:
verifier /reset
Quick Checklist (for fast triage)
- Boot Safe Mode; back up data.
- Run SFC, DISM, and CHKDSK.
- Ensure pagefile is enabled; rebuild if needed.
- Undo XMP/overclock; load BIOS defaults.
- Remove third-party AV/VPN/encryption; roll back recent drivers.
- Update BIOS, chipset, storage, GPU, and SSD firmware.
- Analyze minidumps (BlueScreenView/WinDbg).
- Run MemTest86; replace bad RAM if errors.
- Check SMART; replace failing drives.
- Use Driver Verifier to catch bad drivers.
- Use System Restore or in-place repair; clean install only if necessary.
Following this roadmap will resolve the vast majority of PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA blue screens and help you identify the true root cause—not just patch symptoms.
