Windows Windows 11 How-To

How to Fix ‘Page Fault in Nonpaged Area’ Error in Windows 11

10 ways to fix this annoying error in Windows 11

10 ways to fix this annoying error in Windows 11

by Parth Sawhney

Experiencing the ‘Page Fault in Nonpaged Area’ Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error on your Windows 11 system can be quite frustrating. This error typically occurs when a system service, application, or driver tries to access a memory page that isn’t available. Fortunately, several effective methods can help you resolve this issue and get your computer running smoothly again.

What causes the ‘Page Fault in Nonpaged Area’ error?

This error usually occurs when a system service, application, or driver attempts to access a memory page that should be present in the nonpaged area but isn’t. Memory faults can be classified as hard or soft faults. A hard fault happens when the memory page has been moved to the hard disk and needs to be retrieved, impacting performance. A soft fault occurs when the memory page is on standby and can be quickly loaded. Common causes include outdated or corrupt drivers, outdated Windows updates, or damaged system files.

1. Repair system files with SFC and DISM

Corrupted system files can lead to the ‘Page Fault in Nonpaged Area’ error. Running the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools can repair these files.

Open the Start Menu and type Terminal in the search bar. Right-click on the Terminal app and select Run as administrator.
If prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.
In the Terminal window, click the downward-facing chevron icon and select Command Prompt to open it in a new tab.
Type or paste the following command to restore the health of your system image, then press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
After the DISM scan completes, type or paste the following command to run the System File Checker, then press Enter:
SFC /scannow
Once the scan is finished, restart your computer and check if the error persists.

2. Update or roll back drivers

Outdated or corrupt drivers can trigger this error. Updating them or rolling back recent updates may resolve the issue.

To roll back a driver:

Open the Start Menu, type Device Manager, and select it from the results.
Locate the device category of the driver you recently updated. Double-click the category to expand it, then double-click the specific device to open its properties.
In the Properties window, navigate to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver. If this option is greyed out, rolling back isn’t available.

To update a driver:

In the device’s Properties window, click Update Driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers to let Windows find the latest driver. If you have the driver file on your computer, select Browse my computer for drivers and locate it.

Ensure you update or roll back drivers for NVMe storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, webcam, and graphics devices, as these are common sources of this error.

3. Run Windows Memory Diagnostics

Faulty RAM can cause this error. Running a memory diagnostic can help identify and fix memory issues.

Open the Start Menu, type Windows Memory Diagnostic, and select it from the results.
Click on Restart now and check for problems to begin the scan immediately, or select Check for problems the next time I start my computer to schedule it for later.

Your computer will restart, and the memory diagnostic tool will check your RAM for errors.

4. Run CHKDSK

Disk errors can contribute to the ‘Page Fault in Nonpaged Area’ error. Running CHKDSK can detect and fix disk-related issues.

Open the Start Menu and type Terminal. Right-click on the Terminal app and select Run as administrator.
If prompted by UAC, click Yes.
In the Terminal, click the chevron icon and select Command Prompt.
Type the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk /f
When prompted, type Y and press Enter to schedule the scan during the next restart.
Restart your computer to allow CHKDSK to scan and repair disk errors.

5. Update Windows

Keeping your system updated can fix known bugs and improve stability.

Open the Start Menu and click on Settings.
In the Settings window, select Windows Update from the left sidebar.
Click Check for updates. If updates are available, click Download & install.

Restart your computer after the updates are installed.

6. Reset Windows Update service

Resetting the Windows Update service can resolve issues caused by corrupted update components.

Open the Start Menu, type Terminal, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator.
Click Yes if prompted by UAC.
In the Terminal, click the chevron icon and select Command Prompt.
Type the following commands individually, pressing Enter after each, to stop the update services:
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
Press Windows + R, type C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore, and click OK.
In the opened folder, press Ctrl + A to select all files and folders, then press Shift + Delete to permanently delete them.
Return to the Command Prompt and type the following commands to restart the services:
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start cryptsvc

7. Disable automatic paging file size

Incorrect paging file settings can cause memory-related errors. Adjusting these settings might help.

Open the Start Menu and click on Settings.
Ensure System is selected in the left sidebar.
Click on About from the right pane.
Under Related settings, click Advanced system settings. This will open a new window.
In the System Properties window, under the Advanced tab, click Settings in the Performance section.
Go to the Advanced tab in the Performance Options window and click Change under Virtual Memory.
Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives. Select your system drive, choose System managed size, and click OK.

You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

8. Roll back to a system restore point

Reverting your system to a previous state can eliminate recent changes causing the error.

Open the Start Menu, type Control Panel, and select it.
Click on Recovery.
Select Open System Restore.
Click Next.
Choose a restore point from before the error occurred and click Next.
Confirm your restore point and click Finish to start the process.

Your system will revert to the selected point, potentially resolving the error.

9. Restore to factory settings

Resetting your PC can fix persistent issues by restoring default settings.

Open the Start Menu and click on Settings.
In Settings, select System.
Click on Recovery.
Under Recovery options, click Reset PC.
Choose Keep my files to retain personal data or Remove everything to erase all data.
Select Cloud download or Local reinstall. Note that cloud download requires an internet connection and may use over 4 GB of data.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset.

10. Fresh install Windows 11

If all else fails, performing a clean installation of Windows 11 can resolve the error. Ensure you back up important data before proceeding.

Download the Windows 11 ISO file or create a bootable USB drive. If using the ISO, navigate to its location, right-click, and select Mount.
Open the mounted drive and double-click setup.exe to start the installation.
Click Next and accept the license terms.
Choose Nothing when asked what to keep to perform a fresh install.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. After the installation, you’ll need to go through the initial setup process (OOBE).

During setup, you’ll select your region, keyboard layout, connect to the internet, and sign in with your Microsoft account.

By following these methods, you should be able to resolve the ‘Page Fault in Nonpaged Area’ error on your Windows 11 computer and restore your system’s stability.

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