First check the recently installed hardware or driver, remove new hardware and roll back the problematic driver; 2. Run memory diagnostic tools such as mdsched.exe or MemMemTest86 to detect RAM failures; 3. Update or reinstall key drivers such as motherboard chipset, storage and graphics cards; 4. Use chkdsk and CrystalDiskInfo to check hard disk health; 5. Run sfc /scannow and DISM commands to repair system files; 6. Enter the BIOS to restore default settings to eliminate instability caused by overclocking; 7. Install the latest Windows updates to fix system vulnerabilities; 8. Use BlueScreenView or WinDbg to analyze Minidump file location fault modules; 9. Execute a clean boot through msconfig to troubleshoot third-party software conflicts; 10. If the problem remains the same, finally choose to reset or reinstall the Windows system. PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA blue screen is usually caused by hardware or driver problems. The RAM and storage devices should be checked first, and then the driver and system integrity should be checked gradually. Combined with the dump file to accurately locate the root cause, and finally solve the stubborn faults through system reinstallation.

The "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA" Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in Windows usually points to a serious system-level issue — often related to hardware, drivers, or memory. It means the system tried to access data in a memory area that shouldn't be paged out (nonpaged area), but the data wasn't there or access was invalid.

Here's how to fix it step by step:

1. Check for Recently Installed Hardware or Drivers

This error often appears after installing faulty hardware or incompatible drivers.

• Unplug any recently added hardware (USB devices, external drives, new RAM, etc.).
• If you installed new drivers (especially graphics, network, or storage drivers), roll them back :
  1. Boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart > press 4).
  2. Open Device Manager .
  3. Look for devices with a yellow warning icon.
  4. Right-click and choose "Roll Back Driver" if available.

Tip: Faulty or incompatible SSD/HDD drivers or NVMe drivers are common culprits.

2. Run a Memory (RAM) Diagnostic Test

Faulty RAM is a frequent cause of this BSOD.

• Press Windows R , type mdsched.exe , and press Enter.
• Choose "Restart now and check for problems" .
• After reboot, the system will test RAM and report errors.
• If errors are found, test each RAM stick individually and replace the faulty one.

Alternatively, use MemTest86 (more through):

• Download and create a bootable USB with MemTest86.
• Boot from it and let it run for several passes.
• Any errors means you likely need to replace the RAM.

3. Update or Reinstall Drivers

Outdated or corrupt drivers — especially storage and chipset drivers — can trigger this error.

• Go to your PC or motherboard manufacturer's website.
• Download the latest:
  • Chipset drivers
  • Storage/NVMe drivers
  • Network and graphics drivers
• Install them manually.

Avoid third-party driver updaters — they often make things worse.

Use Windows Update to let Microsoft handle compatible driver updates automatically.

4. Check Your Hard Drive or SSD

Disk corruption or hardware failure can cause memory access issues.

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Run:

   chkdsk /f /r

  (Say yes to schedule on next reboot.)

• Restart and let the scan complete.

Also check drive health:

• Use CrystalDiskInfo (free tool) to view SMART status.
• Replace the drive if signs of failure (bad sectors, reallocated sectors, etc.).

5. Scan for Corrupt System Files

Corrupted Windows system files can cause memory access problems.

Run these commands in an elevated Command Prompt :

 sfc /scannow

Wait for completion. If issues are found and fixed, reboot.

Then run:

 DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This repairs the Windows image. Reboot again.

6. Disable Overclocking

• Overclocked RAM, CPU, or GPU can cause memory instability.
• Enter BIOS/UEFI and reset to default settings .
• Test if the BSOD still occurs.

Even milk overclocks can destabilize memory access and trigger nonpaged area faults.

7. Check for Windows Updates

Microsoft often releases patches for known driver and kernel bugs.

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update .
• Install all pending updates.
• Reboot.

8. Analyze the Minidump File

Windows saves crash dumps (usually in C:\Windows\Minidump\ ) that can reveal the faulty driver or module.

• Download BlueScreenView (by NirSoft) or use WinDbg from Microsoft.
• Open the latest dump file.
• Look for the driver or module listed at the top of the fault stack.
• Uninstall or update that specific driver.

Example: If nvlddmkm.sys appears, it's related to NVIDIA graphics — update your GPU driver.

9. Perform a Clean Boot (Identify Software Conflicts)

Sometimes third-party services interfere with system memory.

• Press Windows R , type msconfig , and hit Enter.
• Under Services , check "Hide all Microsoft services" , then click "Disable all" .
• Go to Startup tab, open Task Manager, and disable all startup items.
• Restart.

If the problem stops, re-enable services/startup apps in groups to find the culprit.

10. Reset or Reinstall Windows (Last Resort)

If nothing works:

• Use Reset this PC (Settings > System > Recovery).
• Choose "Remove everything" and reinstall Windows cleanly.

This eliminates software corruption and driver conflicts.

Bottom line:
"PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA" is often hardware or driver-related. Start with RAM and storage checks, then move to drivers and system files. Use crash dumps to pinpoint the cause. Don't ignore hardware — it's usually the root.

Basically, tackle the easy software fixes first, but don't skip the hardware diagnostics.

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