How to Fix the Windows Stop Code Memory Management BSOD
What Is Windows Memory Management?
Memory Management is very important to keep your operating system working very nicely. Memory management is the function that handles your system memory usage. Properly handling memory management, however, is very important to your system health.
When memory management goes wrong, your system would start showing BSODs at regular intervals. Here’s why:
Memory management essentially tracks every memory location on your system, regardless of status. It manages the transition of memory and processes between your RAM and physical memory during execution, deciding how much memory to allocate (and how much is available for allocation). When you close a program, it reallocates that memory to other processes or marks it available for use.
Unfortunately, memory management isn’t absolved from system errors, just like the rest of your system. And when it does crash, it takes your system with it.
The Memory Management Blue Screen Error
Simply put, a memory management BSOD means there’s been a critical memory management error. There are several well-known causes of memory management errors:
- Faulty RAM
- Issues with new hardware, such as a graphics card
- Faulty drivers
- Software issues, including corrupt system and operating system files
- Disk errors
At times, your system might recover after a simple reset. If you encounter a Memory Management BSOD, restart your system and see if the error returns. If not, there is a chance it was a one-off.
So how do you fix it? Here are a few things you can try.
1. Update Windows 10
The first thing to do is to check that Windows 10 is completely up to date. Outdated system files can cause unexpected errors. Checking for a pending update is a quick and easy way to figure out if that is what is causing your issue.
Hit Windows key + I to open the Settings panel. Now, head to Update & Security then checks under Windows Update for any pending updates. If there is an update, save any important files, then press Restart now. Your system will reboot during the process.
2. Run Windows 10 Memory Diagnostic Tool
You can use the integrated Windows Memory Diagnostic utility to check if your system RAM is working correctly. The Memory Diagnostic tool runs after a system reboot. It checks your system memory for errors and logs the scan to a text file for analysis.
Type Windows Memory Diagnostic into your Start menu search bar and select the best match. You have two options: reboot immediately and run the utility, or set the utility to run after your next reboot. As you are trying to fix your memory management BSODs, save any important documents, and reboot your system immediately. The Windows Memory Diagnostic runs immediately after reboot.
The log file, however, isn’t apparent after you boot back into Windows 10. Press Windows key + X and select Event Viewer from the power menu. In the Event Viewer, select Event Viewer (Local) > Windows Logs > System. Then, in the right-hand column select Find and type MemoryDiagnostic into the box. Hit Find Next. Your diagnostic results will display at the bottom of the window.
From there, you need to investigate any specific errors the Windows Memory Diagnostic throws up.
3. Update Your Drivers
Another quick and handy potential fix is to update your system drivers. New software or hardware may come with new drivers, and your system might not have got the message. Driver faults are less common than in the days of computing yore, especially as Windows 10 now handles driver updates, by and large. But that’s not to say they don’t happen.
Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings panel, then select Update & Security > View update history. You can find any driver updates here. Now, type device manager in the Start menu search bar and select the best match. Head down the list and check for an error symbol. If there is nothing, your driver status is likely not the source of the issue.
4. Run CHKDSK
CHKDSK is a Windows system tool that verifies the file system and with certain settings, fixes issues as it runs. You run CHKDSK from the Command Prompt, and it has a bunch of nifty features.
Type command prompt in your Start menu search bar, then right-click the best match and select Run as administrator. (Alternatively, press Windows key + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.)
Next, type chkdsk /r and press Enter. The command will scan your system for errors and fix any issues along the way.checking!
5. Reset Windows 10 (Last Option)
Okay, still tearing your hair out? Sometimes nothing other than a Windows 10 Reset will completely fix your problem. Windows 10 Reset replaces your system files with a completely fresh set of files and theoretically clears lingering issues relating to the Memory Management error while keeping the majority of your important files intact.
Head to Settings > Update and Security > Recovery, then under Reset, this PC select Get started. Your system restarts as soon as you hit the button, so make sure you backup any important files beforehand. Your system will restart, then you may select Keep my files or Remove everything.
