Windows BSOD Error 0x00000050 — PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

The 0x00000050 blue screen means Windows tried to read a piece of memory that was not available. This is called PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA. It is commonly caused by faulty RAM, a corrupted driver, or a failing hard drive.

Affected Models

Windows 10
Windows 11
Windows 8.1
Windows Server

Common Causes

One or more RAM sticks in your computer are faulty or failing
A driver is corrupted or incompatible with your version of Windows
The Windows paging file (virtual memory) is corrupted
A recently installed program is causing memory conflicts
Your hard drive has bad sectors that are interfering with memory paging

How to Fix It

Run Windows Memory Diagnostic. Type 'Windows Memory Diagnostic' in the Start menu search and choose 'Restart now and check for problems.'

This test runs before Windows starts and checks your RAM for errors. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Update your drivers. Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager) and update any drivers that show a yellow warning triangle.

Also visit your computer manufacturer's support website to download the latest drivers for your specific model.
Reset the Windows paging file. Go to System Properties > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced tab > Virtual Memory > Change. Uncheck 'Automatically manage,' click 'No paging file,' click Set, restart, then re-enable it.

This recreates the paging file fresh, which fixes corruption in the virtual memory system.
Run Check Disk to scan for hard drive errors. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type: chkdsk C: /f /r

Type Y when prompted and restart. The scan runs before Windows starts and may take 1 to 3 hours.
If the error started recently, use System Restore to go back to a working state. Search 'Create a restore point' in the Start menu and click System Restore.

Pick a restore point from a date before the blue screens started. Your personal files will not be affected.

When to Call a Professional

If the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool finds errors in your RAM, you will need to replace the faulty memory stick. A technician can identify exactly which stick is bad if you have multiple. RAM replacement is one of the cheaper repairs, usually costing $20 to $60 for the part.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is nonpaged memory?

Your computer has two types of memory: physical RAM and virtual memory on your hard drive. Nonpaged memory is the part that must always stay in physical RAM. When Windows cannot find data that should be there, it crashes with this error.

How do I know if my RAM is bad?

The Windows Memory Diagnostic tool is the easiest way to check. Signs of bad RAM include frequent blue screens, random freezes, and programs crashing for no reason. If the diagnostic finds errors, you need to replace the faulty RAM stick.

Can too little RAM cause this error?

Having low RAM does not directly cause this error. But if your computer is constantly running out of memory, it puts more stress on the paging system. Upgrading your RAM can improve stability if you frequently run many programs at once.