Windows BSOD Error 0x000000C5 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Windows BSOD 0x000000C5 (DRIVER_CORRUPTED_EXPOOL) means a driver tried to access memory that was not mapped at the right time — specifically, pageable memory at a time when paging is not allowed. This is a driver-level programming error. It is usually caused by a buggy or outdated device driver, and sometimes by faulty RAM.

Affected Models

Windows 10
Windows 11
Windows 8.1
Windows 7

Common Causes

A device driver is trying to access pageable memory at an invalid IRQL (processor priority level)
A recently installed or updated device driver has a bug in its memory access code
Your RAM has a hardware fault causing intermittent memory errors
A third-party security or filter driver is accessing memory incorrectly
An older driver is not compatible with your current version of Windows

How to Fix It

Run Windows Memory Diagnostic to test your RAM. Press the Windows key, type 'Windows Memory Diagnostic', and open it. Select 'Restart now and check for problems.' Your PC will restart, run a RAM test, and show results when it finishes.

Faulty RAM is a common cause of this BSOD. The test takes about 10 to 20 minutes. If errors are found, one of your RAM sticks may need to be replaced.
Identify the driver from crash dump files. Open Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System and look for critical events at the time of each crash. Or use the free program WhoCrashed to read files from C:\Windows\Minidump.

The minidump files name the specific .sys driver that caused the crash. Once you know the driver name, search for it online to find out which program or device installed it.
Update all device drivers, especially graphics, network, and chipset drivers. For Nvidia GPUs, go to nvidia.com/drivers. For AMD, visit amd.com/support. For chipset drivers, go to your motherboard manufacturer's website.

This BSOD frequently appears after Windows Updates that break compatibility with existing drivers. Updated drivers from the hardware manufacturer often fix the issue.
Uninstall recently installed software — especially antivirus, VPN, or backup programs. Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Sort by install date. Uninstall anything installed around the time the crashes began.

Third-party programs that install kernel-level drivers are frequent causes of 0x000000C5. Security software in particular runs at high privilege levels where pageable memory access rules are strict.
Roll back any recently updated drivers using Device Manager. Right-click Start > Device Manager. Find the device with the problem driver, right-click it, select Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver.

If the crashes started after a driver update — whether from Windows Update or manual installation — rolling back to the previous version often stops the crashes immediately.

When to Call a Professional

If RAM tests pass and you cannot identify the driver from crash dumps, take the computer to a technician. They can run extended hardware diagnostics and analyze crash dump files professionally. If the error began after a Windows Update, Microsoft's support can investigate driver compatibility issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my RAM is bad?

Run Windows Memory Diagnostic or the more thorough MemTest86 (free bootable tool). MemTest86 runs outside of Windows, which makes it more reliable for catching subtle RAM errors. If errors are found, you can test individual sticks by removing one at a time to find the faulty one. Failing RAM should be replaced — it cannot be repaired.

This crash started after a Windows Update. What do I do?

Windows Updates sometimes push driver updates that conflict with your hardware. First, check Device Manager for any yellow warning icons — that shows you which driver Windows updated. You can roll back the driver by right-clicking the device > Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. You can also uninstall the specific Windows Update that caused the problem from Settings > Windows Update > View Update History > Uninstall updates.

Can overclocking cause this BSOD?

Yes. Overclocking your CPU, RAM, or GPU makes your hardware run beyond its official specifications. This can cause unstable memory behavior that triggers driver memory access errors. If you have any overclocks applied, reset everything to stock/default settings in your BIOS and see if the crashes stop.