Error codes

0x000000FC

ATTEMPTED_EXECUTE_OF_NOEXECUTE_MEMORY

What it means

A driver tried to run code from a memory page Windows had marked as data only, so Data Execution Prevention stopped the machine.

Common causes

• A driver calling a damaged or wrong function pointer
• Memory corruption from bad RAM or an aggressive overclock
• Security software hooking deep into the kernel

How to fix it

1. Open the crash dump in WhoCrashed or BlueScreenView: it usually names the driver file that caused it (for example nvlddmkm.sys is the NVIDIA driver).
2. Update the graphics, chipset and network drivers from the maker's site (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel or your board vendor), not from a driver-updater tool.
3. Test the RAM: run Windows Memory Diagnostic (search mdsched) or MemTest86 from a USB stick. Any error means a stick or its speed setting is the problem.
4. Undo any overclock or undervolt, including XMP/EXPO memory profiles, and test at stock settings for a day.