High Operating Systems ✓ Solution Verified by Community (100+ upvotes)

How to fix error 0XC0000005 in Windows 11

Access violation — application tried to access invalid memory address.

✅ 85% success rate
👥 100+ users verified
📅 Updated: 2026-08-12
⏱️ 30 min read
Source: Community Report · How we verify fixes
Error Code0XC0000005
Affected SystemWindows 11 (Microsoft)
DifficultyHigh
Estimated Time30 min
Requires Admin Rights⚠️ Yes
Requires Reboot🔄 Yes

Solution Steps

  1. 1 Run the affected program as Administrator.
  2. 2 Disable Data Execution Prevention (DEP) for that specific program.
  3. 3 Run System File Checker: sfc /scannow.
  4. 4 Run DISM: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
  5. 5 Check for faulty RAM with Windows Memory Diagnostic.
  6. 6 Temporarily disable third-party antivirus.
  7. 7 Update all Visual C++ Redistributables and .NET Framework.
  8. 8 Check disk health with chkdsk.

Alternative Solutions

Method 2 (1 upvotes)

  1. Running sfc /scannow command in command prompt, since I've read that it might fix corrupted windows files. It found everything to be in order.
  2. Running memtest (3 passes), since I've read that it might be an issue related to RAM failing. I doubted that it would find something, since the issues were related to non-essential, for Windows execution, applications, and I wasn't getting any BSODs. It didn't find any issues either.
  3. Then, I thought that there may be some kind of virus infecting the computer. So, I created a Live Rescue USB stick with antivirus scanner on it, and booted the laptop from it, and ran full hard drive, In-Depth scan. No infected files detected.
  4. Then, I thought that there may be issues with hard drive itself. So I ran chkdsk C: /F /R . No issues.
  5. Then, I wanted to check S.M.A.R.T records of the hard drive, to see if it is failing. I downloaded a portable app which can check that. And then I realized that I can't run it, since it crashes, on startup like any other app. Then, I boot to safe mode, where, apparently, everything works fine, and a
  6. Then I tried to use tools such as Process Monitor to figure out what is happening before the applications crash. It had the same problem as any other application.
  7. Then I tried to run System Restore to restore to a point before those updates. After doing the restore, and a reboot of a laptop, it said that it wasn't able to complete the process to to the error code 0x80070005 which stands for General access denied error , so it is more or less the same as the o
  8. I started googling again, and found this article . But, since my Windows boot loader path doesn't contain xOsload.exe , but rather winload.efi , I assumed that it wouldn't help in my case.

Method 3 (0 upvotes)

  1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type 'eventvwr.msc' and press Enter. This opens the Event Viewer, which logs detailed information about system errors. Look under 'Windows Logs' → 'Application' for recent errors with source 'Application Error' and event ID 1000. The details will tell you which application crashed and the faulting module — this helps pinpoint the cause.
  2. Press Windows key + X and select 'Windows Terminal (Admin)' or 'Command Prompt (Admin)'. Type 'sfc /scannow' and press Enter. This System File Checker scans all protected system files and replaces corrupted ones. It's like a doctor checking your system's vital organs. Wait for it to complete — it may take 15-20 minutes. If it finds issues, it will fix them automatically.
  3. After SFC, run DISM. In the same admin terminal, type 'DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth' and press Enter. This repairs the Windows system image itself, which SFC relies on. Think of it as repairing the repair tool. It can take up to 30 minutes. This step is crucial if SFC couldn't fix everything.
  4. Update your graphics drivers. Press Win+X and select 'Device Manager'. Expand 'Display adapters', right-click your GPU, and select 'Update driver'. Choose 'Search automatically for drivers'. If Windows doesn't find a new one, go to your GPU manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download the latest driver for your model. Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers are a common cause of access violations in graphics-heavy apps.
  5. Check your RAM for errors. Press Windows key + R, type 'mdsched.exe', and press Enter. Choose 'Restart now and check for problems'. Windows will restart and run a memory test. This can take 30+ minutes. If errors are found, your RAM may be faulty and needs replacement. Faulty RAM can cause random access violations.
  6. If the error occurs with a specific program, try reinstalling it. First, uninstall it via Settings → Apps → Installed apps. Then download the latest version from the official website and install it. This ensures you have a clean, up-to-date copy without corrupted files.
  7. If the problem persists, perform a clean boot. Press Win+R, type 'msconfig', and press Enter. Go to the 'Services' tab, check 'Hide all Microsoft services', then click 'Disable all'. Go to the 'Startup' tab and click 'Open Task Manager'. Disable all startup items. Restart your PC. This starts Windows with minimal drivers and programs, helping you identify if a background service is causing the crash. If the error stops, re-enable services one by one to find the culprit.

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