Access Violation 0xc0000005
What is this error?
The application tried to read or write memory it doesn't have access to. A general crash that can indicate software bugs, corrupted files, or hardware failure.
Common causes
- game bug or corrupted game files
- faulty RAM
- corrupted system files
- incompatible mods
- overclocking instability
How to fix it
- Verify game files
- test RAM with memtest86
- run sfc /scannow
- remove mods
- disable overclock
Too many steps? Crashless can diagnose this automatically — checks your drivers, temps, VRAM, and 400+ known error patterns.
Get free AI diagnosis Detailed analysis
"Exception code: 0xc0000005 (Access Violation)" means a program tried to access memory it shouldn't. This is a general-purpose crash code that can have many causes, from game bugs to failing hardware.
You'll see this in Windows Event Viewer under Application Error (Event ID
1000) when any game crashes.
How to fix it:
- Verify game files — corrupted game data is the #1 cause. Use Steam/Epic's verify integrity feature
- Remove all mods — mods that modify memory (ENB, ReShade, cheat tools) commonly cause access violations
- Test your RAM — run Windows Memory Diagnostic (search in Start Menu) or memtest86 overnight. Bad RAM causes random access violations across different programs
- Run 'sfc /scannow' in an admin Command Prompt to check for corrupted Windows system files
- Disable any overclock (CPU, RAM, GPU) — unstable overclocks cause memory corruption
- Update your GPU driver — driver bugs can cause access violations in the GPU driver's memory space
- Temporarily disable antivirus — some inject DLLs into games which can cause conflicts
- If the crash always happens at the same point in a game, it's likely a game bug — check the developer's forums for patches
When to seek help
If this error keeps happening after trying the fixes above, it may point to a deeper hardware or system issue. Consider professional help if:
- The crash occurs across multiple games or applications
- You see the same error after a clean Windows install
- Your PC is less than a year old (could be a warranty issue)
- You smell burning or hear unusual sounds from your PC
Or let Crashless do the deep analysis for you -- our AI checks drivers, temps, event logs, and 400+ known patterns automatically.
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