ATTEMPTED_EXECUTE_OF_NOEXECUTE_MEMORY (0xFC)
What is this error?
An attempt was made to execute code from a memory region marked as non-executable. Often a sign of memory corruption or exploit.
Common causes
- driver bug
- DEP violation
- memory corruption
- malware exploit attempt
- faulty RAM
How to fix it
- Update drivers
- scan for malware
- test RAM
- ensure DEP is enabled in BIOS
Too many steps? Crashless can diagnose this automatically — checks your drivers, temps, VRAM, and 400+ known error patterns.
Get free AI diagnosis Detailed analysis
Bug check 0x000000FC (ATTEMPTED_EXECUTE_OF_NOEXECUTE_MEMORY) means code execution was attempted in a non-executable memory region. DEP (Data Execution Prevention) or NX bit caught this attempt. This can be a driver bug (the driver jumped to a data buffer instead of code), memory corruption (RAM error flipped a bit in a pointer), or a malware exploit being blocked. Fixes:
- Run a full malware scan with Malwarebytes and Windows Defender offline scan,
- Check minidump for the faulting module,
- Update all drivers,
- Run memtest86 — a single bit flip in RAM can cause a pointer to land in non-executable memory,
- Ensure DEP/NX is enabled in BIOS (it should be — don't disable it as a 'fix'),
- If the faulting address is in a specific driver: update or remove that driver.
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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