KERNEL_MODE_HEAP_CORRUPTION
What is this error?
The kernel detected heap corruption in kernel-mode memory. A driver or kernel component corrupted the heap memory allocator.
Common causes
- buggy kernel driver
- antivirus driver conflict
- GPU driver bug
- overclocking instability
- malware
How to fix it
- Check minidump for faulting driver
- update all kernel drivers
- uninstall antivirus
- 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
Bug check 0x0000013A (KERNEL_MODE_HEAP_CORRUPTION) means a kernel driver corrupted the heap — a critical memory management structure. This is similar to BAD_POOL_HEADER but specifically targets heap corruption.
Common after driver updates or when antivirus software interacts badly with other kernel components.
How to fix it:
- Check the minidump in C:\Windows\Minidump for the faulting driver name — this tells you exactly which driver corrupted the heap
- Update the faulting driver, or roll it back if the crash started after an update
- Update ALL kernel-level drivers: GPU, network, chipset, storage
- Temporarily uninstall antivirus software — antivirus kernel hooks frequently corrupt the heap
- Disable overclocking (CPU, RAM, GPU) — memory instability can corrupt kernel heap
- Run 'sfc /scannow' to repair corrupted system files
- Run memtest86 — bad RAM can cause random heap corruption
- If the faulting driver is ntoskrnl.exe, it's likely a secondary effect — check other system events around the same time
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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