My computer first crashed with a Driver Verifier DMA Violation (0xE6) while I was playing a game. Since then, the crashes have become unpredictable: sometimes the system gets stuck in a boot loop, while other times Windows runs for about five minutes before crashing. I've installed the latest Windows updates, performed a clean graphics-driver installation, and disconnected my peripherals, but the problem continues. What should I try next to identify and fix the faulty driver?
2 Answers
This can happen when an outdated driver tries to access memory directly. Disconnect any unnecessary USB devices, hubs, and other external hardware, then reboot and see whether the crashes stop. If the issue remains, try Safe Mode and update or temporarily disable the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi drivers, since older versions of those drivers can sometimes trigger this error.
The stop code alone usually isn’t enough to identify the problematic driver. You’ll need to collect the crash dump files, especially if the computer can stay running long enough to create them. If it crashes immediately, boot into Safe Mode, then inspect the dumps with WinDbg or have someone analyze them. The dump should point to the driver responsible.
Where should I look for the dump files, and what’s the best way to share the relevant information for analysis?