5 Ways to Overcome Kernel Mode Heap Corruption

 Are you currently experiencing a sudden crash marked with a blue screen with the stop code KERNEL_MODE HEAP CORRUPTION on your PC? If yes, you don't need to panic because in this post, We will show you how to fix kernel mode heap corruption which causes BSOD.

What is Kernel Mode Heap Corruption?

In your computer's kernel operation mode, programs have unrestricted access to basic hardware components. When kernel mode heap corruption occurs, it means that an error in the running program's code has changed the contents of the data stack. This also means that the heap's allocator handle has been affected.

What Causes Kernel Mode Heap Corruption?

This error mostly occurs when the PC is overloaded or used for a long time. Most often, it has to do with the computer's system drivers. However, users have identified many other conditions that cause the problem.

1. Hardware Damage

A faulty hardware component on your computer, such as faulty RAM, can trigger the error.

2. Driver Problems

According to reports by some Windows 10 users, the problem started after they updated their system drivers. In this case, all you need to do is cancel the update. But it's also possible that the driver is outdated.

3. Software Compatibility Issues

Compatibility issues between certain software on your PC can cause unstable system behavior, causing BSOD errors.

4. Graphics Card

Maybe you are trying to open some graphic intensive software that is too heavy for your Graphics Card to support.

5. Corrupt Files

If there are corrupted files on your system, they can also trigger the kernel mode heap corruption issue. Note that you will have to diagnose the cause of the problem using the built-in Event viewer. Follow the guide below to do this:

1. Press Windows key + R and press Enter to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type “eventvwr” (without the quotes) in the Run dialog box and press Enter.

3. In the Event viewer window, navigate to Windows logs>System.

4. In the System window, find the Kernel Mode Heap Corruption BSOD log from the table list.

5. Read the log description that is displayed under General and Details. The logs should describe the cause of the problem, especially the Event ID and Source information

How to Overcome Kernel Mode Heap Corruption

Usually, a BSOD error will deny you normal access to Windows. So, you may need to run your OS in Safe Mode to apply the fixes below. Use the steps below to boot Windows in Safe Mode.

1. Press the Power button and hold down the shift key while the computer boots.

2. Navigate Troubleshoot>Advanced options>Startup settings.

3. Then, press F5 to boot into Safe Mode with Networking.

1. Undo Your Latest Graphics Card Driver Update

If you experience problems after updating your Graphics Card, roll back the update. Here's how to do it:

Undo Latest Graphics Card Driver Update

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type “devmgmt.msc” (without the quotes) and press Enter to open Device Manager.

3. Navigate to the list of items in the Device Manager window and expand Display adapters.

4. Find the driver (Intel or VMware) from the drop-down list and right click it.

5. Select Properties from the context menu.

6. From the Driver tab in the Properties screen, select Roll Back Driver. (Note: if the Roll Back Driver option is greyed out, it means there is no recent driver update).

7. On the next screen, choose an appropriate response to the question, “Why are you rolling back.” Click Yes.

8. Now, restart your computer to complete the process.

Check to see if the issue is resolved now. Otherwise, try using the next method.

2. Reinstall Graphics Card Drivers

Reinstall Graphics Card Drivers

1. Starting with the same steps as in Method 1, right click on the driver and select Uninstall device.

2. On the next screen, check the box next to “delete the driver software for this device” (if available).

3. On the next screen, click Uninstall.

4. Restart the computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

The problem may be resolved now, but you should update the drivers again if the fix doesn't fix the problem.

3. Update Graphics Card Drivers

Update Graphics Card Drivers

1. Continuing with the same steps as in Method 1, right-click on the driver and select the Update Driver option.

2. On the next screen, select Search automatically to update the driver automatically.

3. If you are not prompted with any updates, go to the manufacturer's site and download the driver updates manually.

4. Uninstall the current driver and reinstall the new one by clicking on the .exe file.

Note that installing new drivers will not solve the problem if they are not compatible with your device's system specifications. You have to identify the right driver that suits your device. To solve this problem, we recommend that you use third-party applications such as driver booster or driverpack. This application will help find and match your device with the appropriate Graphics Card driver.

4. Repair Corrupted Files

There are two common ways to repair corrupted files: using System File Checker (SFC) or Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM).

Using SFC

Run SFC

1. Press Windows key + R and type “cmd” (without the quotes) in the Run dialog box.

2. Hold Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt in Admin mode.

3. Type the following code in Command Prompt: sfc /scannow.

4. Press Enter to run the code. The SFC tool will start scanning all system files.

During the scan, this tool will repair all the corrupted files and recover the lost ones. When the process is complete, restart the computer for the changes to take effect. If the problem is still not resolved after the steps above, run DISM.

Using DISM

Deployment Image Servicing and Management

1. Repeating Steps 1-3 as above, type the following code in the Command Prompt: dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth.

2. Press Enter to run the code.

3. DISM.exe will start scanning the system memory to fix any corrupted files on your computer.

4. When the scanning process is complete, restart the computer for the changes to take effect.

Try running a graphic intensive program to see if Kernel mode heap corruption reoccurs. If so, don't worry. Proceed to the next method.

5. Diagnose RAM

RAM is the component that is most likely to cause problems compared to other hardware components. To check for this possibility, use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to check RAM. Follow the steps below:

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

1. Press Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog box.

2. Type “mdsched.exe” (without the quotes) in the Run dialog box and press Enter to start Windows Memory Diagnostics (WMD).

3. In the WMD window, select Restart now and check for problems (recommended) to check the memory.

4. After the computer has rebooted, a screen with a blue background will appear with details of the checking process.

5. If after the process is complete, an error has been detected. Suppose some problem is found, you have to replace your RAM.

Another way to diagnose RAM is to use MemTest86. This software can help diagnose and test RAM to find errors that cause system instability.

Conclusion

So those are some ways to deal with kernel mode heap corruption. Make sure you follow the steps of the method correctly and in order. Admin hopes that one of the methods above can solve your problem.