Remove the “ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY”

Blue Screen errors are terrifying for a lot of reasons. For starters, they take over your screen and block access to your computer. As if that’s not enough pain, you might lose unsaved work because your PC must restart for the blue screen to go away. In many cases, though, you might reboot your system, only to find the BSOD all over your monitor again.

Blue Screen of Death errors occur for many reasons. However, they primarily indicate that Windows encountered a fatal error that can’t be resolved unless you perform a reboot. The BSOD suspends every process and denies you access to your system to prevent potentially permanent damage.

One of the many scary BSODs that Windows users encounter is the ATTEMPTED_EXECUTE_OF_NOEXECUTE_MEMORY BSOD. Like other Blue Screen errors, this BSOD can come up at any time, without warning, which is one of the reasons why they are so feared. This particular error is connected to memory problems, but other underlying system glitches can trigger it.

If you’re encountering this Blue Screen error, you don’t have to panic anymore, as we’ve put some fixes together that will help you resolve the issue once and for all. We’ll enlighten you about the problem, educate you on the main causes of the error, and explain the different solutions to the annoying issue.

What Is the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY BSOD?

The ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY error is a BSOD that comes up when Windows encounters a fatal memory-related error, warning users that they cannot use their computers anymore until they perform a reboot. The issue happens in different Windows versions, from Windows XP to Windows 10. The BSOD comes with a lot of jargon in Windows XP and Windows 7, but the screen is less frightening and intimidating in Windows 10, although the screen still rings the same alarm. It comes with an error code of 0x000000fc, but this might not appear in Windows 10.

What Causes the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY Blue Screen Error?

The main reason you see this blue screen is because Windows encounters a fatal error while trying to process a task associated with your system memory. That said, you should understand that the main causes of the BSOD are wide-ranging. If you notice that the blue screen shows up when you’re trying to perform a certain action, such as play a game or run another application, then you should know that the problem is connected to that particular process.

We’ll show you the root issues that trigger the error so that you can make an informed decision while trying to fix the issue and also know how to avoid such a problem in the future.

Driver Problems

One of the main causes of Blue Screen errors on Windows machines is device driver issues. Every device on your computer, from your network card to your monitor, has its driver software that serves as a communication channel between it and your operating system. If any driver happens to be corrupt, outdated, or missing, Windows will likely crash and produce a blue screen when the service of the driver is required.

Problematic System Files

There are many Windows system files associated with different processes on your computer. These files need to be intact if Windows will work without issues. It could be that you mistakenly deleted a system file, causing the error to occur. The file might also be corrupted for a number of other reasons. For example, improper shutdown or program crash might cause some system files to become corrupt.

Malware

Many Windows problems can be traced back to malicious programs, and this BSOD is no exception. Malware can corrupt any file and program on your system, from system files and processes to drivers and third-party applications. It could also be that the actions of the malware program are causing Windows to sense imminent danger, prompting the OS to produce the error.

Hardware Problem

Normally, Blue Screen errors advise users to check for hardware errors. This is because faulty devices trigger most blue screens. Although this could be driver-related, there are cases where a bad piece of hardware triggered the STOP code when Windows tried communicating with it, despite it having a healthy driver software.

Faulty RAM

As the BSOD message implies, the issue is connected with your system memory. If any of your RAM sticks is bad or there are glitches and clashes in your system memory, it explains why you’re experiencing this frustrating issue. Many users were able to find out if their RAM sticks were bad and resolved the problem by replacing the component.

How to Fix the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY Blue Screen Error

This Blue Screen error can be quite tricky to resolve due to the nature of its underlying causes. However, the fixes in this article have worked for many users, and we’re confident they’ll prove to be worthy solutions to your problem as well. You should note, though, that there are different methods for resolving the issue, some of which will not work for you.

If you know the cause of the problem by now, jump to the solution that fixes that particular issue. For example, if the blue screen takes over your monitor while you’re trying to play a game or perform a graphics-intensive task, such as video editing, the problem might be connected to your display driver.

If you still can’t place a finger on what the particular underlying issue might be, you can still get rid of the BSOD. All you have to do is apply the fixes in this article one after the other, and hopefully, you’ll be able to resolve the problem before you get to the last solution.

Install Pending Windows Updates

The first step you should take as a Windows 10 user is to install every available update for your system. There might be certain programs or drivers that require the most recent system files and dependencies to operate properly.

Updating Windows isn’t a difficult task. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and click on the cog icon or punch the Windows logo and I keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
2. After the home screen of the Settings application appears, click on the Update & Security option.
3. Under Windows Update, click on the “Check for updates” button.
4. If there are pending updates for your system, allow Windows Update to download them.
5. Once the download completes, let Windows to restart your computer and install the updates, even though you’re in your active hours.
6. Wait for the process to finish and check if the problem has been resolved.

Perform a Full Malware Scan

When malware infects your system, lots of problems come up. Malware programs mess with system processes and might replace some system files. You can make sure this isn’t the issue by performing a full scan. The malicious entity might be sitting deep and escaping detection by quick scans.

You can use a competent malware-removal tool, such as Auslogics Anti-Malware to get rid of the program on your system. Head over to your scan options in your third-party antivirus program and initiate a full scan. This might take a while to complete, so, you have to exercise a bit of patience.

If you don’t have a third-party antivirus program installed on your computer, that means you’re protected by the native Virus & Threat Protection tool in Windows Defender. The steps below will show you how to run a full malware scan, using the tool:

1. Summon the Settings application, using the Windows + I combination.
2. Once the Settings home screen appears, click on the Update & Security option.
3. Go to the left pane of the Update & Security page and click on Windows Security.
4. Now, go to the right pane and click on the Virus & Threat Protection option under Protection Areas.
5. The Virus & Threat Protection tab of Windows Security will now open.
6. Click on Scan Options.
7. Once you get to the Scan Options screen, select the radio button for Full Scan and click on Scan Now.
8. The tool will now begin to scan your entire system for malware.
9. Once the scan completes, allow the Virus & Threat Protection tool to remove any malicious entity that it finds.

Check if Your RAM is Faulty

The problem might be caused by faulty RAM or other issues related to your system memory. You have to troubleshoot your RAM to make sure it’s not the reason you’re experiencing the blue screen. If you find out that your RAM stick is bad, you have to replace it. This solution has helped many Windows users resolve the Blue Screen error once and for all.

You can use the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostics tool to check your RAM for issues. Here are the steps you should follow:

1. Press the Windows logo and S keys together to launch the search utility next to Start.
2. Type “Control Panel” (no quotes) in the text field and click on Control Panel in the results.
3. Click on the System and Security option once you get to the first page of Control Panel.
4. Scroll down in the right pane of the System and Security window and click on Administrative Tools.
5. A File Explorer window will now open, showing a list of shortcuts to different Windows administrative tools.
6. Go to the bottom of the list and double-click the Windows Memory Diagnostic shortcut.
7. The Windows Memory Diagnostic mini-window will now show up.
8. Click on the first option, which reads, “Restart now and check for problems (recommended).”
9. Your system will now reboot, and the tool will check your RAM for problems.
10. After the scan, you’ll be notified if there are issues with your memory.

If the tool reports that your RAM has issues, you can find out which particular stick is the problem (if you’re using more than one) by opening up your system, taking out one stick, and using the other to start your computer. If you see the blue screen with one of your RAM sticks, replace the component, and the problem should be resolved.

Update Your Device Drivers

A hardware driver could be the reason you’re encountering the blue screen. This is one of the main reasons for the error. Your operating system communicates with devices that are connected to your computer through their driver software. If this piece of software is missing, corrupt or out of date, communication failure between Windows and the device might occur, resulting in the Blue Screen error.

To fix this problem, you have to find out if you currently have any faulty device driver. Once you’ve identified the faulty driver, you have to replace or update it. There are different ways to fix your drivers, and we’ll be walking you through each procedure.

Update Your Drivers, Using a Dedicated Third-Party Program

There are different third-party programs designed to find out problematic device drivers and update them. One of the best of these programs is Auslogics Driver Updater. The app will scan your current device drivers and update any that is corrupt, missing, or outdated.

Using the tool will eliminate the stress of updating all your drivers one by one, as it’ll leave out drivers that are up to date and without issues. Follow the steps below to use Auslogics Driver Updater:

1. Download and install the program.
2. Select your preferred language on the first prompt in the installation wizard and follow the subsequent steps to complete the installation process.
3. Launch the program and click on the Start Scan button.
4. The program will now scan your system for problem drivers.
5. Click on the Update button to prompt the tool to download and install the latest versions of all the drivers it finds to have issues.
6. Once the tool completes the updates, reboot your PC and check if the issue persists.

Update Your Drivers, Using Device Manager

Device Manager is the main hub for managing all the devices installed on your system. The program is a built-in tool for updating drivers. Normally, Device Manager indicates faulty or missing drivers by placing a yellow exclamation mark next to the device with the problem driver. You can then update the indicated driver. Follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the Windows key, then punch the R key to call up the Run dialog box.
2. Type “devmgmt.msc” (no quotes) into the Run text box and click OK.
3. Once Device Manager opens, right-click any device with a yellow exclamation mark, then click on Update Driver.
4. Select the first option in the Update Driver window to allow Windows to search for the driver’s latest version on the Internet and download and install it.
5. If the automatic search doesn’t work, you can download the driver from the website of the device’s manufacturer, then go to the Update Driver window for the device and click on “Browse my computer for driver software.” Click on the Browse button on the next screen and point Windows to the folder where you downloaded the driver.
6. Once the update completes, reboot your PC and check for the issue.

One thing you should note about Device Manager is that the program doesn’t always indicate problem drivers, especially outdated ones. You might have to manually update every driver on your system to make sure you don’t have an obsolete driver.

Run the System File Checker

One of the issues that cause the BSOD is corrupt or missing system files. Windows relies on certain system files to perform different operations. If any of these files become corrupt or go missing for any reason, the operating system will produce the error whenever it tries to summon it. You might have deleted the file by mistake, or a malware program might have tampered with it. Whatever the case, you have to replace the file as long as it’s faulty.

The System File Checker (SFC) tool is the built-in utility designed to detect and replace faulty system files. Before you run the tool on Windows 10, however, you need to run the inbox Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. DISM will download the files required by the System File Checker to perform the replacement.

The guide below will walk you through the process of checking and replacing faulty system files, using the SFC tool:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Run from the menu.
2. Once Run opens, type “CMD” (no quotes), into the text box and press the Ctrl, Shift, and Enter keys simultaneously.
3. Click on Yes in the User Account Control dialog.
4. At the elevated Command Prompt window, type the following command line and hit the Enter key to run DISM. Make sure you note the spaces in the line:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Allow the tool to run and show you a completion message before you move on to the next step.

1. Now, type “sfc /scannow” (without the quotes) into the elevated Command Prompt and hit the Enter key.
2. Your protected system files will now be scanned by the tool. If the scan result reads, “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them,” restart your PC, and the error should be resolved.

If the System File Checker produces the “Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation” message instead, run the tool in Safe Mode. You’ll also have to run the tool in Safe Mode if the BSOD can’t let you access your system. Here’s you what you have to do:

1. Power off your system by pressing and holding the Power button.
2. Press the Power button to start up your system.
3. Press and hold the Power button again once the logo of your system’s manufacturer flashes on your screen and you see the Windows boot animation.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until you see a message that says, “please wait,” under the Windows logo.
5. Once the Automatic Repair screen shows up, click on Advanced Options.
6. The Choose an Option screen will now appear.
7. Click on Troubleshoot.
8. Click Advanced Options under Troubleshoot.
9. Once you get to the Advanced Options screen, click on Startup Settings.
10. Click the Restart button under Startup Settings, and once your computer reboots, select the number beside Safe Mode or Safe Mode with networking, since you DISM requires an internet connection to provide the files that the SFC tool needs.
11. Before you run the DISM and SFC commands, make sure the PendingRenames and PendingDeletes folders are in your temp folder.

Eliminate Software Conflicts by Performing a Clean Boot

One of the reasons you might be facing the annoying Blue Screen error is that certain third-party programs are clashing with each other or with system processes. You can fix this issue by performing a Clean Boot.

The Clean Boot method is one of the most effective troubleshooting techniques for fixing different Windows issues, and many users fixed the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY, using it. Here’s how to perform a Clean Boot:

1. Right-click the Start button and click Run.
2. Once the Run dialog box appears, type “msconfig” (no quotes) into the text field and hit the Enter key.
3. Once the System Configuration dialog opens, move over to the Services tab.
4. Tick the “Hide all Microsoft services” checkbox, and then click on the Disable button.
5. Now, switch to the Startup tab in the System Configuration window and click on Open Task Manager.
6. After the Startup tab of the Task Manager appears, disable every program you see under the tab by left-clicking each one and clicking on the Disable button at the bottom of the window.
7. Close the Task Manager, then go back to the System Configuration dialog and click OK.
8. Reboot your PC.

If the BSOD no longer shows up after your system starts, then a software clash is the reason for the error. To find out which startup program is triggering the error, go to the System Configuration dialog and, one after the other, enable the services and startups that you disabled earlier, rebooting your system after you enable each. The last program you enabled before experiencing the issue is the reason why you’re experiencing the error. Try updating or replacing the startup program.

Conclusion

By now, you should be using your system without issues. If the problem still occurs, remove any recently installed piece of hardware and check for the blue screen. You can use the comments section below to let us know if you’re experiencing other issues or to share your thoughts on the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY BSOD.