Windows Error — The Memory Could Not Be Read (0xc0000005)

Windows 'memory could not be read' error (0xc0000005) occurs when an application tries to access memory it is not allowed to, caused by software bugs, bad RAM, or corruption. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: Error: 'The instruction at 0x... referenced memory at 0x.... The memory could not be read'. Status code 0xC0000005 (STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION) — the process accessed invalid memory. Very common with games, older applications, and applications with DLL conflicts. Can indicate NULL pointer dereference, buffer overflow, or freed memory access. If multiple different applications show this error, suspect RAM failure. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: Software bug: the application has a memory access error in its code. Incompatible or corrupted DLL files the application depends on. Faulty RAM causing random memory corruption. DEP (Data Execution Prevention) blocking the application. Outdated Visual C++ Runtime or .NET Framework. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Update the application to the latest version — bugs may be fixed in newer releases. Reinstall Visual C++ Redistributables (all versions: 2005 through latest). Run Windows Memory Diagnostic (mdsched.exe) to check for RAM errors. Try adding a DEP exception: System Properties > Advanced > Performance Settings > DEP > add exception. If the error is in a specific DLL, run sfc /scannow to repair system files or reinstall the application. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Windows Error Codes collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.