Games and certain apps keep crashing with exception code 0xc0000005

Question

Games and certain apps keep crashing with exception code 0xc0000005

Teodoris 20

Recently for the past few weeks, certain apps such as Discord, Medal, Roblox, Minecraft, Half Life 2, have been randomly crashing.
Below is an image of the crash log, i am unable to find a crash log for discord and medal, however the other games share this same error so i assume those crashes are caused by the same reason these ones are. User's image

I haven't been able to find anything related to the crashes in event viewer.

So far the fixes i have tried are:

Running the commands CHKDSK, DISM, and SFC in the command prompt
Stress testing my ram and cpu for hours
Installing an independent memory tester program on my usb and running it on boot (MemTest86, for 3 hours with 4 passes)
Reinstalling windows using the settings option while keeping my files
Disabling my anti virus (Avast)
Changing my cpu's max power state to 99%
Updating my drivers (when the problem started my drivers were not up to date, after i updated them the problem still was not fixed)
My pc is a prebuilt, (Predator Orion 3000 with an SNID of 42600519130), it has an RTX 4070 Super, an intel I7-14700F, 32GB of ddr5 ram. It's bios version has been updated to the latest version ever since i received the computer, and i dont have any overclocking related settings in bios enabled or visible (things such as XMP)

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Answer accepted by question author

David-M 126K Independent Advisor

This BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) log provides the final, definitive answer.

Since Windows was reinstalled using a clean USB flash drive and the crashes persist, now escalating to a BSOD, all software, driver, and operating system causes are 100% ruled out.

The BSOD log reveals that the error code was IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL - 0x0000000a. The crash occurred directly inside the core Windows Kernel (ntkrnlmp.exe).

The Windows kernel thread scheduler crashed while attempting to manage CPU core workloads. It attempted to read an invalid memory address (0x20) because data stored in physical RAM was corrupted at the hardware level.

My conclusion is that, given your i7-14700F processor and the fact that all software causes and RAM stick combinations have been tested, this behavior points directly to hardware degradation, most likely the CPU's integrated memory controller (IMC) or the motherboard power delivery/traces.

Unfortunately, there are no further software settings or Windows troubleshooting steps left to try.

If the PC is still under warranty: Contact Acer Technical Support to initiate an RMA/repair request. Provide them with your SNID and explain that the system experiences persistent 0xc0000005 crashes and kernel 0x0000000a BSODs even after a clean USB reinstall and isolated RAM tests. Acer will need to inspect/replace the CPU or motherboard.
If the PC is out of warranty: You may want to take it to a trusted repair shop to test with a swap CPU or motherboard, or reach out to Intel Support regarding their warranty coverage for 13th/14th Gen CPU instability.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

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Answer 1

David-M 126K Independent Advisor

Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

Since you have already done thorough troubleshooting, the issue points directly to a known hardware behavior with 13th and 14th Gen Intel CPUs, including your i7-14700F.

The 0xc0000005 (Access Violation) error occurs when a thread tries to read or write to memory without appropriate permissions. While MemTest86 tests the physical RAM sticks (which is why your RAM passed without errors), the integrated memory controller inside the CPU itself can fail under dynamic voltage and load spikes. Intel 13th and 14th Gen processors suffer from a well-documented voltage instability (Vmin Shift) that can degrade the CPU over time. If degradation has already occurred, BIOS microcode updates only prevent future damage; they cannot reverse existing physical instability.

First, test CPU Power Limits using Intel XTU:

Download Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU).
Since the i7-14700F has locked core multipliers, lower the Turbo Boost Power Max (PL1) and Short Term Power Max (PL2) values (for example, set PL1/PL2 to 125W or 65W for testing).
Alternatively, if the BIOS has an option for Intel Baseline Profile or lower power limits, enable it.
If games and apps stop crashing immediately under reduced power limits, it confirms CPU instability.

Also, try these

1 = Completely uninstall Avast:

Disabling Avast often leaves its kernel-level filter drivers running in the background, which can cause access violations.
Download the official Avast Uninstall Utility (Avast Clear), run it in Safe Mode to remove Avast completely, and test your apps with Windows Defender instead.

2 = Adjust power plan settings:

Ensure the Windows Power Plan is set to Balanced instead of High Performance to avoid keeping the CPU at unnecessarily high power states continuously.

Please let me know the result.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Teodoris 20 Reputation points

2026-07-21T20:07:01.9566667+00:00

My cpu has had the microcode update since i bought the computer (it was always updated), and XTU does not support my cpu series (on the website it says it supports only K- and X- series), and i have monitored the temperatures of the cpu and gpu and i have not noticed any high temps or usage rates, and i have uninstalled avast but my apps still keep crashing
David-M 126K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-22T12:59:20.7866667+00:00
Sorry for the delay in reply. I've been offline.

Thanks for the details.

Good point about XTU. I'm so used to using that tool for CPU stability testing that I completely overlooked the fact that Intel restricts XTU on non-K chips like your i7-14700F. Good catch on that.

Regarding temperatures and microcode: crashes caused by CPU voltage instability (0xc0000005) usually happen during microsecond transient power spikes rather than sustained high thermal loads. That is why temperature and usage graphs look completely fine right before a crash. Furthermore, BIOS microcode updates prevent future degradation, but they cannot reverse physical instability if it already happened.

To keep things simple without downloading third-party utilities, here are the best native steps to test this issue directly:

1 = Test for overlay conflicts (Medal & Discord):

Your crash dump specifically shows RobloxPlayerBeta.exe crashing with 0xc0000005. Roblox uses Hyperion anti-cheat, which intentionally triggers a 0xc0000005 Access Violation when background apps try to inject overlays into its memory space.

Completely close Medal.tv from Task Manager (end all Medal processes).

In Discord, go to User Settings > Game Overlay and turn it completely OFF.

Test if games still crash with these overlays completely disabled.

2 = Force lower processor power limits via Windows Settings:

Press Windows + R, type powercfg.cpl and press Enter.

Select Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.

Expand Processor power management > Maximum processor state and set it to 95% (or 99%).

This instructs Windows to limit the CPU frequency below peak boost clocks natively, without needing extra software or custom BIOS menus.

3 = Test RAM with a single stick:

If your 32GB configuration consists of two 16GB sticks, try running the PC with only 1 stick installed at a time. This reduces the load on the CPU's internal Integrated Memory Controller (IMC) to see if dual-channel mode or a specific slot/stick is causing the fault.

Please let me know how it goes.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Teodoris 20 Reputation points

2026-07-22T19:26:05.2033333+00:00

I have disabled all overlays, ran the apps with admin, and set my cpu's maximum power to 99% but i still ended up crashing. Do you have any other methods of checking the slot's? I thought there wouldn't be a problem with them since i ran mem test86 already for 3 hours with 4 passes.Take however long you need, i am in no rush.
David-M 126K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-22T19:42:36.1833333+00:00
It's understandable to wonder why MemTest86 passed; MemTest86 tests the physical memory cells in a basic boot environment, but it doesn't stress the CPU's Integrated Memory Controller under heavy Windows workloads.

Here are the best steps to safely test your RAM sticks and slots. I also suggest a quick test involving virtual memory:

1 = The single-stick and slot isolation test:

Turn off your PC, unplug the power cable, and hold the power button for 5 seconds to discharge residual power.

Remove one RAM stick, leaving only 1 stick installed in Slot 2 (usually labeled DIMM_A2, the primary recommended slot for single-stick use).

Boot up and test your games.

If it still crashes, swap that stick with the other stick in the exact same slot.

If one stick works fine and the other crashes, you have a faulty RAM stick. If both crash in Slot 2, try testing a stick in Slot 4 (DIMM_B2) to see if a specific slot or memory channel is at fault.

2 = Reset the Windows Pagefile (Virtual Memory):

The 0xc0000005 error is specifically a "Virtual Memory Access Violation." If the Windows paging file on your SSD becomes corrupted, games will crash with this exact code regardless of how healthy your physical RAM is.

Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.

Go to the Advanced tab > under Performance, click Settings.

Go to the Advanced tab > under Virtual memory, click Change.

Uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives".

Select "No paging file", click Set, click OK, and RESTART your PC.

After restarting, go back to the same menu, re-check "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives", click Set, click OK, and RESTART once more. This completely deletes and rebuilds the paging file.

Take your time testing these step by step, and let me know what you find.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Teodoris 20 Reputation points

2026-07-23T10:28:01.6533333+00:00

I have taken out the 2nd RAM stick in the 4th slot, my game still crashed again but this time the error seems to be different, i can't tell if its the still the same problem. (This error seems to have been a one time thing, i had also done the paging changes)
Teodoris 20 Reputation points

2026-07-23T11:32:54.91+00:00

Just had a really big scare, when i was swapping the ram stick of the 4th slot into the 2nd one, my pc started bootlooping, i tried also putting the 2nd ram stick into the 4th slot but it was still bootlooping. Thankfully i managed to fix it by swapping the 2nd ram stick again into the 2nd slot. I forgot to mention that i recently have been using a tv from around 2019, but i dont think the crashing started happening as soon as i started using it. I also think that the bootlooping was my fault, as it seems to not really happen again, and the 4th slot is working.
David-M 126K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-23T15:50:20.32+00:00
DDR5 RAM swapping can cause scary bootloop moments.

When changing DDR5 sticks, the motherboard undergoes "Memory Training," which causes power cycles before Posting. However, the fact that Stick #1 failed to boot in Slot 2 while Stick #2 booted smoothly is a strong physical clue.

The 0xc0000409 error: This code is a "Stack Buffer Overrun." Just like the 0xc0000005 error, it is another direct symptom of memory or data corruption occurring while the game is running.

Taking these new test results into account, here is the next set of steps:

1 = Test games with ONLY Stick #2 in Slot 2:

Since Stick #2 booted up without issues, test your games using only this stick installed.

If your games run completely stable without crashing, Stick #1 is likely faulty or unstable.

2 = If crashes still happen even on Stick #2, Windows system corruption should be completely ruled out before suspecting a hardware failure on another component.

Built-in "Windows Resets" often reuse corrupted local system files. The ultimate way to 100% eliminate software issues is a fresh, clean Windows installation using a USB flash drive (created via Microsoft's Media Creation Tool) and formatting the drive. Don't forget to back up your personal files stored on the C: drive. If you need details on how to do this, let me know.

3 = If a completely fresh Windows installation on a formatted drive still crashes, all software causes are 100% ruled out. At that point, it points directly to a hardware fault (either in the RAM stick, motherboard, or the CPU's memory controller), and you can look into warranty or technical support options through Acer or Intel.

Take your time testing Stick #2 first, and let me know how it performs!

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Teodoris 20 Reputation points

2026-07-24T11:52:13.19+00:00

My apps still kept crashing with every ram stick and in different slots, how can i backup all my data and reinstall a fresh copy of windows? Also, do you think the tv could be the problem?
David-M 126K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-24T12:24:48.57+00:00
Regarding your TV: No, the TV cannot cause game crashes or memory errors like 0xc0000005 or 0xc0000409. A TV/display is strictly an output device. If a TV or HDMI cable has issues, you would see screen flickering, black screens, or signal loss; it cannot corrupt system memory or crash application code.

As for the RAM test results: Since the crashes persist with every stick in different slots, a single faulty RAM stick can be ruled out. That leaves two remaining possibilities: severe Windows corruption, or a hardware issue with the CPU's memory controller or motherboard.

Since a clean Windows reinstallation will 100% resolve any software issues, it is the best next step to isolate the root cause.

How to back up your data:

Before starting, plug in an external hard drive, a secondary USB drive, or use a cloud service (like OneDrive).

Open File Explorer and go to "This PC" > "Local Disk (C:)".

Open the "Users" folder, then open your user account folder.

Copy all your personal folders (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Videos) and paste them into your external drive or cloud storage.

Important Note on AppData & Game Saves:

If you want to save specific game progress or app configurations stored in the hidden AppData folder (C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData):

You can copy specific game/app save folders to your external drive for safekeeping.

CRITICAL WARNING: Do NOT copy and paste the entire "AppData" folder back into your new Windows installation. Doing so will import corrupted cache files and old settings, ruining the clean install. Only manually restore specific, individual save files after reinstalling your games/apps if needed.

How to reinstall Windows:

To perform a clean install, you will need an installation media.

If you don't have an installation media, create one using the Media Creation Tool.

You can create the installation media on an empty USB flash drive with at least 8GB.

Below are instructions for creating installation media on a USB flash drive.

Download the tool from the link below;

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2156295

Double-click on the downloaded file to run the tool;

If prompted by UAC (User Account Control), click on "Yes";

Read the terms and click "Accept" if you agree;

Leave the "Use the recommended options for this PC" box checked and click "Next."

Select "USB flash drive" and click "Next".

Connect the USB flash drive you want to use, click the "Refresh drive list" link, select the USB flash drive, and click "Next";

(Note that the files on the USB flash drive will be deleted. Make a backup of the files if necessary.)

Wait for the procedure to finish and click "Finish" when the USB flash drive is ready.

Then, access the article below, go to the end of the article, and see the instructions under "Steps to reinstall Windows with media" > "Clean install".

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/reinstall-windows-with-the-installation-media-d8369486-3e33-7d9c-dccc-859e2b022fc7#:~:text=Steps%20to%20reinstall%20Windows%20with%20media

In your case, start the computer using the installation media and proceed from step 2.

(You may need to change the BOOT order in the device's BIOS settings. If you don't know how to do this, please let me know.)

Please let me know how it goes.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Teodoris 20 Reputation points

2026-07-26T07:46:15.3866667+00:00

Hello, I've uninstalled and reinstalled windows entirely using recovery mode and a local windows 11 ISO file (the cloud download failed, so i used this instead), the only things i have saved were my images and some text files (by moving them to a usb and then copying them to my pc after the reinstall), however the problem still has not been fixed. However, i have managed to find a clue using a tool i found, being WinDbg. (the os mentioned in the report is not accurate to the one i have, i have version 25H2, Windows 11 Pro, OS Build, 26200.8894)

I have attached the file containing the logs i have found.

ConsoleLog.txt
David-M 126K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-26T13:31:58.73+00:00
That log shows exactly where the crash occurred, though the driver itself might just be the victim rather than the root cause.

The error happened inside "nvwgf2umx.dll", which is NVIDIA's graphics driver. Here is why the issue persisted after the recovery reinstall and how to interpret this log:

1 = Windows Recovery vs. a full USB format:

Reinstalling through Windows Recovery or a local ISO repair may preserve driver repositories, registry entries, and system configurations. If a driver file or setting was corrupted before, recovery may have carried it over.

2 = Driver crash vs. hardware instability:

An Access Violation in nvwgf2umx.dll usually happens for two reasons:

Software: The graphics driver or shader cache itself is corrupted.

Hardware (More likely given previous memory errors): The RAM or CPU memory controller delivers bad data to the GPU driver, forcing it to access an invalid memory address and crash immediately.

Here are the diagnostic steps:

1 = Clean GPU driver reset (using DDU). To rule out driver corruption before touching hardware:

Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) and the latest NVIDIA driver installer.

Boot into Safe Mode.

Run DDU to clean out old NVIDIA drivers, then restart.

Install the fresh NVIDIA driver package.

2 = Full USB clean installation:

If crashes persist after DDU, perform a clean install using a USB flash drive (created via Microsoft's Media Creation Tool) instead of Windows Recovery. This is the only way to 100% clear every software variable.

If the system still crashes inside graphics drivers after a full USB format and fresh GPU drivers, all software causes are ruled out. At that point, it confirms a hardware fault (RAM, CPU memory controller, or GPU).

Running DDU is a quick first check to see if driver cleanup changes anything!

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Teodoris 20 Reputation points

2026-07-27T18:57:41.1966667+00:00

Ive uninstalled my drivers with DDU, but my apps still crashed. Below is an image with my ram's frequency , i dont know if this is normal for my PC (Predator Orion 3000 , SNID: 42600519130), is there anything else i should try before i reinstall windows with a usb?
David-M 126K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-27T19:32:25.63+00:00

Regarding your CPU-Z screenshot: Yes, that RAM frequency is completely normal for your Predator Orion 3000.

CPU-Z displays the actual clock frequency (2194.6 MHz). Because it is DDR5 (Double Data Rate), you multiply that number by 2, which equals ~4400 MT/s. This is the standard baseline frequency for OEM DDR5 systems, meaning there are no unstable RAM overclocks causing these crashes.

As for next steps: Since DDU did not stop the crashes and the RAM is running at standard stock speeds, a fresh Windows installation via a USB flash drive is the single best step left before concluding it is a hardware issue.

This will completely isolate software from hardware. If crashes still happen on a freshly formatted Windows drive with stock drivers, it officially points to a physical hardware fault (such as the CPU, RAM, or motherboard).

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Teodoris 20 Reputation points

2026-07-29T15:43:13.05+00:00

i have reinstalled windows again using the usb, however my apps still kept crashing with the same logs, but more recently, my pc bluescreened while i was using one of them. More info down below:
072926-6234-01.txt

Source

Windows

Summary

Shut down unexpectedly

Date :‎7/‎29/‎2026 5:12 PM

Status : Not reported

Problem signature

Problem Event Name: BlueScreen

Code: a (this is all it says)

Parameter 1: 20

Parameter 2: 2

Parameter 3: 0

Parameter 4: fffff801deaa6aa5

OS version: 10_0_26200

Service Pack: 0_0

Product: 256_1

OS Version: 10.0.26200.2.0.0.256.48

Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem

072926-6234-01.dmp

sysdata.xml

WERInternalRequest.xml

Event Viewer logs: The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x0000000a (0x0000000000000020, 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000000, 0xfffff801deaa6aa5). A dump was saved in: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\072926-6234-01.dmp. Report Id: daf48b90-c3d5-40c5-8707-63a3a37a7bd6.
The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. Possibly related driver: ntoskrnl.exe.

Let me know if theres anything else i should send or do.