The memory could not be written error
I have lately been getting the error message The instruction at "0x62e2cc0f" referenced memory at "0x00000000". The memory could not be "written" in Microsoft Windows XP. This happened frequently when I tried to play certain avi video files.
I first thought that I had a memory problem, maybe defective RAM or bad sectors on my hard drive but soon found out that this was not the case. It took me a while to realize what it was. Once I knew where the error came from I was able to wave goodbye to the memory could not be written and watch all the avi movies on my system without problems again.
In my case the error message could be linked to the Data Execution Prevention feature which was enabled for essential Windows programs and services. It is designed to protect the system from viruses and other threats. It should be noted that it is not possible to disable DEP that easily. You need to edit the boot.ini file which is normally located in c:\ and change a parameter in there. Here is how you could do this:
Hit Windows + R and type cmd and press enter afterwards. Navigate to c:\ by typing cd.. until you are there. Boot.ini is hidden and write protected which means that we have to change that before we are able to edit it. Type the following commands:
- attrib -r -h -s boot.ini
- edit boot.ini
- Look for /NoExecute Optin or /NoExecute Optout and change that to /NoExecute AlwaysOff
- Save the edited file
- type attrib +h +r +s boot.ini
- restart the computer
The NoExecute command defines if and how Data Execution Prevention is enabled on your computer. The AlwaysOff parameter turns it off completely. I did not experience any messages of the kind "The memory could not be written" anymore after changing this parameter. Let me know if this helped you as well.
Other possible solutions
- As always, try to scan your RAM and hard drive for errors before you do anything else. A faulty memory or hard drive block may very well cause the issue.
- If a program is mentioned in the error, check to see if an update is available for it.
- You should also make sure that all system drivers are up to date, and that the operating system itself is fully patched.
Finally able top update my XP Virtualbox machine! Thanks…
It worked. We had this problem on all our Terminal Servers.
I have done attrib -r -h -s boot.ini and it says the file is not found. I have also changed the directory so I am in C:\ yet it still is not working. Would it be listed in a different location on Windows 7?
Do you have to hit enter after entering attrib -r -h -s boot.ini? Because when I do, it says that the file can’t be found.
Yes you have to. If the file cannot be found you are not in the right location.
Do I keep typing cd and then hit enter or hit cd multiple times until boot.ini pops up?
I have done both and neither seem to work.
You type cd.. and hit enter, look at the path, if it is not c:\ you need to repeat the step.
my girlfriends computer was doing this every time she opened a web browser. i followed your directions and its cured, thanks so much.
for the people that cant get it to work, make sure you type exactly what he says… i was having trouble because i was typing “cd” and not “cd..” (third step) you have to type it a few times too.
Hii..i am also facing a similar problem in which a memory location cannot be referenced.. please advice what should i do ??
The same problem I have with any of browsers, I can not use nor Firefox, nor Google chrome, all the time this fatal error with memory. So I hope this will helps, now will restart computer and see ))))
i cannot able to install mcafee antivirus. if i click on setup file “the instruction at “0x008b2bc0” referenced memory at “0x008b2bc0”. the memory could not be “written”.like this it is showing.what to do?
and it also says: the memory could not be written. i need your help. please.
i really need help with my computer, because i can’t really use it right
now.. every time i try to log in, i get this error message : Explorer.EXE –
Application Error. The application failed to initialize properly
(0xc0000033). Click on OK to terminate the application. And then, when i
clicked on OK, nothing happened. Windows doesn’t load anything anymore. So,
there is no taskbar, no desktop icons, nothing. I basicly cannot use my
computer. The only thing that works is Ctrl+Alt+Del combination keys, which
let me shut down the computer again. Can anyone help me with this? i would
really appreciate for your help..
so its already noexcute=alwaysoff on my pc
worked fine for me – thankyou very much
Ja, I Tried All That, Still Doesn’t Work.
Is There Anything Else I Can Do? Please Help
This worked for me. Thanks a lot!
oh, i wanted to make it clear that to navigate to “C:\”, you type “cd” and then your directory. cd means “Change Directory”.
It worked like a charm 2 years later! :) thanks!
I was facing this problem,
Previously our h/w eng. suggest to format the System.
I did as you mentioned.
It works.
Thanks a lot
Hi,
I did a clone copy of my hard drive onto a new hard drive and ive been getting these memory problems since then with the new hdd. It never happened on the old hard drive but it happens all the time on the new hard drive with most applications, usually when i exit out of them but sometimes the programs cause very high cpu usage, dont know why though, its supposed to be a clone copy so nothing is different other than the size of my new hdd which is 250GB, the old one was 100GB.
The clone copy was done with Acronis Disk Imager.
Just wondering what could have caused these errors to begin appearing in the first place? Very strange, i’ll try your fix anyway but i’d be a little worried about disabling DEP altogether!
I was getting this error with a lot of applications. Now everything is solved by this. Thanks a lot.
Thanks a lot
I was facing this problem
I exactely applied what you mentioned
It works fine
Thanks again
Adel
This application has encountered a critical error:
ERROR #132 (0x85100084) Fatal Exception
Program: C:Program FilesWorld of WarcraftWoW.exe
Exception: 0xC0000005 (ACCESS_VIOLATION) at 001B:007937D6
The instruction at “0x007937D6” referenced memory at “0x41B66B60”.
The memory could not be “written”
I am getting the same sort of issue after about 30 minutes of playing any computer game on my PC. I have removed one stick of ram at a time, yet the problem persists. Unless both sticks are faulty, i’d rule that out as being the cause. Does anyone have any ideas?
cheers,
After installing and using an audio editing (Celemony Melodyne) program last week I was greeted with the same problem 2 nights ago when I went back to work with it again. “The instruction at “0x052964ca” referenced memory at “0x00000000″, The memory could not be written.” I first “Excepted” Melodyne from DEP within the “System Properties” without success, then I performed the above DEP disable routine, but the same fault persists. Next? (Windows XP HE)
I tried that before I understood that I should be absolutely sure that this is the problem. With me the problem looks more like the problem of p1tagora, because when I open Windows Explorer for any reason, it just gets me out, writing this message with “0x00000000” at the second part. Is it possible to be connected to lack of enough space on my HDD? I tried to do the above, but it didn’t help. with me the file was “boot.ini.backup” and I changed it to AlwaysOff, but it didn’t help! Please, help me!
Nikolai
I have this problem too on a Windows XP SP2 operating system but it occurs when i log in windows. I don’t get the chance to do anything, it just says “The instruction at ‘0x0106d57c’ referenced memory at ‘0x0106d57c’. The memory could not be ‘written’. Cancel to debug the program. Ok to continue the program”. But no matter what i choose the system restarts…and so on..
And I use bsplayer as my video player..do you think it’s related to that?
Hi there,
I faced the memory could not be written problem when i want to do disk clean-up. What are the steps that i should take?
I have tried
1. start > run
2. type cmd
3. type cd
4. type attrib -r -h -s boot.ini
Unfortunately the file boot.ini does not exist.
Please guide.
Hi,
I was getting this error continuously but after doing above changes, it worked for me.
Thanks a lot!
Jitesh Sojitra
I have facing the same problem
even i play a .wmv file not only .avi file..
How can i fix this?
I have tried all the solutions available… but nothing help…
Can you help me please…!!
i get this problem but the message appears when i try to open my itunes folder.
My downloads automatically save in this folder but when i try to get to them the message appears and all the windows close. I am left back on the desktop. Icould try again but then im just left brought back again!
Pleaaaaz help!!!!!
When you edit boot.ini, scroll allll the way to the right.
Generally speaking, if you don’t know why you’re getting an error message, you shouldn’t start undoing security features trying to make it go away.
To fix this error you need to uninstall the codec that is causing the problem (perhaps K-Lite, Pinnacle, or Angel).
Then install the VLC player, so that you don’t have to futz with codecs anymore.
Simple and secure. I hope this helps.
I am having same issue with windows media player 9 (Win XP sp2). It was already /noexecute=AlwaysOff and still having this problem.
I think it may have some problem with direct x and all that.
Help me out. Thank you.
coonanuk you can’t find the boot.ini or a command there ? please explain in more detail
ive tryed 2 get rid ov the memory carnt be written error by your way and i carnt find the 3rd command ov trying to find the noexecute option can u help me
This is probably a problem with a codec, maybe an old version of DivX.
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=17862
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=17782
That’s weird. I alway thought of VLC as a well coded application and I could not find any mention of problems like this on the VLC forums.
It might be better to exclude VLC from DEP, rather than disabling it completely:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875351
I’m using VLC
Were you getting this in all video players? It only happens if the video player is badly coded and is breaking Microsoft security guidelines. You might be better off switching video players, rather than disabling DEP. Which player are you using?
You might be better off enabling DEP on everything. It stops a lot of serious security vulnerabilities.
2. edit boot.ini