How to Fix Windows Error Code 0x000000C4 (DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION)

When you’re using Windows, you might suddenly encounter a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) displaying error code 0x000000C4. It can be alarming when your screen freezes unexpectedly. This particular error is often related to driver compatibility issues or memory protection violations. In this guide, we will carefully explain the causes and solutions so even beginners can resolve it step by step.

What is Error Code 0x000000C4?

The error 0x000000C4 refers to DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION.

This means that Windows’ internal tool called Driver Verifier (which monitors drivers for unsafe behavior) has detected a violation. Instead of allowing faulty drivers to continue, Windows halts the system to prevent further damage.

In a way, this is a protective error — Windows is actively trying to keep your system safe.

Common Causes of 0x000000C4

Here’s a summary table of the most common causes:

Solution 1: Disable Driver Verifier (If Manually Enabled)

If you had manually activated Driver Verifier and then encountered this error, simply disabling it might resolve the issue.

Steps:

1. Boot into Safe Mode
   • Press F8 or Shift + F8 during startup (depends on your system).
   • Or go to: Recovery Options → Troubleshoot → Safe Mode
2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
3. Enter the following command and press Enter:

4. Restart your PC

Note: If Safe Mode isn’t accessible, you may need a recovery USB or installation media.

Solution 2: Identify and Update Faulty Drivers

If disabling Driver Verifier doesn’t help, a driver is likely misbehaving. Identifying and updating that driver is crucial.

Steps:

• Open Device Manager (Press Win + X → Device Manager)
• Review recently updated or installed drivers — especially graphics, network, and storage drivers.
• Right-click the suspected driver → Choose Update Driver or Roll Back Driver.

Downloading the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website is highly recommended.

Solution 3: Run Memory Diagnostic Tool

Memory (RAM) errors can also trigger this BSOD.

Steps:

1. Open Start Menu → Type “Windows Memory Diagnostic”
2. Select “Restart now and check for problems”
3. Wait for the test to complete and review the results.

If memory errors are detected, faulty RAM modules may need replacement.

Solution 4: Review BIOS Settings and Overclocking

• Check BIOS settings: Secure Boot, Fast Boot, OC profiles.
• Revert any CPU or RAM overclock settings to default (stock values).
• Update your BIOS firmware to the latest version.

New CPUs or motherboards often require the latest BIOS for full compatibility.

Useful Preparations Before Troubleshooting

Here are helpful things to prepare in advance:

Advanced Techniques & Additional Tips

Tip 1: Use Driver Verifier with Specific Drivers Only

Normally, Driver Verifier monitors all drivers, which can sometimes lead to unnecessary BSODs. You can narrow it down by targeting specific drivers:

Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Enter:

Find driver file names through Device Manager → Properties → Driver → Driver File Details.

This allows you to focus verification on suspected problematic drivers without affecting others.

Tip 2: Use Windows Event Viewer for Deeper Insights

Immediately after a BSOD, helpful logs are saved in Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System. Look for entries related to BugCheck or DRIVER_VERIFIER.

Key details to check:

• BugCheck codes (subcodes beyond 0x000000C4)
• Driver file names involved (example: nvlddmkm.sys for NVIDIA issues)

Searching the driver file names online often leads to existing solutions or known problems.

Tip 3: Utilize System Restore

If the issue began after a recent change (driver update, system tweak), using System Restore can roll your system back to a previously stable state.

Steps:

• Open “Create a restore point” → Select “System Restore”
• Choose a restore point before the problem started.

This resets configurations without deleting your files.

Tip 4: Analyze MiniDump Files

Each BSOD generates a MiniDump file (located in C:\Windows\Minidump). Tools like WhoCrashed or BlueScreenView can help analyze these files even for beginners.

• WhoCrashed: Offers easy-to-understand explanations.
• BlueScreenView: Lists involved driver files directly.

This analysis often pinpoints the exact driver causing the crash.

Special Case: Virtual Machine Environments

Error 0x000000C4 can also appear more frequently inside virtual machines like Hyper-V, VMware, or VirtualBox.

Causes include:

• Incompatible virtual drivers
• Disabled hardware virtualization (VT-x or AMD-V)

Adjust VM configurations or enable hardware virtualization in BIOS to resolve.

Special Case: Windows Insider Preview Users

Windows Insider builds (preview versions) tend to trigger more of these errors due to experimental features clashing with older drivers.

Possible actions:

• Roll back to the stable version
• Check Insider forums for compatibility reports

Recent Trend: Security Features Make Driver Verifier More Sensitive

Modern Windows versions have stricter driver enforcement because of strengthened security measures:

• Memory Integrity (Core Isolation)
• Smart App Control
• Virtualization-Based Security (VBS)

Older drivers that don’t fully support these features may cause 0x000000C4 errors.

Summary

Error 0x000000C4 is essentially Windows protecting itself from potentially harmful driver behavior. Stay calm and work through these steps:

• Reset Driver Verifier
• Update or roll back drivers
• Run memory diagnostics
• Review BIOS and overclock settings

If this error appeared suddenly without any obvious changes, recent Windows Updates might be involved. Review your update history and consider uninstalling the latest updates temporarily.

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タグ: Virtual Machine Errors, Windows troubleshooting, BIOS Settings, Driver Issues, Windows Error 0x000000C4, DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION, Windows BSOD Fix, Blue Screen of Death, Memory Errors, MiniDump Analysis