How to fix it

0xC0000005 is an access violation: a program asked for memory that wasn't available to it and Windows shut it down. It's almost always a problem with the program that crashed, not with your computer as a whole.

How to tell which side is at fault

  • One specific program keeps doing it → that program is the problem.
  • Many different programs do it → something deeper (memory, a driver, or the system files) is involved.

If it's one program

  1. Update it — access violations are a classic symptom of an old version.
  2. Reinstall it — uninstall, reboot, and install a fresh copy from the official site. This fixes corrupt installs and bad settings.
  3. Run it as Administrator — a quick test. If it stops crashing that way, the app's permissions or its files are the issue.
  4. Check its settings — some apps (antivirus, screen recorders) clash with each other; disable one and see if the crash stops.

If it's many programs

  1. Test your memory. Windows has a built-in tool: search Windows Memory Diagnostic and run it, choosing 'Restart now and check for problems.' A bad RAM stick shows up here.
  2. Run a system file check. Open an Administrator command prompt and run sfc /scannow, then reboot. This repairs corrupted Windows system files.
  3. Update drivers, especially the chipset and, on a laptop, the graphics driver.

Worth ruling out

A recently installed antivirus or security app can cause access violations across many programs. Temporarily disable it (or switch to Windows Security) and see if the crashes stop.

Start with the crashing program — update and reinstall it. Only move on to RAM and system-file checks if the problem spans many different apps.