CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202)Software TroubleshootingMedium
A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 11 desktop that randomly displays a blue screen error with various stop codes, including 'MEMORY_MANAGEMENT' and 'PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA'. The issue occurs sporadically and often under heavy load. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
- AMalfunctioning RAM modules.
- BCorrupted Windows operating system files.
- COutdated graphics card drivers.
- DA failing hard disk drive.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Malfunctioning RAM modules.
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors like 'MEMORY_MANAGEMENT' and 'PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA' are classic indicators of issues with the system's Random Access Memory (RAM). These errors specifically point to problems with how the system is managing or accessing memory.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. While corrupted Windows files can cause BSODs, these specific stop codes point more directly to memory issues than general file corruption.
- C. Outdated graphics drivers can cause display issues or BSODs, but the stop codes provided are not typically associated with graphics drivers; they point directly to memory management problems.
- D. A failing hard disk drive would more likely cause errors related to data access, file system corruption, or 'INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE', not these specific memory-related stop codes.
Memory-Related BSODs
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors with specific stop codes like 'MEMORY_MANAGEMENT' or 'PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA' often indicate issues with RAM modules.
- Symptoms include random crashes, system instability, and specific memory-related stop codes.
- Troubleshooting involves running memory diagnostic tools and testing RAM modules.
- Can be caused by faulty RAM, incompatible RAM, or incorrect memory timings/settings.
Memory trick: Blue screen means trouble, check the usual suspects in double!