How to fix driver verifier dma violation windows 11?

How to Fix Driver Verifier DMA Violation Windows 11: A Comprehensive Guide

What is a DMA Violation in Driver Verifier?

The Driver Verifier is a built-in diagnostic tool in Windows that helps detect and debug device drivers. A DMA (Direct Memory Access) violation is a type of error that occurs when a device driver attempts to access memory addresses that are not allowed. This can cause system instability, crashes, and other issues.

Symptoms of Driver Verifier DMA Violation

When your system experiences a Driver Verifier DMA violation, you may notice the following symptoms:

• System crashes or freezes
• Blue screen of death (BSOD) with a DMA Violation error message
• System hangs or becomes unresponsive
• Devices become malfunctioning or non-responsive

How to Fix Driver Verifier DMA Violation Windows 11?

Fixing a Driver Verifier DMA violation requires a combination of troubleshooting and updating your system drivers. Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

Step 1: Restart your System in Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads your system with a minimal set of drivers, which can help isolate the problematic driver. To restart your system in Safe Mode:

1. Go to the Start menu and click on the Power icon.
2. Hold the Shift key and click on the Restart option.
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
4. Press the 4 or F4 key to enter Safe Mode.

Step 2: Update Device Drivers

Outdated or corrupted device drivers can cause DMA violations. Check for updates for your system drivers and update them:

1. Go to the Device Manager (Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager).
2. Expand each category (e.g., Disk drives, Network adapters, etc.).
3. Right-click on each device and select Update driver.
4. Click on Search automatically for updated driver software.
5. Follow the prompts to install any available updates.

Note: Updating drivers may require administrator permissions.

Step 3: Disable Driver Verifier

Disabling Driver Verifier can help you narrow down the problematic driver. To disable Driver Verifier:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type verifier and press Enter.
3. Click on the Driver Options tab.
4. Uncheck the box next to Enable strict mode.
5. Click Save.

Step 4: Enable DMA in BIOS

Your system’s BIOS settings can also affect DMA access. Check your BIOS settings and enable DMA:

1. Restart your system and enter the BIOS settings (press F2, F12, or Del keys depending on your system).
2. Navigate to the Advanced tab.
3. Locate the Integrated Peripherals or ATA Options section.
4. Enable DMA access (select Enable or On).
5. Save changes and exit BIOS settings.

Step 5: Roll Back Drivers

If updating drivers does not resolve the issue, try rolling back to a previous version:

1. Go to the Device Manager.
2. Right-click on the problematic device.
3. Select Properties.
4. Click on the Driver tab.
5. Click on Roll Back Driver.
6. Follow the prompts to complete the rollback process.

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

• Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan to detect and repair corrupted system files: Open the Command Prompt as administrator and type sfc /scannow.
• Run a Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) scan to detect and repair corrupted system files: Open the Command Prompt as administrator and type dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth.
• Check for malware infections: Run a full scan with your antivirus software and malware removal tools.

Prevention is the Best Solution

To prevent Driver Verifier DMA violations in the future:

• Keep your system and drivers up to date.
• Monitor your system for signs of instability or errors.
• Run regular system maintenance tasks (e.g., disk cleanups, disk errors).

Conclusion

Driver Verifier DMA violations can cause system instability and crashes. By following these steps and troubleshooting methods, you can resolve the issue and ensure your system runs smoothly. Remember to update drivers regularly, monitor system performance, and run regular system maintenance tasks to prevent DMA violations in the future.