Fix the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION BSoD Error on Windows 10/11 PCs

BSoDs or Blue Screen of Death are dreaded system errors that occur due to a critical failure in Windows. The DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION BSoD error screen gets unexpectedly generated on Windows 10/11 systems due to various reasons like outdated drivers, outdated SSD firmware or corrupted drivers. This blue screen error generates a stop code DRIVER_VERIFIER_DMA_VIOLATION with a bug check value of 0x000000E6 (0xE6).

The DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION is a critical system issue, which causes system wide instability. According to the affected users, the observations suggest that in most of the cases, outdated or corrupted drivers, outdated SSD firmware or BIOS or faulty hardware could lead to the generation of this error. Let’s look at the methods to fix this error.

What Causes the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION Blue Screen Error?

As soon as the system generates the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION BSoD screen, it crashes Windows 10/11 OS. The enabled Driver Verifier is a possible reason behind this. This stop code is also the result of the device driver freeing up the same scatter/gather list twice. Now that we have an idea about this error, let’s look at the causes that lead to the generation of the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION stop code on Windows 10/11 computers –

• Outdated drivers
• Corrupted drivers
• Outdated SSD firmware
• Outdated BIOS

What Are the Methods to Fix the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION BSoD Error?

Finding the exact root cause behind a BSoD is tricky, but there are many possible ones that lead to their generation. Same goes with their resolutions. There is no one method that fixes them all. We have circled out a few methods that you can employ to fix the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION blue screen error on your Windows 10/11 computer.

Method 1: Update Device Drivers and OS

This is the most basic and the simplest way to eliminate the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION BSoD error on your Windows 10/11 computer. Outdated device drivers and OS lead to an unstable system, which causes apps and system files to go haywire. This causes BSoDs like this error to pop-up on the screen. Follow the steps mentioned below to update device drivers and Windows OS.

To update device drivers –

• Press WIN + X and click on Device Manager from the list.
• Double-click on all the devices to expand them.
• Find all the entries with an exclamation mark.

• Right-click on each of them one-by-one and click on Properties.
• Under the Driver tab, click on Update driver.

Note – If you are encountering this error screen after updating device drivers, you can revert the changes by right-clicking on the device for which you wish to revert the driver > Properties > Roll Back Driver.

To update Windows OS –

• Press WIN + I to open Settings.
• Click on Update & Security.

• Click on Windows Update and then Check for updates.

Method 2: Disable Driver Verifier

As mentioned earlier, in some cases, the Driver Verifier causes the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION BSoD to occur. You can try disabling the Driver Verifier to help you resolve the issue. Simply follow the steps as mentioned –

• Type Verifier in the search bar and select the one denoted as a ‘Run Command’.
• Click on Run as administrator to launch it.

• In the next window, select the Delete existing settings option and click Finish.

• Restart your system to check if this has fixed the BSoD.

If disabling the Driver Verifier doesn’t solve the issue, it’s time for you to reset it. Follow the below-mentioned steps to do so –

• Press WIN + R to launch Run.
• Type CMD, and press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER to launch it as Administrator.
• Type Verifier /reset and hit ENTER.

• Once the process is complete, close the terminal and restart your computer to check if this has fixed your problem.

Method 3: Check for Faulty Hardware

Many a times, BSoD errors are the result of faulty or improperly configured hardware. If you have encountered the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION blue screen on your computer, then it could be due to either faulty RAM or Motherboard. You can check the cables, connections, and the hardware to pin point any faulty piece and replace it to resolve this issue.

Method 4: Hardware troubleshooter

If you are still seeing the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION BSoD after checking for faulty hardware, you can run the hardware troubleshooter to resolve the issue at hand. This tool has a set of automated fixes, which are deployed once the troubleshooter begins the process. To do this –

• Press WIN + I and open Settings.
• Click on Update & Security.
• Click on Troubleshoot in the left panel and then Additional troubleshooters on the right.

• Search for Hardware and Devices and select it.
• Click on Run the troubleshooter and wait.
• Follow the instructions as prompted by the wizard to complete the process.
• Once complete, restart your computer to check if this has fixed this blue screen error.

Note – This method is only applicable if you are running Windows 10 version 1806 or earlier. This troubleshooter was removed from the later versions of Windows 10.

Method 5: SFC scan

SFC Scan and Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management or DISM are command line tools. SFC scan searches for issues causing errors like BSoDs and the DISM reloads the Windows 10/11 image. To run the SFC Scan –

• Launch CMD as Administrator.
• Type sfc/scannow and hit Enter.

• Once done, restart your system, and see if this resolves the issue.

To run the DISM tool, type the following commands and run them one-by-one –

• DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth and hit Enter.
• DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and hit Enter.
• Restart the system after the process is finished.

Method 6: Update SSD Firmware

If you are using an SSD as a boot drive, it is recommended to keep your boot drive’s firmware updated as an outdated firmware could result in BSoDs and error screens like the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION error screen.

Note – Be careful while updating the firmware as any interruption to the firmware update process could lead to permanent damage and data loss. You can check the device manufacturer’s website for related details and instructions.

Method 7: Update BIOS

In some cases, Blue screen (BSoD) errors like the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION are a result of outdated BIOS. If you are running an outdated BIOS, we recommend updating it to the latest version to fix this error.

An Upgraded BIOS brings new features and updates on your motherboard to work smoothly in tandem with other hardware. However, be extra cautious while performing the upgrade as it is a critical procedure and any interruption could lead to irreversible damage to the system and severe data loss.

Before updating your BIOS, be sure to check your motherboard manual for more details and instructions related to this step. You can also check this guide to get a rough idea about this process.

Method 8: Perform System Restore

System restore is a great way to restore the system to the previous or normal state before you start encountering random error screens and BSoDs like the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION BSoD error. If you have created a System Restore point well in advance, you can follow the below mentioned steps to restore your system to the previous normal state. Please make sure to save your work before performing this process. To do this –

• Press WIN + I to open Settings app.
• Click on Update & Security.

• Click Recovery in the left pane and then click Restart now under Advanced startup.

• On the WinRE screen, click Troubleshoot.

• Click Advanced options.

• Click System Restore.

• The wizard will prompt you to select your username and enter password for it, if required.
• Select Choose a different restore point and click Next.
• Choose the restore point you wish to return to and click Next.
• Wait for the process to finish restoring Windows 10/11 to its previous state should fix this BSoD error.

Method 9: Reset Windows 10/11

Resetting Windows 10/11 to its original state is the last resort if none of the available solutions provide a resolution for the problem in hand. We would recommend taking a complete backup of your data on an external storage device before proceeding with this. Once you have taken a complete backup of your data, carefully follow the steps below to reset your PC –

• Press WIN + I to open the Settings app.
• Click Update & Security.

• Click Recovery in the left pane and then click on Get started under Reset this PC.

• A prompt will ask you to either Keep my files or Remove everything. Make your selection and proceed further.

• In the next section, you will have to choose between Cloud download or Local reinstall. Carefully select whatever you feel comfortable with.

Note – Selecting cloud download will download a fresh image of Windows OS and remove any custom OS image that came preinstalled with the PC.

• Proceed with the wizard by carefully reading the reinstallation instructions listed on the Ready to reset this PC screen. Click Reset whenever you are ready.

Performing this procedure installs a clean and fresh Windows image that should fix the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION BSoD error.

Expert Data Care Solution

If the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION blue screen error is causing your system to crash and has rendered it unbootable, you can use a handy professional tool for rescuing your data from such a system. Stellar Data Recovery Professional is an advanced software that allows users to recover data lost in any data loss scenario like accidental deletion, system crash, and more.

Stellar Data Recovery Professional brings a clean and intuitive UI, which makes data recovery simple. It is a capable software, which allows users to create a bootable media for recovering data from a crashed Windows PC.

Conclusion

Like all other BSoDs, the DRIVER VERIFIER DMA VIOLATION is a critical blue screen error that causes system wide instability and unexpected crashes. In this article, we learned about the causes behind this issue along with methods to resolve this BSoD. We hope that the fixes mentioned in this article will help you fix this issue and get your PC back on track.

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About The Author

Keshav Katyal

A passionate writer driven by his interest in everything tech, Keshav Katyal has always been captivated by the latest gadgets since childhood. His interest in technology grew when he got his first gaming console, the Nintendo Game Boy Advanced. Hours and days of tinkering with old & new gadgets made his inner geek passionate about technology.