Did you encounter an error code 0xc0000005 while starting any application on your Windows 11 or 10 PC? As you are here, you must be facing this error code and are wondering how you may overcome this issue. Well, you have come to the right place as herein we will discuss what triggers this problem on Windows OS along with nine working ways.
Upon receiving this error code, you may get an error message as well that reads the following –
The application was unable to start correctly; Error code 0xc0000005
What causes an Error code 0xc0000005 on Windows PC?
This problem may occur when your system meets one or more of the following conditions –
- Corrupted system files or folders
- Corruption inside Windows 11/10 Image
- Outdated or obsolete device drivers
- Enabled Data execution prevention
- Malware infection or the antivirus blocking the program from starting
Error code 0xc0000005 Solutions on Windows PC
If you are getting this error code and don’t know how to fix it, try the below suggestions in no particular order and see which one exactly resolves this issue.
- System File Checker
- Turn off Data Execution Prevention
- Repair Boot Configuration Data
- Disable Antivirus
- Perform Full Scan
- Update Driver
- Run DISM command
- Use System Restore
- Check your Hard disk drive
1] System File Checker
System File Checker is an inbuilt tool on Windows PC. This is there to check for corrupted system files and repair them. However, you need to run this tool before it can check and resolve issues on your computer. To try out this tool on your PC, use these steps –
- Press Win + S, and type “CMD”.
- Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
- You may receive the User Account Control prompt next, click Yes to authorize the access.
- On the elevated console, type the following, and press Enter –
sfc /scannow
- This will take some time to search/repair the issues it finds during the scan. So, wait patiently.
- Once this is over, restart your PC, and check if the error 0xc0000005 resolves.
2] Turn off Data Execution Prevention
When the data execution prevention (DEP) feature is set as enabled, this may also cause the error 0xC0000005 on your device. Disabling it is the best way to nullify its existence and solve the current error.
- Press Win & E hotkeys together to open File Explorer.
- Make a right-click on This PC on the left navigation and hit Properties.
- Click the “Advanced system settings” link, available on the left pane.
- On the System Properties window, go to the Advanced tab followed by Settings under the Performance section.
- Succeeding after, head over to the Data Execution Prevention tab then untick the below radio button –
Turn on DEP for essential Windows program and services only
- See the snapshot below –
- Lastly, hit Apply then OK to confirm the changes made so far.
- Don’t forget to reboot your PC.
3] Repair Boot Configuration Data
The error 0xc0000005 may sometimes appear when there is some corruption inside the Boot configuration data. If that’s the case, you need to repair the infected BCD by following these simple steps –
- Press Win & R together to launch the Run dialog.
- Type CMD in the text box.
- Hold and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys to launch Command Prompt as administrator.
- When the UAC prompts, hit Yes.
- Type “
BCDEdit“, and press Enter –
- Now run the following codes one after another. Make sure to press the Enter key at the end of each command.
Del D:\Windows\System32\xOsload.exe
Del D:\Windows\System32\xNtKrnl.exe
Del D:\Windows\System32\Drivers\oem-drv64.sys
attrib c:\boot\bcd -h -r -s
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /rebuildbcd
- After you are done repairing the corrupted BCD codes, restart your PC.
- Sign back into your computer and check if the error 0xc0000005 resolves or is still occurring.
4] Disable Antivirus
If you are using any third-party antivirus, they may interact with the system files and make them corrupted. So, it is essential to turn off any external security app on your computer.
- Press Win + X, and choose – “Apps and features“.
- On the Apps settings page, scroll down and locate the third-party antivirus program.
- When found, click the three vertical dots available on its right end, and hit Uninstall.
- A pop-up window will appear next asking if you really want to turn off this program. Well, click uninstall again.
- After you have removed the antivirus software, restart your PC. Doing so will get your system rid of any residual or leftover files.
Note: If you are using Windows Defender as your security application, make sure to temporarily disable it as well. We say so because there is a possibility that Windows Security is blocking the system from opening any system apps on your computer.
How to update Windows Defender on Windows 10 PC.
5] Perform Full Scan
The presence of malware and infected files on your PC may also cause big problems. And, as a result of this, an error 0xc0000005 may occur. For security purposes, perform a full scan on your computer and check if the scan finds any malicious files on your computer. Here are the steps that you need to perform for this –
- On the system tray, click the up arrow key, and click the shield icon.
- When Windows Security opens up, choose Virus & threat protection.
- Let this section expand, and hit Scan options.
- Tick the “Full Scan” radio button, and hit Scan now.
- Windows Defender will run next and look for any file infection on your computer. If it does find any issues or malicious files, this will mark them and suggest you quarantine them.
- Well, do so and restart your PC.
6] Update Driver/ Install Optional updates
Device drivers play an important role in keeping all operations on Windows PC smooth and efficient. If any driver gets corrupted somehow, this may invoke an error code 0xc0000005. In order to contain this error code, you must find the culprit device driver and repair them.
Here’s how you may find and resolve any issues with the device drivers –
- Press Win & X altogether to launch the Power menu.
- Select Device Manager from the list of options.
- Now expand each category on the new window and search for any problematic driver.
- Once found, right-click on it and select Update driver using the shortcut menu.
- On the next screen, select Search automatically for updated driver software.
- The system will then redirect you to the Windows update section.
- Hit Check for updates and see if this displays any pending driver updates on your computer.
- If the system does discover any pending update, the same will start downloading/installing provided you have not set your PC to be on a metered connection.
Note: This is a time-consuming process and depends upon your internet speed. So, wait accordingly.
7] Try the DISM Tool
Sometimes bad sectors on the hard disk are most likely to be the real culprit behind the error 0xc0000005. Go and check if there is an issue with the installed system image and the disk’s health performance.
If there is an issue with the system image, perform a clean installation of Windows 11 or 10. In case the problem is with the hard disk, consider replacing it with a solid-state drive.
Let’s see how to check the system image first –
- Press Win & R to launch Run.
- Type CMD in the void, hold the “Ctrl” and “Shift” keys, and press Enter.
- The UAC window will come into the display next.
- Click Yes to authorize opening Command Prompt as admin.
- Copy/paste this command near the blinking cursor, and hit Enter again –
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This process will take some time to complete the whole scanning/repairing task, so wait patiently. When finished, restart your system and check if the Update and application failed error 0xc0000005 resolves or is still occurring.
8] Revert your system back to an earlier stable point
If the error 0xc0000005 is still occurring and you do remember creating a restore point, this is now the perfect time to use it. In case not, skip this solution, and follow the next one.
Here’s how to use a previously created system restore point –
- Click over the File Explorer icon on the system tray.
- Right-click on This PC option available on the left pane.
- Choose the Properties option on the context menu thereafter Advanced system settings.
- On the System Properties window, go to the System Protection, and hit the button – “System Restore”.
- Click the Next button and follow the instructions that come forward. If you wish, you may click “Show more restore points”
- Select the point to which you want your system to revert back.
- Once this process starts, don’t turn off your PC. We say so because if you don’t, your entire operating system will get corrupted.
- Your PC will restart several times during the reboot. So, don’t worry about that.
9] Check your Hard disk drive
Sometimes, the hard drive itself went corrupted on account of some internal glitches. Once an HDD gets corrupted, the data stored inside it also become damaged or faulty. Go and check if you can still work on your hard disk by running the CHKDSK command.
- Launch PowerShell as administrator.
- When it starts, copy/paste this code, and press Enter –
chkdsk c: /f /r /x
- As the root drive is already in use, the scan will not start. Instead, this will suggest you do so when the next time your PC shuts down. Type “Y“, and press Enter.
- Restart your PC next so that the hard disk testing begins soon afterward.
Clean install Windows
If none of the above workarounds help to resolve the error code 0xc0000005, the problem must be complex. So, now you have only one option to deal with and that is clean installing Windows on your computer. Do it and this problem vanishes the next time you log into your computer.
