Many of us have gotten the “access violation at address” error at some point in time. It often comes up when you restart your computer, or when trying to launch a program.
Getting this error can be quite annoying, especially when you are in a hurry to get some work done, or you need to make urgent use of the program you are trying to launch.
We are going to explain what this error means, why it happens, and how to fix it when it does. So, if you’re currently in need of a fix, or you want to add the information to your arsenal for future use, stick around!
What is “access violation at address”?
If you get an “access violation at address” error when launching the software, it means that the program you are trying to run is attempting to access a protected memory address.
Memory protection is done as a way to control which programs can be granted access to a computer’s memory. So, if the program refuses to launch due to the “access violation at address” error, it does not have the memory rights needed to access that particular address.
If you are wondering what the “access violation at address” error looks like, it usually appears as a popup window that makes it impossible for you to use that program. Access violation can occur due to many reasons, including the presence of malware on your computer’s hardware or memory.
Seeing the “access violation at address”? working fixes
Okay, so you know what the “access violation at address” is and why it may occur. How can you fix it?
This error message is often followed by a numeric code that can help you identify the problem and (hopefully) fix it. We have put together a few working fixes that can help you tackle the problem head-on. Try out any of these methods to get the program up and running.
Fix 1: Run Memory Diagnostics
A possible fix for this error is running memory diagnostics. The purpose of running memory diagnostics is to scan your computer’s physical memory and identify any possible corruption that might have led to the access violation error.
- To do this, type ‘memory’ in your Windows Start Search box.
- From the displayed results, click ‘Windows Memory diagnostic’. Follow the directions on your screen, let it run, and check the results.
- If your results show that your memory is infected, you should replace it. This may fix the problem.
Fix 2: Check for Malware
You can also check your device to see if it has been infected with malware. Malware often corrupts your system’s memory, and this may result in the error message that keeps popping up.
If you noticed that your computer has been malfunctioning before getting the “access violation at address” error, then run a deep, detailed scan on your computer to see if there are any viruses. If some malware pops up, getting rid of it may likely solve your issue.
Fix 3: Add to execution prevention list
If you are getting the error message even without having any malware on your system, you have the option of adding the software you are trying to run to a data execution prevention exception list. Doing this will enable you to run the program despite the error message you have been getting.
To add the software to a data execution prevention exception list, follow these steps.
- Search for “control panel” in your computer’s search bar.
- Click on the control panel application, and click on “system and security“.
- Search for “advanced system settings“.
- Find the ‘performance section’ in your advanced settings, then click settings.
- Open the “data execution prevention” tab.
- With this, you can turn on “data execution prevention” for all programs and services, except programs you choose to exclude.
- Click ‘add’, then add your program’s .exe file to the list. Save your changes, and you’re good to go!
- Cross-check by restarting the program to see if the error still pops up.
Fix 4: Try some Troubleshooting
Our fifth suggestion would be some good old troubleshooting. Lots of people have been able to fix the “access violation at address” error by simply troubleshooting and resolving issues on their computer system. To do this, follow these steps.
- Search for “settings” in your computer’s search bar and open the application. If you are using Windows 10, there is a shortcut for this. Simply hold down the Windows key + I on your keypad. Doing this will automatically open your settings.
- In your settings, find and open the “update and security” section.
- In that section, open up the “troubleshoot” option. You will find it on the left side of your screen.
- Run the troubleshoot command. You will be shown some instructions. Just follow each one carefully, and you will find and resolve any possible issues that pop up.
Fix 5: Clean Boot your PC
Another way to identify which program might be causing this error is by booting your computer in clean boot mode. If you are unsure about how to perform a clean boot, follow the steps here.
When your computer is in clean boot mode, you will want to determine the problem by following these steps.
First, check if you are still getting that error message. If you are, turn each application ON or OFF and then restart your computer.
Repeating this process for each application and setting should help you isolate the fault.
To get through this process faster, try testing the programs in halves. This way, you reduce the number of possibly faulty programs by half every time you reboot your computer.
Fix 6: Check the mode to ensure its not read only
Lastly, and this is pretty straightforward, you have to ensure that the program you are trying to run is not in read-only mode. If the software is in read-only mode, you will be denied access and it will not start or run properly. Make sure it is not in read-only mode. If this doesn’t work, feel free to try out any of the other available fixes in this article!