nvlddmkm.sys (NVIDIA driver) caused an access violation. Update GPU drivers.
| Dump Type | Typical Size | Contents | |--------------------------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | 64 KB – 256 KB | Bug check code, parameters, list of loaded drivers, stack of crashing thread. | | Kernel Memory Dump | 1/3 of RAM approx. | Kernel memory, loaded drivers, hardware abstraction layer, kernel‑mode stack. | | Complete Memory Dump | Equal to RAM size | Entire physical memory at crash time. Requires large paging file. | | Automatic Memory Dump | Variable | Same as kernel dump but can be smaller; Windows 11 default. | Default setting in Windows 11: Automatic Memory Dump – stored in %SystemRoot%\MEMORY.DMP . Small dumps are also stored in %SystemRoot%\Minidump with a timestamped filename (e.g., 041426-25937-01.dmp ). 4. Overview of Windows 11 Dump File Viewers The table below compares the most popular viewers for Windows 11:
If the image name is ntoskrnl.exe , the crash may be due to hardware, corrupted system files, or buggy filter drivers; run !analyze -v and check the stack for third‑party drivers below nt!KeBugCheckEx . Despite enabling dumps, Windows 11 sometimes fails to write them. Common reasons and solutions:
Arguments: Arg1: 00000000c0000005, Exception code = access violation Arg2: fffff8002e4a2b3f, Address of instruction that caused exception
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID: DRIVER_FAULT
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix | |-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | No MEMORY.DMP after BSOD | Paging file too small | Set paging file to “System managed” or >2 GB. | | Minidump folder empty | Disabled by Group Policy | Check gpedit.msc → Computer Config → Admin Templates → System → “Write debugging information”. | | Dump file exists but viewer says corrupt | Disk error or interrupted write | Run chkdsk /f /r . Disable fast startup (Power Options). | | WinDbg shows “No symbols loaded” | Missing symbol path | Set _NT_SYMBOL_PATH environment variable or use .symfix . |
Microsoft (R) Windows Debugger Version ... Loading Dump File [C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP] Kernel Summary Dump File: Kernel address space is present BugCheck 0x0000003B, c0000005, fffff8002e4a2b3f, ... SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION (3b)
Report ID: WIN11-DFV-2026-04 Date: April 14, 2026 Author: Windows Diagnostics Research Unit Target Audience: System Administrators, IT Support Specialists, Forensic Analysts, Developers 1. Executive Summary Windows 11, like its predecessors, generates memory dump files when the operating system encounters a fatal error (e.g., Blue Screen of Death – BSOD). These dump files capture the state of system memory at the moment of the crash, providing critical clues for root cause analysis. A dump file viewer is any software tool capable of opening, parsing, and interpreting these files. This report evaluates native and third‑party viewers for Windows 11, explains how to configure dump generation, and provides a methodology for effective crash analysis.