Error 0xc0000006, "The required data was not placed into memory"

This code is Windows saying a program asked for data that lives on disk, and the read failed before the data reached memory. Microsoft's name for it is STATUS_IN_PAGE_ERROR. It shows up most with games and large apps, and in practice it points at the drive, the file being read, or the memory holding it, in that order.

The fix, in order

  1. Restart the PC and try again. A stuck storage driver or a half-finished update can cause a one-off read failure, and a reboot is the cheapest way to rule that out.
  2. Back up anything important first. If the drive is starting to fail, every extra read and write risks more damage, so copy important files to another drive before running repairs.
  3. Check the drive for errors. In an admin Command Prompt run chkdsk C: /f /r and let it finish, then check the drive health in your drive maker's tool or in Settings, System, Storage, Advanced storage settings, Disks and volumes, Properties.
  4. Test the RAM. Search for Windows Memory Diagnostic, run it, and restart when asked. Bad RAM can corrupt data as it is read in, and it produces the same error as a bad drive.
  5. Repair Windows files. In an admin Command Prompt run sfc /scannow, then DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, and restart after each one finishes.
  6. Reinstall the program that fails. If only one program hits the error, its files may be the damaged ones. Reinstall it from its official source, and for Steam games use Properties, Installed Files, Verify integrity of game files.
  7. Update storage and chipset drivers. Get them from the PC or motherboard maker's support page, not from a driver updater app, and restart after installing.
Do not keep launching the program over and over if the error repeats. Repeated failed reads on a failing drive wear it further and can turn a recoverable problem into lost files. Back up first, then diagnose.

If it still happens

If the error follows one program to a fresh install, the program's files or its install media are the problem, so try a different download source or an older version from the maker. If it appears across many different programs, the drive or the RAM is the likelier cause, so replace the suspect part and retest rather than reinstalling Windows on top of failing hardware.

Common questions

Does 0xc0000006 mean my RAM is faulty? Not necessarily. The error means a read from disk into memory failed, and the most common cause is the drive or the file being read, not the RAM. Test the RAM only after checking the drive, and treat a RAM error as one possible cause among several.

Does 0xc0000006 mean my hard drive is failing? It can be an early sign of drive trouble, especially if the error appears in many different programs. Check the drive health and run CHKDSK, and back up important files first, before running any repair that writes to the disk.

Related errors

Error 0xc0000005 · Error 0xc000000f · Error 0xc0000017

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