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0xC000009AApplicationHigh

Error 0xC000009A — STATUS_INSUFFICIENT_RESOURCES | Application Error Fix

Windows 10Windows 11Windows Server 2016Windows Server 2019Windows Server 2022

What Does 0xC000009A Mean?

Insufficient system resources exist to complete the API. The kernel or a driver could not allocate enough memory, handles, or other system resources.

Real-World Causes

  1. 1System is running low on non-paged pool memory
  2. 2Handle leak in a driver or application exhausting system handles
  3. 3Too many concurrent network connections or open files
  4. 4Driver bug consuming kernel resources without releasing them
  5. 5Insufficient page file space

Symptoms

  • ⚠Applications fail to start or crash during operation
  • ⚠New windows or dialogs fail to open
  • ⚠Network connections are refused
  • ⚠System becomes progressively slower over time until restarted

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Restart the computer to reclaim all resources
  2. 2Close unnecessary applications and browser tabs
  3. 3Increase the page file size via System Properties > Advanced > Performance
  4. 4Check Task Manager for processes with very high handle counts

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Use Process Explorer to identify processes with high handle or GDI object counts
  2. 2Monitor non-paged pool with Performance Monitor: Memory > Pool Nonpaged Bytes
  3. 3Use poolmon.exe (Windows Driver Kit) to identify pool tag leaks
  4. 4Update all drivers, especially network and storage drivers
  5. 5Increase desktop heap size if GDI resources are exhausted: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\SubSystems

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between STATUS_NO_MEMORY and STATUS_INSUFFICIENT_RESOURCES?
STATUS_NO_MEMORY (0xC0000017) specifically refers to virtual memory exhaustion. STATUS_INSUFFICIENT_RESOURCES is broader and can mean any system resource is depleted, including kernel pool memory, handles, GDI objects, or other internal limits.
Why does this error go away after a restart?
A restart reclaims all leaked resources. If the error returns over time, a driver or application is leaking resources. Use Process Explorer to monitor handle and GDI counts to identify the leaking process.

Related Error Codes

0xC0000017STATUS_NO_MEMORY0xC0000005STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION0xC00000FDSTATUS_STACK_OVERFLOW

About the Author

Windows Troubleshooting Team

Verified against official Microsoft documentation and real-world diagnostic data. Error behavior confirmed across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.