ErrorFindly
0x000000C6BSODCritical

0x000000C6 — Driver Caught Modifying Freed Pool | Blue Screen Fix Guide

DRIVER_CAUGHT_MODIFYING_FREED_POOL

Windows XPWindows VistaWindows 7Windows 8Windows 10Windows 11

What Does 0x000000C6 Mean?

A driver was caught writing to memory that had already been freed (use-after-free).

Real-World Causes

  1. 1Use-after-free bug in driver
  2. 2Driver writing to freed pool block
  3. 3Memory corruption

Symptoms

  • ⚠Blue screen with stop code DRIVER_CAUGHT_MODIFYING_FREED_POOL
  • ⚠System reboots unexpectedly
  • ⚠Possible data loss from unsaved work

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Restart your computer
  2. 2Update or roll back recently installed drivers
  3. 3Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
  4. 4Check Windows Update for driver updates

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Analyze crash dump with WinDbg
  2. 2Run Driver Verifier to isolate faulty driver
  3. 3Use Safe Mode to uninstall problematic drivers
  4. 4Check Event Viewer for related errors

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes DRIVER_CAUGHT_MODIFYING_FREED_POOL?
A driver was caught writing to memory that had already been freed (use-after-free).
Can I fix Driver Caught Modifying Freed Pool myself?
In many cases yes. Start with basic troubleshooting like restarting, updating drivers, and running System File Checker. If the issue persists, advanced analysis of crash dumps may be needed.

Related Error Codes

0x000000C5Driver Corrupted Expool0x000000C1Special Pool Detected Memory Corruption

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.