FIX: DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER BSoD in Windows 10

by Milan Stanojevic

Deputy Editor

March 31, 2020

0 Comments

Download PDF

Affiliate Disclosure

---

DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER and other BSoD errors can cause many problems on your PC, therefore it’s important that you fix these errors as soon as possible.

These errors can be quite problematic, so today we’re going to show you fix DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER error on Windows 10.

DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER can be a big problem on your PC, and in this article, we’re going to show you how to fix these issues:

• Driver overran stack buffer on startup
  • According to users, sometimes this error occurs right on startup.
  • This can be a big problem since you won’t be able to use your PC at all.
• Driver overran stack buffer overclock
  • Many users overclock their PC in order to get the maximum performance.
  • However, overclocking can cause various problems, and if you’re experiencing this issue, be sure to remove all overclock settings.
• Driver overran stack buffer while installing Windows 10
  • Sometimes this error can occur while installing Windows 10.
  • This is usually an indication of a hardware problem.
• Driver overran stack buffer Windows 10 blue screen
  • This is a Blue Screen of Death error, and as soon as it appears your PC will crash and restart.
  • This can be a big problem, but you should be able to fix it using one of our solutions.
• Driver_overran_stack_buffer ntoskrnl.exe, tcpip.sys, asustp.sys, nvlddmkm.sys, ntfs.sys, win32k.sys, fltmgr.sys, netwsw00.sys, hal.dll, halmacpi.dll
  • Usually this error message will show you the name of the file that is causing the problem.
  • Once you know the file name, you need to do a bit of research and see how to fix the problem.
• Driver overran stack buffer crash
  • This is also a common problem with this error. Once this error appears on your PC, your computer will crash and automatically restart.
  • This can be a big problem and cause file loss and other various issues.

How can I fix DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER BSOD error on Windows 10?

Table of contents:

1. Install the latest Windows updates
2. Make sure that you have the latest drivers installed
3. Run the BSOD Troubleshooter
4. Run the SFC scan
5. Run DISM
6. Check the hard drive
7. Uninstall the problematic software
8. Change the G-Sync settings
9. Reset Windows 10
10. Check your RAM and other hardware components

1. Install the latest Windows updates

1. Open the Settings app.
   • You can do that by pressing Windows Key + I on your keyboard.
     
2. When Settings app opens, navigate to Update & security.
   

Blue Screen of Death errors can be caused by both hardware and software issues, and in order to fix this problem it’s highly recommended that you download the latest Windows 10 updates.

Many of these updates address hardware and software issues, but they fix certain security flaws, therefore if you want your PC to be safe and free from errors, we highly recommended that you use Windows Update and download the latest updates.

Windows will now check for available updates. If any updates are available, they will be automatically installed. If you’re having trouble opening the Setting app, take a look at this article to solve the issue.

Can’t update your Windows? Check out this guide that will help you solve them in no time.

2. Make sure that you have the latest drivers installed

1. Press Windows Key + X on your keyboard and choose Device Manager from the list.
   
2. When Device Manager opens, locate the driver you want to update, right click it and choose Update driver.
   
3. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows 10 will now download and install the appropriate drivers.
   
4. Repeat these steps for all drivers that you want to update.

Windows can’t automatically download new drivers? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Drivers are a key part of the operating system because Windows 10 uses drivers in order to work with your hardware. If a certain driver is outdated or corrupted, that can cause DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER Blue Screen of Death error to appear.

Using the Device Manager to update your drivers is simple, but that might not be the best solution. According to users, Device Manager doesn’t always download the latest drivers, so if you want to have latest drivers installed, it’s advised that you download the necessary drivers manually.

To do that, simply visit your hardware manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your device. Users reported issues with Atheros wireless driver, so be sure to update this driver first, and then move to other drivers.

2.1 Update drivers automatically

Searching for drivers on your own can be time-consuming. So, we advise you to use a tool that will do this for you automatically.

Using an automatic driver updater will certainly save you from the hassle of searching for drivers manually, and it will always keep your system up to date with the latest drivers.

Tweakbit’s Driver Updater (approved by Microsoft and Norton Antivirus) will help you update drivers automatically and prevent PC damage caused by installing the wrong driver versions. After several tests, our team concluded that this is the best-automatized solution.

Here is a quick guide on how to use it:

1. Download and install TweakBit Driver Updater
2. Once installed, the program will start scanning your PC for outdated drivers automatically.
   • Driver Updater will check your installed driver versions against its cloud database of the latest versions and recommend proper updates.
   • All you need to do is wait for the scan to complete.
     
3. Upon scan completion, you get a report on all problem drivers found on your PC.
4. Review the list and see if you want to update each driver individually or all at once.
   • To update one driver at a time, click the Update driver link next to the driver name.
   • Or simply click the Update all button at the bottom to automatically install all recommended updates.
     

Note: Some drivers need to be installed in multiple steps so you will have to hit the ‘Update’ button several times until all of its components are installed.

3. Run the BSOD Troubleshooter

1. Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security section.
2. Select Troubleshoot from the menu on the left.
3. Select BSOD from the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooter.

Windows 10’s troubleshooting tool can be used for dealing with all sorts of system errors. Including the BSOD issues. So, it’s the next thing we’re going to try.

Having Troubleshooter issues? Fix it with the help of this complete guide.

4. Run the SFC scan

1. Right-click the Start Menu button, and open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Enter the following line and press Enter: sfc/scannow
3. Wait until the process is done (it may take a while).
4. If the solution is found, it will automatically be applied.
5. Now, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.

The next troubleshooter in line is the SFC scan. This tool checks for corrupt system files, and repairs them, if possible. So if a corrupt system file is the cause of the DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER error, this tool will likely resolve it.

If you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin, then you better take a closer look on this guide.

Having scannow command issues? Don’t worry, we’ve got an easy fix for you.

5. Run DISM

The third troubleshooting tool we’re going to use here is DISM. Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM), as its name says, re-deploys the system image all over again, and resolves potential issues along the way.

So, it’s also possible it will resolve the DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER error.

• Standard way

1. Right-click Start and open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Paste the following command and press Enter:
   • • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
3. Wait until the scan is finished.
4. Restart your computer and try updating again.

DISM fails on Windows? Check out this quick guide and get rid of the worries.

• With the Windows installation media

1. Insert your Windows installation media.
2. Right-click the Start menu and, from the menu, choose the Command Prompt (Admin).
3. In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each:
   • dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
   • dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
4. Now, type the following command and press Enter:
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:SourcesInstall.wim:1 /LimitAccess
5. Make sure to change an X value with the letter of the mounted drive with Windows 10 installation.
6. After the procedure is finished, restart your computer.

For this solution you’ll need a Windows installation media. If you want to know how to create a bootable USB drive with Windows 10 on it, follow the simple steps from this useful guide.

6.  Check the hard drive

1. Enter the Advanced Startup
   • (Restart your computer while holding the Shift key).
2. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options.
3. Select Command Prompt from the list of options.
4. When Command Prompt appears, enter the following lines and press Enter after each line in order to run it:
   • bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd
   • bootrec.exe /fixmbr
   • bootrec.exe /fixboot
5. Some users are also suggesting that you need to run additional chkdsk commands as well.
   • To perform these commands, you need to know drive letters for all your hard drive partitions.
   • In Command Prompt you should enter the following (but remember to use the letters that match your hard drive partitions on your PC):
     • chkdsk /r c:
     • chkdsk /r d:

      

   • This is just our example, so keep in mind that you have to perform chkdsk command for every hard drive partition that you have.
6. Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Sometimes BSoD errors like DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER can appear due to corrupted files on your hard drive, and in order to fix this problem, you’ll need to check your hard drive by using chkdsk command.

chkdsk is giving you headaches? Check out this quick guide to fix any issues with it.

7. Uninstall the problematic software

Third-party software can also cause BSoD errors to appear, therefore it’s important that you find and remove the problematic software.

According to users, the cause for this error was Deamon Tools, so if you have this application installed, we urge you to remove it in order to fix this error.

Users also reported that Rapport plug-in for Internet Explorer can cause DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER error, so be sure to remove this plug-in. Another application that can cause this error is Folder Lock, therefore we advise you to remove it from your PC.

Common cause for BSoD errors can be your antivirus software, and in order to fix this error, we advise you to temporarily remove all third-party antivirus programs.

Bear in mind that uninstalling the program might not fix the error since many antivirus programs tend to leave certain files behind once you uninstall them.

To ensure that your antivirus is completely removed from your system, we advise that you use dedicated removal tool. Many antivirus companies have these tools available for download, so be sure to download one for your antivirus software.

Want to completely remove programs from your Windows PC? Use these amazing uninstallers!

8. Change the G-Sync settings

According to the users, G-Sync settings can sometimes cause DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER Blue Screen of Death error to appear. To fix this issue, you need to set G-Sync to Fullscreen and Windowed from G-Sync settings.

9. Reset Windows 10

If this error is caused by software, you should be able to fix it by performing Windows 10 reset. Resetting Windows 10 will delete all files from your C drive, so be sure to back them up.

Bon’t know how to backup your data? Learn how to do it with this nifty guide!

We have to mention that you might need a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 10 in order to complete this step, so it’s a good idea to create one. To perform Windows 10 reset, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer few times during the boot sequence to start Automatic Repair.
2. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything. During this step you might get asked to insert Windows 10 installation media, so be sure to have one ready.
3. Choose Only the drive where Windows is installed > Just remove my files and click the Reset button.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Windows 10 reset.

If Windows 10 reset doesn’t fix the problem, it means that DDRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER error is caused by your hardware.

Need more info on how to factory reset your PC? Read this article and find out everything you need to know.

Disaster strikes and you can’t reset your PC! Fortunately, we’ve got the right solutions for you.

10. Check your RAM and other hardware components

Your hardware can often cause these types of errors, and if you installed any new hardware recently we advise you to remove it or replace it and check if that fixes the error.

FAQ: Learn more about BSoDs

• Can hardware issues be the cause of BSoDs?

If your hardware is not compatible with your motherboard, your system will crash and you’ll get a BSoD error. Of course, these are just one of the many issues that can trigger BSoD errors.

• Which hardware is more prone to causing BSoDs?

One hardware component that can lead to BSoD errors if faulty is the HDD. If that is the case for you, consider upgrading it to a much faster SSD instead.

• Will replacing my RAM solve the Stack Buffer error?

As long as you make sure that the new RAM components are compatible with your other PC components, you should no longer get the Stack Buffer BSoD. 

DRIVER OVERRAN STACK BUFFER Blue Screen of Death error is usually caused by problematic applications or outdated drivers, and you can easily fix this error by using one of our solutions.

If you have any other suggestions or questions, don’t hesitate to drop them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to take a look.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2018 and has been since revamped and updated in March 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.