BAD_POOL_HEADER or stop code 0x00000019 is one of the frequently occurring Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) errors on Windows. This error indicates an issue with your PC’s memory allocation, corrupt PC drivers, hard drive issues or RAM errors. A BSoD is a measure taken by your computer to ensure protection from further damage to any hardware or any software failure.
In some cases, BAD_POOL_HEADER occurs when your system is facing issues with the hard drive that contains the Windows OS. This can cause damage to any open files or files you’re working on. These files could go missing, corrupted or even permanently deleted. Users also reported facing this error when the system is unable to allocate memory successfully due to a corrupt allocation header. The term “Pool” refers to the memory pool in your system, which is created by the Windows OS to allocate memory. The term “Header” refers to the header of the function which defines certain memory allocation parameters and return values.
To summarize, below are a few common causes of the 0x00000019 error:
- Corrupt memory allocation header
- Incompatible anti-malware software
- Outdated or corrupt drivers
- Faulty RAM or other RAM errors
Sometimes the error is caused due to a simple issue which can be solved easily, but sometimes the fix is a little more complicated. Let’s look at a few different ways to tackle the BAD_POOL_HEADER error. Some solutions might require you to run memory diagnostics, disable anti-virus software, update device drivers, and other similar actions.
Disconnect any external devices connected
Sometimes the error could be due to other corrupt devices connecting to your PC which could be interfering with the Windows OS. So, the first simple solution is to disconnect all USB devices from the system and restart your PC. If the error was caused by an external device, it will not be displayed any more. In this case, go ahead and fix or replace the external device as it is corrupt and could cause further damages to your PC.
If the BAD_POOL_HEADER error occurred when there were no external devices connected, move on to the next section.
Update Windows to the latest version
As mentioned earlier, the error could be due to missing updates that can cause incompatibilities. Below are the steps to update Windows:
- In the search box, look for Settings and open it up.
- Select Update & Security
- Select Windows Update
- Click on the Check for updates button.
Disable or uninstall any third party anti-virus applications
Temporarily disabling any third-party anti-virus software will help you determine if the error is caused by the incompatibility of the application. Most anti-virus software come with a user help book or a documentation that guides you on how to disable the software temporarily. This may vary from software to software.
If you can’t find the option to disable it, you could temporarily uninstall the application from your PC. Below are the steps to do so:
- Open the Start menu and open up Settings
- Click on System
- Select Apps & Features
- Click on the anti-virus application you wish to uninstall and click the Uninstall button.
Reboot your PC and check if the error still persists. If not, go ahead and contact your anti-virus software vendor for solutions or install a new software.
Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool
Running the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool will help you detect any problems with the RAM. This is a helpful and easy-to-use tool that aids in identifying any issues with the memory or memory allocation on your PC.
Below are the steps to successfully run the tool:
- In the Windows search box, type in “windows memory diagnostic” or “mdsched” and launch the application by clicking on it.
- You will be asked if you want to restart the PC now or later. Choose whatever is suitable for you. The next time your PC restarts, the memory diagnostic tool will automatically scan your system and the results will be displayed on the screen.
- If any errors are found, you will be notified and Windows will also give you a set of feasible actions you can take to fix them.
The memory diagnostic tool is a free, easy and a systematic way to check for any issues with your computer’s memory.
Disable Fast Startup
Fast Startup is a Windows10 feature that reduces your PC’s boot times. Some people are unaware of this feature, and sometime it’s automatically turned on from the time of purchase. While this is an extremely useful feature, it could be the cause of some of the BSOD errors.
To disable the fast startup feature on Windows10:
- In the Windows search box, type “power plan” and click the Choose a power plan option.
- From the left panel, click on Choose what the power buttons do.
- Click on Change setting that are currently unavailable.
- Uncheck the Turn on fast startup (recommended) select box if it is enabled.
- Click on Save changes and reboot your PC.
Check if the error still persists.
Check your RAM
The BAD_POOL_HEADER error could also be occurring due to faulty or unclean RAM. To check if your RAM is in a decent condition, first check for dust and dirt on your RAM. If you are well aware of how to detach the RAM, then do so and clean the stick, and replace it correctly. Make sure you do this when your computer is turned off. If you are not comfortable doing this on your own, take your computer to the vendor or a local repair shop and they’ll do this for you.
Check for file integrity using the SFC
Use the System File Checker to identify any integrity issues with the system files. The SFC searches for any damaged or missing files and automatically replaces or fixes them with a new copy.
Below are the steps to use the SFC correctly:
- Press Windows+S on your keyboard.
- Type “Command Prompt“
- Type “SFC /scannow“
- Press Enter
Once the scan begins, it will replace any damaged files with a new copy.
Note: If you run into an SFC /Scannow error when starting the scan, don’t worry. We have written dedicated articles on what to do if SFC scannow is not working, including:
- Windows Resource Protection Could Not Perform The Requested Operation
- Windows resource protection could not start the repair service
Perform a System Restore
System Restore allows you to revert your Windows system back to a working state and may eliminate any changes that triggered the BAD_POOL_HEADER error.
To carry out system restore successfully:
- Press Windows+S on your keyboard.
- Type “system restore” and open up the control panel option.
- Click on System Restore…
- Select a restore point from the list and click on Next.
- Follow the steps shown during the System Restore Wizard.
Any programs or apps that were installed after the restore point will be automatically uninstalled and deleted once the system restore process is completed.
Reboot your computer and check if the error still persists.
Replace Hardware
If none of the above solutions work, your only option would be to get your computer checked and replace any broken hardware. BAD_POOL_HEADER error sometimes occurs due to a damaged hard drive. Changing the drive to a new hard drive or SSD might fix the error.
To avoid losing any data or the OS, you can clone the disk to create a mirror copy of your current hard drive.
