Windows 8.1 crashes after startup repeatedly (PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (NETwbw02.sys))
Windows 8.1 crashes after startup repeatedly (PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (NETwbw02.sys))
Tomorrow morning I experience a BSOD right after booting up every time. The warning reads "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (NETwbw02.sys)". It appears moments after the login screen. If I act fast, I can close it without seeing the blue screen. I’ve turned off the page file, run a memtest with the standard Windows tool, and executed chkdsk /f. No issues or messages yet. I also removed my antivirus and cleared all items from autostart via Task Manager. I can still use the laptop in safe mode with network drivers, but not in low graphics mode. About a week ago I swapped the hard drive for an SSD and updated the Wi-Fi chip. The problem started after I booted up Linux from a USB stick yesterday evening—though I didn’t install it or make any changes to the filesystem. My laptop is a Sony Vaio Multiflip 15" running Windows 8.1. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
SYS Faults typically stem from damaged hardware or corrupt drivers. They often show up after startup, similar to what you're experiencing. Possible steps: Update drivers, repair the Windows registry, run an antivirus scan, check for system file issues with sfc /scannow, apply all available updates, verify hard drive or RAM problems, and consider a clean install as a final option.
I attempted to apply as many updates as possible. Unfortunately, Windows Update doesn't function in safe mode, and many other issues persist. I ran WSUS and removed some programs that might be causing the problems. Replacing the RAM didn't resolve the issue either. Now it works after switching back to the old HDD, but I'm unsure if it's due to a faulty SSD or a software glitch. I plan to clone the hard drive onto the SSD again to determine the cause.