0x0000124 (WHEA UNCORRECTABLE ERROR): Fix for Windows

Get the fix to “0xc0000124: WHEA UNCORRECTABLE ERROR” for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 operating systems.

Contents

About the “0xc0000124” error

The following information on this error has been compiled by NeoSmart Technologies, based on the information gathered and reported by our global network of engineers, developers, and technicians or partner organizations.

Description and Symptoms

The error messages, alerts, warnings, and symptoms below are tied to this error.

Symptom 1: 0xc0000124 error screen on startup

The 0x0000124 is a hardware error that indicates that your system has found an uncorrectable hardware error. It’s also known as WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR.

The most common cause is the CPU voltage being too low, but here are some other common causes for this error:

  • corrupt hardware: damaged hard disk, video card problem, RAM corruption, problems with the processor
  • driver compatibility issues (this especially happens for Windows 8.1 systems)
  • driver conflict
  • heat related problems, e.g. overclocking the system
  • a corrupt Windows registry
  • corrupt or removed Windows-specific system files

On Windows 8.1 systems, the screen will mention WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR, while on other systems you’ll see the 0x0000124 error code instead:

Screenshot of 0x0000124 error

:(

Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you. (0% complete)

If you'd like to know more, you can search online later for this error: WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR

Causes of this Error

This error has been known to occur as a result of one or more of the following:

Cause 1: Damaged hardware

One possible cause of this error is the hardware(memory, motherboard, hard drives or videocard) that became damaged. This is especially prominent in overclocked systems.

Cause 2: Driver conflicts

Another possible cause is a misconfigured or outdated driver that causes conflicts in the I/O system. This may happen after a driver update or an incorrect Windows upgrade(downgrade).

Cause 3: Corrupt registry or system files

The last possible cause of this error is an important system file, or a registry hive that is corrupt or missing. That may happen because of disk read/write errors, power outages or virus attacks.

Fixing “0xc0000124” on Windows

Windows Setup CD/DVD Required!
Some of the solutions below require the use of the Microsoft Windows setup CD or DVD. If your PC did not come with a Windows installation disc or if you no longer have your Windows setup media, you can use Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows instead. EasyRE will automatically find and fix many problems, and can also be used to solve this problem with the directions below.

Fix #1: Disable overclocking from BIOS

In order to fix the 0x0000124 (WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR) error on Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 systems, make sure the Overclocking feature from your computer’s BIOS is disabled.

To do so, follow these methods to open BIOS.

Method #1: Complete shutdown

  1. Hold the Shift key while also pressing the Shutdown button
  2. Select Restart

Method #2: Open Charm Bar

  1. Press the key and the C key (or swipe from the right of the screen) to open the Charm Bar
  2. Click Settings
  3. Click Change PC Settings
  4. Click General
  5. Click on Advanced Startup and then click Restart Now
  6. Go to Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options and then UEFI Firmware Settings
  7. Click Restart

After your computer restarted, it should open into the BIOS menu automatically:

  1. Go to Advanced tab
  2. Go to Performance
  3. Look for a Overclocking option
  4. Make sure it’s disabled
  5. If it’s enabled, disable it
  6. Save the settings and exit BIOS by hitting the F10 key. Choose Yes if you’re asked to exit with saving the changes

Fix #2: Check drivers

If you recently installed a new driver, make sure it’s compatible with the Windows version you currently have on your computer.

To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Start your computer
  2. Press the and C keys to open Charm Bar
  3. Type Device Manager in the search box
  4. Determine if there’s any corrupt drivers installed (any errors reported) from the list of drivers installed.If there are no errors reported in Device Manager, update the software of your most recently installed driver.To do so, right-click on the drive and click Update Driver Software
    Device Manager screen

    Device Manager screen

If you can’t boot into Windows to run Device Manager, boot into Safe Mode and run Device Manager from there:

  1. Insert the Windows installation media (DVD or USB)
  2. Restart the computer
  3. Press any key to boot from the media
  4. Click Repair your computer
    Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu

    Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu

  5. Click Troubleshoot
  6. Click Advanced options
  7. Click Startup Settings
  8. Click Restart
  9. At the Startup Settings screen, press F4 to boot into Safe Mode
    Windows 8 Advanced Boot Options/Startup Settings

    Windows 8 Advanced Boot Options/Startup Settings

Fix #3: Run chkdsk or Windows Memory Diagnostic

To troubleshoot if the 0x0000124 (WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR) error is caused by a corrupt or failing hard drive or memory, you can run the following tools:

  • chkdsk
  • Windows Memory Diagnostic
  • Easy Recovery Essentials

To run chkdsk, follow these steps:

  1. Press the and C keys to open Charm Bar
  2. Type cmd in the search box
  3. Right-click on Command Prompt from the results list
  4. Click Run as Administrator
  5. Once Command Prompt has loaded, type: 
    chkdsk C: /f

    Replace C: with the letter of the drive where your Windows is installed.

To run Windows Memory Diagnostic, follow these steps:

  1. Press the and C keys to open the search box from Charm Bar
  2. Type Windows Memory Diagnostic in the search box
  3. Click on Windows Memory Diagnostic from the search results list
  4. Continue with the Windows Memory Diagnostic wizard to complete the process and wait for the results

To run Easy Recovery Essentials and automatically detecting if your hard disk or RAM memory is corrupt or is failing, follow these steps:

  1. Download Easy Recovery Essentials
  2. Burn the ISO Image. Follow our instructions on how to burn a bootable ISO image. If you’d like to have a recovery USB instead, follow our instructions on how to make a recovery USB.
  3. Boot into Easy Recovery Essentials
  4. Select Automated Repair
  5. Click Continue and wait for the Automated Repair process to finish. Automated Repair process will report any issues found with your hard disk or RAM memory:

    EasyRE: HDD is failing

To download Easy Recovery Essentials, click here.

Fix 0x0000124 in Windows 10. 8, 7, Vista, XP

Fix #1: Reset BIOS

An easy method to fix the 0x0000124 error is to reset your computer’s BIOS to its default settings.

For more information and methods to reset BIOS to its default settings, read this guide.

To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Restart your computer
  2. Press the necessary key to open BIOS. The usual key is Del or F12, but other manufacturers may request different keys to access BIOS.
    Dell BIOS screen showing special key options

    Notice the key guide in the top-right corner.

  3. Find the option to reset the BIOS to its default settings. It can be named like any of the following: Load Default, Load Fail-Safe Defaults, Load BIOS Defaults, Load Default Settings, Load Setup Default, Get Default Values
  4. Save the changes by pressing the F10 key to exit BIOS with saving the changes

Fix #2: Check drivers

Follow the same steps from the Windows 8 instructions on how to check for errors with currently installed drivers and/or update the software for drivers.

You need to make sure that the software for each driver installed is compatible with your Windows version you are currently running.

If you can’t boot into Windows, boot into Safe Mode to open Device Manager:

  1. Boot the computer
  2. Press the F8 key before the Windows logo appears to open Advanced Boot Options menu
  3. At Advanced Boot Options menu, select Safe Mode
  4. Press Enter
The Advanced Boot Options screen in Windows Vista

The Advanced Boot Options screen in Windows Vista

Fix #3: Run chkdsk or Windows Memory Diagnostic

The steps to run chkdsk and Windows Memory Diagnostic tool are similar to those of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 systems.

To run chkdsk, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start
  2. Type cmd in the search box and click Command Prompt from the search results list. On a Windows XP system, click Start > Run > Type cmd, click OK.
  3. When Command Prompt has loaded, type: 
    chkdsk c: /f /x /r

    Where c: is the letter of the drive where Windows is installed on.

  4. Press Enter
chkdsk utility results

chkdsk utility results

To run Windows Memory Diagnostic, follow these isntructions:

  1. Click Start
  2. Type Windows Memory Diagnostic in the search box
  3. Choose Restart now and check for problems
  4. The Windows Memory Diagnostic tool will restart your computer and run shortly after booting
Windows Memory Diagnostic screen

Windows Memory Diagnostic screen

General fixes for 0x0000124

The following fixes can apply to all computers, regardless of Windows version installed (XP, Vista, 7 or 8).

Tip #1: Check the cooling system

Make sure your computer is properly cooled.

Tip #2: Clean and/or remove hardware

Try removing unimportant hardware pieces from your computer and restart the system to check if a certain piece of hardware is causing the 0x0000124 error.

Make sure your computer is not plugged-in/powered on!

You can also try to clean the hardware from your computer, e.g. clean the RAM sockets as much as possible.

Tip #3: Reinstall Windows

If the above tips aren’t working and the specific Windows instructions doesn’t work either to fix the 0x0000124 error, try to reinstall Windows.

More Information

Linked Entries

Support Links

Applicable Systems

This Windows-related knowledgebase article applies to the following operating systems:

  • Windows XP (all editions)
  • Windows Vista (all editions)
  • Windows 7 (all editions)
  • Windows 8 (all editions)
  • Windows 8.1 (all editions)
  • Windows 10 (all editions)

Propose an edit

Tagged: