How to Resolve PFN_LIST_CORRUPT: Drivers, Hardware, and More

Try one of these troubleshooting methods to fix your BSOD

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: December 2, 2024 Fact Checked

Are you getting a PFN_LIST_CORRUPT blue screen of death error on Windows? This is understandably a very frustrating and alarming issue. PFN_LIST_CORRUPT occurs when something goes wrong with the infrastructure that handles virtual storage in your computer, usually because of a faulty driver. In this article, we'll go over a number of ways to fix this issue and get your computer running smoothly once again.

Ways to Fix the PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Error

Uninstall software that could be causing the issue
Update your drivers manually
Update Windows to apply fixes and update remaining drivers
Try the built-in BSOD troubleshooter
Run Windows' DISM and SFC scans
Check your hardware, specifically your RAM, for issues

1

Uninstall Problematic Software

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Uninstall the software causing this issue. There are a few ways to know what software could be causing this error:
- If you recently installed some software and the error started to occur after that point, it's safe to assume the recently installed software is the culprit.
- If you have Gigabyte RGB software installed, try uninstalling it. Many users on Reddit have found that this software was causing the PFN_LIST_CORRUPT error.^{[1]
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- Other users have noted that third-party antivirus software was causing this issue. Try uninstalling any third-party antivirus (Windows Security will still be protecting your PC).

2

Update Drivers

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Updating certain device drivers may fix the issue. If you aren't seeing any device issues, you may want to try updating your Network and Display Adapter device drivers.^{[2]
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- Boot in Safe Mode. To do this, press and hold the ⇧ Shift key while on the Windows sign-in screen, then select Power > Restart.
- Right click the Start button and select Device Manager.
- Expand Network Adapters and Display Adapters.
- Right click each device and select "Update driver". After the drivers have been updated, restart your PC to see if the error still occurs.

3

Update your Computer

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Try updating your computer to fix underlying issues. If your Windows installation is outdated, it can cause a variety of issues with your computer. Updating Windows also allows your computer to find and install any driver updates that you might have missed by manually installing them.
- To check for a Windows update, type "Windows update" in the taskbar search bar, then click Check for updates. If an update is available, install it from this window, then check to see if the issue is still occurring.

4

Run the BSOD Troubleshooter

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Run the BSOD troubleshooter to identify the issue. Windows has a number of built-in troubleshooters to help you figure out why certain things are happening on your computer. One of these troubleshooters can help you with BSOD (or blue screen of death) errors.^{[3]
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- In the taskbar search bar, type "Get help".
- Open the Get Help application.
- In the Get Help app, search for "Troubleshoot blue screen error".
- Click on Troubleshoot blue screen error.
- Go through the troubleshooter to identify the issue, then follow the on-screen steps to fix the problem.

5

Run DISM and SFC

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Use DISM and SFC to try and repair your computer. Windows has two built-in repair commands, Windows Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) and Windows System File Checker (SFC).^{[4]
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Go to source} To run DISM and SFC, follow these steps:
- Open up the Command Prompt. Type Command Prompt into the taskbar search bar and open up the Command Prompt app.
- Run the following commands. You can run both of these tools, but Windows recommends running DISM first.
  - DISM: Dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
  - SFC: SFC /scannow
- Restart your PC. After the commands have finished running, restart your computer to see if the error has been resolved.

6

Check Your Hardware

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Some users have had the PFN_LIST_CORRUPT error occur because of an issue with their RAM.^{[5]
X
Research source} Make sure your RAM sticks are seated properly in their slots. If you recently added additional RAM, remove those sticks and ensure the remaining RAM is in the appropriate slots on the motherboard.

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Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist

Try checking your hard drive, as well. While RAM issues are a major culprit for crashes and freezes, your hard drive can cause problems, too. If your hard drive has slowed down quite a bit, consider replacing it to see if it fixes the problem.

7

Use a System Restore Point

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If none of the above methods work, try restoring to a previous point. Your system may have made a restore point before the error started to occur.^{[6]
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- Open the System Restore menu. In the taskbar search bar, type "Recovery" and open the control panel option Recovery from the menu.
- Select "Open System Restore".
- Pick a restore point from the list. If you've made previous restore points, you should see them here, or you can select one that your computer created.
- Allow the computer to restore itself. Once the restoration process is complete, your computer should restart to the loaded restore point.

8

Reinstall Windows

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If nothing else works, you can reinstall Windows. This is a last resort, but if nothing else fixes the error, you may want to consider this option.^{[7]
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- Restart your PC and hold F8 when the boot screen is visible. This will take you to the Windows Recovery Environment.
  - Some devices may require you to hold down Fn+F8 instead of just F8.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC. Select to either keep your files or remove everything and follow the on-screen instructions to refresh your Windows installation.
- Wait for the process to finish. Once your computer has finished reinstalling your operating system, you should be able to get back into your PC without the error loop occurring.