Fix Windows Error Code 0xc0000017 in a Snap!

I. About Windows error code 0xc0000017

After the update is installed, Windows 10 devices may encounter Windows blue screen error code 0xc0000017 when restarting, and the interface will prompt “Not enough memory is available to create a virtual hard disk device”. This error can be related to incompatible external devices, insufficient memory, outdated motherboard drivers, etc.

The following will provide some corresponding solutions for the possible reasons, but before fixing the blue screen error, please recall whether important files are saved in the computer. If so, you can refer to the second part to back them up or transfer them out. To ensure data security. If you do not need to back up or transfer data, please skip to the third part.

II. When unable to enter the system, use Renee PassNow to backup or transfer important data

1. What is Renee PassNow?

Renee PassNow is a professional system rescue software, which can help Windows users clear Windows account passwords, create new administrator accounts; restore disk/memory card data, recover data after hard disk formatting; transfer disk files; erase or scan Disk files, etc. In addition, this software also supports repairing Windows system problems, such as: repairing MBR boot records, DBR error parameters, 0xc00000e, Windows system startup failure, and some problems that cause black screen or blue screen, etc. As a system rescue tool with various functions, it is perfectly compatible with multiple systems including Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista, and can meet the system rescue needs of different users.

2. How to use Renee PassNow to backup or transfer data?

Step 1: Download and install Renee PassNow on other computers that can log in and run normally, then connect the U disk to the PC, run Renee PassNow, and then check in “Step 1: Select creation method” (Create a Live USB) option. (Note: Before performing this operation, please make sure that the important files in the U disk have been saved in other locations, because the operation process will delete all the data in the U disk.)

Step 2: Next, select (x64) or (x86) according to the system type, click the (Download Now) button to download the ISO file, click the (Create a Live USB) button after the file is downloaded, and click the (Eject USB) button.

Step 3: Connect the created boot device to the computer that needs to transfer data, turn on the computer, and then the shortcut key to enter the BIOS will be displayed on the computer screen (the display time of this interface is very short, maybe only one or two seconds), click continuously BIOS shortcut key to enter the BIOS setting interface, and then set the boot U disk as the first in the boot sequence in Boot Priority, then save the settings and restart the computer.

Step 4: After booting the computer from the bootable USB flash drive and entering the application, select the option Data Backup. This option is equivalent to completely cloning the hard disk to other hard disks, so the hard disk capacity for saving backup files needs to be larger.

Step 5: Select the hard disk to back up files in the source list, select the hard disk to save files in the destination list, and finally click the button clone and wait for the cloning to complete to successfully back up the computer files.

Step 6: If you only need to transfer some important files, the function Data Transfer will be more suitable for you.

Step 7: You can click on each disk drive letter (C/D/E/F, etc.) to find the files to be transferred. It is recommended that you transfer them to an external disk. The operation of transferring data is very simple. For example, if you want to transfer the data in the C drive to the G drive, you can first select the C drive on the upper left, select the G drive on the upper right, and then select the files in the C drive, and click the Copy function button in the middle. Disk data can be easily transferred. If there is a file you want to delete, you can also click the Delete button in the middle after selecting the file, but the deletion operation cannot be undone, please operate with caution.

After backing up or transferring the important files in the computer, we can continue to use the following methods to solve the 0xc0000017 error.

III. How to Fix Windows Error Code 0xc0000017?

1. Remove external devices and restart

The computer peripherals are incompatible and conflicting, which can lead to Windows error code 0xc0000017. At this time, you can shut down the computer, remove the external devices of the computer one by one (such as storage devices such as U disk, mobile hard disk, or keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc.), and then turn on the computer. If the problem persists, reconnect the device and remove it. Remove another external device to troubleshoot which device is causing the conflict.

2. Clean up corrupted memory entries

Error code 0xc0000017 means that not enough memory is available to create the virtual hard disk device. So, in order to fix the 0xc0000017 error code, you can choose to clear the bad memory entries. Since your computer has been in a blue screen state, you need to enter the recovery environment through the Windows installation medium, and then clean up the memory entries. Specific steps are as follows:

Step 1: Insert the Windows installation disk (DVD or U disk) into the computer. When starting up, press F2 or F10 or DEL or ESC shortcut keys continuously (varies with the computer brand) to enter the BIOS setting interface, set the first boot sequence to Windows installation disk, save the settings and restart the computer. Make the computer boot from the installation disk, and select the optio Repair Your Computern on the Windows Installer interface to enter the recovery environment.

Step 2: After entering the recovery environment, select Troubleshooting > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.

Step 3: Enter the command bcdedit /store C:\boot\bcd /enum {badmemory} in the opened command prompt window (please change C: to the drive letter of the system disk in your computer), if there is a bad memory memory entry, continue to enter bcdedit /store C:\boot\bcd /deletevalue {badmemory} badmemorylist (please change C: to the drive letter of the system disk in your computer).

3. Rebuild BCD

Some users reported that the bad memory entry was not found through method 2, but the error code 0xc0000017 was successfully resolved by rebuilding the BCD.

Step 1: Repeat Step 1 and Step 2 in Method 2 to open the Command Prompt in the recovery environment.

Step 2: Enter the following commands in the command prompt and press Enter after each one:

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup

C:

cd boot

attrib bcd -s -h -r

ren C:\boot\bcd bcd.old

bootrec /RebuildBcd

Step 3: Then shut down the computer, remove the Windows installation disk, restart the computer, and check whether the problem is resolved.

4. Update the motherboard driver

Error code 0xc0000017 may also occur if motherboard drivers are outdated. So, you can choose to update your motherboard drivers to fix this error.

Step 1: Visit the official website of the motherboard manufacturer through the browser of another computer that can start normally, and download the latest driver program to the U disk.

Step 2: Insert the Windows installation disk (DVD or U disk) into the computer. When starting up, press F2 or F10 or DEL or ESC shortcut keys continuously (varies with the computer brand) to enter the BIOS setting interface, set the first boot sequence to Windows installation disk, save the settings and restart the computer. Make the computer boot from the installation disk, and select the option Repair Your Computer on the Windows Installer interface to enter the recovery environment.

Step 3: After entering the safe recovery environment of Windows, select Troubleshooting > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. When the computer restarts, select 5 or F5 to start Safe Mode with Networking.

Step 4: Connect the USB flash drive with the latest driver to the computer that cannot boot. Open the installation executable file and follow the on-screen prompts to install the driver.

5. Check for hardware problems

If none of the above methods can solve the error code 0xc0000017, then there is a high possibility of hardware failure. It is recommended that you take your computer to the official computer after-sales repair center or a professional repair organization authorized by the brand to check the processor, RAM, hard drive or motherboard and other hardware devices.