Solved – Reference by Pointer BSOD Error On Windows 10/11

The “Reference by Pointer” Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error in Windows is indicated by the stop code 0x00000018. This error occurs when a driver or system component references a memory address using an already freed or invalid pointer. It also happens when faulty drivers, corrupted system files, or hardware issues occur. Let us put our troubleshooting hats on and fix this issue.

What Causes Blue Screen Reference By Pointer BSOD Error

Faulty or outdated drivers: A driver may be attempting to access already released memory.

Corrupted system files: Essential Windows files might be damaged or missing.

Hardware issues: Problems with RAM or other hardware components can trigger this error.

Malware Issues: Malware-infected PCs often face a blue screen reference by a pointer stop code of 0x00000018.

How To Fix Reference by Pointer BSOD Error On Windows 10/11

Fix 1: Run A Malware Scan

Malware infection is a significant factor behind all major and minor issues on your Windows PC, including the “Reference By Pointer BSOD” error. To clean the infection from a PC using Windows Security on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click on the Start menu, select Settings (gear icon), or press the Win key + I.
Step 2: Go to Privacy & security on the left sidebar.
Step 3: Click on Windows Security and click on Virus & Threat Protection.

Step 4: To run a more thorough scan, click on Scan options and select Full Scan.
Step 5: Follow any prompts to complete the scan. If malware is detected, Windows Security will provide options to quarantine or remove the threats.
Step 6: After the scan, review the results and take the necessary actions to address any detected threats.

Fix 2: Disable Your Antivirus (Temporarily)

If no viruses or malware are detected, the next step is temporarily disabling third-party and built-in security applications. There might be a chance that your antivirus program might be interfering with your computer’s normal operation. 

If the “Reference By Pointer BSOD Error” disappears after disabling your antivirus, you may need to consider using a different, reliable antivirus program. 

Editor’s Recommendation—If you are looking for a third-party antivirus, we recommend T9 Antivirus. It is a real-time malware detector that detects viruses, malware, trojans, etc., as soon as they try to infiltrate your system.

Fix 3: Windows Update

The next step to fix the Reference By Pointer Error On Windows 10/11 is to ensure your Windows is fully updated. Here is what you need to do:

Step 1: Press the Win key and type “Check For Updates”.
Step 2: Click on the relevant result under best match, and the Windows Settings box will open.
Step 3: Next, click the Check For Updates button and wait for the updates to download and install on your PC.
Step 4: Reboot your PC.

Fix 4: Clean Boot Windows

In addition to antivirus software, other third-party programs or services may also cause the “Reference by Pointer” BSOD. Consider any recently installed or enabled programs or services related to the error. If unsure, perform a clean boot to identify the problematic software. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Press Win + R and type “msconfig” followed by the Enter key.
Step 2: The System Configuration box will now open. Click on the Services tab and check the box before Hide all Microsoft services.

Step 3: Click the Disable All button to turn off all the third-party services.
Step 4: Next, click on the Startup tab and click the “Open Task Manager” link.

Step 5: The Task Manager window will now open, displaying all the apps that boot up when you reboot your PC.

Step 6: Right-click on all apps and choose Disable. This will disable all the apps from being loaded at startup or boot.
Step 7: Click on Apply and then on OK,
Step 8: Reboot your PC and check if the “Reference By Pointer Stop Code 0x00000018” error is fixed.

If this resolves the issue, you may need to re-enable applications and services one at a time to identify the problematic one. Once found, you should either keep it disabled or remove it.

Fix 5: Update Graphics Driver

Graphics drivers enable communication between your graphics card and the operating system. Updating these drivers is essential because outdated, missing, or corrupted drivers can cause BSOD errors. 

Step 1:  Go to the official website of your device’s manufacturer (e.g., Dell, HP, Lenovo).
Step 2: Find the support, drivers, or downloads section on the website.
Step 3: Enter your device’s model or serial number to locate the appropriate drivers and updates for your hardware.
Step 4: Download your device’s latest drivers, firmware, or BIOS updates.
Step 5: Double-click the downloaded file to begin the installation process and follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 6: Restart your computer after the installation to ensure all changes are applied.

Fix 6: Utilize The System File Checker Tool

Blue Screen of Death errors like “Reference by Pointer” can occur if certain system files are corrupted, damaged, or missing. You can repair these files by replacing them with cached copies using the System File Checker (SFC) utility. To use this built-in tool, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press Win + S to open the search box, type “cmd,” right-click on “Command Prompt” from the search results, and select “Run as administrator.”
Step 2: If the prompt box for administrative privileges appears, click “Yes” to proceed.
Step 3: In the Command Prompt window, type “sfc /scannow” and press the Enter key.

The tool will scan your system files, automatically detecting and repairing any issues. Wait for the scan to complete, then restart your computer to see if the issue is resolved.

Fix 7: Activate Deployment Image Servicing And Management Utility

Sometimes, the “Reference by Pointer” BSOD error may appear after updating to Windows 10. If the SFC scan doesn’t resolve the issue, it’s possible that your Windows image files were corrupted during the update. To address this, you should run the DISM command, which can effectively repair damaged image files.

Step 1: Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
Step 2: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 3: Allow the process to complete and reboot your PC.

Fix 8: Check for Overheating Issues

Overheating can also be a potential cause of the error. If your CPU temperature exceeds a certain threshold, it may cause your computer to crash. It’s advisable to check your PC’s temperature if you encounter this problem. Here is what you need to do:

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Step 2: In the Task Manager window, click on the Performance tab.

Step 3: Next, click on the GPU sub-tab to find the temperature here.

If your computer is overheating, cleaning the dust may help resolve the issue. Disconnect the power supply, open the computer case, and use compressed air to clean the internal components.

Read – A Study on How CPU Stress Affects Windows Computer Performance

Fix 9: Inspect Your Hardware

Many Blue Screen of Death errors are related to hardware issues. If you encounter this stop code error, it’s important to check your hardware.

If you recently installed new hardware before the error occurred, try removing it. If the error disappears after removing the new hardware, consider replacing it with the original component or a new one, or contact the manufacturer for assistance.

Fix 10: Reinstall Windows And Recover Data

If nothing else works, you have to Reinstall Windows. The major concern here is recovering the data, which you can do by using the Advanced Disk Recovery tool after formatting and reinstalling Windows. 

Steps To Reinstall Windows

Step 1: Download the Windows 11 installation media from the Microsoft website.

Note: Windows 10 users, click on this link.

Step 2: Create a bootable USB drive using the Media Creation Tool.
Step 3: Insert the bootable USB drive into your PC.
Step 4: Restart your PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, F12, Del, or Esc during startup).
Step 5: Set the USB drive as the primary boot device and save the changes to exit the BIOS/UEFI. 

Step 6: Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11.
Step 7: Select Custom Installation when prompted, and choose the partition where you want to install Windows. 

Note: This will erase the current Windows installation and perform a clean install.

Step 8: Follow the setup prompts to configure Windows 11 after installation.

Steps To Recover Data After Format And Reinstallation

Step 1: Download and Install Advanced Disk Recovery using the download button below.

Step 2: Launch the software and choose the areas to be scanned.

Step 3: Click on the Start Scan Now Button.

Step 4: Choose the Deep scan option to recover files from the deepest sectors of your hard drive and click on Scan Now.
Step 5: A list of files that can be recovered will be displayed. Click on the check box next to the files you wish to recover and click on the Recover button.

Step 6: You will have to specify the location where you wish to save these recovered files and click on OK.
Step 7: Wait for some time, and you will have recovered all your important data.

Are You Able To Fix Reference By Pointer Error On Windows 10/11?

We hope you have fixed the Reference By Pointer Error on Windows 10/11 with the abovementioned steps. In the comments section below, please share your views on why this error occurred and how you fixed the issue and saved your data.

References –

https://www.partitionwizard.com/disk-recovery/reference-by-pointer-bsod.html
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/674157/bsod-reference-by-pointer-dont-know-what-driver-is
https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/pspsvt/reference_by_pointer_bsod/