How to Fix STOP 0x00000006 Errors

A troubleshooting guide for STOP 0x00000006 errors

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Tim Fisher
VP and General Manager, Lifewire.com

Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire.

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Tim Fisher
Updated on March 18, 2020

Most STOP 0x00000006 errors are caused by viruses or issues with antivirus software, but like almost every BSOD, there's always a chance that the root cause is hardware related or has something to do with a device driver.

The STOP 0x00000006 error will always appear on a STOP message, more commonly called a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).

Image of a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in Windows 10
Blue Screen of Death in Windows 10.

Any of Microsoft's Windows NT based operating systems could experience the STOP 0x00000006 error. This includes Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows NT.

STOP 0x00000006 Errors

One of the errors below or a combination of both errors may display on the STOP message: 

STOP: 0x00000006
INVALID_PROCESS_DETACH_ATTEMPT

The STOP 0x00000006 error may also be abbreviated as STOP 0x6 but the full STOP code will always be what's displayed on the blue screen STOP message.

If Windows is able to start after the STOP 0x6 error, you may be prompted with a Windows has recovered from an unexpected shutdown message that shows: 

Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
BCCode: 6

If STOP 0x00000006 isn't the exact STOP code you're seeing or INVALID_PROCESS_DETACH_ATTEMPT isn't the exact message, please check a complete list of STOP error codes and reference the troubleshooting information for the STOP message that you are seeing.

How to Fix STOP 0x00000006 Errors

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't already done so. The STOP 0x00000006 blue screen error may not occur again after rebooting if the cause was temporary, which is the case with some computer issues.

  2. Verify that the computer's case is properly closed. On a desktop, make sure the cover is properly snapped or screwed and on a laptop, make sure all panels are properly attached and screwed in.

    Some computers are designed to produce warnings when the case isn't properly closed. While not common, that warning may sometimes actually be an error, like the STOP 0x00000006 error.

  3. Scan your computer for viruses and other malware. A frequent cause of the 0x06 BSOD is a virus infection. Locating and removing that virus with antimalware software is often the fix.

  4. Uninstall any McAfee products using their MCPR Tool, assuming, of course, that you have any of their software programs installed.​ 

    You may have to do this from Safe Mode, assuming you can even get in there.

  5. Perform basic STOP error troubleshooting. If none of the ideas above solved the problem, try the generic BSOD troubleshooting in that link. The root cause of the 0x00000006 BSOD you're getting must be less common than most.

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