How to Fix STOP 0x00000006 Errors

If restarting your PC doesn't fix the problem, the computer case might not be properly closed, or there could be a virus infection

By
Tim Fisher
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University

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 SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.

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Updated on March 17, 2023

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 11, 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 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 error, you may be prompted with a "Windows has recovered from an unexpected shutdown" message that shows:

Problem Event Name: BlueScreenBCCode: 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 this complete list of STOP error codes and reference the troubleshooting information for the message you're seeing.

Other software programs and situations might report a 0x00000006 error, but this guide is for the error message that appears with a BSOD, specifically. A "Connect to Printer" error that says "Operation failed with error 0x00000006." is one popular example where the issue has a completely different solution. Microsoft has a hotfix for the 0x00000006 Stop error when you try to connect to an IPP printer server.

How to Fix STOP 0x00000006 Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the simpler solutions first.

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't already done so. The blue screen error might 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 might have to do this from Safe Mode, assuming you can even get in there. A software uninstaller tool might work just as well if you already have one or if you can't download McAfee's tool.

  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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