How to Fix “0x0000FFFF” Error Code on Windows?

The error code 0x0000FFFF is an error diverse in nature. Some users encountered it with a BSOD and for some, it has shown up when performing a system restore. In some cases, the user reported the error when troubleshooting the missing drivers in the Device Manager. The error is also reported on the Xbox console. There are some instances when this error code was shown when installing an application, trying to print a document, or performing a Windows update/upgrade.

The error code is also shown in different coding scenarios (like Python) and it is practically impossible to cover those in this specific article.

Due to the diversity of the error code 0x0000FFFF, it could be caused by various factors but mainly due to the following:

Update the PC’s Windows to the Latest Build

If the PC’s Windows is outdated, then its incompatibility with other OS modules (like drivers and applications) may cause the error code 0x0000FFFF. Here, updating the PC’s Windows to the latest build may solve the error 0x0000FFFF.

1. Click Windows, search for Updates, and open Check for Updates (System Setting).

   

2. Now, in the right pane of the Windows Update window, click on the Check for Updates, and if some updates are available, download/install the Windows updates along with optional updates (if any).

   

3. Once updated, restart your PC, and upon restart, check if the system is clear of the error code 0x0000FFFF.

Perform a Clean boot of Your PC

The system might show the error code 0x0000FFFF if an application of your system is interfering with the OS modules. In such a case, clean booting your PC may clear the error 0x0000FFFF.

1. Perform a clean boot of your PC and check if the issue is resolved.
2. If so, then you may find the problematic application by enabling back the startup items/services one by one till the problematic one is found.
3. If the issue persists, even in the clean boot state, then you may boot the system in the safe mode to rule out any device driver corruption.

   

Perform a Cold Restart of the System and Re-connecting Hardware Components

The issue could be a result of a temporary glitch of the OS modules, due to extra static current on the hardware components, dust in the system, and not proper seating of the hardware components (like RAM). In this scenario, performing a cold restart of the system after cleaning it and reseating/ reconnecting the hardware components may solve the problem.

Perform a Cold Restart of the System

1. Shut down your PC or device (like Xbox) and any of the attached accessories.
2. Then disconnect the devices from each other as well as from the power sources by unplugging the relevant cables.

   

3. Now, wait for one minute, plug back the devices, and restart your system.
4. Upon restart, check if the error 0x0000FFFF is cleared.

Clean the System and Reseat/ Reconnect the Hardware Components

1. If not, shut down the system, unplug the power cables, and perform a thorough cleaning of the system.

   

2. Then make sure to reseat/ reconnect all the hardware components (like RAM, graphics card, etc.).
3. Now power on the system and afterward, check if the system is cleared of the error 0x0000FFFF.

Test the System’s RAM Functioning

1. If the issue persists and your system has multi-RAMs (most probably, will have), then remove all the memory sticks from the system but one.

   

2. Now power on the system and check if it is working fine. If not, then either the stick is faulty or the memory channel is damaged.
3. If the system worked normally with one stick, then use the same stick in other memory channels to make sure that other channels are not damaged.
4. If none of the channels is damaged, then you may insert other memory sticks one by one till a faulty one is found. Once found, you may replace the memory stick.

If no RAM or its channel is found to be faulty, then make sure the good health of the system’s RAM by using the MEM Test. Also, it will be a good idea to use the CPU-Z to test the CPU health and working. If you are overclocking your PC/graphics card, then check if reverting the OC settings to the stocks’ values clears out the issue.

Update the System’s Driver to the Latest Build

If any of the System’s drivers are outdated, then its incompatibility with the updated OS may not let the OS kernel set up the device, resulting in the error 0x0000FFFF. In this context, updating the system’s drivers to the latest build may clear the error code 0x0000FFFF.

1. Update the system’s drivers to the latest build and check if the issue is resolved.

   

2. If not and your OEM has an auto-update utility ((like Dell Support Assistant), then check if using that utility to update the drivers clears out the issue.

Usually, the following drivers are reported by the users to cause the issue:

In case of a graphic card driver issue, you may use the graphics card OEM’s utility (like Nvidia GeForce Experience) to update the driver. If that did not work, check if manually installing an older graphics driver clears the error. If the issue persists, check if using a lower screen resolution resolves the issue e.g., if you are having issues on the 4K resolution, then check if lowering the screen resolution to 1080 solves the problem.

But if you are encountering an issue to find out the problematic driver, then using the Driver Verifier may let you find the problematic driver causing the issue.

Disable or Uninstall the Antivirus of Your System

The error code 0x0000FFFF could be the result of the system’s antivirus interference with the OS modules and disabling/uninstalling the system’s security product may solve the problem. The Bitdefender (bddci.sys) antivirus and Malwarebytes are reported to cause the issue.

Warning:

Advance at your own risk as disabling or uninstalling the security product of your system may expose the system/data to threats.

1. Expand the system’s tray and right-click on your security product (e.g., ESET Internet Security).

   

2. Now select Pause Protection and then confirm to disable the security product.
3. Again, in the system’s tray, right-click on the security product (e.g., ESET Internet Security) and select Pause Firewall.

   

4. Then check if the system is clear of the error 0x0000FFFF.
5. If not, check if uninstalling the security product clears out the issue. If so, then you may reinstall the updated version of the security product.

If the above steps did not work, then you may have to perform a clean installation of the system to solve the issue under discussion.