Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
A general protection fault (GPF) is the traditional name for the x86 processor exception #GP, exception vector 13. It means a processor protection check failed; it does not, by itself, identify the program, driver, or hardware component responsible.
What a general protection fault means
Intel’s 64 and IA-32 Software Developer’s Manual lists vector 13 as “General Protection,” abbreviated #GP, and classifies it as a fault with an error code. Its short description is “Any memory reference and other protection checks.” In other words, this exception covers failed architectural protection checks; it is broader than one kind of invalid memory access.
The term identifies a processor event, not a complete diagnosis. The processor reports that a protection rule was violated, but the name alone does not reveal which instruction or component led to the event.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →How the processor exception differs from an error message
A general protection fault can be understood at three separate levels:
#1 Best Overall
- Processor event: The x86 processor raises
#GPwhen an applicable protection check fails. - Operating-system response: The operating system handles the exception. Depending on the operating system and version, it may show a message, stop the affected program, or respond in another way.
- Underlying cause: The condition may involve application code, system code, or a driver, but the phrase “general protection fault” does not establish which one.
Do not assume every crash or access-violation message is a #GP. Processors have distinct exception classes, and an operating system may translate or summarize processor events in a user-facing message.
What the familiar Windows wording does—and does not—tell you
Microsoft’s archived guidance is specific to older Windows releases. Its article about Windows 95 and Windows 98 says, “All protection violations that do not cause another exception cause a general protection exception.” The same historical guidance discusses possible involvement of programs, Windows, and device drivers. This describes troubleshooting in that era; it is not a universal explanation for a modern Windows crash.
A separate archived Microsoft article covers Windows 3.0 through Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and describes GP faults as typically involving improper memory access—for example, an application or Windows component trying to read or write memory it does not own. That is useful historical context, not a complete definition of the processor exception or a current Windows troubleshooting procedure.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsDoes a general protection fault mean the hardware is bad?
Not on its own. The exception says that a protection check failed; it does not prove a hardware defect or identify any particular software component as the cause. To understand a specific incident, you need more than the label, such as the exact message, operating-system version, and available diagnostic details. The historical Windows examples show why the wording alone is not enough to assign blame.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Sources and scope
- Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer’s Manual, Volume 3A, System Programming Guide, Part 1: architecture-level reference for vector 13. Processor-specific details should be checked in the applicable manual revision.
- Microsoft Knowledge Base article 82710: archived guidance specifically about Windows 95 and Windows 98.
- Microsoft Knowledge Base article 95505: archived guidance specifically about Windows 3.0 through Windows for Workgroups 3.11.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
