BAD_POOL_HEADER

Bad Pool Header with error code 0X00000019 either refers to the stop errors or the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) that happens when there is an issue with memory allocation in Windows OS. The issue can be due to the failure of a storage device or if the driver corrupts. It can occur due to bad sectors and other issues associated with the hard drives. In certain cases, it may occur due to RAM errors.

The system displays a Stop Error or BSOD to ensure the OS is not affected by hardware or software failure. It acts as a safety measure and can happen without sending any prior notification. A BSOD error usually occurs due to hardware failure while using the systems. The hardware is responsible for storing Windows OS. The issues with the hardware may occur due to aging or if it is physically damaged. If the hard drive and RAM are damaged, it can also have a Bad Pool Header. It can occur due to corrupt drivers or if the system is missing system files.

If this error occurs, it is usually harmful to the file you are currently using or working on- It could be a Word file, a video, or some important documents the user edited. The system files get corrupted, or the system cannot locate the files. The error may also occur if the user changes the files or the files no longer exist in the system. It can create problems, leading to file system errors or corrupting the device.

How to Save Your Data

It can be difficult to retrieve the data from the hard drive as no guaranteed solution can save the data that can be used in all scenarios that may cause bad pool header errors. There are some steps that the user may follow if the error occurs due to a hard drive having bad sectors. Bad sectors refer to the physical location in the hard drive where the data is neither written nor read. Here are steps if you wish to recover data from a hard drive:

Be Prepared

• Backup: Since the system does not provide any prior warning before the Bad Pool Header error. Therefore, backing up the drive before recovering the data is better. It ensures the user keeps the entire data if the data recovery fails.
• External Enclosure: If you can still use the hard drive but the system fails to read it because of bad sectors, then you should place the hard drive in an external enclosure. It might be possible to access the hard drive with a different system.

Using Data Recovery Software

• Data Recovery Software: The user can use software for the data if the hard drive has bad sectors. Some of these software are Recuva and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
• Scan the Drive: Running a scan on the hard drive is recommended before using data recovery to find and recover the files. The software may enable the system to work around the bad sectors and read the data from the readable data.

Clone the Drive:

Hard Disk Cloning: If there are any bad sectors in the hard disk, the user should consider creating a clone or disk image of the drive tools like ddrescue. When cloning a hard disk, the data is copied bit by bit. It skips the bad sectors. The user can work on the clone instead of the original drive.

Call Professional

Data Recovery Services: if the data stored in the system is valuable and the above steps fail to recover the data. Then, it is better to take the help of a professional to perform data recovery. They have specialized tools and knowledge that make them more suitable to deal with such scenarios, including bad sectors.

Last Option

Freezing the Device: In some cases, people were able to temporarily resolve the issue by keeping the hard drive in an airtight bag and freezing it for a couple of hours. It causes the metal equipment of the hard drive to contract, and the user might be able to use the drive for a brief period.

Replace the Electronic Components: It may be possible that the bad sectors are caused in the hard drive because of malfunctioning in the device electronics. Then, it can be corrected by replacing the electronic component of the drive. The user can change the PCB (circuit board) of the drive. However, it isn't easy and needs expertise.

Fixing BAD POOL HEADER

Once you have saved the data stored on the hard drive, you can move to the next step, resolving the error. Below are the steps to fix the BAD POOL HEADER 0x00000019 error.

Disconnect External Drives and Devices

If the system crashes, then you should immediately unplug all the USB devices attached to the system. Keep the mouse and the keyboard connected to the computer and try to restart the system. Use the normal settings to start the PC, and if an external device causes the problem, the system will no longer show the BAD POOL HEADER BSOD error. Once the system starts functioning normally, try connecting the USB devices one at a time. It will enable you to determine which device is responsible for the error. You can replace the device to resolve the error once you find the device.

Check Drive SMART Data

Suppose the hard disks or the storage device were purchased recently. In that case, you can use the Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting technology to ensure the storage device works properly. It monitors the storage device based on critical parameters such as the Reallocated Sector Count and Current Pending Sector Count that can lead to a BAD POOL HEADER.

You can use different utilities such as Drive Monitor to monitor the SMART status of your storage drive. The utility will show the current condition of the drive based on the parameter attributes RAW value.

Scan Disk for Bad Sectors

The most common cause of BAD POOL HEADER error is if the drive has bad sectors. When using the hard drive's SMART status, you should look for any warning sign other than the Reallocated Sector Count attribute. If it shows any other warning, the user should replace the drive, which can cause future errors. It can fail due to the unavailability of space sectors that are used to reallocate the bad sectors.

There are some instances when there are no warnings; the user should check the drive for bad sectors to ensure the drive condition visually. To check, you must first use the Drive Monitor utility.

Follow the below steps. It requires additional data recovery software. Below, we have used Stellar Data Recovery software.

1. You can download the software from the official website. Install and run the software.
2. Click on Monitor Drive and then select Scan Disk.
3. In the next step, choose the hard drive you want to run the Scan. All the drives connected will be displayed in the top right. Select the drive and then click on Scan.
4. Once the Scan is completed, if you see several red blocks, it is advisable to change the hard disk. Create a backup of the data to ensure data is safe even if the error occurs. After the Scan, if you see too many red blocks, you must replace the hard drive to fix the error. Proceed to step 8 to change the drive without losing data or OS configuration. If you don't want to replace the entire drive, try a low-level format to reassess the bad sectors.

Test RAM

If the RAM malfunctions, the system can also have a BAD POOL HEADER 0x00000019 error. So, to ensure that the RAM is functioning properly, the user can either use the Windows RAM Diagnostic tool or a third-party application testing tool.

Follow the below steps to perform monitor RAM using the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool:

1. Use the Windows+S shortcut to open the search bar. Type Memory Diagnostic and click on Windows Memory Diagnostic to open the utility.
2. Before running the diagnostic, close all the running applications, including any application running in the background, then select Restart Now and check for problems.
3. To fix issues with the RAM, try switching the RAM to a different slot in the PC motherboard. If there is no issue with the RAM, you can proceed to the next fix.

Check and Update Device Drivers

If the drivers are not updated regularly, then it can cause hardware errors. Drivers act as a link between the hardware and the operating system. If the OS cannot communicate with the hardware due to corrupt drivers, then the OS may crash to safeguard other essential components of the system from damage.

Follow the below procedure to perform an update or reinstall the drivers:

1. Turn on the computer. It is advised to start the system in Safe Mode.
2. Open the Device Manager.
3. In the Device Manager, Select the Disk Drive and click on Uninstall Driver.
4. Restart the system, and the drivers will be reinstalled automatically. You can check the status in Windows Update.
5. The user can also update drivers manually.
6. Go to Device Manager and click on the drive you want to update. Click on Update drive.
7. Select the driver update or choose Search and Install automatically.
8. The user can also check the drive manufacturer's website to download the latest available drivers and follow the instructions to install them in the system.

Check System File Integrity

Start booting the system in Safe Mode and proceed with the steps below to run a SFC Scan

1. Open the Windows Search option and type Command Prompt.
2. Start the Command Prompt and run the application as Run as administrator.
3. Once it starts, type SFC /scannow and press Enter to begin the Scan.
4. The SFC scan checks the system files. It ensures that the integrity of the system files is maintained. If any system file is corrupted or damaged, it performs corrective measures. It replaces the corrupted files with a new copy from the cache.

System Restore

It should be attempted only when you have tried the above-mentioned fixes. System Restore reverts all recent changes performed by the user that could have caused the BAD POOL HEADER BSOD error.

If you want to perform System Restore, follow the below steps:

1. Open the Windows Search bar and type System Restore. You can use the Windows + S shortcut to open the search bar.
2. Select the System Restore and use the System Restore button.
3. You will find a list of possible restore points. Select a suitable restore point. It would help if you were sure the system worked correctly at the restore point. Once you select the restore point, click on Next.
4. Now, all you need to do is follow the instruction wizard to restore the PC to a previous stable state.
5. Any recently installed software, including malicious software, may unintentionally be downloaded with other programs. It will remove all the software; you can download and install it again from a trusted source. It will also reset any recent modifications performed by the user.

Replace Hardware

If all the above measures don't fix the error, consider drive replacement. It is the last measure that can fix the BAD POOL HEADER BSOD error. The user can buy a new hard drive or SSD. If the system can boot normally or safely, you can clone the existing driver so your data is safe.

It doesn't require installing Windows since disk cloning creates a mirror copy of the hard drive with all partitions.

Follow the below steps to clone the drive:

1. Connect the new drive with a different PC.
2. Use the Stellar Data Recovery Premium software and click on Monitor Drive.
3. Select the disk and the Target section.
4. Now click on Clone Disk and accept the warning to start cloning the drive.
5. Once the process ends, you must turn off the system and replace the older drive with a new hard drive.
6. You can start the PC without worrying about the BAD POOL HEADER error.

Conclusion

BSOD errors occur to shut down the system as a precautionary measure. It prevents any harm to Windows OS due to software or hardware malfunction. It ensures that other system components are not affected due to the malfunctioning hardware and software. The problem with BSOD errors is that they occur without prior notifications. It may cause data loss in some scenarios.

If the user wants to prevent BAD POOL HEADER errors, the user should perform regular analysis on Windows OS and drivers. The user must disk health and perform regular updates on both Windows OS and drivers. You should also perform regular backups to ensure you don't lose data.