MakeMKV 1.18.4 and 2.0.0 crash with 0xc0000005 – makemkvcon64.exe

[movie_lover220]

**Problem:**

When I launch MakeMKV, the following error appears:

"Fatal error occurred, program will now exit."

The crash has occurred since the very first installation of MakeMKV. The program has never worked successfully on this PC.

Sometimes the GUI opens, but the Source dropdown remains empty and disabled.

The problem also occurs when no optical drive is connected.

**System information:**

- OS: Windows 11 x64
- CPU: Intel Core i5-10400 @ 2.90GHz
- Optical drive: HL-DT-ST BP60NB10 (external USB Blu-ray drive)
- MakeMKV versions tested: 2.0.0 and 1.18.4
- Registration: Valid beta key, expiring October 31, 2026

**Troubleshooting already performed:**

Uninstalled and reinstalled MakeMKV.
Reset MakeMKV's user settings and registry configuration.
Tested with the Blu-ray drive disconnected.
Tested using a new Windows user account.
Removed ALYac and Avast Free Antivirus.
Installed Windows updates.
Ran DISM and SFC. SFC detected and successfully repaired corrupted Windows system files, but the MakeMKV crash persists.

The external Blu-ray drive is recognized by Windows and can play Blu-ray discs using compatible playback software.

**Command-line test:**

Running `makemkvcon64.exe` without arguments displays the usage information.

However, running:

`makemkvcon64.exe -r info disc:0`

or

`makemkvcon64.exe -r --cache=1 info disc:9999`

only prints the startup message and then returns to the command prompt without listing any drives.

**Windows Event Viewer:**

- Faulting application: makemkvcon64.exe
- Faulting module: makemkvcon64.exe
- Exception code: 0xc0000005
- Application version: 1.18.4.0

**WinDbg crash dump analysis:**

- Exception: Access violation (0xc0000005)
- Failure bucket: INVALID_POINTER_READ_c0000005_makemkvcon64.exe!Unknown
- Symbol: makemkvcon64+0x29b1fa
- IMAGE_NAME: makemkvcon64.exe

The call stack appears to consist primarily of functions within makemkvcon64.exe.

I have several Windows crash dump (.dmp) files available.

Could you please advise what might be causing this crash and what additional diagnostic information would be useful?

I can provide a crash dump privately if needed.

Thank you for your help.

[AstralWanderer]

Quick question: have you tried makemkvcon.exe rather than makemkvcon64.exe? It's very unlikely to make a difference, but worth a shot anyway.

If you have Data Execution Prevention (DEP) enabled, try exempting makemvcon(64) from it - if uncertain about this, see WindowsReport: How to Enable or Disable Data Execution Prevention - this gives instructions on enabling/disabling DEP globally - to exempt one application from DEP, go to the last section ("3. Use the Control Panel") but on step 5 ("Select the Data Execution Prevention tab...") select the "Turn on DEP for all programs and services except.." option and then add the MakeMKV programs to the list.

[movie_lover220]

Hi, AstralWanderer.

First of all, thank you so much for your suggestion!

I tried makemkvcon.exe (32-bit), and it works! It successfully detected my BP60NB10 drive, opened the Blu-ray disc, and ripped a title to an MKV file. The resulting file plays correctly in VLC.

However, makemkvcon64.exe (64-bit) still crashes with error 0xc0000005.

So the issue seems to affect the 64-bit version, while the 32-bit version works on my PC.

Thank you again for your help!

[AstralWanderer]

...It's very unlikely to make a difference, but worth a shot anyway.

I tried makemkvcon.exe (32-bit), and it works!...

Well, that's me and my big mouth there.

Good to hear you have a fix and welcome to the forums.