STATUS_ALLOCATE_BUCKET (0XC000022F) Fix – Bucket Array Growth Error

Quick Fix – 30 Seconds: Reboot and Retry

This error means Windows couldn't grow the internal bucket array used by the heap manager. Nine times out of ten, it's temporary. A full reboot clears the heap state. If the app works after a restart, you're done. Don't bother with any other steps yet. If it comes back, move on.

Moderate Fix – 5 Minutes: Check for Memory Leaks and Driver Issues

The bucket array grows when the heap needs to allocate more memory blocks of a specific size. If a process is leaking handles or memory, the heap eventually runs out of room. Here's what to do:

1. Open Task Manager – Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Go to the Details tab. Sort by Memory (Private Working Set) descending. Look for any process using several gigabytes that keeps climbing. If you see something like a browser or a Java app eating 8GB+ of RAM, that's your suspect. Restart that process.
2. Run Driver Verifier – Only if you suspect a bad driver. Open cmd as admin and type verifier. Select "Create custom settings" > "Select individual settings" > check everything except "DDI compliance checking". Then "Select driver names" > "Choose from unsigned drivers" and check any signed but old ones. Reboot. If the system bluescreens, the culprit is the driver. Disable it or update it.
3. Update your graphics drivers – Outdated GPU drivers are a common cause of heap corruption. Nvidia, AMD, and Intel all have auto-detect tools. Run them.

If you still see the error after that, you've got a deeper issue.

Advanced Fix – 15+ Minutes: Identify the Rogue Heap via WinDbg

This is the nuclear option. You'll need Windows Debugging Tools (WinDbg) from the Windows SDK. Install it here.

1. Set up a dump – The error usually triggers a crash. If you have a mini dump in C:\Windows\Minidump\, open WinDbg as admin and load it (File > Open Crash Dump).
2. Analyze the heap – Run the command:

   !heap -s

   This shows all heaps and their bucket usage. Look for any bucket with an abnormally high number of allocations or an error status. You'll see something like: Bucket 0x01: Total: 1024, Size: 32 bytes. The one with errors will say Error or Corrupt.
3. Find the specific bucket – If you saw a bucket number, inspect it:

   !heap -a <heap_address>

   Replace <heap_address> with the hex address from the !heap -s output. This shows the bucket details and the callstacks that allocated from it.
4. Identify the leaking code – In the callstack, you'll see module names and offsets. For example, mydriver.sys+0x1a3f or ntdll!RtlAllocateHeap+0x1c. The topmost module that isn't a Windows system DLL is your problem. Update or replace that software.

If you don't have a dump, but the app is still running with high memory, use Process Explorer (Sysinternals). Right-click the process > Create Dump > Full Dump. Then load that into WinDbg and follow the same steps.

One More Thing: Check for Corrupt System Files

Sometimes the heap manager itself gets messed up. Run these commands in an admin cmd prompt:

sfc /scannow
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

DISM fixes the component store, then SFC repairs system files. Reboot after. This helps maybe 5% of the time, but it's quick and cheap.

When to Throw in the Towel

If you've done all the above and the error persists, you're looking at a hardware issue. Bad RAM is the most common cause. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic (search for it in Start). Let it run overnight. If errors appear, replace the affected sticks.

The bucket array error is almost always a memory leak or corrupt heap. Start with the reboot, then the driver audit, then the deep dive. You'll find the culprit.