How to fix Error 1344 on Windows 11

by

Windows 11 Troubleshooting Guide: Error 1344 – “No More Memory Is Available for Security Information Updates”

Why This Error Happens

Error 1344 typically occurs when the Security Account Manager (SAM) or the security descriptor pool responsible for managing access control lists (ACLs) runs out of allocated memory or encounters a corrupted security database. This is often triggered by a bloated or fragmented registry hive, corrupted NTFS security descriptors, or insufficient paged pool memory allocated to the kernel. In some cases, a corrupted Windows Installer package or a damaged system file database prevents the security subsystem from properly writing new permission updates.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

Step 1: Run System File Checker and DISM

  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  • Execute sfc /scannow to scan and repair corrupted system files.
  • Follow up with DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair the underlying Windows image.
  • Restart the computer once both commands complete successfully.

Step 2: Clear and Rebuild the Security Descriptor Cache

  • Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\config.
  • Rename the SAM, SECURITY, and SOFTWARE hive backup files (if present) with a .old extension to force Windows to rebuild them safely.
  • Open regedit and check HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SECURITY for unusually large or orphaned keys consuming memory.
  • Reboot the system in Safe Mode to confirm the hives rebuild without triggering Error 1344.

Step 3: Increase Paged Pool Memory Allocation

  • Open Registry Editor (regedit) and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management.
  • Locate or create a DWORD value named PoolUsageMaximum and set it to 60 (decimal).
  • Locate PagedPoolSize and set it to 0xFFFFFFFF to allow dynamic paged pool sizing.
  • Restart the machine to apply the new memory management settings.

Step 4: Reset Windows Installer Cache and Permissions

  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  • Run msiexec /unregister followed by msiexec /regserver to reset the Windows Installer service.
  • Use icacls C:\Windows\Installer /reset /T /C to clear conflicting ACL permissions tied to the installer cache.
  • Restart the Windows Installer service via services.msc.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • After completing the steps, reattempt the action that originally triggered Error 1344 (e.g., installing an update or modifying security permissions) and confirm it completes without the memory error.
  • If the issue persists, boot into Safe Mode and run chkdsk /f /r on the system drive to rule out underlying disk corruption affecting the security database.