Skip to Content

How to Fix Freezes and Crashes from Vmmem Resource Overload in Windows 11 24H2

By: Author Alex Lim

Posted on

Categories Troubleshooting

Why Does Windows 11 24H2 Keep Freezing? Fixing the Vmmem Resource Issue

Imagine this: you boot up your laptop, ready to work, and within a minute, it crashes. Frustrating, right? This is what many users are facing with Windows 11 24H2. The culprit? A virtual process called Vmmem. Let’s break it down and figure out how to fix it.

What’s Happening?

  • Vmmem Processes: These processes—VmmemcmSysPrep and VmmemcmFirstBoot—are hogging CPU and memory.
  • System Freeze: Fans rev up, resources max out, and the system locks up completely.
  • Sandbox Connection: Even if you’re not actively using the Windows Sandbox, having it enabled seems to trigger this issue.

Real Stories from Users

  1. Karel’s Framework Laptop: After the February 2025 update, his laptop crashes within 90 seconds of startup. Task Manager shows Vmmem processes consuming extreme resources before the system freezes.
  2. Reddit Reports: Users across different laptops (ThinkPads, MSI, Framework) confirm similar issues, all tied to virtualization features in Windows 11 24H2.

What’s Causing It?

Virtualization Features: Sandbox and other virtualization tools like WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) seem to be at the heart of the problem.

Intel Smart Sound Driver: Log files suggest this driver might be contributing to resource spikes.

How to Fix It

Here’s what you can do to stop the crashes:

Solution 1: Disable Sandbox

  1. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows Features On or Off.
  2. Uncheck Windows Sandbox.
  3. Restart your computer.

Solution 2: Turn Off Virtualization in BIOS/UEFI

  1. Access your BIOS/UEFI settings during startup (usually by pressing F2, F12, or DEL).
  2. Look for virtualization settings (e.g., Intel VT-x) and disable them.

Solution 3: Update Drivers

Check for updates for the Intel Smart Sound Technology driver via Device Manager or your laptop manufacturer’s website.

Solution 4: Monitor Resource Usage

Use Task Manager to keep an eye on processes like VmmemcmSysPrep. If disabling Sandbox doesn’t help, consider further troubleshooting virtualization settings.

Downsides of Fixes

Disabling Sandbox or virtualization will break WSL and other virtual machine functionalities. If you rely on these tools, weigh your options carefully.

This isn’t just a minor annoyance—it’s a system-breaking bug that affects productivity and usability. Microsoft needs to address this issue in future updates, but until then, these workarounds can help you regain control over your device.