irql_not_equal_or_less

destined

Senior member
Apr 17, 2004
490
0
0
i can't load windows, i can't reformat. would replacing ram help? i am using an asus a7v266 board. 512 ddr. it always had problems restarting out of nowhere or freezing. or do you guys think i should just get a new computer?
 

TGS

Golden Member
May 3, 2005
1,849
0
0
Link. Has it referenced a driver on any lockup?

I've had a similiar problem with a prior Abit board, I had to RMA it and things have been great since... :(
 

Nebben

Senior member
May 20, 2004
706
0
0
I experienced the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error on one of my older PCs, and it was due to bad RAM.

Download Memtest86 and run it overnight, see if it produces errors. If so, RMA/replace the RAM. If no errors are found or your system restarts or locks or something, then I'd investigate a possible bad PSU or motherboard.

But definitely check the RAM first. It's the easiest to troubleshoot and probably more common of a problem.

Edit: And if you're using cheap generic RAM, do so no longer. Always buy something with a lifetime warranty (Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, Mushkin, so on. I'm partial to Corsair at the moment) because if you ever have a stick go bad, you can mail it back to them for about 75 cents USPS first class and they'll send you a brand new stick immediately.
 

Tarrant64

Diamond Member
Sep 20, 2004
3,203
0
76
Memtest to check memory. Many a times is it the memory. Next would be PSU. Just like what Nebben said.
 

firewall

Platinum Member
Oct 11, 2001
2,099
0
0
Most such errors can be removed by running chkdsk. See if you have the recovery console installed.

Have you tried running Windows in Safe mode or Command Prompt?
 

destined

Senior member
Apr 17, 2004
490
0
0
i can't get into safe mode. when i press f8. it just goes black...i was able to reformat. but nothing has changed...
 

flexy

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
8,464
155
106
disable all unnecessary devices in bios..especially NICs. Try to disable as much devices you can and try to boot.

this is most likely a problem caused by a faulty driver....eg. some device is activated and uses a faulty driver..keep me updated. Had this problem once on a brandnew notebook. Problem was i had wireless NIC and wired NIC on simultaneously and this somehow conflicted.
 

Nebben

Senior member
May 20, 2004
706
0
0
Did you test your RAM?

Seriously, it is the most common cause of stuff like this and it's also very easy to test. XP rarely freaks out, and when it does it's very often due to your hardware having problems.

Check the damn RAM and then get back to us. :)
 

P0ldy

Senior member
Dec 13, 2004
420
0
0
0x0000000A: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
(Click to consult the online Win XP Resource Kit article, or see Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit, p. 1539.)
Typically due to a bad driver, or faulty or incompatible hardware or software. Use the General Troubleshooting of STOP Messages checklist above. Technically, this error condition means that a kernel-mode process or driver tried to access a memory location to which it did not have permission, or at a kernel Interrupt ReQuest Level (IRQL) that was too high. (A kernel-mode process can access only other processes that have an IRQL lower than, or equal to, its own.)

http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.php#0x0a

Can't do much if you aren't even testing your hardware.