Just built new computer, but windows install fails. "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"

[xiaxi201]

With the help of a friend I ordered parts from newegg.com and built a computer. Now, when we try to install operating system software, we get the following error.

"A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to comp.

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
"

Then it tells you to disable BIOS Memory options such as caching or shadowing.

We've tried different OS cd's and had the same error. I can only assume that it is a hardware error. Does anybody know what is happening here, how to fix it, or at least what the root of the problem is?

 

[foofoo]

hi,
this could be bad memory. do you have any modules that you could try swapping out? if you are running more than 1 module, try using only one and swapping to see if you can get through the install.
also, you can try running mentest.
http://www.memtest86.com
good luck

 

[xiaxi201]

We tried a memory test which worked out fine., and only 1 module.

 

[mechBgon]

Have you in fact disabled cacheing or shadowing? Couldn't hurt.

Also, please give a full rundown of the brand & model of these goodies:

• Power supply
• Motherboard
• CPU & heatsink/fan unit being used
• Memory (brand, model, number of modules)

 

[xiaxi201]

Enlight Power Supply 420
AMD Athlon XP Barton Retail 2800/333fsb
LOgitech Optical mouse mx500
MSI K7N2 Delta ILSR
1.44 Samsung
OEM ATI RADEON 9500
Samsung 16xDVDRom
Logitech Elite Black Keyboard
120gigabyte Western Digital HD 7200 RPM ATA
SONY CDRW 52x24x52
CPU Coolermaster Fan
Thermal Paste
Kingston 512 mb DDR Ram 3200


Disabled some caching stuff in bios. Didn't see anything that said shadowing.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: xiaxi201
Enlight Power Supply 420
AMD Athlon XP Barton Retail 2800/333fsb
LOgitech Optical mouse mx500
MSI K7N2 Delta ILSR
1.44 Samsung
OEM ATI RADEON 9500
Samsung 16xDVDRom
Logitech Elite Black Keyboard
120gigabyte Western Digital HD 7200 RPM ATA
SONY CDRW 52x24x52
CPU Coolermaster Fan
Thermal Paste
Kingston 512 mb DDR Ram 3200


Disabled some caching stuff in bios. Didn't see anything that said shadowing.

Awesome, good info! Let's see here... first a few easy things to double-check before getting drastic:

• The video card needs a hard-drive style 4-wire power plug plugged into it, is that taken care of already?
• Likewise, just below the main ATX connector on the board, there's the 2x2 auxiliary power connector. Is the PSU's 2x2 plug plugged into it?
• Is your keyboard for sure plugged into the "bottom" port, the one closest to the motherboard's surface (assuming it's a round-plug PS/2 keyboard)?
• What voltage is your memory set for? 2.7V would be a good bet.
• What timings is the memory set for? If I suggested 2.5-3-3-6 timings, are you familiar with what I'm talking about and how to set those? If not I'll rummage up the manual for the board and walk you through it.
• Why on earth did you buy an MSI? Ok, sorry but that's about the last brand I would pick if I had a choice.

 

[xiaxi201]

This would be a bit easier if I could talk to you realtime. I was not the one who built this computer so I do not know entirely what I am looking for. Do you have AIM or anything?

The mouse appears to be the closest to the motherboard surface, then the keyboard. I am going to head into bios now to check out voltage and stuff. I'm gonna post this for now though while I'm looking around in bios.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: xiaxi201
This would be a bit easier if I could talk to you realtime. I was not the one who built this computer so I do not know entirely what I am looking for. Do you have AIM or anything?

The mouse appears to be the closest to the motherboard surface, then the keyboard. I am going to head into bios now to check out voltage and stuff. I'm gonna post this for now though while I'm looking around in bios.

Ok, mouse goes in the other port; the keyboard should be closest to the surface of the mobo. I'm sorry but I don't have an IM program

 

[xiaxi201]

thats how the mboard is set,,,

 

[xiaxi201]

Okay switched mouse and keyboard, keyboard runs fine as does mouse (i think mouse runs fine), but the error still shows.

 

[mechBgon]

Thanks for trying it anyway Did you get a look at the memory voltage and timing settings? You want the memory to operate at 100% of the FSB speed, so that's 166MHz base, or DDR333, or PC2700 speeds (three ways of saying the same thing there). I would use 2.7 volts on the memory, and set the sub-timings to 2.5-3-3-6 using the menu shown on pages 3-12 through 3-15 of your mobo manual. To be precise:

• Set System Performance to Manual
• Set CPU FSB Clock to 166
• Set CPU Interface to Normal
• Set FSB/DRAM Ratio to 100%
• Set Memory Timing to Manual
• Set T(RAS) to 6 or 7
• Set T-(RCD) and T-(RP) to 3
• Set CAS Latency to 2.5
• Disable System BIOS Cacheable and Video RAM Cacheable
• Disable the Spread Spectrum options
• Set AGP Aperture Size to 128Mb
• Enable AGP Fast Write Support and AGP 8X Support

Those are the settings I'd start with, along with setting the memory voltage to 2.7 volts as I mentioned (page 3-28 shows the Frequency/Voltage Control menu where you can do that, and you might as well set the AGP frequency to 66 while you're in there).

Good luck!


edit: wow, all that bold and italic, and I didn't need to edit for once

 

[xiaxi201]

We underclocked the ram (not exactly sure what to) and we made a lot of progress. No guarentees, but i'll get back to you if it works

 

[vfrex]

We moved the ram into another slot. We returned the ram to the default clock speed. Computer appears to be running fine. Faulty motherboard?

 

[jfunk]

Well, make sure the RAM was in a correct position to begin with, and was seated well.

Some boards want RAM installed in a certain configuration, and sometimes certain sticks on certain slots can be a little loose and stuff and don't seat right on the first try.

If neither of those things is a problem, you probably have a bad memory slot on your board, and I would get it exchanged.

BTW, I like MSI boards a lot. I've always had good luck with them.


j

 

[tiggerskc]

i got that error when trying to reformat with winxp..
i solved the problem by lowering my fsb.

there is also another possibility for getting this problem which you can look up at microsoft.com

 

[IgoByte]

Go to failsafe settings in the BIOS. You're not overclocking the processor, are you?