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Johndyrapp

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DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

I have a brand new PC that keeps crashing, ( I have no support form vendor), Microsoft crash analysis points to a device driver but can tell me no more info. On one crash a blue screen appeared with the following

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

then

**STOP: 0x0000000D1 (0x0000000D,0x0000005,0x00000001,0xF74D7352)

then atapi.sys-address F74D7352 base at F74D5000, datestamp 3d6ddb04

PC spec is

Soltek SL-75FRN2  motherboard

AMD XP 3000+ barton   CPU

1.5 gb memory

DVD drive

DVD re writer

3.5" drive

windows XP

I have all driver disc and windows discs

Galaxy nVIDIA GeForce FX5600  256mb

The PC is as shipped except i have done all the windows (XP) updates and 2 nVIDIA driver updates.

It is also networked to my main pc via a crossover ethernet for internet access

Hope someone can help, I am farily computer literate but self taught, so no tricky words !!!
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Pete Long
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IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Stop Errors

Possibly the most annoying Stop error that you will ever see, essentially is a memory error caused by a driver or piece of software that has caused an error accessing memory, It can also be caused by defective/unsupported hardware, so prety much anything :0(

When you get the stop error it will be accompanied by some information i.e.

Stop: 0x0000000A (parameter1, parameter2, parameter3, parameter4) IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL*** Address x has base at x - filename

The parameters refer to the specific issues that are involved:
Parameter 1 - An address that was referenced improperly
Parameter 2 - An IRQL that was required to access the memory
Parameter 3 - The type of access, where 0 is a read operation and 1 is a write operation
Parameter 4 - The address of the instruction that referenced memory in parameter 1

Make a note of the stop error ESPECIALLY the "filename" as this can point you to a defective driver or the software/hardware at the root of the problem. do a Google search on the "filename" To help you narrow it down.

This is what M$ has to say

>>Stop error 0x0000000A (Stop 0x0A) shows that there was an attempt in kernel
>>mode to touch pageable memory at too high a process internal request level
>>(IRQL). This error usually occurs when a driver uses an incorrect memory
>>address. Other possible causes of this error are an incompatible device driver,
>>a general hardware problem, and incompatible software.

If the "filename" above yeilds no results you need to do some basic troubleshooting

1. First check your Hardware is supported by Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/hcl/

2. Then Check you RAM either by swapping it out or using...
http://www.memtest86.com/
http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/docfeat.asp

3. Use the following to discover what is on your PC and get ALL the latest drivers, start with your graphics card.
Aida32
http://www.aida32.hu/aida-download.php?bit=32
Belarc Advisor
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

*****Links and Further Reading*****

Stop 0x0000000A or IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/prmd_stp_tnvo.asp

NT - Stop 0xA IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;162838

2000 - Troubleshooting "Stop 0x0A" Messages in Windows 2000 and Windows NT
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;165863

XP - Troubleshooting a Stop 0x0000000A Error in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314063

XP - "Stop 0x0000000A Irql_Not_Less_or_Equal" Error Message During Windows XP Upgrade
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311564

0x0000000A: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.php#0x0a
Boot from xp cd , select repair. When c: prompt comes up type - CHKDSK and press enter . wait until it finishes scan .
At the next c: prompt type- FIXBOOT .
http://www.nocrash.com/ncbbs/msgs/3180.shtml
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scotMcalpine

I have seen this all too many times. Very frustrating.
I would do like Pete said, then consider disfunctional hardware.
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ASKER

these were the parameters that followed

**STOP: 0x0000000D1 (0x0000000D,0x0000005,0x00000001,0xF74D7352)

then atapi.sys-address F74D7352 base at F74D5000, datestamp 3d6ddb04


if the second parameter ie 0x0000005 is the irql, i have looked on 'system information' and no devices are assigned to irq 5, then should there be?

also the atapi.sys  my little pc knowledge points me to the ide driver is this right?
doing the memory test now.....

Should add that the blue screen has only appeared once, but the pc constantly reboots whilst playing a game then the Microsoft crash analysis says driver problem. I assumed the blue screen and constant reboot were connected. and i know what they say about assumption being the mother of all ...........

Not bothered about game so much but the pc will be used for work soon and could cost me money if it reboots
Yes go for the repair route then reapply SP1a

Pete
boot into vga mode, go into device manager and remove the dvd drives attached.
then shut down the system and physically remove the dvd drives
run the system while the dvds are removed from it..
with this, if the system works fine for some time, the one of the dvd itself could be problem.

if it does not, go into bios and disable udma (if enabled) for the controller onto which the dvd are connected.

or if this also does not work, get the latest driver from the manufacturer;s site

it is very likely that one of the driver installed by the dvd-driver is causing problem

another thought that hits the mind is to try setting
plug n play os = yes
reset config data = enabled (this is auto set to disable next time)
and resources controlled by = auto

and after this restart....
you seem to have many things into one system and irq conflicts can cause this problem.
I am getting the same error on windows 2000 SP 4.
sorry for delay in coming back but broke my leg and fixing pc was last thing on mind.

Ok have tried the memory test programs and they told me my memory is corrupt. I am dubious as it is all brand new. although the memory test author said that cheap memory may not work with amd 3000 barton. Is this true?

i am going to now remove two banks of memory and repeat the tests as surelynot all 3 can be corrupt.
ok getting somewhere. I took two memory banks (2x512) out and left1 in. havent had a crash for yet 3 hours of flight sim 2004.

In my mb hand book it talks about Dual Channel DDR DIMM Configuration. what is this as i think this is the root of the problem?

There are  3 memm slots  Dim 1  Dim 2 and Dim3

Dim 3 is the Dual Channel Master slot.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Pete Long
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Pc keeps crashing but only about once every two weeks now, so thnks to all who posted. I cant really afford to spend more time investigating.
thanks again

also posting new question about windows management instrumentation if anyone cdan help
Do you have roxio easy cd creator 5.0 installed?  if you do, you need to install the latest version which is 5.3.5 or go to newer version...
no i dont and all my problems are resolved now (reinstalled windows) Thanks for all everyones help.
I had this problem and was able to correct it by removing the ACPI for the "computer" replacing it with "standard computer" in device managager, which then allowed me to set specific IRQs for specific cards in the BIOS and have Windows 2000 and Windows XP then NOT share my IRQ for my graphics card with other devices. Windows does IRQ sharing even when one doesn't want the OS to via the ACPI.  This is/was a complex corrective measure but ultimately one that satisfied my needs and corrected the problem. Only down side to this action is that one's PC can not be shut-down automatically when told to any longer, meaning that the OS will no longer shut the PC all the way down but will send the PC to the popup state of "It is now safe to shut down your computer now". Small price to pay in my book for a well running machine that plays games good and doesn't freeze up when it gets "stressed". Those who have had the problem know what I am talking about.
I had the same problem from on my AMD too... turned out it was due to overheating of the processor, which I never guessed.

I did a set of hardware diagnositcs...and all hardware seemed fine..

After i read about AMD's overheating, I opened the computer's back cover..and put a strong table fan near the processor...and everything went fine!!!

I noticed that all the fans inside the computer was clogged due to dust and the processor wasnt recieving the cooling it needed...

cleaned up all the fans with a couple of cans of compressed air..and my baby works like a charm..
This can be RAM or MAINBOARD fault 99% Try updating BIOS
a driver cannot program the hardware correctly. if this is a video card then turn off hardware acceleration.  I believe someone else already mentioned this above.
I had a replacement motherboard bundle to fit recently which died the blue death when ever i tried to load
 win xp  with the "DRIVER  IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" message, tried all the usual suspects,ram ect, eventualy found a  slightly overheating cpu due to a MoBo voltage fault was at the root of things, a new mobo  
and all was fine.  A very FUSTRATING fault!
 
When I had this problem a year or so ago I couldn't do much for a long time due to funds but I gradually replaced every part of the computer. New motherboard: no difference. New memory: no difference. New HDD: No difference, and so on... The last thing I replaced was the processor and its worked fine ever since so in the process of troubleshooting the problem I practically built a second computer for myself so I came off quite well actually. But in future the first thing to test will certainly be the CPU.