Random start-up BSODs (IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL 0x0000000A)

Hello all!
First time poster here and I would like to thank you all in advance for this site and the advice you guys give. Here's my problem:

Over the last few months I have been getting many different BSODs. I believe most of them have been fixed but I am still fighting a IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL 0x0000000A on random computer boot ups. It seems to happen 1 in 4 times after a reboot or power on. Afterwards I restart a few times and everything seems to work fine until the next one. These screens developed about six months ago and have plagued me for a while.

In the last few weeks I have ran all of these programs / tests without any problem:

-MemtestCL
-MemtestG80
-Memtest 86
-Windows Memtest
-Furmark 1.10.0 Burn-in Test
-Prime95
-SeaTools Hardware scan (Both long and short tests)

Here's my computer specs:
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP 1
Original OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP 1
OEM/retail: The parts were picked out online and assembled before shipping.
Age of system: 2 years
Age of OS installation: 2 years
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 945
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260
Motherboard: ASUS M4A78T-E
Power Supply: Not sure where to find this information

Cold boot crashes are difficult to track down. In most cases, they are due to memory incompatibility, failing memory, or memory that does not have proper settings.

Download and install CPU-Z and Upload screenshots of the CPU, Mainboard, Memory, and SPD tabs. In the SPD tab, upload an image of each slot.


Some of your crashes have been related to your Ethernet drivers. Download the drivers from your ASUS M4A78T-E support site: ASUS - Motherboards- ASUS M4A78T-E under LAN. Re-install the drivers. To fully re-install a driver, use the following steps.

1. First, download the latest driver. Then do the next steps.
2. Click Start Menu
3. Right Click My Computer/Computer
4. Click Manage
5. Click Device Manager from the list on the left
6. Find the device you are trying to uninstall by expanding the appropriate set of devices
7. Right click the device
8. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
9. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
10. Restart your computer only if Windows asks you to.
11. Install the latest driver for the device.

Alternatively:

1. Login as an adminstrative user.
2. First, download the latest driver. Then do the next steps.
3. Click Start Menu
4. Click Control Panel
5. Click Hardware and Sound
6. Click Device Manager (the last link under Devices and Printers)
7. Find the device you are trying to uninstall by expanding the appropriate set of devices
8. Right click the device
9. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
10. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
11. Restart your computer only if Windows asks you to.
12. Install the latest driver for the device.

Writhziden,

First of all thank you for your quick and detailed response. Second I apologize for my delayed reply. This is the first time I have had to really start the troubleshooting process.

I have updated (I hope) my ethernet driver. I now have Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E Ethernet Controller(NDIS6.20) #2 as my network adapter.

Also I have uploaded an updated jcgriff / perfmon file with an attached screenshot of my CPU-Z results.

Since my previous post I have had two run in with a bluescreens. It ended with me failing to boot up on 5 restarts (Blank screen, no start up beep). I removed my video card and manged to remove a good chunk of dust from inside the fan. Afterwards it booted right up. Also both screens happened before the ethernet driver update so lets up that got a few of them taken care of.

Thanks again,
Kyle

No problem with the delay. :)

Your latest crash indicates a Windows file is corrupted.

• Check Windows for corruption. Run SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker up to three times to fix all errors with a restart in between each. Post back if it continues to show errors after a fourth run or if the first run comes back with no integrity violations. Use OPTION THREE of SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker to provide us with the sfcdetails.txt file if errors occur.

Two of your other crashes from May 12th indicate a USB problem and the same Windows file being corrupted. What USB devices are you currently using?

• Start with USB Driver - General Fix for Problems to resolve the USB issues. Also, USB ports can sometimes enter a safe power state to protect the system from power surges due to USB devices. To reset the USB ports to a nominal power state:
  
  1. Shut down and turn off the computer.
     
  2. Unplug the computer from the wall or surge protector (then remove the battery if it is a laptop).
     
  3. "Remove the computer from any port replicator or docking station, disconnect
     cables to printers or devices such as external monitors, USB memory sticks or SD cards, headset or external speakers, mouse or auxiliary keyboard, turn off WIFI and Bluetooth wireless devices." (Use Hard Reset to Resolve Hardware and Software Issues HP Pavilion dv5000 Notebook PC series - HP Customer Care (United States - English))
     
  4. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds. This closes the circuit and ensures all
     power from components is drained to clear the software connections between the BIOS
     and hardware and clear any corruption in the temporary memory.
     
  5. (If it is a laptop, plug the battery back into the laptop and then) Plug the computer back into the wall. Do not reconnect any unnecessary peripherals; monitor, keyboard,
     and mouse should suffice and be the only peripherals reconnected.
     
  6. Turn it on to reinitialize the software connections between the BIOS and hardware
     

Writhziden,

I have finished running 3 sfc scans with a reboot in between. None of them revealed any errors or fixes.

For USB devices I have a Naga Razer Laser gaming mouse, a Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard, a Logitech USB desktop microphone and a 1TB Seagate external hard drive (I generally keep it unplugged from the computer and power supply unless running a backup).

I finished both of the USB tutorials starting with the USB issues and finishing with the power states. I completed both of them one time. I had 10-15 greyed out USB devices that were uninstalled. I also had no boot up issues during any of the reboots required. I will update this post with a new perfmon and jgriff if/when I get my next friendly neighborhood bsod.

Thank you,
Kyle

Sorry, forgot one thing: Disable Verifier: Start Menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Right click Command Prompt -> Run as administrator -> Type the following command and then Enter:

verifier /reset

-> Restart your computer.

Done and done.

Well went a while without any screens. Just got my old buddy PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA and also a new one I have never seen before:

"A device driver attempting to corrupt the system has been caught. The faulty driver currently on the kernel stack must be replaced with a working version".

Here's the new jgriff and perfmon.

Thanks again,
Kyle

The driver crash did not generate a .dmp file. This could be due to memory corruption. I would suggest checking hardware. You have already done many of these, but if you did not do them as directed in the following, I would suggest running them again. For instance, Memtest86+ should be run for at least seven passes, and preferably more. I have seen it take up to 21 passes for Memtest86+ to detect an error in the RAM.

• If you are overclocking any hardware, please stop.
  
  
• Monitor temperatures during the following tests.
  
  Use the following programs to monitor the temperatures.
  • Real Temp is a good CPU temperature monitor.
  • Speccy - System Information - Free Download will monitor all hardware temperatures.
  • HWiNFO, HWiNFO32 & HWiNFO64 - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools can be inaccurate for CPU temperatures, but is a good program for GPU temperature monitoring.
  
  
  • Use FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net to test the graphics card GPU. Let it run until the GPU temperatures even out or until the GPU temperatures reach a dangerous level (you can find the max temperature for your card on either the nVidia or AMD sites; if you are not sure, ask us). The goal is to get a steady temperature, find out if the GPU is overheating, or to see if there are any artifacts present in the test itself: look for strange pixelated patterns on the screen or colors that do not look like they belong. Then use the |MG| Video Memory Stress Test 1.7.116 Download to test your graphics card memory. Let the memory test run for at least seven passes; the more the better.
    
    
  • Run Hardware - Stress Test With Prime95 to determine any hardware problems. Run all three tests for a few hours each. If you get errors, stop the test and post back here.
    
    
  • Follow the steps for doing CPU stress test using IntelBurnTest
  
  
• Run the boot version of Memtest86+ paying close attention to Parts 2 and 3 of the tutorial. Also, in case Memtest86+ misses anything and comes up with no errors, run the extended version of the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool for at least five passes. These you may want to run overnight since they take a long time to complete (run them an hour before bed each of the next two nights and check before going to sleep that they are still running).
  
  
     Warning

  Before you proceed with the following, answer these two questions: Are you still under warranty? Does your warranty allow you to open up the machine to check hardware? If you are unsure of the answers to these questions, contact your system manufacturer. WARNING: The steps that follow can void your warranty!!!
  
  
  For Part 3: If You Have Errors: If you swap any memory components, follow these steps for ESD safety:
  
  1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
  3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
  4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working. If you do not have an anti-static workbench, desk, or pad, you can use your computer tower/case by finding a metal hold in it, such as a drive bay.
  
  Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.

Dear god computer troubleshooting is depressing. I thought it couldn't get much worse than trying to troubleshoot a car. I'm about ready to just format this thing and if that doesn't fix it just buy a whole new computer. Here's a more in depth description of the tests I have run since late April.

-Here's the tests I have done recently and the forums posts I got them from.

1. Memtest86 - Run for 7-8 passes (I ran 8)- RAM - Test with Memtest86+ - Windows 7 Forums
2. Prime95 - Run all three tests for 3-4 hours each or until fail - Hardware - Stress Test With Prime95 - Windows 7 Forums (No errors)
3. Hard drive scan usings SeaTools - SeaTools for Windows | Seagate - Both long and short tests (No errors)

-Followed both of these tutorials: Both MemtestCL and MemtestG80 came up with 0 errors:

Test video RAM w/ MemtestG80/CL - Folding@home - DownloadUtils

Test Video - Video Card - Stress Test with Furmark

-I ran Furmark 1.10.0 with a Burn-in Test on full screen with my current resolution (Anti-aliasing off, Dynamic background, Burn-in, Xtreme burn-in, Post-FX all on) . The guide I read on the program told me to stop the test at 85ºC. I ran it twice but never made it to the end of the test before I stopped it due to GPU temperature.

Should I redo all of them or just the memory testers? I want to do as few as possible since they all render my computer useless and all take insane amounts of time.

Sincerely,
Kyle