Seemingly random BSODs IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

mattymckoble · 03 Feb 2015

Hello, I've been getting these seemingly random BSODs for months. They always seem to be the same BSOD. Lately I've noticed them occurring occasionally while playing Guild Wars 2. Spec wise, my comp handles the game just fine. Until it gives me a BSOD, of course. Not sure if it's related to the game, but I know they've happened outside of games, too.

My main suspect, though admittedly it's not much more than a guess, is the second hard drive I installed in my laptop by removing the CD drive and using an HDD caddy. Maybe it's causing a driver error or something. My OS is installed on the primary disk installed in the actual HD bay, not the additional drive. Anyway, no sense in guessing now that I'm here. Hopefully one of you saints of PCdom can decipher the dump file attached.

koolkat77 · 05 Feb 2015

Welcome to the forum.

Clean boot

Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup

Reduce items at start-up. No software except anti-virus is required plus doing this improves the time for logging into windows:

How to Change, Add, or Remove Startup Programs in Windows 7

Run Disk Check on your Hard Drive for file system errors and bad sectors on it.

Hard Drive Diagnostics

Double click and open my computer.
Right click on desired drive and hit properties.
Click on tools tab and Check now.

Read complete instructions on the tutorial: Disk Check

Other Tests:

Take memtest. Run for 8 passes and test each stick in a know good slot for an additional 6 passes.

RAM - Test with Memtest86+

The goal is to test all the RAM sticks and all the motherboard slots.

Check your motherboard manual to ensure the RAM sticks are in the recommended motherboard slots. Some motherboards have very specific slots required for the number of RAM sticks installed.

If you get errors, stop the test and continue with the next step.

1. Remove all but one stick of RAM from your computer (this will be RAM stick #1), and run Memtest86 again, for 7 passes.

*Be sure to note the RAM stick, use a piece of tape with a number, and note the motherboard slot.

If this stick passes the test then go to step #3.

2. If RAM stick #1 has errors, repeat the test with RAM stick #2 in the same motherboard slot.

*If RAM stick #2 passes, this indicates that RAM stick #1 may be bad. If you want to be absolutely sure, re-test RAM stick #1 in another known good slot.

*If RAM stick #2 has errors, this indicates another possible bad RAM stick, a possible motherboard slot failure or inadequate settings.

3. Test the next stick of RAM (stick #2) in the next motherboard slot.

*If this RAM stick has errors repeat step #2 using a known good stick if possible, or another stick.

*If this RAM stick has no errors and both sticks failed in slot#1, test RAM stick #1 in this slot.

4. If you find a stick that passes the test, test it in all the other motherboard slots.

If Part 2 testing shows errors, and all tests in Part 3 show errors, you will need to test the RAM sticks in another computer and/or test other RAM in your computer to identify the problem.

In this way, you can identify whether it is a bad stick of RAM, a bad motherboard, or incompatibility between the sticks.

Information

Errors are sometimes found after 8 passes.

Tip

Memtest should be done overnight.