Driver_irql_not_less_or_equal (iastor.sys)

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  1. Posts : 678
    Windows 7 home premium 64 bit
       #1

    Driver_irql_not_less_or_equal (iastor.sys)


    Haven't really been able to find a suitable solution to my friend's PC problems. He gets the BSOD on boot referencing the file iastor.sys.

    I really don't know if he is running a 64 bit version or not. Since it is Windows 7, I assume so. I have no idea of his processor, since I've never actually seen it boot cleanly.

    Safe mode, last good...etc.., all give the same BSOD. Startup repair either fails to find a problem, or indicates that it cannot repair the PC. System restore failed to help. From the repair console I ran BootRec /fixmbr and BootRec /fixboot, and even bootsect /nt60 ALL, commands that ran successfully, but failed to stop the BSOD.

    I went into the system32 folder from the repair console command prompt, and renamed iastor.sys, thinking that if I kept the driver from Intel Matrix Storage Manager from attempting to load, then I could download a new driver.

    That didn't work. I now just get a generic BSOD.

    My friend does not have an OS Windows 7 disk from Dell, but I have one from Microsoft. However, I can find no sticker on his laptop with a product code, and I'm not sure if an MS disk can be used to install 7 on a Dell.

    Right now its in the repair console, accessed w/ my disk. It initiated a startup repair, which now has been running for about 45 minutes.

    Any help? At this point he doesn't care if the OS is reinstalled, but I'm concerned about the lack of a code sticker.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       #2

    The lack of a sticker shouldn't happen, unless he got it second hand and the previous owner took it off before selling it.
    Looking in the battery space with the battery removed would be the only additional place I could think it would be hiding but that would be extremely atypical in and of itself.

    Odds are actually against you being able to use the OEM dell key with your retail windows disc anyhow.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 678
    Windows 7 home premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Maguscreed said:
    Looking in the battery space with the battery removed would be the only additional place I could think it would be hiding but that would be extremely atypical in and of itself.
    Oh my gosh... that's where it is. I never thought to look there. Of course that doesn't help me with your following caveat.

    Maguscreed said:
    Odds are actually against you being able to use the OEM dell key with your retail windows disc anyhow.
    So what am I supposed to do? Windows 7 is supposed to be this incredible OS that enables you to recover easily from PC crashes without a disk. Well I've got a disk, and I've got Windows 7, and it doesn't look like I'm going anywhere with either one.

    Anybody else???
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       #4

    Well OEM with retail disc is about the only installation scenario with win 7 I'm not sure on as I haven't done it myself.
    Theoretically it should work though you may have to call in for activation.

    activation is not exactly a special area of mine, I believe there are several threads here on the subject though.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 678
    Windows 7 home premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Well, I'm a little dubious about reformatting the drive and attempting to install 7 from my MS disk, only to possibly find out that I cannot activate it, if you see my quandary.

    I was rather hoping for a solution to the DRIVER_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL - iastor.sys problem.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 507
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #6

    Also possible that it was caused by rootkit.
    Try to scan with TDSSKiller in safe mode.
    Sometimes you'll need several attempt until get into safe mode. (because of the BSOD)
    Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 678
    Windows 7 home premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Look, I CANNOT boot into safe mode. I've tried it dozens of times. I'm fairly sure that the problem is caused by a bad iaStor driver from Intel Rapid Storage Technology. .I can boot using my Windows 7 disk, and I can boot using an Ubuntu disk. I even have a 2005 Winternals ERD disk (which boots to a blue screen).

    I just need someone to give me some help on how to solve this problem, either by fixing the BSOD or by reinstalling the OS.

    There are smart people on this forum, and I'm great at following direction. Please. A little practical help.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 678
    Windows 7 home premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    At this point I even attempted another restore - I had done a restore to about 2 weeks ago, but that failed to help. Now i tried a restore to the newest restore point, which was just a few days ago (when the PC was working). I get a restore error - so I can't even get it back to where it was.

    The blue screen I'm getting now is the 0x7b.with the 2nd parameter 0xfffff880009a98e8.

    I can use the Ubuntu disk, but I don't really know what to do to repair Windows 7 from Ubuntu.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 13,354
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #9

    Hello,

    That seems typical of an MBR infection going around. Extract the Kaspersky TDSS Killer tool onto a USB drive, and then use your Windows DVD to boot the laptop. Select "repair my computer", and open a command prompt. Enter the path of the tdsskiller.exe
    file, and press enter. Let it clean out anything it finds.

    You should also test the hard drive; I recommend SeaTools for DOS.
      My Computer

  10.    #10

    Follow Jonathan's expert advice first. Iastor is Intel Storage Manager which points to possible boot sector corruption.

    You can indeed clean install using your Win7 Installation DVD (unlocked if necessary) with the Product Key on COA sticker. You may need to do this in order to wipe the HD if you don't have Recovery DIsks which were made off the Recovery partition. re-install windows 7

    But first I would try running a full factory Recovery following these steps as it is very good with Dell, although the bloatware will be restored along with useless factory utilities which many don't feel are optimal for Win7 best performance: Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings | Dell

    If you haven't copied out your files yet you can do so using the Repair CD or your Installation DVD: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console I assume you've been running Startup Repair from the DVD/Repair CD also so that it doesn't depend on possibly corrupted OS files.

    Will be watching the thread.
      My Computer


 
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