Restart your computer to rule out temporary glitches; 2. Uninstall recent hardware, drivers, or software—especially antivirus, VPN, or overclocking tools—by booting into Safe Mode and using Device Manager; 3. Update or roll back problematic drivers for network, graphics, storage, and audio devices through Device Manager or manufacturer websites; 4. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic (mdsched.exe) to detect RAM issues and reseat or replace faulty sticks if errors are found; 5. Use sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair corrupted system files; 6. Run chkdsk /f /r to check and fix disk errors on reboot; 7. Disable CPU, GPU, or RAM overclocking and reset BIOS/UEFI to default settings; 8. Analyze minidump files (C:\Windows\Minidump) using BlueScreenView or WinDbg to identify the faulting driver and update or remove it; 9. Perform a clean boot via msconfig to disable non-Microsoft services and startup items, then re-enable them gradually to isolate conflicts; 10. As a last resort, reset or reinstall Windows to eliminate deep-seated software issues—most IRQL errors stem from drivers or faulty RAM and can be resolved systematically without professional help.

The "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" blue screen error (BSOD) in Windows is one of the most common and frustrating stop errors. It typically indicates that a system process or driver tried to access a memory address at an incorrect Interrupt Request Level (IRQL). This usually points to faulty drivers, incompatible software, or hardware issues.

Here’s how to fix it — step by step.

1. Restart Your Computer

Before diving into complex fixes, restart your PC. Sometimes, the error is caused by a temporary glitch or a misbehaving driver that doesn’t persist after a reboot.

If the error doesn’t reappear, it may have been a one-time issue. But if it keeps happening — especially during startup or while using certain apps — keep reading.

2. Check for Recently Installed Hardware or Drivers

This error often occurs after:

• Installing new hardware (like RAM, GPU, or peripherals)
• Updating or installing new drivers
• Running third-party software that installs kernel-level drivers (e.g., antivirus, virtualization tools)

What to do:

• Unplug any recently added hardware.
• Boot into Safe Mode (press F8 or Shift Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings → Restart → Enable Safe Mode).
• In Safe Mode, uninstall recent drivers:
  • Press Win X → Device Manager
  • Look for devices with a yellow warning icon
  • Right-click and Uninstall device, then check "Delete the driver software"
• Remove recently installed software, especially:
  • Antivirus tools (e.g., McAfee, Norton)
  • VPN clients
  • Overclocking utilities
  • Disk encryption or backup software

3. Update or Roll Back Drivers

Outdated, corrupt, or incompatible drivers are a top cause of this error.

Focus on these drivers:

• Network adapters
• Graphics drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel)
• Storage controllers
• Audio drivers

How to update:

• Use Device Manager to update drivers automatically.
• Or go to your PC manufacturer’s website (or component manufacturer, like NVIDIA) and download the latest official drivers.
• If the crash started after a driver update, roll back the driver:
  • Device Manager → Right-click device → Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver

? Pro tip: Avoid third-party driver updater tools. They often install incorrect or outdated drivers.

4. Run Memory Diagnostics

Faulty RAM is a frequent cause of IRQL errors.

Test your memory:

1. Press Win R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter.
2. Choose "Restart now and check for problems".
3. After reboot, your PC will run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.
4. Once complete, it will reboot again.

Check results:

• Open Command Prompt as admin and run:

  eventvwr.msc

• Go to Windows Logs → System
• Look for entries from MemoryDiagnostics-Results to see if any errors were found.

If errors appear, try:

• Reseating your RAM sticks
• Testing each stick individually
• Replacing faulty RAM

5. Scan for System File Corruption

Corrupted system files can lead to memory access violations.

Run these commands in Command Prompt (Admin):

sfc /scannow

Wait for it to complete. If it finds and fixes issues, restart and test.

Then run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This repairs the Windows image. After it finishes, restart again.

6. Check for Disk Errors

A failing hard drive or SSD can cause memory-related crashes.

Run:

chkdsk /f /r

You’ll be prompted to schedule the scan on next reboot — type Y and restart.

Let it run (it may take a while), then check if the issue persists.

7. Disable Overclocking

If you’ve overclocked your CPU, GPU, or RAM:

• Reset BIOS/UEFI settings to default
• Disable XMP/DOCP profiles temporarily
• Run the system at stock speeds

Overclocking can destabilize memory access and trigger IRQL errors.

8. Analyze the Minidump File

Windows saves crash dumps (usually in C:\Windows\Minidump\) that can pinpoint the faulty driver.

How to analyze:

• Download BlueScreenView (by NirSoft) or WinDbg (from Microsoft)
• Open the most recent .dmp file
• Look for the driver with the faulting module or highlighted in red

Example: If nvlddmkm.sys appears, it’s likely your NVIDIA graphics driver causing the issue.

Then:

• Update or reinstall that specific driver
• Or temporarily disable the device

9. Perform a Clean Boot (Identify Software Conflicts)

Third-party services can interfere with system operations.

Do a clean boot:

1. Press Win R, type msconfig, hit Enter
2. Go to Services tab → Check "Hide all Microsoft services" → Click "Disable all"
3. Go to Startup tab → Open Task Manager → Disable all startup items
4. Restart

If the BSOD stops, re-enable services/startup items in groups to find the culprit.

10. Reset or Reinstall Windows (Last Resort)

If nothing works:

• Use Reset this PC (Settings → System → Recovery → Reset PC)
• Choose "Remove everything" and reinstall Windows cleanly

This eliminates software corruption, bad drivers, and conflicting apps.

Bottom line:
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL is usually caused by drivers or hardware — especially memory. Start with Safe Mode, check recent changes, test RAM, update drivers, and use dump files to identify the root cause. Most cases can be fixed without professional help.

Basically, it’s not complicated — just methodical.

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