Windows 10: Unusual culprit irql not less or equal error

Hello!

When most advanced users see a BSOD with the infamous "IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL" error, we mostly suspect a bad RAM module or a hard disk failure. That's mostly true, but I currently had this BSOD any time I restarted my PC for a rather unusual cause!

Every time I restarted my PC I had difficulty loading Windows again because of this BSOD. Windows failed to load and restarted before showing any BSOD, so I did not know the issue before. After 2-3 attempts, Troubleshoot Manager would start and try to load Windows. Even that would not succeed at the first time, only the second!

At first I thought something is wrong with Windows (since I could not see any BSOD), so I used both SFC and DISM recovery commands without success. I use this PC mostly for e-mails and office work, so I had turned off the speakers not to disturb the neighbors when using my PC. Today I wanted to play a video file and I turned on the speakers, but could not hear any sound. I tried the speakers at my smartphone and I found they are OK. I reinstalled the audio drivers but still no sound from the PC.

I then saw that some applications where frozen and I could not end task them, Task Manager also froze. I then suspected something was wrong with my audio card (an old SoundBlaster Audigy PCI), so I shutdown my PC and removed the card. Upon startup the PC loaded Windows without a single hiccup, so that what was causing the BSOD in the first place! Weird eh? I now resorted to the onboard Realtek HD, but I could upgrade to a better sound card some time later.

I wrote this post to inform others that if you see the "IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL" error and anything else fails, look for faulty devices. Windows tried unsuccessfully to allocate resources for the faulty device and hence this kind of BSOD.

Thank you for reading.

:)

 

Error: IRQL Not Less or Equal

Solution for the error IRQL Not less or Equal

Moved from: Windows / Windows 10 / Install, upgrade, & activate

 

BSOD - IRQL Not Less or Equal Error

I've been getting BSODs every few days recently with IRQL Not Less or Equal errors. Following the procedures

from this Microsoft Answer, I ran Driver Verifier. I got repeated BSODs at that point (with no .sys file listed in the error, unfortunately), and had to restore from a System Restore point to get back into Windows.

My Minidump file is linked here:
https://rg.to/file/dbb5141b2be49325b51a1a90269ec177/Minidump_022518-9515-01.rar.html

Please let me know if I need to include any other information in order for to diagnose the issue.

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

BSOD Bad Object Header and irql not less or equal

Add another irql not less or equal to the list

another minidump

121019-8859-01.rar