Jul 23, 2014 - Fixing IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL BSOD Error. In both Windows 8 and 8.1, it requires enabled F8 key to access these options on system.
How Do I Fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error in Windows 8?To fix this issue, administrator-level users can enable the advanced boot menu in Windows 8 and restart the computer in safe mode. After restarting in safe mode, admins can uninstall the problematic device driver or application. Problems can be narrowed down and detected by viewing the minidump file that is generated when a BSOD is displayed on the screen. To view the contents of a minidump file, we recommend an application called BlueScreenView, though you may wish to use another as preference dictates.
Note: BlueScreenView can be executed easily even when Windows 8 is running in safe mode.
As soon as the executable file of BlueScreenView application is initiated, it automatically detects and opens all the existing minidump files that the computer may have. Administrators can then view the contents of the most recent minidump file to find the problematic application or device driver, and can uninstall the program from the computer. In case a hardware device is found to be at the root of the issue, that device can be removed from the computer and replaced with the new one.
Another easier way of rectifying the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error in Windows 8 is by downloading and installing a powerful application named SlimCleaner. This application automatically detects the problematic software applications or device drivers. Using SlimCleaner is fairly straightforward, and the free version has a host of tools that will help you catch issues you might be having at the software level.
Your most likely route will be to manually uninstall the offending device driver or application, and for that you'll need to get into safe mode. To get there, you'll need to enable the legacy advanced boot menu.
How to Enable Legacy Advanced Boot Menu?
Go through this video to fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error:
[video='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlO1MnHgZlY'][/video]
To enable legacy advanced boot menu in Windows 8, instructions given below must be followed:
- ■Restart the Windows 8 computer.
■Enter into the BIOS setup and configure the system to boot from CD/DVD Drive.
■Save the modified settings in BIOS and reboot the computer.
■Insert Microsoft Windows 8 bootable installation DVD into the optical media drive (CD/DVD Drive).
■When prompted to Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, press any key to boot the computer from DVD support.
■On the displayed Windows Setup box, click Next.
■On the next page, click Repair your computer.
■On Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.
■On Troubleshoot screen, click Advanced options.
■On Advanced options screen, click Command Prompt.
■On the opened command line interface (CLI), type C: and hit Enter.
■On C: prompt, type BCDEDIT /SET {DEFAULT} BOOTMENUPOLICY LEGACY command, and press Enter to enable legacy advanced boot menu.
■Once the command executed successfully, type EXIT command to close the command line interface.
■Back on the Choose an option screen, click Continue to restart Windows 8 computer.
■Eject Windows 8 installation DVD from the optical media drive when done.
Error Number: | Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal |
Error Name: | Windows 8 Error Driver_Irql_Not_Less_Or_Equal |
Error Description: | Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal: Windows 8 has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. |
Developer: | Microsoft Corporation |
Software: | Windows 8 |
Applies to: | Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 |
Compatible with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP and 2000
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Symptoms of Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal
- 'Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal' appears and crashes the active program window.
- Your PC frequently crashes with Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal when running the same program.
- “Windows 8 Error Driver_Irql_Not_Less_Or_Equal” is displayed.
- Windows runs sluggishly and responds slowly to mouse or keyboard input.
- Your computer periodically “freezes” for a few seconds at a time.
These driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error messages can appear during program installation, while a Microsoft Corporation-related software program (eg. Windows 8) is running, during Windows startup or shutdown, or even during the installation of the Windows operating system. Keeping track of when and where your driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error occurs is a critical piece of information in troubleshooting the problem.
Causes of Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal
- Corrupt download or incomplete installation of Windows 8 software.
- Corruption in Windows registry from a recent Windows 8-related software change (install or uninstall).
- Virus or malware infection that has corrupted Windows system files or Windows 8-related program files.
- Another program maliciously or mistakenly deleted Windows 8-related files.
Runtime Errors such as “Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal” can be caused by a variety of factors, so it is important that you troubleshoot each of the possible causes to prevent it from recurring.
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How To Fix Windows 8 Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal
Below is a list of troubleshooting steps to resolve your Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal problems. These troubleshooting steps get progressively more difficult and time consuming, so we strongly recommend attempting them in ascending order to avoid unnecessary time and effort.
Please Note: Click the [ ] image to expand the troubleshooting instructions for each step below. You can also click the [ ] image to hide the instructions as you proceed through each step.
Step 1: Repair Registry Entries Associated with Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal |
Manually editing the Windows registry to remove invalid Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal keys is not recommended unless you are PC service professional. Incorrectly editing your registry can stop your PC from functioning and create irreversible damage to your operating system. In fact, one misplaced comma can prevent your PC from booting entirely! Because of this risk, we highly recommend using a trusted registry cleaner such as WinThruster [download] (Developed by Microsoft Gold Certified Partner) to scan and repair any Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal-related registry problems. Using a registry cleaner [download] automates the process of finding invalid registry entries, missing file references (like the one causing your driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error), and broken links within the registry. A backup is automatically created before each scan, with the ability to undo any changes in a single click, protecting you against the possibility of PC damage. The best part is that repairing registry errors [download] can also dramatically improve system speed and performance. Caution: Unless you an advanced PC user, we DO NOT recommend editing the Windows registry manually. Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows. We do not guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. To manually repair your Windows registry, first you need to create a backup by exporting a portion of the registry related to Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal (eg. Windows 8):
The next steps in manually editing your registry will not be discussed in this article due to the high risk of damaging your system. If you would like to learn more about manual registry editing, please see the links below. We do not claim any responsibility for the results of the actions taken from the content linked below - complete these tasks at your own risk. Windows XP http://www.theeldergeek.com/windows_xp_registry.htm Windows 7 http://www.theeldergeek.com/windows_7/registry_edits_for_win7.htm Windows Vista http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2688326 - LetMeFixItMyselfAlways |
Step 2: Conduct a Full Malware Scan of Your PC |
There is a chance that your driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error could be related to a malware infection on your PC. These malicious intruders can damage, corrupt, or even delete Runtime Errors-related files. Furthermore, there's a possibility that the driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error you are experiencing is related to a component of the malicious program itself. Tip: If you do not already have a malware protection program installed, we highly recommend using Emsisoft Anti-Malware (download here). They offer a malware removal guarantee that is not offered by other security software. |
Step 3: Clean Out Your System Junk (Temporary Files and Folders) With Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr) |
Over time, your computer accumulates junk files from normal web surfing and computer use. If this junk isn't occasionally cleaned out, it can cause Windows 8 to respond slowly or provides an driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error, possibly due to file conflicts or an overloaded hard drive. Cleaning up these temporary files with Disk Cleanup might not only solve your driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error, but can also dramatically speed up the performance of your PC. Tip: Although Disk Cleanup is a wonderful built-in tool, it will not completely clean up all of the temporary files on your computer. Other programs that you frequently use such Microsoft Office, Firefox, Chrome, Live Messenger, and hundreds of other programs are not cleaned up with Disk Cleanup (including some Microsoft Corporation programs). Because of the shortcomings of the Windows Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr) tool, we highly recommend using a specialized hard drive cleanup / privacy protection software such as WinSweeper [download] (Developed by Microsoft Gold Partner) to clean up your entire computer. Running WinSweeper [download] once per day (using automatic scanning) will ensure that your computer is always clean, running fast, and free of driver_irql_not_less_or_equal errors related to temporary files. How to run Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr) (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):
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Step 4: Update Your PC Device Drivers |
driver_irql_not_less_or_equal errors can be related to corrupt or outdated device drivers. Drivers can work one day, and suddenly stop working the next day, for a variety of reasons. The good news is that you can often update the device driver to fix the Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal problem. Finding the exact driver for your Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal-related hardware device can be extremely difficult, even directly on the Microsoft Corporation or related manufacturer's website. Even if you are experienced at finding, downloading, and manually updating drivers, the process can still be very time consuming and extremely irritating. Installing the wrong driver, or simply an incompatible version of the right driver, can make your problems even worse. Because of the time and complexity involved in updating drivers, we highly recommend using a driver update tool such as DriverDoc (Developed by Microsoft Gold Partner) to automate the process. DriverDoc updates all of your PC device drivers, not just those associated with your driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error. DriverDoc's proprietary One-Click Update™ technology not only ensures that you have correct driver versions for your hardware, but it also creates a backup of your current drivers before making any changes. Maintaining a driver backup provides you with the security of knowing that you can rollback any driver to a previous version if necessary. With updated device drivers, you can finally unlock new hardware features and improve the speed and performance of your PC. Please Note: Your Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal may not be related to hardware driver problems, but it's always a good idea to ensure all of your PC device drivers are up-to-date to maximize PC performance. |
Step 5: Utilize Windows System Restore to 'Undo' Recent System Changes |
Windows System Restore allows you to 'go back in time' with your PC to help fix your Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal problems. System Restore can return your PC's system files and programs back to a time when everything was working fine. This can potentially help you avoid hours of troubleshooting headaches associated with driver_irql_not_less_or_equal errors. Please Note: Using System Restore will not affect your documents, pictures, or other data. To use System Restore (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):
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Step 6: Uninstall and Reinstall the Windows 8 Program Associated with Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal |
If your driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error is related to a specific program, reinstalling Windows 8-related software could be the answer. Instructions for Windows 7 and Windows Vista:
Instructions for Windows XP:
Instructions for Windows 8:
After you have successfully uninstalled your Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal-associated program (eg. Windows 8), reinstall the program according to the Microsoft Corporation instructions. Tip: If you are positive that your driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error is related to a specific Microsoft Corporation program, uninstalling and reinstalling your Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal-related program will likely be the solution to your problem. |
Step 7: Run Windows System File Checker ('sfc /scannow') |
System File Checker is a handy tool included with Windows that allows you scan for and restore corruptions in Windows system files (including those related to Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal). To run System File Checker (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):
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Step 8: Install All Available Windows Updates |
Microsoft is constantly updating and improving Windows system files that could be associated with Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal. Sometimes resolving your Runtime Errors problems may be as simple as updating Windows with the latest Service Pack or other patch that Microsoft releases on an ongoing basis. To check for Windows Updates (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):
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Step 9: Perform a Clean Installation of Windows |
Caution: We must emphasize that reinstalling Windows will be a very time-consuming and advanced task to resolve Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal problems. To avoid data loss, you must be sure that you have backed-up all of your important documents, pictures, software installers, and other personal data before beginning the process. If you are not currently backing up your data, you need to do so immediately (download a highly-recommended backup solution) to protect yourself from permanent data loss. This step is your final option in trying to resolve your Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal issue. Reinstalling Windows will erase everything from your hard drive, allowing you to start again with a fresh system. Furthermore, a clean install of Windows will also quickly clean out any and all 'junk' that has accumulated over the normal usage of your computer. Please Note: If driver_irql_not_less_or_equal errors still persist after a clean install of Windows, your Runtime Errors problem MUST be hardware related. If that is the case, then it is likely you will need to replace the associated hardware causing the driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error. |
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Operating System Information
driver_irql_not_less_or_equal error messages can occur in any of the following Microsoft Windows operating systems:
- Windows 10
- Windows 8
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
- Windows ME
- Windows 2000
Are You Still Experiencing Error driver_irql_not_less_or_equal Issues?
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About The Author:Jay Geater is the President and CEO of Solvusoft Corporation, a global software company focused on providing innovative utility software. He is a lifelong computer geek and loves everything related to computers, software, and new technology.
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