Irql_not_less_or_equal Bsod

[Mommadeez4u]

Baggers,

I've been getting this message in a bsod off and on for about a week now, along with 'BAD_POOL_HEADER'. The screen also informs me it's dumping physical memory.

I've been researching the problem and I know a little something about computers, but not enough to physically dive into my computer's BIOS and start ripping things apart looking for the problem.

If there are any 'baggers willing to phone consult with me I can take you through what I've done so far and maybe you can help me fix this annoying problem. As it stands now if I walk away from the computer for any length of time I'll get the bsod when I get back.

Happy to reimburse you for your time if you think you can help.

Dave

system info:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name [redacted]
System Manufacturer Magnell
System Model System Product Name
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 43 Stepping 1 AuthenticAMD ~2211 Mhz
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 43 Stepping 1 AuthenticAMD ~2211 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS A8N-SLI DELUXE ACPI BIOS Revision 1011, 6/2/2005
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
User Name [redacted]
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 1,024.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 536.04 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 2.40 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

[ruckstande]

From my experience, this is the worst BSOD message ever because it tells you absolutely nothing about your problem. Does it happen randomly or every time you start your computer?

[Mommadeez4u]

seemingly randomly. I can start up the computer no problem, and it can run for awhile with no problem. I'll be in the middle of a task (closing a webpage, saving a document, closing a program, etc.) and it will hit.

I've used memtest86 to scan and it came up with zero errors after 4 passes.

[ruckstande]

Yeah I went through that same bullshit. Download AVG antispyware and run it along with a free Online Virus Scan from Trend Micro. Does your motherboard have a VIA chipset?

[6DollarDrunk]

I would've thought the ram was going but, the memtest didn't find anything. Next guess is its another piece of hardware crapping out. Get "speedfan". Its a free prog that will tell you the temp of certain things and fan speeds (if the mobo supports it). Maybe something is overheating? Make sure you your power supply fan is working. Even if it is working the power supply might by going.

Just to make sure its not the hdd, run chkdisk on it.

[thelord68]

Could still be a ram issue - either bad or not seated properly, or timings are wrong.

More likely a hardware issue - damaged driver, etc.

Go to the device manager and see if any devices are showing yellow alerts. If not, click on View > Show Hidden Devices and check again. If there are any alerts, try updating or reinstalling the drivers.

Also, if you have serial or parallel ports on your computer and are not using them, go into the BIOS and disable them. This will free up IRQs.

Last time I saw this on a client's computer it was a damaged driver for an (unused) serial port causing conflicts.

[ruckstande]

I forgot about power supply. That is one of the things I replaced to eliminate that problem I think. If memtest shows nothing I doubt it is your RAM.

[Mommadeez4u]

Download AVG antispyware and run it along with a free Online Virus Scan from Trend Micro.

Not a virus/malware/grayware issue. already have both and use them regularly.

Does your motherboard have a VIA chipset?

How would I go about determining that?

[ruckstande]

Just look up your motherboard manual. It should tell you what chipset you have. Have you ruled out Power Supply?

[ShooterMcGavin]

I had a similar problem, still hasn't been fixed yet.

http://www.wackbag.com/showthread.php?t=48667

[Aero 1]

seemingly randomly. I can start up the computer no problem, and it can run for awhile with no problem. I'll be in the middle of a task (closing a webpage, saving a document, closing a program, etc.) and it will hit.

I've used memtest86 to scan and it came up with zero errors after 4 passes.


that error message is some sort of hardware error, usually ram or cpu. since you say you have no ram errors, i bet you a thousand dollars that your cpu is overheating.

[Mommadeez4u]

If not, click on View > Show Hidden Devices and check again. If there are any alerts, try updating or reinstalling the drivers.

Interesting. Looks like there are two with the the yellow alert icon, under the 'Non-Plug and Play Drivers':

AVG7 Kernel (This device is not present, is not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed. (Code 24))

and

AVG7 Resident Driver XP (This device is not present, is not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed. (Code 24))

[Aero 1]

http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/it/2006/02/06/irql_not_less_or_equal/

[Mommadeez4u]

^^^^ I'm pretty certain that does not apply to my system

[thelord68]

Interesting. Looks like there are two with the the yellow alert icon, under the 'Non-Plug and Play Drivers':

AVG7 Kernel (This device is not present, is not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed. (Code 24))

and

AVG7 Resident Driver XP (This device is not present, is not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed. (Code 24))

Download the newest AVG (7.5) (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free) run the install, but select the REPAIR option.

[Deadbent]

Not to throw fire on your fuel there :p... but.. it could very well still be a ram issue. (When using memtest86, let it run at LEAST two hours or so. I do in 24 hr increments and you'd be surprised what comes up after 5+ hours. )

I'd also throw a secondvoicing to the cpu overheating, but most of the time a pc will just reset, and not bsod too much.

Also, it could be something like a usb port that fried. (maybe you stuck it in wrong, wokka wokka!) Or a fried pci slot, etc.

Almost leaning towards the idea it wouldn't be related to the avg program, but definitely repair/reinstall it to verify.


Let me know dude. We'll have you up and running.

[Mommadeez4u]

Not to throw fire on your fuel there :p... but.. it could very well still be a ram issue. (When using memtest86, let it run at LEAST two hours or so. I do in 24 hr increments and you'd be surprised what comes up after 5+ hours. )

I'll do that-- I only let it run about 55 minutes or so, 3 or 4 'passes' whatever that means. I take it that the proggie just goes and goes until you intervene?

[Deadbent]

I'll do that-- I only let it run about 55 minutes or so, 3 or 4 'passes' whatever that means. I take it that the proggie just goes and goes until you intervene?


Depending on the version you're using, you can assign the amount of passes or loops to run.
Passes refer to how many time the app "passes" through the test cycles.

Also, 55 minutes is usually long enough to be made aware of glaring errors at least, one that would cause a problem or repeat shutdown, at least.
But again, be aware sometimes it is not... and you might not find something til hour 5... etc.


Good luck, bro.

[GonzoRadio]

BSODs (for the vast, vast majority of cases) are caused by 2 things:
10% of the time, hardware issues.
90% of the time, driver issues.
The problem isn't always caused by a driver for a piece of hardware you installed. Case in point: AVG Antirootkit caused a BSOD (seemingly random) when I would launch visual studio (I won't get into why this was happening here). I found it by going through the mini-dump that XP writes when it blue screens. Here is a run through of how to find the problem (if it is driver related): [url="http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/041105-windows-crash.html?page=1"/]

Read it through and let me know if you need help.

[Mommadeez4u]

Thanks, Gonzo.

Update:

After that big windows update two nights ago, the computer won't boot up at all. It gets through the dos screens, the Windows splash screen comes up with the taskbar at the bottom-- after about two or three iterations the screen goes black and the cycle starts again.

The computer manufacturer's tech guys as well as a local tech guy I know have been really helpful, although they're frank when they say it's baffling the shit out of them. Right now they are leaning towards a HD failure and barring that, out-of-date BIOS.

PSU- rocksolid

I'm going to Microcenter to pick up a 500 gig external HD to back up all my data, then we're going to use a system restore/repair dvd that came with the computer to try to repair things.

[GonzoRadio]

Thanks, Gonzo.

Update:

After that big windows update two nights ago, the computer won't boot up at all. It gets through the dos screens, the Windows splash screen comes up with the taskbar at the bottom-- after about two or three iterations the screen goes black and the cycle starts again.

The computer manufacturer's tech guys as well as a local tech guy I know have been really helpful, although they're frank when they say it's baffling the shit out of them. Right now they are leaning towards a HD failure and barring that, out-of-date BIOS.

PSU- rocksolid

I'm going to Microcenter to pick up a 500 gig external HD to back up all my data, then we're going to use a system restore/repair dvd that came with the computer to try to repair things.

Something similar happened to me when my HD was on its way out. Eventually it just stopped booting at all... the computer didn't even recognize a HD was there.

[Mommadeez4u]

Something similar happened to me when my HD was on its way out. Eventually it just stopped booting at all... the computer didn't even recognize a HD was there.

I hope I can retrieve my data. I have client CAD drawings, contracts, images... yikes.

[GonzoRadio]

I hope I can retrieve my data. I have client CAD drawings, contracts, images... yikes.
I think you'll be able to recover your data. I'm a software developer, so data recovery isn't really my thing...though I think there are a lot of IT guys here that will be able to help you if you need help.

Also, back up solutions are pretty cheap these days; you can buy an external drive that automatically backs up your files for like $150 I think. Personally, I use a separate disk for data files and backup to DVD or FTP to an offsite location periodically.

[Mommadeez4u]

Yes I really learned my lesson-- I now own a 360 gig external HD with the possibility of daisy-chaining more as needed. never again!

[Mommadeez4u]

Update:

Rescued incredibly critical data (porn). Also client architectural CAD drawings and about 80 gigs of music.

Among other interesting things found during exploring/diagnosing: The two 150 gig hard drives were plugged in and prepped for raid array configuration instead of standard SATA. I guess the bios could handle the fact that they weren't RAID'd. They're plugged in for standard SATA now.

Ran chkdsk from the restore/repair boot dvd and it found and repaired a whole bunch of stuff. Will try to repair the original XP install but if it's f'ed I'll have to do a brand new install-- then will have to laboriously reinstall all my nifty proggies.

To top it all off my modem took a shit 2 days ago: no DHCP whatsoever coming out of it. My wireless router network works fine, the modem says it can read the dsl info coming out of the wall, but it refuses to speak via ethernet cable (tried two different cables just in case) to either the router or even a computer plugged right into it.

I'm logging in from a wi-fi at BORDERS (yeeeeeee uhhhhhh ck!)

[GonzoRadio]

Update:

Rescued incredibly critical data (porn). Also client architectural CAD drawings and about 80 gigs of music.

Among other interesting things found during exploring/diagnosing: The two 150 gig hard drives were plugged in and prepped for raid array configuration instead of standard SATA. I guess the bios could handle the fact that they weren't RAID'd. They're plugged in for standard SATA now.

Ran chkdsk from the restore/repair boot dvd and it found and repaired a whole bunch of stuff. Will try to repair the original XP install but if it's f'ed I'll have to do a brand new install-- then will have to laboriously reinstall all my nifty proggies.

To top it all off my modem took a shit 2 days ago: no DHCP whatsoever coming out of it. My wireless router network works fine, the modem says it can read the dsl info coming out of the wall, but it refuses to speak via ethernet cable (tried two different cables just in case) to either the router or even a computer plugged right into it.

I'm logging in from a wi-fi at BORDERS (yeeeeeee uhhhhhh ck!)

I dont know about your ISP, but Time Warner replaces the modem for free. In fact i can just drive to their office and trade in the broken one for the new one.

[Mommadeez4u]

I dont know about your ISP, but Time Warner replaces the modem for free. In fact i can just drive to their office and trade in the broken one for the new one.

Verizon jacked me out of 60.00. Just as soon as I'm up and running again I'm calling up and ****** BELIEVE ME I'm getting that shit back.