Vista - BSOD: "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" Please Help

Hi All,
First post, and wasn't sure where to put this but I believe it may be a driver issue.
I am Occasionally (about once a week) getting the famous "Blue Screen of Death" but it doesn't really give me much information about the problem and I was hoping you could all help me.

I get a: "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" error just in the middle of what ever I'm doing and it is getting really irritating.

When Windows Restarts it gives the following info.
"Windows has recovered from an error"

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 3081
Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: d1
BCP1: 0000000000000000
BCP2: 0000000000000002
BCP3: 0000000000000008
BCP4: 0000000000000000
OS Version: 6_0_6001
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 256_1
Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini081008-01.dmp
C:\Users\Tim\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-54849-0.sysdata.xml
C:\Users\Tim\AppData\Local\Temp\WER991.tmp.version.txt
I am running the following system:

Intel Q9450 (Core 2 Quad 2.66GHz)
Asus Striker-II-Formula nForce 780i ~ BIOS: 1601, Driver: 9.64
8GB Corsair TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF
XFX nVidia GeForce GTX280 (1GB) ~ Driver: 177.41, + nVidia PhysX & CUDA Drivers
750GB Seagate HDD
Antec 1000W PSU

Windows Vista Ultimate - 64bit Edition OEM

Help would be much appreciated,
Thanks from Tim

When I built my vista x64 system, I ran into some problems with RAM and some with drivers giving me BSODs until resolved. Did you build your system yourself?

• Ensure your timing and voltage as follows:
• Cas Latency: 5
• Timing: 5-5-5-15
• Voltage: 2.1V

That should eliminate your issues

I did custom order this machine my self, however did not have the time to build it so paid the shop, I have however given it the once over and checked that the ram is all seated propperly etc (Had some initial errors with that too).


I probably should have added in that I have already played around with the bios settings and set the voltages and timings to that reccomended by corsair (the same as you have reccomeneded above). Thanks any way.

Your next step is going to be cumbersome - hardware testing.

I'd start with Memtest86 and then proceed with HD testing.

More info on the error you're receiving: Bug Check 0xD1: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Hmm, Ok thanks
I have gone and installed/reinstalled all the latest drivers (of which most I already had) and have had no BlueScreen Since the time at which I posted this thread.
Having said that I will get on to some hardware testing soon.
Thanks for The suggestion.
Tim

I am considering upgrading to 8 gig of RAM and have been looking at the same RAM for my system. I have been reading user reviews and found several reports that 4 sticks of RAM sometimes give problems even if the RAM itself is OK. The reviews indicate that the faster the ram timing, the more finicky the RAM is. That would seem to suggest that you pull the RAM, and reinstall 1 at time to see if the system is stable with 1 or a pair, etc.

With 4 sticks of 1gig corsair RAM with slower timing than yours in one of my systems I had to swap the sticks around until I got a combination to work with no BSOD. I have had no trouble since. This of course involves some fiddling, but I have found this to be a situation with some motherboards.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply, I think I said in an above post that I had been having trouble with the RAM however had fixed this issue after some fiddling particually with timings and voltages. I have also completed a stress test and had 7.2GB in use so I don't think the RAM is the issue any more .
Unfortunately I dont know which driver is causing this problem, however I have not suffered a Blue Screen since Sunday so HOPEFULLY the problem has fixed its self *Probably Wishful Thinking*
Thanks,

If you have 8 GB RAM installed then Vista x64 should show you 8 GB installed, unless you have onboard Video and it is using a part of that RAM....