Unable to enter Windows

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YonM

n00b
Joined
Oct 17, 2008
Messages
11
Hello, I'm in need of help.
System details :
x2 3800+
x1900xt
2GB DDR 400
OCZ Powerstream 600W
I am currently getting the (DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL) error.

Heres the problem, I turn my computer on. I get to the "Last known good configuration" screen I choose any option (incl. safe modes) , my computer freezes with that screen showing.

Prior to trying my XP CD, I once got into windows. The computer loaded a few startup programs (I only know Powerstrip was loaded as I had a custom Colour display). My wallpaper and desktop icons weren't loaded. The computer would then immediately shut off. I immediately tried putting the computer on a few times and it would power up for about 3 seconds and then shut off. I shut off the power from the mains, waited and it was ok again.

I tried booting from my XP CD, it loaded up all the files and then got onto "Starting Windows" I would then get the error mentioned above. I tried a reboot. The monitor would not turn on.
I tried using another HDD and I'm still stuck with the same error (DRIVER_ etc).
Thanks for reading!

I forgot to mention I've tried removing either memory stick and putting them in different slots.
 
YonM said:
Hello, I'm in need of help.
System details :
x2 3800+
x1900xt
2GB DDR 400
OCZ Powerstream 600W
I am currently getting the (DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL) error.

Heres the problem, I turn my computer on. I get to the "Last known good configuration" screen I choose any option (incl. safe modes) , my computer freezes with that screen showing.

Prior to trying my XP CD, I once got into windows. The computer loaded a few startup programs (I only know Powerstrip was loaded as I had a custom Colour display). My wallpaper and desktop icons weren't loaded. The computer would then immediately shut off. I immediately tried putting the computer on a few times and it would power up for about 3 seconds and then shut off. I shut off the power from the mains, waited and it was ok again.

I tried booting from my XP CD, it loaded up all the files and then got onto "Starting Windows" I would then get the error mentioned above. I tried a reboot. The monitor would not turn on.
I tried using another HDD and I'm still stuck with the same error (DRIVER_ etc).
Thanks for reading!

I forgot to mention I've tried removing either memory stick and putting them in different slots.
Click to expand...


If I'm not mistaken that error usually goes along with a bad stick of ram. I've seen the error on Vista before, but resetting the bios fixed everything. Try removing a stick at a time. Not just switching them around. If that fails, reset your cmos/bios by finding the pins on the mobo or removing your cmos battery for 5-10 minutes.

Also, I've seen this issue when the power supply is going bad and not putting out enough volts. If you've got a meter, now is a good time to check the molexs that you have plugged into your hardware.
 
Thanks for the response. I meant to say I removed 1 stick completely. With the 1 remaining I tried putting it in various slots (I have 4). I then repeated this process with the other stick.

I'll try the thing with the cmos battery. Thanks again.
 
Download Memtest+ v2.01, unzip it, burn the ISO file to a CD, and then boot from it, just like you would do with the XP install CD. Let Memtest+ run for at least three hours on each stick of RAM separately. Go for a full 24 hours if you want to be completely sure that the RAM is not a problem. If you start seeing errors, than your RAM is bad.
 
Run memtest for several passes with each stick and report back with results.

//edit... uhm, yah, what danny said, lol. I'll leave my text since it has a link, hehe.
 
I tried running Memtest, I switched my monitor off as I did not want to have my monitor showing an almost complete blue screen for 24 hrs. I tried switching it back on (a few minutes after switching it off) and it did not display anything.
 
Isn't a bad thing for a monitor to be showing the same thing for that many hours? If not, I've got no problem with it :D
 
YonM said:
Isn't a bad thing for a monitor to be showing the same thing for that many hours? If not, I've got no problem with it :D
Click to expand...

Do you have a CRT monitor? If so, then yes, don't keep it on for longer than 30min. If you have an LCD, then it doesn't matter, since there is no burn-in with such monitors. Regardless, 30min is harmless.
 
When I previously tested with Memtest, I had it running for about 1 and a half hours. (I have a CRT). No errors were present. I just tried removing my CMOS battery. Got into bios to sort out priority. Restarted. Monitor wouldn't turn on.
I am always able to enter bios/windows options once, I then restart and my monitor does not respond. This has happened since the start of the error.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Does it sound like a power issue? ( I don't have a multimeter to test it)
 
Well literally, an IRQ error means that some piece of hardware is competing for a higher priority control of the main bus. I would poke through the BIOS and see if any settings look unusual, such as an activated feature that is not supported by the physical chipset. Or you might as well flash your BIOS to the latest version.
 
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