Blue screen of death: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL?

[Beautiful End]

This story goes somewhere:

So I have a netbook. I have Windows 7. It's been running just fine ever since I bought it; around March 2010. I don't use it for major things. This is my to-go netbook. I only use it to surf the web and chat with my friends at school. Maybe do some homework with it (The screen's so small, I have a hard time doing homework with it).

Anyway, last December, I got an extra-curricular assignment from my Graphic Design class. I needed to get access into Photoshop and Illustrator but my netbook AND desktop don't have it (Too expensive). The school was closed at the time so I couldn't go there. So I decided to download a trial version of Photoshop into my netbook since that's the only place I have Admin powers. I had installed previous;y an Illustrator trial and it worked just fine. Once the trial expired, I deleted the program and that was the end of it.

So I figured I would do the same thing with Photoshop. It worked fine for like two weeks. Then my computer started slowing down, little by little. There were days where it would take it around 2 minutes to get me to the welcome screen, then 5 minutes. Then the entire computer started lagging, from programs to folders to internet to everything.

I figured it was Photoshop's fault so I immediately got rid of it. It helped for like...a day. After that, it went back to its old habits: Extreme lag and freezing screens everywhere.

Then about a week ago, the blue screen of death popped out.

Shoosh yeah, it startled me. But my computer restarted itself. Oh, good, it's not like the 360's RRoD, I thought. As soon as the computer started up, I tried to scan my computer for viruses, but even that seemed to take forever and had no results. I took my computer "to an earlier time" too, but nothing. I ran it with Safe Mode and boom, Blue screen in there too.

The blue screen pops in and out randomly. But just now, I was able to catch a glimpse of a phrase at the very top(Mind you, the screen only stays on for two seconds):
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
I have no idea whatsoever what that means and the few topics that cover that seem too complicated for me.

I am no computer techie. I know the basics, but this is all new to me. A service at school provides a free check-up and repair and stuff, but I would like to have an idea of what's wrong with my netbook before going there. Anyone knows what this is?

If you need specific information regarding my netbook, please let me know...and also let me know where to look and I'll post i here. Thanks in advance.

-Things I got recently:
?Downloaded two songs (Legally, so no virus-threat there)
?Downloaded Katawa Shoujo (This was after the first blue screen popped in)
-Deleted Adobe's all of it (Photoshop, Bridge, InDesign, etc.)

 

[JesterRaiin]

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

This warning says about problems with hardware, yet it can be simulated by some virus/worm or other software error.

Let's see...
We can start with that :

- Disable antivirus/firewall protection and check if it helped. Don't surf Internet without protection !

- Turn off virtual page file (also called swap file).
I'm not sure what's your Windows version, so :
Windows XP :
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/sysdm_advancd_perform_change_vmpagefile.mspx?mfr=true
Windows 7
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-the-size-of-virtual-memory

Restart, check how system behaves (it should become very slow, but pay no attention to that, we're looking for BSOD culprit).
Re-enable virtual page file (for now let the system to manage it - select "auto"), restart once again. Check systems behavior.

- Katawa Shoujo is virus free, unless you downloaded it from some suspicious site. So are Adobe products. I hope you know what i'm saying here.

 

[Patrick Dare]

You can stop it from restarting on a BSOD. I got the same one recently (as well as a few other ones).

You didn't tell us what version of windows you're running (would be helpful to know). If you've got 7 click start > right click computer > properties > advanced system settings (bottom of the list on the left side) > advanced tab > then click settings under "Startup and Recovery" > under "System Failure" uncheck the "Automatically restart" box > OK.

This helps so you can check exactly what error it is. You may be getting a few different stop errors or just the IRLQ one.

You could also try going to the website of the manufacturer of your netbook, downloading the latest drivers and reinstalling them all. A lot of times BSODs are caused by bad drivers.

 

[Beautiful End]

~Le snip

Oh, right. I forgot that; I have Windows 7. I'll edit my first post.

I downloaded all that legally. That's why I'm surprised my computer's running slow. It's kinda hard to believe it might have a virus. My anti-virus seem to be working fine and all. I have Avast Antivirus.

I followed the link you gave me and it's still painfully slow. It was fast for like a minute, though.

Snipeth

I have a Gateway netbook. I'll have to check how to update the drivers, as you said (?). For now, I uncheck that "restart" option. Maybe next time it happens, I'll be able to take a picture and post it here.


I know it's hard to diagnose a computer like this. I appreciate the help and I'll keep posting any updates and stuff to see if we can figure it out. D:

 

[JesterRaiin]

~Le snip

Oh, right. I forgot that; I have Windows 7. I'll edit my first post.

I downloaded all that legally. That's why I'm surprised my computer's running slow. It's kinda hard to believe it might have a virus. My anti-virus seem to be working fine and all. I have Avast Antivirus.

I followed the link you gave me and it's still painfully slow. It was fast for like a minute, though.

I understand that nothing helped ?
Let's see...

run <link=http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/msconfig_win7.html>msconfig
Enter STARTUP tab do a screenshot and paste it here.
Then enter SERVICES tab, check "hide all Microsoft services", do a screenshot, paste it here.

 

[Beautiful End]

~Le snip

Oh, right. I forgot that; I have Windows 7. I'll edit my first post.

I downloaded all that legally. That's why I'm surprised my computer's running slow. It's kinda hard to believe it might have a virus. My anti-virus seem to be working fine and all. I have Avast Antivirus.

I followed the link you gave me and it's still painfully slow. It was fast for like a minute, though.

I understand that nothing helped ?
Let's see...

run <link=http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/msconfig_win7.html>msconfig
Enter STARTUP tab do a screenshot and paste it here.
Then enter SERVICES tab, check "hide all Microsoft services", do a screenshot, paste it here.

I was doing a Test run, you could say, before I could claim if it worked or not. But yeah, overall, it didn't work. The computer runs painfully slow, especially when it's starting up. Then after like 30 minutes, it calms down and starts running...okay, I guess. No blue screen so far, though.

http://i43.tinypic.com/6dub06.png
http://i42.tinypic.com/2m3pm2w.png
I had to take two screenshots for the STARTUP tab. But it's basically the same thing, only I couldn't expand it.

http://i44.tinypic.com/o7uc9j.png
And that's the SERVICES tab.

I...hope that helps? D:

 

[Jamash]

When I repeatedly got a BSOD with the "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" message it was a problem with the RAM, more specifically one of the stick had been damaged and wasn't working properly.

You could try using some RAM diagnosis software (I think Memtest is one) to check whether every stick of RAM is working correctly, because if one of your paired sticks of RAM is malfunctioning that could explain why your computer is so slow.

I'm only a layman on these things, but I think if one of your sticks of RAM is knackered, you'd have to remove it and replace it, and/or change your BIOS settings so that you computer only runs in single channel mode and doesn't try to use the defective RAM.

 

[JesterRaiin]

I...hope that helps? D:

Hmmmm, not much, there's anything really dangerous as far as i can see..
The problem may come from either software and hardware. I'd like to exclude faulty software possibility first.
You may want to :

1. Disable :
- every google update service
- adobe acrobat
- microsoft office
- groove monitor
- akamai

2. Restart

3. And now, for a little experiment, please disable :
- RAID event monitor

4. Restart and observe

BTW : Is your virtual page file re-enabled like i said <link=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/538.338195.13680736>here ? Without it your system should become sluggish like a snail on sedatives.

 

[Beautiful End]

1. Disable :
- every google update service
- adobe acrobat
- microsoft office
- groove monitor
- akamai

2. Restart

Did that. The system acted slightly faster. It still took ages to start up but once it did, it didn't lag as much.

3. And now, for a little experiment, please disable :
- RAID event monitor

4. Restart and observe

It works well! Runs just as before (With a very minimal amount of lag that I don't know if I should blame it on the computer or the connection). It still takes a looooong time to start up, but that's about it.

BTW : Is your virtual page file re-enabled like i said <link=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/538.338195.13680736>here ? Without it your system should become sluggish like a snail on sedatives.

It's gonna sound dumb but I'm not exactly sure how to do this...

 

[JesterRaiin]

It works well! Runs just as before (With a very minimal amount of lag that I don't know if I should blame it on the computer or the connection). It still takes a looooong time to start up, but that's about it.

No BSODs and/or strange warnings whatsoever ?

BTW : Is your virtual page file re-enabled like i said <link=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/538.338195.13680736>here ? Without it your system should become sluggish like a snail on sedatives.

It's gonna sound dumb but I'm not exactly sure how to do this...

No problem.

Let's see...
I'm surrounded by Linux machines now, so i can't provide screenshots. I will try at home...
Damn, i forgot : Polish version. :|

Let's see...
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-the-size-of-virtual-memory
Steps 1-5 will do it.

Also...
Here be screens, arrrrrr !
http://www.geeksinphoenix.com/blog/post/2010/10/26/Managing-Virtual-Memory-Pagefile-in-Windows-7.aspx
Disregard last step from this advice (i mean "Clear the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives check box.") - do the opposite. CHECK IT.

That's it.

 

[Beautiful End]

Snip~

Did that. Running some tests.

It still takes about 5 minutes, more or less to start. It runs considerably faster...but the lag is still there. It's more like lag spikes. For example, right now, I tried to look for a random website on my Favorites folder and it took it around 30 seconds to react. When it lags, the whole computer locks down, i.e., it's not just my browser. For the most part, it is faster.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Go t it.

- Try to enable akamai in msconfig.
- Do a full antivirus check.
- Download <link=http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner>CCleaner and run it. Go to REGISTRY section and select SCAN FOR ISSUES. Select FIX after scanning.

There are more powerful and better tools, but they are also intrusive and they can mess with a system, so i would like to stay away from them at least for now...

How about those Blue Screens of Death ?

 

[Beautiful End]

No BSOD so far. So that's good.

I downloaded that and ran some tests. STILL takes a while to start up, but it runs well once its done with that (Like 15 min. later).

The first time I did the scan, it fixed like 500 things. I turned it off, went to sleep and checked it today. After the 15 minutes, I decided to scan it today. This is what I got:

<link=http://i43.tinypic.com/msc84g.png>Le pic

I have no idea what it means but it only fixed like 19 things this time around.

I guess the main problem now is that it still takes a while to start up and the rare lag spikes.

I realize it's hard to diagnose my computer from afar, so if you feel there's nothing else you can do, that's fine. This has helped a lot. D:

 

[JesterRaiin]

STILL takes a while to start up, but it runs well once its done with that (Like 15 min. later).

Interesting.

- Disable Updater (Acer) service
- Disable GReg service

Restart. Check. Then...
- Disable Dropbox service
- Disable LightScribe
- Disable Rainmeter

Restart. Check. Then...
- Try to disable Antivirus software (but please, stay away from the Internet while trying that)

Check.

 

[Beautiful End]

STILL takes a while to start up, but it runs well once its done with that (Like 15 min. later).

Interesting.

- Disable Updater (Acer) service
- Disable GReg service

Restart. Check. Then...
- Disable Dropbox service
- Disable LightScribe
- Disable Rainmeter

Restart. Check. Then...
- Try to disable Antivirus software (but please, stay away from the Internet while trying that)

Check.

-After disabling Acer and GReg: Same ol' slow computer.
-After disabling Dropbox, LightScribe and Rainmeter: Slightly faster; it didn't freeze, at least.
-After disabling my antivirus: Same as above. Takes AGES to start up but once it does, it rarely freezes. I didn't check my browser so I don't know if that was improved.

Question, though. The CCleaner, would it replace my current antivirus? I heard somewhere that if you have two antivirus running at the same time, they tend to butt heads and slow the computer down.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Check.

-After disabling Acer and GReg: Same ol' slow computer.
-After disabling Dropbox, LightScribe and Rainmeter: Slightly faster; it didn't freeze, at least.
-After disabling my antivirus: Same as above. Takes AGES to start up but once it does, it rarely freezes. I didn't check my browser so I don't know if that was improved.

Question, though. The CCleaner, would it replace my current antivirus? I heard somewhere that if you have two antivirus running at the same time, they tend to butt heads and slow the computer down.

Dropbox and Rainmeter may connect with the internet before system starts.
How's your Internet connection ? Is it fast and solid ?
Can you check how your computer behaves when connected to the Internet via cable ?

CCLeaner isn't antivirus. It's a tool that does some, well, cleaning. It isn't working in the background, it just does its job when you run it.

 

[Beautiful End]

Check.

-After disabling Acer and GReg: Same ol' slow computer.
-After disabling Dropbox, LightScribe and Rainmeter: Slightly faster; it didn't freeze, at least.
-After disabling my antivirus: Same as above. Takes AGES to start up but once it does, it rarely freezes. I didn't check my browser so I don't know if that was improved.

Question, though. The CCleaner, would it replace my current antivirus? I heard somewhere that if you have two antivirus running at the same time, they tend to butt heads and slow the computer down.

Dropbox and Rainmeter may connect with the internet before system starts.
How's your Internet connection ? Is it fast and solid ?
Can you check how your computer behaves when connected to the Internet via cable ?

CCLeaner isn't antivirus. It's a tool that does some, well, cleaning. It isn't working in the background, it just does its job when you run it.

Dropbox DOES connect to the internet. You probably already know this but its meant to be always connected so that I can drag and drop files there from my computer and my peers can see it anytime anywhere from their computer. Rainmeter...I guess it's connected too.
My connection is pretty good. I mean, it's not lighting fast, but it's pretty solid. Around 5 sec. max. to load a page. And that's a rare occurrence. As far as running a test with the cable plugged in, it might not happen anytime soon. I'm not the only one using the internet at home; either my family is using it or we have a 360/PS3 that needs it and well, in order to run a full test, it might have to happen until Friday, maybe.

I just noticed the computer itself is the one lagging, not the browser. Even when I'm not using the internet, it lags. When I'm chatting with someone via MSN, the computer lags but there has been times where I keep typing and sending messages and they receive them, even when my computer is seemingly frozen and the messages are obviously not being displayed on my screen. I dunno, that's my point of view, though that might be worth mutt because I don't know what's causing the problem. 8D

Seriously, if you feel at any point that you can't do much for me anymore, that's alright. At least I can say we tried before taking it to someone who can actually diagnose my computer physically...if that makes sense. I just know it's hard to diagnose something via online/without looking at it. Believe me, people do it to me at work almost everyday.

 

[JesterRaiin]

It isn't working in the background, it just does its job when you run it.

Dropbox DOES connect to the internet. You probably already know this but its meant to be always connected so that I can drag and drop files there from my computer and my peers can see it anytime anywhere from their computer. Rainmeter...I guess it's connected too.

The purpose of this test was to rule out those apps as possible culprits.
It's possible that some app is swapping big amounts of data in the background.
For example synchronization of data consisting of 1000s of small files can change computer into sluggish crap.

Seriously, if you feel at any point that you can't do much for me anymore, that's alright. At least I can say we tried before taking it to someone who can actually diagnose my computer physically...if that makes sense. I just know it's hard to diagnose something via online/without looking at it. Believe me, people do it to me at work almost everyday.

Chill. My country signed ACTA - who knows, maybe this is one of my last activities in the Internet.

We're (i guess) beyond the point of safe approach. Are you ready for some intrusive tests that MAY (there's low probability) to harm your system ? You won't lose your data, but there's possibility that you have rootkits/malware that infected some vital files and they may be destroyed in the process of fixing things.
Yep, paradox but sometimes things are like that.

 

[Beautiful End]

It isn't working in the background, it just does its job when you run it.

Dropbox DOES connect to the internet. You probably already know this but its meant to be always connected so that I can drag and drop files there from my computer and my peers can see it anytime anywhere from their computer. Rainmeter...I guess it's connected too.

The purpose of this test was to rule out those apps as possible culprits.
It's possible that some app is swapping big amounts of data in the background.
For example synchronization of data consisting of 1000s of small files can change computer into sluggish crap.

Seriously, if you feel at any point that you can't do much for me anymore, that's alright. At least I can say we tried before taking it to someone who can actually diagnose my computer physically...if that makes sense. I just know it's hard to diagnose something via online/without looking at it. Believe me, people do it to me at work almost everyday.

Chill. My country signed ACTA - who knows, maybe this is one of my last activities in the Internet.

We're (i guess) beyond the point of safe approach. Are you ready for some intrusive tests that MAY (there's low probability) to harm your system ? You won't lose your data, but there's possibility that you have rootkits/malware that infected some vital files and they may be destroyed in the process of fixing things.
Yep, paradox but sometimes things are like that.

Uhh...I don't think I am ready. D: If I screw up the system, I know it can be repaired but the problem is I wouldn't know how. Even if you guide me through it, I use my computer on a daily basis now that classes have started. I...don't think I can afford that at the time... :/

 

[JesterRaiin]

We're (i guess) beyond the point of safe approach. Are you ready for some intrusive tests that MAY (there's low probability) to harm your system ? You won't lose your data, but there's possibility that you have rootkits/malware that infected some vital files and they may be destroyed in the process of fixing things.
Yep, paradox but sometimes things are like that.

Uhh...I don't think I am ready. D: If I screw up the system, I know it can be repaired but the problem is I wouldn't know how. Even if you guide me through it, I use my computer on a daily basis now that classes have started. I...don't think I can afford that at the time... :/

C'mon where's your spirit of adventure ?

Just joking. I understand...

You know what ? You may do one thing more...
- Go here : http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=1889
- Download 32-bit CD No codecs ISO
- Burn it to the CD
- Boot your computer from this CD
- Check how your system behaves (it should be much slower, but we're chasing those lags)

Lags will mean one thing - something is wrong with hardware.
No lags - system.