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How to fix DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL on Windows 11 (again)

Fred Mega 0 Reputation points
2026-02-18T16:02:20.1133333+00:00

Hello,

system specs:

Ryzen 5 3600

Asus prime B450M-A

2x 16gb Gskil sniper X Ram

Saphire RX590 8gb GFX card

WD_BLACK SN750 500GB M.2 SSD

i seek a solution for the systematic crash mentioned in the title (again)

i already tryed all the fix sugestions done on the original post with this name, all the memory tests came back clean.

nevertheless, i updated the bios firmware for the motherboard and updated manufacurer firmware and drivers for the onboard components and the Gfx card, i formated the ssd and installed a fresh Windows 11 home, it was working great! untill the Windows update kicked in, (coincidence? IDK) begining the never ending cycle of crashes of DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL .

The only components i was not able to update the firmware was the RAM and the SSD because the manufacturer says on their website that windows does it on it's own.

this machine is unusable at the moment.

please help.

Thanks.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update
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  1. David-M 106.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-02-18T16:37:34.54+00:00

    Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

    Please see if your computer created minidump files.

    These files are in C:\Windows\Minidump.

    (If you don't have a Minidump folder, check if it is in the plural Minidumps.)

    Copy any files you have to your desktop and store them in a ZIP file. Then, upload the ZIP file to the cloud (OneDrive), choose to share it, and get the link.

    Then, post the link to the ZIP file here so I can have a look.

    I await your reply.

  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-18T16:02:40.8266667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To address the DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error on Windows 11, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

    1. Update Drivers: Ensure that all drivers are up to date, especially for your graphics card and network adapter. You mentioned updating the graphics card drivers, but also check for updates for other critical components.
    2. Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes, new updates can introduce issues. If the crashes started after a Windows update, consider rolling back the update or checking for any subsequent patches that might address the issue.
    3. Run Hardware Diagnostics: Since you've already performed memory tests, also check for any other hardware issues. Use the hardware diagnostics tools provided by your motherboard manufacturer to check for potential problems.
    4. Review Event Viewer: Check the Event Viewer for any critical errors or warnings that occurred around the time of the crashes. This can provide clues about what might be causing the issue.
    5. Disable Fast Startup: Sometimes, disabling Fast Startup can help resolve boot-related issues. You can do this through the Power Options in the Control Panel.
    6. Check for Conflicting Software: Ensure that there are no conflicting software or drivers that could be causing the crashes. This includes antivirus software that might interfere with system operations.
    7. Reinstall Windows: If all else fails, a clean installation of Windows can sometimes resolve persistent issues. Make sure to back up your data before proceeding with this step.
    8. Contact Manufacturer Support: If the issue persists after trying the above steps, consider reaching out to the support teams for your hardware components for further assistance.

    These steps should help you troubleshoot and potentially resolve the DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error on your system.

    References:

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