Multiple IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Question

[Windows 11]

I've been recently dealing with my PC crashing multiple times. In each time, it freezes, then displays a black screen. When looking on Event Viewer, they're all kernel 41 errors, related to IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. Upon analyzing the dump files, it's inconclusive.

I don't know how to proceed.

Dump files of the recent crashes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10hBx4Yp3412OEF23nDuf-SzHOW0869or

Answer 1

Your minidump files just indicate generic errors, nothing specific as the cause of the crashes.

To try to force Windows to show any faulting drivers... etc., the best option would be to turn on Driver Verifier, let your PC crash 3 times, then you must turn off Driver Verifier, and finally, upload any newly created minidump files

Before you run Driver Verifier, please create a new System Restore Point

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4377096/(article)-driver-verifier-tracking-down-a-mis-beha?forum=windows-windows_10-update&referrer=answers

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Note, if you have any difficulty getting into Windows with Driver Verifier enabled:

Start your PC, just as Windows attempts to load (spinning dots), press and hold Power Button for 5 - 10 seconds to perform a Hard Shut Down

Do this twice

On the third start Windows will boot into the Recovery Environment and from there you can access System Repair, Safe Mode, Command Prompt... etc.

Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - Startup Settings and click Restart

Upon restart, press 4 to enter Safe Mode

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these two commands, then restart your PC.

verifier /reset

verifier /bootmode resetonbootfail

Answer 2

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (bug check 0xA) indicates that kernel-mode code accessed invalid memory at an interrupt request level that does not permit that access. Common causes include faulty or misbehaving drivers, defective RAM, or other hardware issues.

Since the dump analysis was inconclusive, use a structured approach based on the documented guidance for this bug check and for blue screen errors:

1. Collect more information from the crash
   • Use WinDbg to open one of the kernel-mode dump files.
   • Start WinDbg and open the dump with:

          windbg -z <DumpFileName>
     

   • Run the automatic analysis:

          !analyze -v
     

   • Then display the bug check data:

          .bugcheck
     

   • Use a stack backtrace to see which driver or module was active:

          k
     

   • If a specific driver name appears in the analysis or on the blue screen, that driver is the primary suspect and should be updated, rolled back, or temporarily removed.
2. Check Event Viewer around the crash time
   • Open Event Viewer and review Windows Logs → System.
   • Look for critical errors that occur at the same time as the Kernel‑Power 41 entries.
   • Pay particular attention to entries that reference a specific driver, device, or subsystem; these can help identify the faulty component.
3. Verify system memory (RAM)
   • Run Windows Memory Diagnostic and let it complete.
   • After the test, open Event Viewer and navigate to: Event Viewer (Local) → Application and Services Logs → Microsoft → Windows → MemoryDiagnostics-Results → Debug.
   • Check the results; Event ID 2001 indicates that no memory errors were detected.
   • If memory errors are reported, reseat or replace the RAM modules.
4. Use Driver Verifier for driver issues
   • Run verifier from an elevated command prompt to start Driver Verifier Manager.
   • Configure it to verify a limited set of non‑Microsoft drivers (to reduce overhead and avoid unnecessary instability).
   • Let the system run until it reproduces a crash; then re‑analyze the new dump with !analyze -v and a stack trace (k) to see which driver Verifier flagged.
   • Update, roll back, or remove the offending driver.
5. General BSOD troubleshooting
   • Ensure all Windows updates are installed.
   • Update chipset, storage, graphics, and network drivers from the hardware vendor.
   • Remove or disable recently added hardware or software that coincides with the start of the crashes.

If, after these steps, the dumps still do not clearly identify a driver and memory tests are clean, the remaining suspects are typically motherboard, CPU, or other hardware components, and further hardware diagnostics would be required.

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References:

• Troubleshooting Windows unexpected restarts and stop code errors
• How to fix Error 0xA: IRQL_not_less_or_equal
• Analyze a kernel-mode dump file by using WinDbg
• User-mode dump files
• Bug check 0xA: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL