How to fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL with ntoskrnl.exe identified as source?

Question

How to fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL with ntoskrnl.exe identified as source?

Zoë Herman 20

I'm having a lot of BSOD issues. I've repaired my C drive, but have yet to repair my EFI system partition, which is shown as needing a full repair on settings. I also had my computer scan for corrupted system files, which it found and repaired. I've gotten to the point where I can't even run a simple game and stream Netflix at the same time without some BSOD issue happening, although it started with playing League of Legends.

The above BSOD was the most recent issue. I ran the Windows Memory Diagnostic, which showed that my computer has a memory problem. How do I know if my RAM is the cause? I have two in positions 2 and 4, so how do I isolate which one is the issue if its only one?

Some other BSODs I've seen in the past few days, although I didn't catch what failed specifically: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA & SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

I have 5 minidumps from the past two weeks, although I don't know how to save them here.

Please help! I don't have a lot of experience with computers and this is my own PC build.

Zoë Herman 20 Reputation points

2026-07-23T05:55:38.2066667+00:00

Hi Carl,

Here are the minidump files: https://1drv.ms/u/c/ff0165218a8c9d45/IQBF7_CtDsn2Tqdjqc25wS2aAU8PeuBsilWZyki0AU2Ag2g?e=k4r7z9

Apologies for the late reply. I didn't know that someone had replied to my question.

Answer accepted by question author

Carl-L 20,040 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Zoë Herman,

Thanks for being patient.

The dump file highly strengthens the argument that your RAM might be the cause, especially the first one point out the BSOD come from faulty hardware.

In this case, the best way to pinpoint which one is faulty is to eject them and test them in the 2 slots that you use.

1 of the RAM fails in both slots > That RAM is probably the issue.
Both RAMs fail in a slot but works fine in the other. > The issue is with the slots.
Both RAM works fine alone but not work together. > Compatibility with BIOS or mixed modules issues.
Both RAM fails on both slots > The motherboard needs to be rechecked. Its memory controller might have serious issue.

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Zoë Herman 20 Reputation points

2026-07-25T04:41:19.7166667+00:00

Hi Carl,

I removed both RAM sticks from slots 2 & 4. I took RAM 1 and inserted it in slot 2, left slot 4 empty, then powered on my computer and ran Windows Memory Diagnostic, which detected a hardware problem. I did the same for RAM 2 in slot 2, RAM 1 in slot 4, and RAM 2 in slot 4, ensuring that only one RAM stick was seated in the motherboard with each diagnostic test. For all 4 tests, Windows Memory Diagnostic detected hardware issues. Is this the proper way to test the RAM sticks? If so, would this suggest that the motherboard is the issue, as you pointed out on bullet 4? How do I check the motherboard and/or its memory controller?

Thank you for all your help!
Zoë Herman 20 Reputation points

2026-07-25T05:55:07.3533333+00:00

Hi Carl,

Slight update: I learned my RAM speed might be too high for my CPU, so I left RAM stick 2 in slot 4, went into BIOS and disabled EXPO, then saved and reran the Windows Memory Diagnostic, which came back with no errors! I then added RAM stick 1 back into slot 2 along with RAM 2 in slot 4 and ran the Windows Memory Diagnostic again, which also came back with no errors. I hope this resolved my issue but we will see.
Carl-L 20,040 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-07-25T13:36:24.79+00:00

Hello Zoë Herman,

Thanks for letting me know.

Please keep me updated if there are any problem.

1 additional answer

Your answer

Zoë Herman 20 Reputation points

2026-07-23T05:55:38.2066667+00:00

Hi Carl,

Here are the minidump files: https://1drv.ms/u/c/ff0165218a8c9d45/IQBF7_CtDsn2Tqdjqc25wS2aAU8PeuBsilWZyki0AU2Ag2g?e=k4r7z9

Apologies for the late reply. I didn't know that someone had replied to my question.
Zoë Herman 20 Reputation points

2026-07-25T04:41:19.7166667+00:00

Hi Carl,

I removed both RAM sticks from slots 2 & 4. I took RAM 1 and inserted it in slot 2, left slot 4 empty, then powered on my computer and ran Windows Memory Diagnostic, which detected a hardware problem. I did the same for RAM 2 in slot 2, RAM 1 in slot 4, and RAM 2 in slot 4, ensuring that only one RAM stick was seated in the motherboard with each diagnostic test. For all 4 tests, Windows Memory Diagnostic detected hardware issues. Is this the proper way to test the RAM sticks? If so, would this suggest that the motherboard is the issue, as you pointed out on bullet 4? How do I check the motherboard and/or its memory controller?

Thank you for all your help!
Zoë Herman 20 Reputation points

2026-07-25T05:55:07.3533333+00:00

Hi Carl,

Slight update: I learned my RAM speed might be too high for my CPU, so I left RAM stick 2 in slot 4, went into BIOS and disabled EXPO, then saved and reran the Windows Memory Diagnostic, which came back with no errors! I then added RAM stick 1 back into slot 2 along with RAM 2 in slot 4 and ran the Windows Memory Diagnostic again, which also came back with no errors. I hope this resolved my issue but we will see.
Carl-L 20,040 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-07-25T13:36:24.79+00:00

Hello Zoë Herman,

Thanks for letting me know.

Please keep me updated if there are any problem.

Answer 1

Carl-L 20,040 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Zoë Herman,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

Before we proceed further, can you please upload the minidump files to your OneDrive and share it here?

Regarding the RAM, the most straight forward way to test which one might having an issue is to remove them physically one by one and test to see if anything change.

I'm waiting for your reply.

Zoë Herman 20 Reputation points

2026-07-23T05:55:59.2266667+00:00

Hi Carl,

Here are the minidump files: https://1drv.ms/u/c/ff0165218a8c9d45/IQBF7_CtDsn2Tqdjqc25wS2aAU8PeuBsilWZyki0AU2Ag2g?e=k4r7z9

Apologies for the late reply. I didn't know that someone had replied to my question.
Carl-L 20,040 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-07-23T14:01:39.19+00:00

Hello Zoë Herman,

Thanks for replying.

I'll see what I can do. I'll keep you updated.