How To 

How To Fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error in Windows 8

How Do I Fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error in Windows 8?

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error in Windows 8 is displayed as a dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Just like other Blue Screen of Death errors, IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL errors arise from corrupt software installations, corrupt system files, incompatible or inappropriate device drivers and faulty hardware devices. IRQ are interrupt requests that are sent to the CPU via south and north bridges.

To fix this issue, administrator-level users can enable the advanced boot menu in Windows 8 and restart the computer in safe mode. After restarting in safe mode, admins can uninstall the problematic device driver or application. Problems can be narrowed down and detected by viewing the minidump file that is generated when a BSOD is displayed on the screen. To view the contents of a minidump file, we recommend an application called BlueScreenView, though you may wish to use another as preference dictates.

Note: BlueScreenView can be executed easily even when Windows 8 is running in safe mode.

As soon as the executable file of BlueScreenView application is initiated, it automatically detects and opens all the existing minidump files that the computer may have. Administrators can then view the contents of the most recent minidump file to find the problematic application or device driver, and can uninstall the program from the computer. In case a hardware device is found to be at the root of the issue, that device can be removed from the computer and replaced with the new one.

Another easier way of rectifying the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error in Windows 8 is by downloading and installing a powerful application named SlimCleaner. This application automatically detects the problematic software applications or device drivers. Using SlimCleaner is fairly straightforward, and the free version has a host of tools that will help you catch issues you might be having at the software level.

Your most likely route will be to manually uninstall the offending device driver or application, and for that you'll need to get into safe mode. To get there, you'll need to enable the legacy advanced boot menu.

How to Enable Legacy Advanced Boot Menu?

Go through this video to fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error:
[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlO1MnHgZlY"][/video]

To enable legacy advanced boot menu in Windows 8, instructions given below must be followed:
    ■Restart the Windows 8 computer.
    ■Enter into the BIOS setup and configure the system to boot from CD/DVD Drive.
    ■Save the modified settings in BIOS and reboot the computer.
    ■Insert Microsoft Windows 8 bootable installation DVD into the optical media drive (CD/DVD Drive).
    ■When prompted to Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, press any key to boot the computer from DVD support.
    ■On the displayed Windows Setup box, click Next.
    ■On the next page, click Repair your computer.
    ■On Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.
    ■On Troubleshoot screen, click Advanced options.
    ■On Advanced options screen, click Command Prompt.
    ■On the opened command line interface (CLI), type C: and hit Enter.
    ■On C: prompt, type BCDEDIT /SET {DEFAULT} BOOTMENUPOLICY LEGACY command, and press Enter to enable legacy advanced boot menu.

    28-enablelegacybootmenu_tha_us_1365152255.png


    ■Once the command executed successfully, type EXIT command to close the command line interface.
    ■Back on the Choose an option screen, click Continue to restart Windows 8 computer.
    ■Eject Windows 8 installation DVD from the optical media drive when done.

 
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