Windows 10 is one of Microsoft’s best operating systems, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any bugs or bugs in it. In fact, it’s not uncommon for you to run into bigger problems, like a big blue screen (of death). What many users don’t know is that this problem can be caused by various causes which are usually listed on the blue screen which is also known as BSOD. In this post, we will specifically focus on the DRIVER IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error.
It is possible that at some point while using your Windows 10 computer the screen will suddenly appear blue, along with certain errors, QR codes, and percentages which will cause the computer to restart after 100% completion. This is known as the blue screen of death or BSOD. This screen may appear for various reasons, but in this case we will focus on fixing the problem that causes the DRIVER IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error, usually caused by a problem between the driver and the hardware.
Why IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL DRIVER Error occurs?
This error usually occurs when one or more controllers are having trouble communicating with your computer hardware. This makes it difficult to identify the root cause of the problem to solve it and prevents the blue screen from reappearing with the above error.
Since there is no one-size-fits-all solution to all these problems, below we would like to show you some possible methods or workarounds that can avoid the blue screen of death with DRIVER IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error:
How to Fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL DRIVER Error?
Method 1: Update BIOS and all drivers
The first solution, of course, is to check the status of our drivers, i.e. to see if they have been properly updated. To do this, we can perform this check by the device manager. Alternatively, you can update it through the same Windows 10 device manager or visit the Drivers tab on the official website of your hardware or computer manufacturer.
Keep in mind that apart from updating drivers, you will also need specific drivers for your device. Not all drivers are suitable for every computer, and while there are some common ones, you should always install the driver specified by the manufacturer.
On the other hand, you should also update your computer’s BIOS as this may also be the cause of the blue screen DRIVER IRQL_LESS_OR_NOT_EQUA L do: Step by step guide to update BIOS or UEFI on your Windows 10 computer.
Recommend: How to update Nvidia drivers in Windows 10
Method 2: Fix irql_not_less_or_equal Using Event Viewer
The above method may not fix the problem and the blue screen with the message DRIVER IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL keeps appearing from time to time. In this case, you need to open Event Viewer, which you can open by searching in Windows 10.
Once the tool opens, you’ll see a “Summary of Administrative Events” section, which lists the different types of errors sorted by severity and period of occurrence of the error. This search can be biased and you may have to repeat it several times (each time a blue screen appears) to identify the device causing the error.
Once the device causing the problem is identified, you will need to access Windows 10 Device Manager, and after identifying the device in this window, you will need to uninstall the currently installed driver.
After uninstalling, go to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of the driver. Once downloaded, proceed with the installation and restart your computer once it is done. This will fix the issue causing the blue screen of death with the DRIVER IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error.
Method 3: Remove overclocking tool
Many users use overclocking tools or programs to improve the performance of their computers. By default, manufacturers configure security limitations so that your computer hardware doesn’t crash or cause errors. However, there are many users who use overclocking tools to get rid of this security limitation and maximize hardware capacity.
This can cause Windows 10 to display a blue screen of death as a security measure as a security measure to prevent permanent damage to your computer hardware. To avoid this problem, you should completely remove your overclocking program and return to the default settings of your computer and Windows 10 operating system.
Method 4: Reinstall drivers for audio, network, or other devices
As already mentioned, it is important to have appropriate drivers for the proper functioning of our device and therefore our operating system. By default, Windows 10 updates drivers for your hardware and devices in general. In other words, it often installs generic drivers instead of specific drivers developed by the device or hardware manufacturer.
This conflict is much more pronounced with the audio and network drivers. To solve this problem, as we mentioned earlier, we just need to uninstall the latest version of the driver and install the new driver downloaded from the official website of the audio card and network card manufacturer. Remember, you will need to download the card driver or hardware model specific to your computer.
Once downloaded, you need to install it and restart your computer. This will fix the problem with the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL DRIVER.
Method 5: Scan your computer for viruses or malware
If none of the steps above help, you can also perform an in-depth analysis of your operating system at start-up to find any malware or software causing the DRIVER IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL blue screen error. Remove any such software that may be present in your operating system.
Once removed, restart your computer to see if the problem described here occurs again.
Method 6: Restore the computer to factory condition
If you haven’t been able to get any of the methods shown previously to work for you, the final option is to factory reset our Windows 10 operating system without losing any files on our hard drive. This will remove all problems and drivers installed on your computer and reinstall the factory ones. If you don’t know how to do it, check out the link below: Step-by-Step Guide to Reset Your Windows 10 Computer without Losing Files and Fixing Problems.
This will remove all drivers that might be causing the death screen issue with the DRIVER IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, the blue screen issue is the worst for any Windows 10 user but in most cases you have nothing to worry about as there is an easy solution unless the hardware is physically damaged. In this case, unfortunately, the only solution is to replace the device in question with a new one.
