I did a quick Google on that error message and it looks like it can be any
number of things, from software to hardware problems.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmd_stp_hwpg.asp
(this is one long URL, so you may need to cut and paste)

http://www.tweaksforgeeks.com/IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.html

Since you can't swap memory, maybe try MemTest86 to see if it comes up with
any errors, though it could also come up with an error if the problem is
with the processor or chipset.  Still this would point more to a hardware
than a software problem, since MemTest86 runs from a bootable disk.

Prime95's torture test should bring up this error (or one of its own) in a
hurry, even under safe mode, if the problem is heat related, I would think.

You said it generates this message before the boot screen, but I'm not clear
which one you mean, since you seem to be able to get into safe mode.

John Sproule

----- Original Message -----
From: "Doyle Hirsch" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2005 11:40 PM
Subject: [PCBUILD] IRQL


> My sister's Dell 8250 running XP Home has stopped funtionning.. It
> bluescreens before the boot screen with the following error:
>
> IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
>
> It will boot into safe mode. So I uninstalled the video drivers but it
> made no difference. Either does trying system restore. She updated to
> Service Pack 2 a couple of months ago. But it was running fine until last
> week. She hasn't added any hardware. I removed Norton, but that made no
> difference. I thought it might be a RAM failure but I can't check it
> because this computer is using that damn Rambus RAM and of course I don't
> have any extra. Any ideas before a reinstall? I checked the Knowledge Base
> but it didn't clear up much.

           The NOSPIN Group is now accepting donations to help
          defer the costs of providing PCBUILD and our website.
           Visit http://freepctech.com to donate using PAYPAL