This information may help. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311564

Tom Mayer

Russ Cox wrote:
> I have a Compaq Presario 7478 that I had given to a needy family.  It 
> was running Win XP and was running really slow when I checked it out.  
> Restored to the restore point I established when i gave it away in 
> January, but then couldn';t get a Start button, or taskbar or anything 
> but the desktop screen. Tried reloading XP over the existing 
> installation and got the Desktop icons back including Start.  But 
> couldn't install any software - missing some critical files. Ended up 
> clearing the disk with Killdisk (wrties 0's over the entire disk). 
> Then tried installing XP again.  Installation stops every time with a 
> message "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"  and Windows has shut down to protect 
> your computer.
> I was able to load Win 98 ok, and then a copy of Windows XP 
> Professional.  But when I again cleared the HD and tried to load XP, I 
> got the same message.  And I did try it with a different XP CD. What 
> can be the problem? The computer worked fine when I first gave it away.
>
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