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0x0000000ABSODCritical

0x0000000A — IRQL not Less or Equal | Blue Screen Fix Guide

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Windows 10Windows 11

What Does 0x0000000A Mean?

A kernel-mode process or driver attempted to access a memory address to which it did not have permission at a raised IRQL.

Real-World Causes

  1. 1Faulty or incompatible device driver
  2. 2Corrupted system files
  3. 3Hardware failure (RAM, motherboard)
  4. 4Recently installed incompatible software

Symptoms

  • ⚠Blue screen with stop code IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
  • ⚠System reboots unexpectedly
  • ⚠Possible data loss from unsaved work

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Restart your computer
  2. 2Update or roll back recently installed drivers
  3. 3Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
  4. 4Check Windows Update for driver updates

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Analyze crash dump with WinDbg
  2. 2Run Driver Verifier to isolate faulty driver
  3. 3Use Safe Mode to uninstall problematic drivers
  4. 4Check Event Viewer for related errors

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL?
A kernel-mode process or driver attempted to access a memory address to which it did not have permission at a raised IRQL.
Can I fix IRQL not Less or Equal myself?
In many cases yes. Start with basic troubleshooting like restarting, updating drivers, and running System File Checker. If the issue persists, advanced analysis of crash dumps may be needed.

Related Error Codes

0x000000D1Driver IRQL not Less or Equal0x0000007ESystem Thread Exception not Handled

About the Author

Windows Troubleshooting Team

Verified against official Microsoft documentation and real-world diagnostic data. Error behavior confirmed across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.