Blue Screen Error In Xp

[mzu]

I have been beginning to see this nasty blue screen way too much ... i genereally go to bed about midnight and leave running kazaa, emule, my ftp server and sometimes soulseek. When i get up at 8.30 and switch on my monitor, i get this nasty blue screen wth the following message ...

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Now this doesnt happen EVERY day, but i would say it happens about 3 times a week. The strange thing is that i have never got this error whilst i'm on the pc, it only ever happens when i'm not around i.e. in bed or at work. I found this information on the meaning of the error

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL : this is a real painin the rear error because it is such a wide ranging general error. it occurs when two devices try to write to the same memory space(reminiscent of win 98's gpf). however the difference is this is a sign of hardware error not software. the driver update is always a good start.now check your sys info and see how many devices are using one irq - chances are you will find six or seven devices using one irq. dynamic irq's are great but this is one setback. of those using the irq you must tie down which one it is. your description of intermittent failure sounds to me to be a video issue. if you are using nvidia or asus/nvidia this could be your culprit. if driver updating doesn't work try pulling two of the offending (irq sharers) devices out-reboot shut down replace them and see if xp re assigns a more passive irq channel. chris

I dont seem to have conflicting irq's, i have checked. If anybody can shed some light on this, and how i can prevent it, i wil be very greatful.

cheers

[enkabe]

Try testing your RAM. With Memtest (http://www.memtest86.com/) Sofar I've heard it has mostly to do with "bad" RAM. (Not always unfortunatly)

Info from microsoft knowledge base (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810093)

More info and Stop messages (http://http://www.aumha.org/kbestop.php#0x0a)

Hope it helps.

[4play]

the infamous bsod or blue screen of death:angry:

you are using windows such things are unavoidable. and it is generally down to bad memory management by the windows kernal.

kill off any screen savers any power management setings you have. this may be the cause of it only crashing when you leave ir on it's own for too long. ;)

[hevenom635]

You could try reloading windows. I see a lot of it where I work and once in a blew moon a reload will work. :ph34r:

[4play]

reloads can sometimes fix problems you cause, but im afraid this problem is built into windows and it's called the kernal. :D

the win xp kernal is normally pretty good. but it's very rigid with what gets alocated memory making it slow but it means less bsod.

win 9x kernals where looser with memory management meaning they generally ran faster but more bsod's

if you really hate these blue screens try here (http://toastytech.com/files/bsod.html) and you will be able to change the color :lol:

[VB]

Update all your drivers.

[mzu]

thanks guys, i'll check out all of your suggestions. I'll let you know how i get on.

sincere thanks