DRIVER_IRQL error... help!!

[brandon]

the following is an error that i get quite often and my
computer crashes as a result of it... if you have any idea
of what the problem may be please help!

***STOP: 0x000000D1(0x0000009C, 0x00000002, 0x00000000,
0xBFEAEC10) DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

***Address BFEAEC10 base at BFEA4000, DateStamp 3eaf051d -
NDIS.sys

Beginning dump of physical memory.


i'm pulling my hair out over this. please help

 

[Chris Knapp]

These are usually caused by a piece of hardware that either is failing or
has a bad driver.

I used to get these alot with my previous videocard after about 2 hours of
intense 3d work. It turned out to be a heat issue. The card was overheating
and dying. Rebooting would cool it off just enough to last another hour or 2
before it would die again. Eventually I added a case fan to help.

Obviously this may not be your problem but it may give you some ideas. Check
your event logs to see if they have any more detailed info. Also make sure
that all your hardware has the latest drivers. Especially sound & video
cards.

 

[Bryan Martin]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293077

 

[brandon]

surely there must be an easier way to check that all my
stuff is compatible.. the weird thing is.. my computer
worked fine for 2 years and now ive had to replace the
hard drive, the power supply and im still getting this
damn error.. all this crap happened in the last month or 2

 

[brandon]

it indicates that the problem is with the NDIS.sys file
which i think is something to do with my network card..
the cards been working fine for 2 years and all of a
sudden its drivers arent good anymore? damn, this is so
frustrating...

 

[poetb]

When you find out let me know please, my systems keeps
rebooting.

 

[brandon]

well i switched the RAM modules on the mobo and then i
reloaded the same driver for the network card. the
NDIS.sys file is for the network card apparently. my
computer has been fine since then.. and that was about 2
days ago... ill post again in a few days to let ya know
if its still working or not!

 

[Chris Knapp]

When random pieces of hardware start flaking out, Its usually either RAM
(which you've mentioned you re-ordered) or the mobo itself. Usually they fry
out due to heat. Its rarely a sudden death, though. Its usually slow &
painful as 1 component after another fails randomly.

Good luck.

 

[brandon]

since the NDIS.sys file is a networking file do you think
it might help to buy another NIC with different drivers
and see if maybe that helps? or do you think its the
mobo?

 

[Chris Knapp]

Really tough to say Brandon. Since you've had problems with other bits of
hardware, I would be inclined to say its the mobo or RAM. However a new NIC
is very cheap and easier to come by than a mobo & RAM. So it might be more
financially reasonable to replace the NIC first. And if the NIC isn't the
problem, at least you'll have a spare.

Keep in mind that 2 devices could be bad too. That's usually the most
painful to troubleshoot.

 

[brandon]

alright.. well i finally noticed that my AGP graphics card
and my PCI network card were sharing the same IRQ so i
switched that and then reloaded the device. hopefully
this will work. i downloaded a program from memtest86.org
to test my RAM and it passed all 7 tests... so i guess
we'll see how this new IRQ works out.. maybe that was the
problem.. i hope.