IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL during setup

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ed Weatherup
  • Start date Start date
E

Ed Weatherup

Apologies in advance ...
I *know* this issue has been throughly aired in the past and I *know* it's
my fault for not backing up but ...

I'm trying to upgrade my Dell Dimension 8200 (bios A03) from Win2K to XP
Pro. Two thirds through Installing devices I get BSOD with
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

So far I have:
1. Removed the network card
2. Removed the ISDN card
3. Removed the Creative sound card
.... leaving only the NVidia graphics card.


I have also re-booted from the XP Setup CD, starting the upgrade in case
SetupXP was still trying to install drivers for cards that aren't there.

My plan next is:
1. Remove Nvidia graphics card with a PCI graphics card I happen to have and
try again..
2. Consider the *six* flash BIOS upgrades available from Dell
3. Panic!
4. Pinch one of the new Dells due to be delivered today, install my HDD as a
slave and copy my precious data (altho' this may come first)

Ideally I'd like XP up and running nicely but if anyone can give me a way of
getting Win2K booted again I'd be very grateful.

Any comments, advice, suggestions (and rightly deserved "it serves you right
..." :) welcome.

MTIA
 
Any comments, advice, suggestions (and rightly deserved "it serves you right
.." :) welcome.
Click to expand...

1) BIOS updates are separate from operating system updates. You should be
able to update the BIOS from Win2000 and when finished run setup for XP.

2) The error may or may not be related to the Nvidia card. If when online,
you type IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL into the search box of Help and Support -
the search results will display some related MS Knowledge Base articles.

3) There were a few generations of the Nvidia adapter (and a few others)
that caused setup problems. Folks that ran into this used a more generic
card to get XP installed. Once it's setup, they were able to return to the
Nvidia card and install XP drivers for it.
 
Sharon said:
1) BIOS updates are separate from operating system updates. You
should be able to update the BIOS from Win2000 and when finished run
setup for XP.
Click to expand...

Can I still boot Win2000 even though the PC is halfway through upgrading?
I'd *really* like to do this to make some precious data safe.
2) The error may or may not be related to the Nvidia card. If when
online, you type IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL into the search box of Help
and Support - the search results will display some related MS
Knowledge Base articles.

3) There were a few generations of the Nvidia adapter (and a few
others) that caused setup problems. Folks that ran into this used a
more generic card to get XP installed. Once it's setup, they were
able to return to the Nvidia card and install XP drivers for it.
Click to expand...

Many thanks indeed for your help.
 
Your kind of in a half baked state here.

One thing you can do, since W2k installs fine on this PC, re-install it to
the same drive but do not format the drive. (yes you will have a fudged
system)

Once you get a running system (albeit not a clean image) capture your files,
date and other interests to a network or other place of safety.

Once this is done, reformate the whole drive and start again with current
drivers or better hardware.
 
Paul said:
Your kind of in a half baked state here.
Click to expand...

I feared this might be the case - most of the MS docs referrred to
"uninstall drivers, anti-virus software etc" which is a bit of a challenge
considering the damn thing won't boot!
One thing you can do, since W2k installs fine on this PC, re-install
it to the same drive but do not format the drive. (yes you will have
a fudged system)

Once you get a running system (albeit not a clean image) capture your
files, date and other interests to a network or other place of safety.

Once this is done, reformate the whole drive and start again with
current drivers or better hardware.
Click to expand...

Many thanks.
 
Sharon said:
1) BIOS updates are separate from operating system updates. You
should be able to update the BIOS from Win2000 and when finished run
setup for XP.
Click to expand...

BIOS updates because, if I understand correctly, BIOS is also installed as a
device (has drivers) under NT/2K/XP - my last resort, I think. btw: Dell
BIOS updates seem to run from minimal DOS boot.

2) The error may or may not be related to the Nvidia card. If when
online, you type IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL into the search box of Help
and Support - the search results will display some related MS
Knowledge Base articles.
Click to expand...

I have looked - most that I see refer to unistalling device drivers ... bit
of a challenge when the PC aint running!
3) There were a few generations of the Nvidia adapter (and a few
others) that caused setup problems. Folks that ran into this used a
more generic card to get XP installed. Once it's setup, they were
able to return to the Nvidia card and install XP drivers for it.
Click to expand...

I'm pinning my faith on this .... oh for good old VGA text mode setup ....

I'm confused about the drivers though ... during install is SetupXP using
the Win2K drivers or it's own XP drivers? Or both?

Many thanks
 
It was the Microsoft intellipoint mouse ... I unplugged the mouse from the
USB port and the upgrade ran without problems ...

Apologies for top-post and thanks to all who helped.
 
It was the Microsoft intellipoint mouse ... I unplugged the mouse from the
USB port and the upgrade ran without problems ...

Apologies for top-post and thanks to all who helped.
Click to expand...

Last thing that I would have thought of, Ed. I use a USB trackball Explorer
and have never run into that problem. Good detective work on your part
though and am glad to hear that you have this resolved.
 
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