Hey everyone, I upgraded my PC about a month ago and since early June, I've been facing frequent Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) issues with the error code 'IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.' I've tried updating my drivers (even though one was missing, it didn't help), scanned my RAM (no hardware issues), and messed around with the PC console a bit. It crashed again recently, even while I wasn't doing anything intensive. I tried using Bluescreenview, but I'm not sure what it all means. I read that it might involve some unauthorized memory usage, but I'd really prefer not to reset everything just yet. Anyone have ideas on how to fix this without going that route? Here's a link to the DMP error files if that helps: [DMP files](https://www.mediafire.com/file/o9udi2la0att8bx/BSOD_dmp.zip/file)
3 Answers
You mentioned being paranoid about your PC. It's totally understandable! When it comes to stability, BIOS updates can be tricky. If your current BIOS is from 2020, sometimes going straight to the newest can solve issues, but it could also introduce new ones. Maybe check online for experiences with your specific motherboard after the latest BIOS update to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
Sounds like you really need those dump files to get to the bottom of it. They're basically crash logs for these BSODs. If you can boot into Windows (or even Safe Mode), check the C:WindowsMinidump folder for any dump files. Pack them into a zip and upload them somewhere like mediafire or catbox.moe since Reddit doesn't like linking to some file hosts. Multiple dump files are better for diagnosing problems like these, so if you have only one or none, follow this guide to set your system to create Small Memory Dumps instead. That way, you won't overwrite important files and can gather more information over time!
First off, if your BIOS settings seem stable (you're not seeing any freezes or glitches in the menus), it might be time to update your motherboard's BIOS to the latest version. You can find that on the MSI website for your motherboard model. After updating the BIOS, make sure to grab the latest AMD Chipset Drivers from the AMD site too. Just download the specific AMD Chipset Driver installer; some others can cause issues. After doing these, see if the BSODs still happen.
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