Hey everyone! I upgraded my PC last month, and since June started, I've been hit with random BSODs showing the error code 'IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL'. I've tried updating my drivers (I had one missing, but that didn't fix the issue), scanned the RAM (no hardware problems), and even dabbled with some console commands. Just an hour ago, it crashed again while I was idling with nothing major going on. I attempted using Bluescreenview, but I'm not sure how to interpret what it shows [link](https://imgur.com/a/FeNoyre). I also came across some info suggesting this could be related to unauthorized memory usage, but I'm at a loss for how to tackle this without wiping my system (I've heard that may help, but it seems like a risky move).
I've also got the dump files for the errors, which you can check out here [link](https://www.mediafire.com/file/o9udi2la0att8bx/BSOD_dmp.zip/file). Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
To get a solid grasp on your BSOD issues, we really want those dump files for proper analysis. These files are essentially logs of the crash events. If you can boot Windows normally or in Safe Mode, check for dump files in C:WindowsMinidump. If they’re there, copy the folder to your desktop, zip it up, and upload it to a file sharing site like MediaFire or Catbox.moe. More dump files lead to better analysis, so if you only found one or none, upload what you have and then set your system to create 'Small Memory Dumps' by following [this guide](https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5560-configure-windows-10-create-minidump-bsod.html). That way, you won't lose previous dumps as they won't overwrite. Let us know what you find!
If your BIOS menus seem stable (no weird glitches), the first step is to update your motherboard BIOS to the latest version (7B86vHN); you can find that [here](https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450-GAMING-PLUS-MAX/support). After updating, grab the latest AMD Chipset Drivers for your motherboard from [here](https://www.amd.com/en/support/downloads/drivers.html/chipsets/am4/b450.html). Make sure to only download the AMD Chipset Driver installer, as other downloads can sometimes create issues. Check if the crashes stop after these updates!
So, the BIOS is probably stable if it’s not freezing or glitching. But how can I tell for sure? Also, I’ve read somewhere that some recommend downgrading to earlier BIOS versions if they’re older—my current one is from 2020. Should I stick with the newest update, or might that cause problems? Sorry for probing, but I'm a bit anxious about this—I really can’t afford to mess up my PC!