Big Problem with PC Laptop

I work at an office and one of my employees seems to be having a major issue with his laptop...

Whenever he logs onto his Windows "account" and the PC begins it's loading ritual, it displays an error message and then it quickly goes to a blue screen that says:

"A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"

Then, after giving suggestions as to what to do, it continues:

"Technical Information:

*** STOP: 0X000000D1 (0XE1E9D000, 0X00000002, 0X00000000, 0XAA754A60)"

I'm not too certain if the latter was important or pertinent, but since I don't understand it, I assumed it was.

The laptop is a Dell "Latitude D610" running XP and on an Intel Centrino. It apparently does not have a "Safe Mode" option, I have tried accessing it through hitting "F8," but it only gives me the regular mode as an option.

According to my fellow employee, nothing new had been installed or downloaded (voluntarily) to the PC.

The error message that comes before the aforementioned blue screen doesn't always pop up first, sometimes it goes straight to the blue screen.

It reads, "The instruction at "0x7c901e76" referenced memory at "0x00980000." The memory could not be 'read'."

Another error message that's similar comes before it, but the one I just copied always cuts it off before I can get a chance to fully read it.

It basically states the same thing, with different codes and the word "instruction" is replaced by something else that I couldn't catch.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as we are in some crucial times for our business.

Thank you.

 

Unless the computer has a virus that is removing/blocking features XP has a startup options screen.
I don't think you are "catching" it right to get the screen,
When you turn it on if you see a logo or post screen the instant it goes away start tapping F8
If you don't see a logo or post screen when it's turned on as soon as you push the power button start tapping F8
If/When you get the startup options use Last known good configuration.

 

How much ram does your laptop have and how many sticks of ram more importantly.

The ram will be easily accessible on the underside of the laptop. There is a screw holding a panel.

If you have 2 sticks of ram then remove one [google how to remove laptop ram, easy] and see if it boots successfully. If you get the same issue then replace the first stick and remove the other.

The more geeky and efficient way of proceeding is to use a Linux Live CD which if it boots would illiminate hw issues as a problem and focus on software.

However, with the error message that you are getting I think your problem is hw related and more specifically ram.

Good Luck

 

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "catching it right to get the screen," and I have tried hitting F8, as I've said before, in order to access the Safe Mode, but the only available option to choose from is the normal mode the PC is always in.

I have not tried to find the option for it's "Last known good configuration," however, and I will try that.

Could this be a problem with the Registry? I'm a little intimidated to look into that...

Though your assumption that it could be a virus is a very probable one.

 

If any HW fixes can't help you, take a look at this guide;

HOW TO: Debug Memory Dumps (Figure out what is causing a BSOD)