Error Message: "IRQL_NOT_LESS_THAN"

Fellow Computer Geeks...

I'm in desperate need of help and have exhausted most of my options. I purchased an Alienware Sentia Laptop in Mid-July, it arrived 30 days later. Upon arrival the computer crashed and subsequently crashed each and every day until October 2...that's when I sent it back to the Alienware Depot to have them look at it. Last Friday, October 22, if was finally returned to me. Yesterday it crashed three times with the exact same error message.

The message can be characterized by receiving a "blue screen of death" with the words "IRQL_NOT_LESS_THAN" in all caps. There is some additional information, but it is generalized and doesn't point to a specific cause of the crash. Furthermore, once I restart my computer, a Microsoft Error Reporting dialogue box pops up and tells me that my computer just "recovered from a serious error". After I choose to report the error and the information is finished transferring, Internet Explorer is launched to a specific webpage that further informs me that my computer crash was caused by a device driver but "the specific driver causing the problem could not be determined".

NOTE: The crash happens very sporadically...in other words, my computer could have no programs running with the screen saver active and all of a sudden it will crash. Or, I might be running internet explorer, or earthlink email, or Unreal Tournament 2004...it doesn't matter. The only thing that is consistent about this error is that it happens all the time.

I'm so frustrated I want to throw my laptop out the window. What is causing this problem? I love the laptop but don't want to deal with these problems. I'm ready to fix this myself if someone has insight into this issue.

Please help.

LaMi.

 

Re: Error Message (revised): "IRQL_NOT_LESS_THAN"

Guys and Gals,

Sorry about this...the error message actually says:

"IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"

Apologize for any confusion.

LaMi

 

Re: Error Message (revised): "IRQL_NOT_LESS_THAN"

You need the complete address parameters to diagnose and remedy this.

Don't know if this will help but have a read of THIS.

BTW, wouldn't this PC be under some sort of warranty?

 

Im having the same problem... Have you found a way past this yet??

 

I am experiencing the same, reported here (still unresolved):
http://www.tech-forums.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=280923#post280923

It is hardware/driver related as far as I can establish.
You actually may not require a program to be running, for example it may be your graphics card or driver for it, which in effect is not a program but is functioning.

Can someone suggest diagnostic software to determine hardware/driver faults and conflicts? PC manufacturers/repairers must use something?!?!