IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (0xA)
What is this error?
A kernel-mode process or driver attempted to access a memory address without permission. Usually caused by faulty or incompatible device drivers.
Common causes
- faulty device driver
- incompatible driver after Windows update
- overclocking instability
- antivirus kernel hooks
- corrupted RAM
How to fix it
- Identify faulting driver from minidump
- update or roll back the driver
- disable overclocking
- run memtest86
Too many steps? Crashless can diagnose this automatically — checks your drivers, temps, VRAM, and 400+ known error patterns.
Get free AI diagnosis Detailed analysis
Bug check 0x0000000A (IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL) indicates a kernel-mode process or driver attempted to access a memory address to which it did not have permission, or at a kernel IRQL that was too high. This is the most common BSOD. The faulting driver is usually identified in the minidump's stack trace. Common triggers include: recently installed or updated drivers (especially GPU, audio, or network), antivirus software with kernel hooks (Norton, Kaspersky, Bitdefender kernel modules), overclocking causing memory instability, and faulty RAM modules. Recommended fixes:
- Check minidump for faulting driver name,
- Update or rollback that specific driver,
- Disable any overclocking (CPU, RAM XMP),
- Run Windows Memory Diagnostic or memtest86,
- Temporarily disable antivirus to test.
When to seek help
If this error keeps happening after trying the fixes above, it may point to a deeper hardware or system issue. Consider professional help if:
- The crash occurs across multiple games or applications
- You see the same error after a clean Windows install
- Your PC is less than a year old (could be a warranty issue)
- You smell burning or hear unusual sounds from your PC
Or let Crashless do the deep analysis for you -- our AI checks drivers, temps, event logs, and 400+ known patterns automatically.
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