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"Stop 0x0000000A Irql_Not_Less_or_Equal" Error Message During Windows XP Upgrade

Article ID: 311564 - View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q311564

SYMPTOMS

When you are upgrading your computer from Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) to Windows XP, you may receive the following error message:

Stop 0x0000000A irql_not_less_or_equal

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CAUSE

This behavior can occur if there is incompatible hardware or an incompatible device driver on your computer.

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RESOLUTION

If you receive this error message, follow these steps to resolve the issue:

Restart the computer and see if you receive an option to revert back to a previous operating system. Choose this option if it is displayed. If you do not receive the option to revert to a previous operating system, skip to step 3.
When your computer starts Windows 98 or Windows Me, uninstall any antivirus software and boot manager software (such as Roxio GoBack), and then "clean boot" your computer by using the information in one of the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:
267288
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/267288/EN-US/ )
How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows Millennium Edition
192926
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/192926/EN-US/ )
How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98
After your computer starts in the "clean boot" environment, try to upgrade to Windows XP again. If the upgrade procedure does not work and you receive the same error message, the problem may be a hardware problem.
Remove any unnecessary hardware from the computer. Disconnect any Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices and printers, and remove the network adapter, sound card, serial adapters, and so on.
If you continue to receive this error message, you may need to flash the BIOS on the computer's motherboard. Refer to the manufacturer of your computer or the Web site for the motherboard for information about how to do this.

NOTE: If you need assistance with steps 3 or 4, contact your hardware manufacturer. Note that making hardware or BIOS changes to your computer may invalidate your warranty. If you do not want to make hardware changes to your computer, you can take your computer to a repair center.

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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about troubleshooting Windows XP Setup problems, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310064

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310064/EN-US/ )

HOW TO: Troubleshoot Windows XP Setup Problems When You Upgrade from Windows 98 or Windows Me

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

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