How to fix Error 0xA: IRQL_not_less_or_equal

If a problematic driver is causing the error, updating the drivers on the Windows device might help:

1. On the Windows device having the issue, right-click on the Start menu and then select Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options.
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Windows Update Advanced options shortcut:

   Open Windows Update Advanced options

2. In the Windows Update > Advance options window that opens, make sure Receive updates for other Microsoft products is switched On.

3. Under Additional options, select Optional updates.

4. In the Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates window, select all optional updates and then select the Download and install button.

5. In the left-hand pane of the Settings app, select Windows Update .

6. In the Windows Update window, select the Check for updates button.

7. Once available updates populate, install all available updates.

8. After all updates are finished installing, restart the Windows device even if none of the updates required a restart.

Consult the Windows device manufacturer's site for any updated or additional drivers under the following circumstances:

• There were no updated drivers via Windows Update.

• Updating the drivers via Windows Update doesn't resolve the problem.

A Windows device's memory can be checked using the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool. To run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool:

1. On the Windows device having the issue, save all work and close out of all apps.

2. Right-click on the Start menu and then select Run.

   Tip:  Run can also be opened by selecting the Windows key + R on the keyboard.

3. In the Run windows that opens, next to Open:, enter in:
   
   mdsched
   
   and then select the OK button.

   Note: If the User Account Control window appears, enter a user name and password of an account that has administrator privileges on the Windows device, and then select the Yes button.

4. In the Windows Memory Diagnostic window that opens, select Restart now and check for problems (recommended).

5. The Windows device restarts. After the restart, the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool screen appears and the memory diagnostics start automatically. The memory test takes some time to complete.
   
   By default, Standard tests are run. Extended tests perform more thorough tests but takes longer to complete than Standard tests. To run more extended tests, for example if the Standard tests show no issues:

   1. While in the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool screen, select the F1 key on the keyboard.

   2. Under Test Mix:, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to change from Standard to Extended.

   3. To apply the settings and continue the memory test, select the F10 key on the keyboard.

6. Once the memory tests are complete, the Windows device restarts automatically and goes to the sign on screen.

7. Sign onto the Windows device. After signing in, a Windows Memory Diagnostic notification is displayed in the notification area by the time and date showing the results of the memory test. The notification might take a few minutes to display.

If a notification isn't displayed with the results of the memory test or the notification is missed or dismissed, the results can be viewed in Event Viewer. To view the results of the memory test in Event Viewer:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and then select Event Viewer.

2. In the Event Viewer window that opens, in the left-hand pane, navigate to Even Viewer (Local) > Application and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > MemoryDoagnostics-Results > Debug.

3. The results pane in the Event Viewer window shows the results of each memory test that has been run. Select any individual message to view the details of any individual memory test run.

   Tip:  Event ID 2001 means no memory errors were detected.

If a problematic driver is causing the error, updating the drivers on the Windows device might help:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options.
   
   Or
   
   Select the following Windows Update Advanced options shortcut:

   Open Windows Update Advanced options

2. In the Advance options window that opens, under Update options, make sure Receive updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows is switched On.

3. In the top left corner of the Advance options window, select the back arrow next to Settings.

4. In the Windows Update window, select the Check for updates button.

5. Once available updates populate, install all available updates.

6. If under the Check for updates button there's a View optional updates link:

   1. Select the View optional updates link.

   2. Select all optional updates.

   3. Select the Download and install button.

7. After all updates are finished installing, restart the Windows device even if none of the updates required a restart.

Consult the Windows device manufacturer's site for any updated or additional drivers under the following circumstances:

• There were no updated drivers via Windows Update.

• Updating the drivers via Windows Update doesn't resolve the problem.

A Windows device's memory can be checked using the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool. To run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool:

1. On the Windows device having the issue, save all work and close out of all apps.

2. Right-click on the Start menu and then select Run.

   Tip:  Run can also be opened by selecting the Windows key + R on the keyboard.

3. In the Run windows that opens, next to Open:, enter in:
   
   mdsched
   
   and then select the OK button.

   Note: If the User Account Control window appears, enter a user name and password of an account that has administrator privileges on the Windows device, and then select the Yes button.

4. In the Windows Memory Diagnostic window that opens, select Restart now and check for problems (recommended). 

5. The Windows device restarts. After the restart, the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool screen appears and the memory diagnostics start automatically. The memory test takes some time to complete.
   
   By default, Standard tests are run. Extended tests perform more thorough tests but takes longer to complete than Standard tests. To run more extended tests, for example if the Standard tests show no issues:

   1. While in the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool screen, select the F1 key on the keyboard.

   2. Under Test Mix:, change from Standard to Extended by using the arrow keys on the keyboard.

   3. To apply the settings and continue the memory test, select the F10 key on the keyboard.

6. Once the memory tests are complete, the Windows device restarts automatically and goes to the sign on screen.

7. Sign onto the Windows device. After signing in, a Windows Memory Diagnostic notification is displayed in the notification area by the time and date showing the results of the memory test. The notification might take a few minutes to display.

If a notification isn't displayed with the results of the memory test or the notification is missed or dismissed, the results can be viewed in Event Viewer. To view the results of the memory test in Event Viewer:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and then select Event Viewer.

2. In the Event Viewer window that opens, in the left-hand pane, navigate to Even Viewer (Local) > Application and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > MemoryDoagnostics-Results > Debug.

3. The results pane in the Event Viewer window shows the results of each memory test that has been run. Select any individual message to view the details of any individual memory test run.

   Tip:  Event ID 2001 means no memory errors were detected.​​​​​​​