BSOD 8 (IRQL_NOT_DISPATCH_LEVEL): causes and diagnosis

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: IRQL_NOT_DISPATCH_LEVEL

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
ERROR_NOT_ENOUGH_MEMORY	Win32 error	Windows
KERN_NO_ACCESS	Kern return	Mac
ippStsLnNegArg	Intel Ipp Status	Any
ENOEXEC	errno	Any

Previous	Next
INVALID_SOFTWARE_INTERRUPT	IRQL_NOT_GREATER_OR_EQUAL

IRQL_NOT_DISPATCH_LEVEL

IRQL_NOT_DISPATCH_LEVEL is bug check 0x08. Microsoft lists it as very infrequent and does not provide a portable interpretation of its four parameters. The name identifies an IRQL-related invariant, but the reference does not state which parameter is the current IRQL, expected IRQL, or caller address.

Do not reuse the 0xA argument table

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL has a well-known parameter layout for an invalid or pageable address referenced at raised IRQL. Microsoft does not assign that layout to 0x08. Treating these stops as aliases can produce a false memory-address diagnosis.

What the dump should answer

Use !analyze -v to establish the current execution path and any IRQL information the debugger can recover.
Inspect the symbolized callers around IRQL transitions, DPC, interrupt, or synchronization code actually visible in the stack.
Preserve raw arguments for same-build comparison without assigning undocumented field names.

References

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