What does BSOD 10 (IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL) mean?

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL kernel code accessed invalid or pageable memory while running at an interrupt request level that was too high. Parameter 1 is the.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
ERROR_BAD_ENVIRONMENT	Win32 error	Windows
KERN_MEMORY_ERROR	Kern return	Mac
ippStsJPEGMarker	Intel Ipp Status	Any
ECHILD	errno	Any

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IRQL_NOT_GREATER_OR_EQUAL	NO_EXCEPTION_HANDLING_SUPPORT

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL meaning

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL is bug check 0x0000000A. Kernel code accessed invalid or pageable memory while running at an interrupt request level that was too high. Parameter 1 is the referenced address, Parameter 2 is the IRQL, Parameter 3 describes read/write/execute, and Parameter 4 is the instruction address.

How to analyze the result

Resolve Parameter 4 to a module and function, inspect the address from Parameter 1, current IRQL, trap frame, pool or PTE state, and the pointer lifetime. Look for pageable code/data, freed objects, bad callbacks, and incorrect synchronization.

Preserve the complete dump, all four parameters, Windows build, loaded modules, and the event timeline before changing drivers or firmware while investigating this result.
Run !analyze -v and follow the parameter-specific objects and the stack associated with this result rather than relying only on the symbolic name or a single probable-cause line.
Compare multiple dumps when available; a stable instruction or object path associated with this result is stronger evidence than a module that appears only after earlier corruption.

Recovery boundary

Fix the driver or kernel component that made the access. Hardware tests are useful when corruption is broad, but a repeatable instruction and stack normally point to a software lifetime or IRQL defect.

Official references

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