What does BSOD 0xA (IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL) mean?

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL indicates that kernel-mode code accessed invalid or pageable memory while executing at an interrupt request level that was too high.

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.

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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