Error codes

0x0000000A

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

What it means

A driver tried to read memory it was not allowed to touch at that moment.

Common causes

• A faulty or outdated driver
• Unstable RAM or memory overclock
• Antivirus or VPN drivers

How to fix it

1. Think about what changed just before it started (new driver, app, update or hardware) and undo that first. System Restore can roll back drivers without touching your files.
2. Open the crash dump in WhoCrashed or BlueScreenView: it usually names the driver file that caused it (for example nvlddmkm.sys is the NVIDIA driver).
3. Update the graphics, chipset and network drivers from the maker's site (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel or your board vendor), not from a driver-updater tool.
4. Undo any overclock or undervolt, including XMP/EXPO memory profiles, and test at stock settings for a day.
5. Test the RAM: run Windows Memory Diagnostic (search mdsched) or MemTest86 from a USB stick. Any error means a stick or its speed setting is the problem.