IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL when installing windows

[PS3toPC]

I finished building my rig from nothing and it has no os what so ever, and i can acess the bios fine but when i try to install windows 8.1, i get this error "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"...

Specs:
Cpu: i5-4690k
Gpu: MSI R7 250 2GB
RAM: 2x4GB (8gb, unbuffered, non-ecc)
Storage: 240gb sata HDD
Motherboard: MSI PC mate Z97
PSU: EVGA 600W bronze power supply

Attached devices:
1 vigalin keyboard
1 logitec mouse
1 tp-link us wifi adapter
1 usb flash driver [bootable] (Windows 8.1 pro installation)
1 hdmi connected 1080p benq monitor

Everythings U.K.

And thats all thats conect, dont want to miss a thing, just because.

Is everything compatible! Could this be a compatiblity issue? Or would i not be able to even use the bios otherwise? I did make sure this stuff was, but im having second thought...

Is it my hdd possible broken on me, could that be the cause? Ive heard its to do with drivers, which i haven't tried to install any, no optical drive.

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Right off if this is during INSTALL (aka Not one reboot yet during the process) then the CD/DVD is probably scratched / worn. So the 'code' (OS) it is reading off is errored.. I would look to getting a new CD/DVD of it / can download the Windows 8 ISO from Windows.COM and use the 'Install from USB Stick' solution instead and see if you still have the problem.

If your still having the problem even from a USB stick then there is a problem hardware wide (as I first suspected). I would probably try reseating everything (can be any cable ot connection at this point INCLUDING CPU). Then I woudl try to 'install' to a different HDD. I would probably put the most likely problem point is the HDD considering they haven't made 250GB for a long time now, that is a old HDD. A new 1TB can be had for as little as $49.

 

[PS3toPC]

Thanks for the reply!

Ok, yeah i have been using the usb boot the whole time. No optical drive.

Cpu correctly placed, given a little wiggle. And i think the biggest chance is that my hdd is dieing if not dead. But i would like to know if a dead hdd would cause this error? IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.

 

[GhislainG]

Try with a single memory module or run Memtest86+ for a few hours to make sure there are no memory errors.

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Thanks for the reply!

Ok, yeah i have been using the usb boot the whole time. No optical drive.

Cpu correctly placed, given a little wiggle. And i think the biggest chance is that my hdd is dieing if not dead. But i would like to know if a dead hdd would cause this error? IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.

That error is a generic 'Something Broke' response. So if your using a dying HDD, that means it 'wrote' when you installed the OS the 'code' of Windows poorly, then when it tries to 'read' it (when you boot up Windows) it has bad information.

Think of it this way, if you tried to put your paycheck in the bank account and " the biggest chance is that my (account) is dieing", so you go to deposit $7634.92 but when you check your account later to pay your bills it says it deposited $2436.79 . Is that correct? No but that is 'what is there now' and that is what it tried to use, same with windows, what it 'supposed' to be on the HDD it doesn't "know" beforehand, only what IS actually there and if it is wrong it 'breaks' somewhere in the process.

Basically if you suspected the HDD then toss it. You can test the HDD using HDTune, normally I use DBAN to wipe a drive before I use it to make sure nothing 'suspicious' or such is on it before I use it. BUT if when I try DBAN it takes HOURS and HOURS to wipe or has errors when I do it, that helps 'test' the HDD is going to work or not.

 

[PS3toPC]

Try with a single memory module or run Memtest86+ for a few hours to make sure there are no memory errors.

Reply: i have no os installed, cant. All i have is click bios 4, latest update.

Ive confirmed that my hdd is not dead funny enough... crap. What could this be then? Im really start to get scared that ive wasted so much money. Would anyone be willing to go on skype and talk me past some solutions? i am on the edge of like, anything. im so worryied, i havent any clue why this is happening.

 

[GhislainG]

Memtest86+ is on a bootable CD; you don't need another OS to run it.

 

[PS3toPC]

Memtest86+ is on a bootable CD; you don't need another OS to run it.

Oh right, thanks, ill give it a try.

 

[PS3toPC]

Well, my ram is a gonna. Thanks alot, i final know what was causing it!

 

[GhislainG]

It may just be the settings that are incorrect.

 

[PS3toPC]

It may just be the settings that are incorrect.

Its one of the sticks are really fault, just one. And thats whats been giving me these BSOD.

 

[GhislainG]

You'll at least be able to setup and test the system with a single module.