IRQL less or not equal (blue screen error)

[Dizzy-noodles]

Hiya :)

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601)
System Manufacturer: Toshiba
System Model: Satellite C660
BIOS: Phoenix Secure Version 1.80
Processor: Intel® Pentium ® CPU P6100 @2.00GHz (2 CPU’s), ~2.0GHz lz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Page file: 1843MB used, 10031MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 11

I keep getting this weird thing where my computer shuts down, and a blue screen pops up saying "IRQL less or not equal" just before it turns itself off.

It happens mostly when I'm just on the internet. (ie.not when playing Sims)

I have googled it and found some info, but to a computer illiterate person like me it was like a foreign language!

I have PC Unleashed, so I did all the stuff on there just now, and took my computer's health from low to high.

Will that fix it?

I am going to do a virus scan aswell.

Please could someone tell me what's going on?

Thankyou! :bunny:

[Chicken0895]

If I were you I would take this up with Microsoft first. They will probably tell you to wipe your computer without much thought (which is your LAST RESORT), but on occasion they do actually fix things.

[ellacharmed]

That error could mean a few things. Did you note down the STOP code on the BSOD screen? If not, you can get it from the Event Viewer. If Google does not show you how to get these things, I'll supply a link for you to read and follow, but we at least need to know the error code, so as not to diagnose for the wrong issue.

Almost usually that error means either
- you have a bad Device Driver - did you let PC Unleashed update your drivers for you or research and download them yourself from Toshiba website? If the tool has the control, this is bad habit to cultivate (I do not even let Microsoft Windows Updates run automatically without me reading about the supposed "fix" in the accompanying KB article personally), especially if it installs a Desktop version on a notebook and vice versa. Uninstall the last installed driver to test.
or
- you have a bad RAM (memory). Run memtest86+ (http://www.memtest.org/) to test (each RAM stick individually).

Talking about Windows Updates, do you know what was last changed on the system? When did this start happening? Did you just install a new software, for example?

ps: Microsoft won't help, they would direct you to Toshiba Support Center first. :) Is the laptop still under warranty?

[Dizzy-noodles]

Thankyou for replying.

No I didn't note it down, it only flashed up for a second before shutting down so I didn't have time. What's the event viewer?

Yes I downloaded the new drivers that PC Unleashed recommended.

I installed Game Booster recently but can't remember if it was before I started getting the blue screen or not.

Yes it's still under warranty.

Funnily enough, I haven't had the problem since posting here!