BSODs (Blue Screen of Death) errors are very common in Windows Operating Systems. Windows 10 OS is not an exception. Though its an OS with rich features, it is prone to a different kind of BSODs. driver irql_less_or_not_equal is one of those blue screen errors. The problem with BSODs is there is no option for the user. Once he/she gets this blue screen error on the screen, there is no way other than restarting the computer. This is highly frustrating and on some computers, it occurs for every 10 or 20 minutes. Basically, there are two solutions to fix driver irql less or not equal blue screen error in Windows 10.
Solution 1: Uninstall the network adapters and install the updated drivers.
If you are facing blue screen very frequently, you may not able to execute the below instructions on your computer as you need to turn it off whenever you get the error on screen. So, we recommend you to boot your computer in Safe Mode to be able to follow the instructions.
Step 1: Press Windows key and R key at once to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Enter devmgmt.msc in Run box and it opens Device Manager.
Step 3: There are various drivers in Device Manager. Go to the category called Network Adapters. Right-click on it and click on Uninstall.
Step 4: Click on OK if you are asked to confirm the action.
Step 5: Restart your computer and check whether the problem is fixed.
Step 6: Go to the manufacturer’s website to download the new copy of Network drivers. Install them on your Windows 10 computer as per the instructions on their website.
Check whether the driver irql_less_or_not_equal error is fixed. If not, skip to next solution.
Solution 2: Uninstall Antivirus software
There is an awesome inbuilt tool called “Windows Defender” in the Windows 10 Operating System. It works like a charm and we do not need any other antivirus software. Antivirus tools like Avast, AVG, Mcafee and some others tend to create issues with the normal functioning of the Windows 10 OS. Uninstall all the antivirus software. In many cases, the blue screen errors like driver irql_less_or_not_equal error are instantly fixed when the antivirus programs are uninstalled.
Solution 3: Reset Windows 10
If you are seeing driver irql_less_or_not_equal error even after executing the above solutions, then you may need to completely reset Windows 10 OS. The problem with this solution is that it deletes all the settings and files from your computer. You can restore them afterward if you have a backup though.
To reset Windows 10, go to the Settings app. Click on Update & Security. Under the recovery tab, select an option called Reset this PC.
We hope that the above solutions worked for you and fixed driver irql_less_or_not_equal error permanently on your Windows 10 computer. If you are still seeing the error even after resetting the Windows 10, then definitely there is an issue with the hardware.
