wombatman

I'm having some problems with my desktop (self-built) computer. I have an idea what is causing both problems, but I'm looking for some confirmation or correction and also a suggestion on solutions.

Here's the first: when booting up, some of the time I get a blue screen error as Windows finishes loading (I can see the desktop) that says IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. The tech guy that came by (for the next problem) said he thought the hard drive might be going. The hard drive is a Maxtor 160GB that is just over a year old, bought from newegg, no problems until now. Interestingly, though, I can boot into Safe Mode of any kind with no problems. It's only when I try to boot in Windows proper that this occurs.

Second problem: This year, the University of South Carolina, having had trouble with the virus storms last year caused by incompetent and generally technologically illiterate students' computers, has implemented a new system for connecting to their network. We were required to download a program named SmartEnforcer that checks to make we have McAfee anti-virus downloaded and running as well as have all critical Windows updates. The problem is, SmartEnforcer can't log in. At first, this wasn't a problem because for some reason my internet still worked correctly (for the most part). Now, however, when I try to connect to the internet, I get the redirection page that is supposed to come up the first time you plug into the USC network. When it tries to redirect, however, I get "Connection to [ip address here] refused". In safe mode with networking, though, there is no trouble. SmartEnforcer is able to log in with no trouble. So what is happening or not happening that would cause this? Oh, and I am assigned an IP address on the USC network...I have tried ipconfig /renew and /release, among other things. I can't ping any IP or web address.

Specs:
P4 2.8C
1 GB PC2700 RAM
Maxtor 160GB (possibly on the fritz)
GeForce 5600 video card
Soundblaster sound card
Officejet 6110 printer connected via USB
Samsung DVD drive and CD-R/RW drive

I appreciate any help you all can provide. This is quite frustrating.

thriolith

Hmm... It could easily be your Hard drive. I had problems with errors and access when my latest hard drive went. Messed up thing is that my most recent drive died within a couple of months. So now I have 2 refurbished drives in my comp, meh.

Edit: Oh yea, go to your hard drive manufacturer's website. They should have some sort of hard drive diagnosis tool. It's pretty straight forward and you should be able to tell if there's smoething wrong with your hard drive after diagnosis.

__________________
- Thriolith

Dragonlich

The IRQ-not-less-than-whatever error usually shows up when you have driver problems, if I'm not mistaken. That would explain the ability to get into safe mode without problems (=without said drivers).

wombatman

Any idea what drivers could be causing the problem? Would video card drivers cause the problem? And if so, what is the correct way to roll back on the driver (I've forgotten)?

mikec

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...d_stp_hwpg.asp

sounds like you have some troubleshooting ahead of you. stripping away hardware and software until you find the culprit.

__________________
Until the 20th century, reality was everything humans could touch, smell, see, and hear. Since the initial publication of the charted electromagnetic spectrum, humans have learned that what they can touch, smell, see, and hear is less than one millionth of reality

Antikarma

I got that error when my ram went bad, try testing that first.

__________________

"Whoever you are, go out into the evening,
leaving your room, of which you know each bit;
your house is the last before the infinite,
whoever you are."

wombatman

Well, looks as though it was in fact the video card driver. I rolled back the Nvidia driver, and everything is working perfectly. Thanks for all your help.