BSOD stating irql_not_less_or_equal

notes:

Asus P5N-1E running Vista 32bit w/DDR2 in a factory built computer

-had 2x1gig sticks (crucial value select) one failed memtest right away, other passed overnight
-bought new RAM (2x2gig crucial xms) from newegg-one stick of the new RAM works fine but the other causes the mobo to either beep nonstop (one long infinite beep) or intermittent long beeps, either way not POST'ing.
-Computer will function with either or both good sticks but Vista hangs every 3 seconds or so (ie it will cycle between working for 3 seconds, pause for 1, mouse/everything freezes up during the pause)
-Also when the one good 2gig stick is installed/taken out put back in, the first POST says memory 800MHz but everytime after that 959MHz, all the bios stuff set to Auto.
-before the computer stopped functioning completely with the original 2x1gig sticks, Vista has recovered from an error message said that it was caused by a nforce SATA driver (which was up to date)

The current HDD, some Hitachi, was reformatted and a fresh copy of Vista installed/updated with the one good 2 gig stick. So I'm currently RMA'ing the RAM, but does it sound like I need to order a new HDD?

EDIT:Ok so the irql problem seems to be solved by using good RAM, but now Vista hangs as described. Still hangs after reformat/updates.

[Edited on November 18, 2008 at 10:08 AM. Reason : clarification]

11/18/2008 9:54:38 AM

did you reboot 3 times?

11/18/2008 10:07:26 AM

irql_not_less_or_equal is almost always due to defective hardware or a defective driver

Quote :

"Vista has recovered from an error message said that it was caused by a nforce SATA driver (which was up to date)"

this is probably your issue, something on your mobo is fubar

get your system to capture a minidump next time it happens, then open it up in windbg and do a crash analysis - it should tell you the module that the kernel thought crashed the system

11/18/2008 10:09:03 AM

let me guess

nvidia ethernet driver
or creative audio new driver
or another large company that sucks at making drivers

11/18/2008 12:01:21 PM

Quote :

"did you reboot 3 times?"

11/18/2008 12:37:58 PM

Well the computer rebooted several times during the re-install /update of vista. After the final update/restart it wouldn't let me shut down anymore, it freezes on the shutdown screen. It would also never give me a vista recovered from an error because of X message on the restarts (from killing the power after the shutdown screen froze).

Or are you saying I should reboot 3 times before I even tried to install vista? Like for the mobo to get the timings and everything right, does it work like that?

Quote :

"something on your mobo is fubar"

[Edited on November 18, 2008 at 1:22 PM. Reason : ]

11/18/2008 1:09:04 PM

Quote :

"-Computer will function with either or both good sticks but Vista hangs every 3 seconds or so (ie it will cycle between working for 3 seconds, pause for 1, mouse/everything freezes up during the pause)"

Have you set the voltage, frequency, and latencies manually? If you are using auto settings that will be your problem.

11/18/2008 1:23:04 PM