Today’s project is an IBM ThinkPad T41 running Windows XP Pro SP3 generating a BSOD on start up.
Blue Screen (BSOD) irq_not_less_or_equal
“This Stop message indicates that a kernel-mode process or driver attempted to access a memory address to which it did not have permission to access.“
“This error usually occurs after the installation of a buggy device driver, system service, or BIOS.“
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL [MS]
Using the hardware profile manager, and some educated guess work, the faults is pretty quickly tracked down to the WLAN.
If the Intel PRO/Wireless LAN is disabled the machine runs fine, if it is enabled we generate the BSOD. Checking the drivers it is quickly apparent we are running a pretty old driver set; probably “as shipped”.
Intel PRO/1000 MT Mobile Connection – Driver 6.4.16.36 (2003-06-13)
Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter – Driver 1.2.1.1 (2003/07/31)
Time to go shopping for an updated driver set – Drivers and software – ThinkPad T40, T40p, T41, T41p. (The ThinkVantage System Update 3.14 would speed up the driver update process, but itself requires updates to .NET)
- Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 3b Mini PCI adapter
Windows XP, 2000 :: 08 Aug 2006 :: v1.2.4.41 - Intel PRO/100/1000 LAN adapter
Windows XP, 2000 :: 28 Feb 2007 :: Build 135400 - Access Connections
Windows XP, 2000 :: 22 Dec 2008 :: v5.12
One extra problem is that the Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 is 802.11b, and the 802.11b standard is not supported on our WLAN. We’ll need a LAN connection to do some of the heavier duty updating (It seems we need a combined 233.99MB of IBM system updates!)
Updating the drivers does the trick, all is now well in T41 land.
ThinkPad – Using Windows to Manage Wireless Networks
What if after the updates Windows in no longer managing your wireless network?
1. Force Windows to Manage Wireless Networks http://www.jeremyglover.com/blog/2007/08/21/force-windows-to-manage-wireless-networks/
Probably the most important thing in this post is that it shows that the “Wireless Networks” tab may be missing. If the tab is missing there is an extra software component that has taken over the connection.
A work around is described in the comments under “Don’t have a “Wireless Networks” tab? No problem.”
2. Why isn’t Windows managing the Wireless Networks?
The most likely culprit is that the ThinkPad Connectivity Manager has taken over the network connection management. This utility was updated with the other software and was popping up and asking if you want it to manage the connection. A similar issue with a ThinkPad is described at http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-3395475.php
3. The solution (?)
You could use ThinkPad Connectivity Manager to manage the wireless networks, but you may be better off forcing Windows to control the settings. The Connectivity Manager is sometimes useful in an Enterprise IT environment, but generally becomes annoying when you only connect to a couple of networks.
To start the Wireless Zero Configuration service, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\system32\services.msc /s, and then click OK.
2. Double-click Wireless Zero Configuration.
3. In the Startup type list, click Automatic, and then click Apply.
4. In the Service status area, click Start, and then click OK.
You should now have a “Wireless Networks” tab.
If ThinkPad Connectivity Manager gets in the way it would be best to uninstall the application via Control Panels > Add or Remove Programs
Thanks a lot, this helped me to solve my problem.
I purchased a used T41 laptop that worked perfectly until I took it home and got the BSOD on every start-up.
I found your post only after reading and trying everything else that Google spat out, and your advice solved my problem in an instant.
I can’t thank you enough for posting your solution.
THAAAAAAAAANKS! SAVED MY LAPTOP! =D
Hi there,
This is exact description of my problem with T41 and blue screens caused by wireless, but I had to solve it myself, and then I’ve found this website
Now I would like to ask you what happen to my IBM.
After BSOD I used blue button and recovered system, but it isn’t recover as in previous sesions.
At this time my “D” partition and all data was saved! and windows is not up to date, without service pack 1, I’m missing also IBM software. System was totally naked. recovery was very quick: about half an hour. Last time I was recovering everything it took me about 4 hours and everything was new and all data erased including drive partitions. IBM utilities was installed as well.
what happen with my recovery set ? Anybody knows?
thanks in advance for helping me!!
Radek-Poland
@Radek from the sounds of it you have used the IBM restore image that returned your laptop to the “as shipped” state.
hi again,
problem is solved
I set up restore again and my T41 is as new with all utills IBM.
previously I took my laptop and bring it to the other room during resotre was running, so moving could cause hard drive deviations and that’s way some soft didn’t install, additionally “C” windows partition was on FAT32 and “D” was on NTFS.
Problems gone now.
greetings !! Radek
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