I took my laptop on a business trip, and tried to access open wifi spots at
LAX and SFO.  Both times I got a BSOD as soon as I enabled wireless, with
the error message IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.  So that was annoying that I
couldn't use wifi, but it was even more annoying that I could only boot up
in safe mode w/o networking after that -- and without networking I couldn't
disable my wireless connection, so I was limited to safe mode until I got
out of range of the wifi.

* Any guesses why the airport wifi spots are killing my system?  I've used
wireless at home with our WRT54G router with no problems.  Laptop is XP
Home SP2.

* Is there any way to disable wireless while in safe mode, so I could boot
up normally without wireless?

Thanks,
Gary

I would check if there is any new driver for the NIC. Or this post may help,

Wireless BSOD DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums/viewtopic.php?p=3019#3019

Show quoteHide quote

That post seems specific to a Belkin device.  I've done a fair amount of
surfing and this IRQL_NLOE error seems to be pretty device-specific most of
the time.

This is a Compaq Evo N610c laptop with the WLAN MultiPort W200 wireless
adapter, running WinXP Pro.  I already have the most recent driver for the
W200, version 7.86.19.3708 (according to
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?
lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=316666&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=316664
&swLang=8&taskId=135&swEnvOID=1093#11395).

Gary

If you already have a new driver, it could be conflict with other hardware
or software. If you do clean boot (not safe mode), do you have the same
issue?

Show quoteHide quote

Yes.  Here's the typical sequence:

* Use wireless on home WRT54G.  No problems.
* Disable wireless.
* Go on business trip.
* During a layover (so far I've tried it in LAX and SFO), open up laptop to
get some work done.  No problems.
* Enable wireless.  Blam!  Immediate BSOD with IRQL_NLOE.
* Clean (normal) reboot.  Blam!  BSOD, generally about the time I get to
the login screen.
* At this point, the only way I can use the laptop is in safe mode w/o
networking.  Anything else gets the BSOD at bootup.
* Later, when I'm out of the airport, I can boot and use wireless without
problems.

So there appears to be something specific about the wireless environment at
the airport, different than the wireless environment at home with the
WRT54G.  Wireless at home works fine; wireless at the airport dies.  The
home WRT54G has WPA enabled whereas the airport wifi spots are unprotected,
but I doubt that's it.

I'd like to be able to use wireless at the airport.  Failing that, I'd at
least like to be able to disable wireless when it's in the BSOD state.  But
since I can only run in safe mode w/o networking, I can't disable wireless.

Gary

Show quote Hide quote Most likely the age of the W200 firmware and driver is the factor.  It is
most likely having problems with the additional information elements sent
along with probe responses form the latest WLAN APs. It is the fault of the
W200 for not ignoring what it does not understand.... but since the W200 has
long gone out of support and the chipset vendor (Agere) out of the WLAN
business... updates are a dead end.

I would try using the Fn-F2 key sequence that removes power to the MultiPort
slot to which the W200 attaches. Since the key sequence is handled
completely by the BIOS, it should work anytime after BIOS POST is done...
regardless of whether the OS is in a safe mode.

Phil

I suspect you're right.

Ah, excellent idea!  I actually got this laptop second-hand so I didn't
even know Fn-F2 did that.  I'll give it a try on my trip this weekend.

Thanks!
Gary

I'm getting the same problem with the IRQL_Not_Less_or_equal when I boot-up my 2004 Acer PC at work. When I'm at home, the wireless works fine. At work, I can only run in safe mode. Immediately upon enabling the wireless, I get the BSOD.

I'm interested in how to use the Fn-F2 command to, perhaps, solve this issue. Do I do it during boot-up, after it's booted ... Just wondering if it worked for you Gary.

Thanks!

Colleen

EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
http://www.eggheadcafe.com

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