BSOD on startup, error Driver_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (storahci.sys)

petrolstatus4 · 18 Aug 2015

Hi, I am having BSOD issues with my computer on startup: below is my zip file attachment:

Attachment 32190

I recently made a few changes to my (previously stable computer). They were the following:

Installing an extra 4GB of RAM (for a total of 8GB)
Replacing my previous hard drive with an SSD (a Samsung SSD 850 EVO 500GB)
Installing a fresh copy of Windows 7 and then upgrading to Windows 10

However, once these changes had been completed I would previously receive about 3-4 BSoDs daily, sometimes on startup and sometimes at a seemingly random point while using the computer.

I tried a variety of things to fix the problem (including running Memtest to check my new RAM was ok). I eventually thought I had solved the issue - my motherboard (an ASUS M4A78LT-M) had the SATA port configured where the SSD was to be in IDE-mode, rather than AHCI (which was the setting recommended by the Samsung Magician SSD software). I changed this setting, resulting in a crash as I don't think the correct AHCI drivers were installed. I eventually got the drivers by reinstalling windows, and everything seemed to be working fine (about 2 days without a single crash) until this morning, where I received a BSoD with the error 'Driver_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (storahci.sys)'. The upon reboot this error occurred again, and the third time windows did some 'repairing' and started ok.

(Here is the below view of the samsung magician software for reference. I am aware the drive is not plugged into the optimal port, but this is all my Motherboard has).
Attachment 32193

This crash on startup suggests the issue wasn't as fixed as I hoped it had been. I still haven't received any BSoD while using my PC (which when I did would usually have the error 'UNEXPECTED_STORE_EXCEPTION') but I will post an update if this does happen.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Let me know if you want any more info, this is my first time posting on this forum so sorry if I forget to include anything!

Ratbone · 18 Aug 2015

hi petrolstatus4: I have loads of issues post upgrade from windows 7 Ultimate and I also got the Driver_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL BSOD.

. The solution was twofold;

Download the Windows 10 ISO and perform a clean build of windows 10. Skip requests for the product key, because as soon as you log in with your Microsoft account the Windows activation will be automatic.

initially avoid connecting any non essential peripherals especially if no new drivers have been released for windows 10 by the vendors. My problem was triggered by my MIMO USB monitor's DisplayLink Windows 10 Driver.

once you have a clean build with only essential devices installed and updated with the latest drivers clear the Event Log (A Batch script I created for the job is attached as a .txt file rename to .bat. Run As Administrator to use) take an backup of the drive using windows 7 backup & Restore Create System Image.

This will allow you to recover the clean build quickly and easily.

run the system for a day or so to make sure all is ok with the build. If the system stays stable start adding peripherals one at a time. and re-assess.
I have done this and reduced my errors to near zero and have a stable system.

Expect some known Windows 10 errors on shutdown related to the service control manager. I have not found a solution for that yet.