Home / Error Lookup / 0X000000D1

0X000000D1

Blue Screen (BSOD) DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Applies to: Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows 11

What it means

A driver tried to access memory at the wrong priority level — nearly always a specific faulty driver, most often network or a security/VPN tool.

Also seen as: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, 0xD1

Quick fix steps

  1. Check Device Manager for any device with a warning icon.
  2. Update or temporarily remove any VPN or security software installed recently.
  3. Boot into Safe Mode to confirm a third-party driver is responsible.
For the full step-by-step walkthrough, see IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Blue Screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL the same as IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL?
They're closely related — this variant specifically names a driver as the direct cause in the error itself, while the other is more general. Both point strongly toward driver issues as the primary suspect.
Do network drivers cause this more than other types?
Yes, network adapter drivers are among the most common specific culprits for this stop code, similar to the pattern seen with IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.

Other error codes

0X0000001A — MEMORY_MANAGEMENT

Points to a problem with how memory is being handled — faulty RAM, a driver mismanaging memory, or disk corruption.

0X0000000A — IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Almost always a driver issue — most commonly network, audio, or graphics drivers.

0X000000EF — CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED

A core Windows process crashed unexpectedly — often tied to a recent update or corrupted system files.

0X0000001E — KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

A driver running in kernel mode hit an error it couldn't recover from — usually a specific faulty or outdated driver.