Help!: Driver_irql_not_less_or_equal

[Joeyy]

I've gone through a few threads regarding this issue..but none of them have the same error code(?) I got. Please try to help me get down to the root of the problem, and advices to how I can solve this!

I've only got this much info:
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x825E4962, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0xB308E2E9)
NOWMEMDF.sys

And while the blue screen happened, my aunt was charging her iTouch. When she disconnected it from the comp, everything on it was erased. She swore she didn't hit the reformat button on iTunes. My computer is only a year old HP Pavilion, and it's 32-bit. I called up the helpdesk and the technician assisted me on running a hardware check and all 4 components passed. She told me it's a software problem then and advises me to reformat. I'm really reluctant to do so, so I'm hoping to find a solution other than reformatting.

Thanks in advance!~
Please me patient with me, & be detailed in guiding me through procedures because I'm really a computer idiot=x

Start out by running a RAM test

Just a guess but the iTouch was probably not erased...per se...
probably file system corruption...
but you'd need to take it to a repair shop for data recovery
and probably not worth it

[Joeyy]

Erm, how do I run a RAM test? Will I be needing any initial installation CDs for the test/ after the test?

I did mine through administrative tools so I'm guessing it's only a basic test? But anyway, it passed.

No, iTunes did not resynch it back. In fact, the whole player seems like it was reformatted - it doesn't even show the name that my aunt named it on iTunes. Anyway, she reformatted it already and now the problems she's getting is it constantly blacks out and hangs like 10 times everyday:\ -Not saying that it has anything to do with my computer.

I did the test, though I think it's only a basic one, and it passed.

Err. Okay..so what do you propose I should do now??

Will the iPod resynch with the files in iTunes? If not, then follow the
instructions to restore the iPod (i.e., try the 5 Rs in the manual[1])
and then try again to resynch.

If you find a memory problem using the diagnostics suggested by philo,
it's probably best to replace the memory before trying to fix anything
else.

I agree about reformatting. It's a last resort - or maybe even a last+1
resort.

[1] My iPod is older than yours; the iPod Touch might be different, for
all I know.

The error DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL is usually connected with a bad driver.
Use the ***verifier*** tool to track down the issue. Start\Run\verifier

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244617

The cause of your problem is clearly indicated in the bugcheck error
message. It's a misbehaving driver named NOWMEMDF.sys. Do a search on
the driver and you will find the solution, this driver is described as
"Nowcom Memory Defender". I'm leery of any kind of third party drivers
which seem to indicate that they somehow fix, enhance or protect memory
on Windows NT systems, these things are usually nothing more than junk
and snake oil!

It's caused by junk from NOWCOM that was installed on your computer,
probably came with Clubbox file transfer manager. Uninstall that trash
and see if things improve.

If the test passes the RAM it at least has no gross errors.

Though it's possible that it's still bad...it looks like the problem
lies elsewhere.

[Joeyy]

But I don't have this NOWCOM defender thingy on the computer. Are you positive that Clubbox is the cause of it? Does that mean that I cannot use Clubbox anymore? Like maybe uninstalling then re-install again..?

Looks like some others have come up with ideas better than what I would
have thought of