Classic Shell: Forum

Laptop crashes with Blue screen of death after loading Classic Shell for Windows 8.1.

First laptop newly issued by Dept Education did the same after I loaded the Classic Shell. At the time they thought it was a fault with that laptop and replaced it. The second one was ok before I loaded Classic Shell then also started crashing with same error message. Now I'm using one used by one of our IT guys for a couple of weeks that had not crashed at all. It was fine for a week after I loaded my files, then I loaded the Classic Shell Start Menu (ONLY) this morning, but it just crashed with the BSOD again with the same message: Driver_IRQL_Not_Less_Or_Equal.

It seems there is little doubt that the download is triggering the crash - even if the fault is in the laptop already. Any idea what it could be? Do I need to update drivers or something or is there some real incompatibility here? Has anyone else had this problem?

This is a real shame as I can't stand the 8.1 format and am really happy with the Start Menu otherwise.

Ric http://classicshell.net/forum/posting.php?mode=post&f=7#

A blue screen error is a kernel related error caused either by faulty hardware or drivers - not something at the shell/user mode level.

Classic Shell is just a regular application - it doesn't modify the system in ways that can cause a blue screen error. In fact it cannot cause a BSOD because whatever modifications it does are only in user mode.

Check the Event Log (System Log in particular) and use NirSoft's BlueScreenView if there's a dump the OS created when it showed the blue screen. You can be 100% sure that a BSOD was not caused by Classic Shell.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

See if you have the latest drivers for your hardware, particularly video drivers. The graphics is the part of the system that the start menu uses more than others, so the video driver is a likely culprit.

Ah! Yes that sounds relatively likely. I remember once a dialog error box came up with something about HD Graphics failing to load or some-such. I will try updating it or getting a tech to do it.

I checked in Display Adapters and found Intel HD Graphics 4600. Tried to browse for update but was told this is the latest.

Any other ideas I could try? Many staff would use this if I can find the solution, but the IT guys probably will stop being helpful very soon as it would not be 'supported' software.

Ric