Critical
Operating Systems
✓ Solution Verified by Community (0+ upvotes)
How to fix error 0x00000008 in Windows 11
Bug Check 0x00000008: IRQL_NOT_DISPATCH_LEVEL — The IRQL was not at dispatch level.
Fix based on community reports and expert analysis. Last verified: 2026-08-12
· How we verify fixes
| Error Code | 0x00000008 |
|---|---|
| Affected System | Windows 11 (Microsoft) |
| Difficulty | Critical |
| Estimated Time | 45 min |
| Requires Admin Rights | ⚠️ Yes |
| Requires Reboot | 🔄 Yes |
Solution Steps
- 1 Boot into Safe Mode: Press Windows key + I, go to System > Recovery, and under 'Advanced startup', click 'Restart now'. After your PC restarts, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. Press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode. Safe Mode loads only essential drivers, so if the error doesn't occur, a third-party driver is likely the cause.
- 2 Once in Safe Mode, open Device Manager (Windows key + X > Device Manager). Look for devices with a yellow exclamation mark. Right-click the problematic device and select 'Uninstall device'. Check 'Delete the driver software for this device' if available, then restart. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically. This removes a potentially corrupted driver.
- 3 If you suspect a specific driver, download the latest version from the manufacturer's website and install it. For example, for NVIDIA graphics, go to nvidia.com/drivers. For network adapters, visit the chipset manufacturer's site (Intel, Realtek, etc.).
- 4 Run the System File Checker and DISM as described in the previous error guide: open Command Prompt as admin and run 'sfc /scannow' then 'DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth'. This repairs system files that might be causing the IRQL issue.
- 5 Check for Windows updates: Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all pending updates. Microsoft often fixes driver-related bugs.
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