I've been getting a "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"

Use the links in this article to help you troubleshoot the blue screen.
Are you running xp?
In any case, check the event viewer for help.
You might also try running a scan with MBAM just to check for malware that could be contributing to the problem. To do that, I recommend you follow the procedures outlined in this malware removal guide. At least th first four steps.
To deal with the modem error, you should go to the laptop manufacturer's support site and download the driver for your modem. Then use the device manager to check that the correct driver for your actual modem hardware is installed. (From there you can also disable it if you wish, but I don't think that will keep the system from loading the driver.) If you need help with this, here's a good tutorial.
Try that to begin with and report back.

I hope this information allows you to resolve this issue. If you need further assistance, please post back with a comment to this thread.
If I've managed to answer your question or solve a problem, please take just a moment to rate this post....thanks!