So you’ve got an error. It could be lots of things: a specific error message that pops out of no where, a glitch in a program that makes the application hard to use, a slowed-down PC that just seems to be dragging, or even a so-called “fatal error” with a complete freeze up or the dreaded Blue Screen of Death.

Frustrating, infuriating and frightening: when you get an error, the first instinct is usually either panic or unadulterated rage. That’s where we come in. This article is the first in a series designed to teach you how to cope with errors. It walks you through the process, providing the essentials you need in plain language to meet the general requirements of information (what’s needed to find out what the problem is) and execution (what’s needed to fix it).

Not an IT tech? That’s fine. Computers are complex things, and lots of problems are only solvable by people that really know the core of how they work – but that doesn’t mean that anybody, regardless of their knowledge or skill, can’t be equipped to tackle essential errors when they crop up.

Error Types

Bad things happen to good people, and what better example than those seemingly random error message that pop up when you’re trying to work online or finish up your taxes? Error messages are frustrating, but they aren’t actually as random as they initially appear. While the numbers don’t make much sense to you right away, with a bit of digging you can find out exactly what sort of error you’re experiencing through Microsoft’s website.

Getting Started

If you’re looking for a precise error name or type, the best place to start your research is the System Error Codes page on the Microsoft site. The page is designed for programmers so it may be convoluted for the typical user. That doesn’t mean it can’t be useful. Often finding the error code is the first step. Doing a web search for a given error details can lead to helpful solutions. If anything, it can be a lead-in for tech support. Letting an IT professional know exactly what the error is can save time and cash.

If your error code search yields a fruitful bread trail, you’re in luck. If however, you’re the average computer user, errors don’t come neatly packaged. In general the types of errors you’ll see fall into two into one of two categories.

1. Either your computer has too much information …

2. or it doesn’t have enough …                              

The components involved are usually the same, but the circumstances are different.

Too Much Information

What we’re talking about here are resources: things that are in the background and that other programs use on an as-needed basis. This includes DLL files that provide instructions for programs, Drivers that tell your software how to relate to hardware, and registry entries that manage essential functions.

Any one of these things can be over-represented. This means that a resource is duplicated in some way. This usually happens when a poorly programmed uninstallation leaves resources behind. Those excess modules and files then confuse other programs that try to use them. If a duplicate resource gets installed – especially if one is a newer version – then every component involved can get confused.

Too Little Information

If half of the errors originate because you have too much information, the flip side is when your computer can’t do what you want because you’re missing information.

Things can go this direction if you’ve lost programs or your resource files have become corrupted. Corruption can happen innocently or through malicious actions. Files and programs can go missing when you uninstall software. Sometimes you may uninstall a program to speed up your machine and you inadvertently also delete the component of that program that was shared with one you sti

ll use and now the remaining program is broken without its friend.

Turn that around and you can mess up a perfectly balanced computer system by installing something new. In some cases you may be working with a perfectly safe software program that simply throws off the balancing act or you may accidentally install malware on the computer by downloading an email or installing an internet download that messes things up.

Finally, there comes a time in this rapidly moving evolution of computers when files simply become outdated. Programs are constantly being updated by the manufacturer and if you’re not up to date in all of the programs that work together, the outdated one can simply hold everyone else back.

Fortunately, the vast majority of errors you receive are ones that you can correct with relatively simple steps. You just have to know what to download and what to delete to make everything work beautifully again.

DRIVER ERRORS

Drivers are the programs in your computer that allow programs and components to talk to each other. For example, the print drivers tell the printer to work when you print a document. The audio-driver tells digital information how to become speech and music.

A driver error may not be so transparent, but in general, you know you’ve got one when your computer says “cannot find the device.” This is a sign that the PC’s driver for that device is either missing or corrupted. Another sure sign is overt: the device doesn’t work. It’s plugged in, it’s on and it’s recognized on your computer, but for some reason it’s not doing what it’s supposed to.

_{Sample Driver Error}

The last sign of a driver error is famously dreaded. The Blue Screen of Death can appear if a driver is not working right. This is because many drivers (for not only hardware but essential computer functions) are loaded at bootup. It the computer hits a snag registering the drivers when it’s starting, it will halt everything and give you an urgent warning. What the blue screen is saying in this instance is that it can’t start the proverbial car – there’s something wrong with the engine.

Fixing Driver Errors means getting the right driver installed. See the third installment of this series for managing drivers.

.DLL ERRORS

A dynamic-link library, or .dll file, is an executable file that allows programs to share code and resources to perform activities.

The key to errors caused by DLLs is in their name: “linked-library.” DLLs were invented so that programs could be more efficient. If it doesn’t need to run a certain function all the time, it doesn’t have to, instead it can access a DLL when that function is called for. If it can’t find the DLL, then there’s a problem. Furhtermore, some DLLs are resources for more than one program. It’s not uncommon for one program to be uninstalled and take with it a resource that is used by another.

_{Sample DLL Error}

DLL errors are sometimes alerted by name, but often you’ll know them when you see that a “resource file is missing” or that a program “can’t find a resource it needs.”

Fixing DLL errors usually involves re-asserting the program that a given DLL came with. In the fourth installment of this series, we’ll talk about managing software and how to effectively uninstall/reinstall programs to not only circumvent errors, but to clean up space on a hard-drive.

REGISTRY ERRORS

Commands in the registry are stored in a hierarchical library to be used when you’re trying to do something on the machine. The registry is frequently called the Windows Database.

It’s not just commands that are stored in here but thousands of specifications that govern the minute details of a PC. Among other things, they dictate schedules, when programs should run automatically, and user-permissions. These errors are harder to spot, but if you find that things are running glitch or programs exhibit bugs (especially when opening or closing), it could indicate that some setting is mis-aligned in the registry.

With three different programs telling the computer what to do, it’s not surprising that sometimes your machine receives conflicting messages and refuses to work accordingly. It has too many cooks in the proverbial kitchen. In the fifth installment of this series, we’ll look at the Windows registry, registry cleaning and the basic ways to control a computer’s basic behavior.

Being knowledgeable is a key to disarming some of the frustrations of PC problems, and what’s more, having an idea of what’s wrong can lead to you ask the right questions and focus on the right areas when you do have to get help. It’s one thing to hand your computer to an IT specialist and say “fix it.” It’s another to hand it over and say “I think there’s a driver error.” The faster the tech can identify the problem, the faster he or she can fix it, and that translates to faster service and saved money.

In the next issue, we’ll talk about software and the role it plays in your computer’s performance.