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PC Error Messages - What You Need To Know
Unless you've acquired a computer from outer space that was built with alien technology, you've probably noticed some rather interesting PC errors over the course of your usage. The thing about PC errors is that they're very common and generally not anything to fret about. Once you understand what they are and what they mean, you can find ways to reduce their occurrence and their likelihood of frightening you to death.
What's an error message?
A PC error message is exactly what it sounds like. It's a message that alerts a user that the computer encountered an error. The funny thing about PC errors is that they really aren't meant for computer users. They're actually intended for software programmers because their messages don't really communicate anything meaningful to people like you and me.
When we encounter one of these things, it could mean any one of several things -- but in most cases, it indicates a failure between a program's ability to communicate with a computer's hardware, operating system, or another program. Only in rare cases does it indicate that you've done something wrong.
Common PC Error Messages
One of the most common error messages that you'll ever see indicate that there just isn't enough memory to handle a request. If you're attempting to run a newer software program on an older computer, you'll see these types of errors more often than any other. Remember that each time we run a program or open a file, the computer loads that program or file into the computer's RAM. When there isn't enough RAM to hold that program or file, the computer generates errors.
Another common PC error indicates a lack of proper disk space. This kind of error is similar to the error above, however instead of insufficient RAM being the culprit, insufficient disk space (or "virtual memory") is the culprit.
General protection fault errors indicate communication failure and they're common when a software program tries to access something that doesn't exist. An example would be if a software program tried to access a missing dynamic link library (DLL) file or a disconnected peripheral.
Perhaps the most intimidating PC error is the blue screen of death. This is when the entire computer screen turns blue and simply stops responding to mouse-clicks or keyboard functions. With this type of error, we usually have to reboot the system by giving it the 3-finger salute: CTRL + ALT + DEL.
Do note that some PC errors are the causes of viruses, adware, or spyware programs. We don't want you to blame every error that you experience on one of these types of malicious programs, but you should at least be aware of their potential. Even the cleanest system will suffer from PC errors!
What To Do About PC Errors
As we said before, PC errors are really for software programmers because their contents explain where the error occurred inside of a function. Unless you've built the software that caused the error, you won't make heads or tails of the typical error message. Only a software programmer can do that and even they need to use special software that reinterprets an error's content into something that resembles recognizable programming code!
The best thing that you can do to reduce PC errors is to make sure that you have sufficient memory and disk space for your software. Check to see that all your peripherals are connected (and turned on), and that your software is up to date and appropriate for your system. Failing to do these simple things will surely bring on more PC errors than you care to experience.
For assistance, use the Error Doctor, ErrorSweeper, Error Killer, or the ErrorNuker program. Any one of these products will help you diagnose what's causing computer crashes and more.