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We need to understand that operating systems are extremely complex and
do cause errors occasionally and that third-party applications have their share of problems also. But, in fact, understanding is the furthest thing in our mind when an error appears on our
systems. Is there any way to prevent these errors form happening to your PC? Probably not...but being prepared and knowing
a few things about them will prepare you for the eventuality.
Some errors are so severe that you can only re-boot your PC and start from scratch, while most errors
aren't quite so bad. These may only require that you shut the offending program down without the need to restart the computer. Hopefully, this article will help to familiarize you with
the many reasons for Windows error messages.
Applications: If an error is application-based, the application's name will appear in the title bar of the
error dialog box. These kinds of errors are called runtime* errors and mean that that they take place while a
program is running and don't cause the application or the operating system to 'crash'. If the app-title does not appear in the
title box, then the error is much more severe and you may not be able to recover from it.
Most often, the dialog box will contain a description of the error and should or may contain a Detail button that will give you a clue to the cause of the error.
This information is very valuable to a tech-support person so you should write it all down should you need to call them. The first two types of information in the Details section are the descriptions
of the modules* in which the error took place. The first module is the one which actually caused the error. The second is the software the first module was trying to access.
The third part of the error lists the memory address where the error occurred. These are usually very long and you shouldn't need to record all of it if you plan to call support...basically, knowing the first two modules involved
will be sufficient for the tech person to get you on your way again.
Operating System: Often abbreviated to OS, operating system errors come in two different categories. The first resembles the the runtime error( this should also contain a Details button )...while the second, more serious error creates...The Blue Screen of Death( also with a detailed description of the error ). When this happens, you lose sight of the Windows environment. This little blue bomb occurs when data loss in a particular data packet* becomes so great that the operating system cannot process any further information. This blue screen is almost impossible to recover from. This error usually contains the message 'Fatal Exception Error'. There is, in most cases, only one remedy...the three-finger-salute( pressing CRTL-ALT-DEL all at once ), causing the PC to reboot.
Page Faults: A page fault occurs when your computer's memory crashes. Usually, either a program is looking for a specific thing at a certain memory address and finds the wrong thing there or it tries to
put something in a memory address that already contains something else that is in use by another program. To recover from these errors, simply close out the program, preferably by using File > Close. This is usually the worst that can occur.
Protection Faults: Protection errors are a totally different matter altogether. These happen when hardware devices
or their specific drivers cause these nasty errors and most commonly occur when you first boot the system or shut down the computer. Most commonly, you will recieve the 'Fatal Exception Error', which
forebodes the end of your PC-session.
You can take measures to prevent these errors by attempting to keep your hardware and software in good shape. If you remove programs using 'highlight-delete' in Explorer, you are asking for these errors. ..especially page faults.
The largest portion of the program may be gone but remnants will still remain and interfere with other programs. Always look for an Uninstall option, use Add / Remove in Control Panel or purchase third-party software which specializes in removing programs from your system. Add/ Remove may still leave tiny bits of the program but it is by far the better alternative than a 'manual delete'. After an uninstall(s), it is recommended to perform a thorough Scandisk and Defrag to catch any stray files or other trouble spots on your
computer's hard disk. This will greatly reduce your chances of errors popping up...especially if done weekly.
Another good practice is to use the Registry Checker which will automatically clean up errors in the Registry. If the system looks really bad, you can replace your current Registry with one of the five
backups made from your last few computer uses.
NOTE: This may only help if you suspect that the errors are connected somehow to the Registry.
Taking advantage of Win98's extensive Help feature will often give Users more insight as to what can be done to troubleshoot some of the more specific errors in certain conditions and areas. Simply click on the Start > Help and in the dialog box that appears, choose the Contents tab. You will see Windows 98 Troubleshooters listed last. When you click on this, you will see a variety of guides for troubleshooting various items. If you fail to find answers here, it may be time to visit Microsoft's web site to view their extensive resources to get you back on the right track. Most of the information in Microsoft's Knowledge Base is the same information the tech support staff will use to help you should they be called upon. These are continually updated so a casual visit now when you are experiencing no problems is a good idea. In this way, you will familiarize yourself with the search and setup of the information stored there...without the urgency.
*runtime: runtime is the actual time spent while the program is running.
*module: (modular) Programs are written in modules, or seperate pieces, to make programming easier.
*data packet: a block of data being transmitted to the OS.
Please feel free to add a comment or a suggestion by clicking on the link below... I also will accept Reader Submitted Tips & Tricks for this page. Author credit will be given for the tips that are used.
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Thank you and come again...spider!
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