Understanding and Dealing with Windows Error Codes

With over 15000 Windows error codes obtainable, it would be a huge task to discuss each one in detail. What can be easier to do is to categorize all these codes to help the users identify the errors they are having. The following gives out a brief description about these categories for error codes.

Basic Categories of Windows Error Codes

The following describes in brief a number of the more common error codes categories encountered for most normal users.

* System Error Code

These types of errors occur when there is a problem with the operating system itself or in the installed program and applications when it is being used. The code is made up of an error number and a short message describing the error. These Windows error codes are helpful in identifying what part of the program or the application is causing the problem so appropriate solution steps can be made.

* Device Manager Error Code 

These Windows error codes are displayed within the Device Manager and can be viewed in the status area for a particular device or hardware properties. The device manager error codes are completely different from system error codes and they indicate a problem in the operation or installation of a particular device in the system. These are normally associated with wrong device drivers or problems in the memory allocation for the exact device in question. It is sometimes called the hardware error code.

* Stop Error Codes 

Some of the most dreaded errors in Windows involve STOP errors or what is more commonly known among Windows users as BSOD or Blue Screen of Death. When this type of error occurs, Windows has encountered a major fault and forced to re-start the whole system. The monitor indicates the stop codes and the files or drivers associated that may have to do with the system crashing, and will also indicate the possible resolutions to the problem. The only drawback is that whenever Windows encounter a stop error, it automatically re-starts the system and leaves the users unable to read the codes and other information in time. If this is the case, fortunately, there are procedures to prevent Windows from automatically re-starting after a stop error.

For Windows XP

1. Go to Control Panel
2. Double click on System (Switch to Classic View if you can't find it)
3. Click on the Advanced tab
4. Click on the Settings button in Startup and Recovery (Third button)
5. Uncheck the Automatically restart box under System failure
6. Click OK

For Windows Vista

1. Go to Control Panel
2. Click on System and Maintenance
3. Click on System
4. Click on Advanced system settings located on the left panel
5. Click on the Settings button in Startup and Recovery area
6. Uncheck the Automatically restart box under System failure
7. Click OK

Windows error codes are useful tools for troubleshooting and help users in optimizing their systems for the best performance.

The information in these errors are also used by Windows developers in providing amendments and fixes to these problems as well as developing new products that have incorporated the resolutions to the common errors encountered by users.

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