Trouble Shooting Windows Error Messages ( Part 2 )

Microsoft's Knowledge Base

When you get an Error Message even after you Reboot, write it down and go Here and Here to check, Clear all fields and check to search the Knowledge base, type the error message in the search box ( like VXD Error ) and read all related topics to that Error, you then, may be able to troubleshoot it. It may tell you if it is related to a certain program, file, driver, etc.

Online Programs

I get error messages with certain programs,such as, when I go Online at Mplayer.com, the Mic program that logs me on and off the site sometimes will not shut down( stays in RAM), my computer will not shut down, I get blue screens or get stuck on the Windows is shutting down screen, but if I reboot after I have been Online, using my reboot button on the Computer or ctrl-alt-delete, it goes away, you clear it from your RAM. With Visual Page I get Illegal Operation boxes, I think it is because I open and close screens to fast, when I go slower, I do not get them. So as you see, most are not bad, just annoying, but I would rather have Windows be over protective then under protective.

Add/Remove

Regular Maintenance of your File System and Uninstalling and Installing Software properly will keep the Errors to a minimum. Use the Add/Remove program in your control panel to remove programs. Running a program such as Norton Utilities WinDoctor or RegCleaner after removing a program, will help to find and give you the option to remove anything the Uninstall utility left behind in the Registry. A lot of these are left in the registry and are still linked to a program that is no longer on your Computer. You or I would not be able to find these problems, being that they are in the registry.

System File Checker

Also run System File Checker regularly, Start--Programs--Accessories--System Tools--System Information--Tools--System File Checker. Windows Scans itself and repairs corrupted files, it will ask you for the Windows Disk or your restore disk to restore from.

Device Manager

Also check the Device Manager start-settings-control panel-system-Device Manager Tab to troubleshoot any problems you may be having with your hardware. Sometimes Windows for some odd reason will duplicate things in the Device Manager, like two of the same CD-Roms or two mice, if it shows doubles ( identical ) check the properties of each one and delete the one that has problems or no resources. You may have to delete both of them and have Windows refind it on a reboot. I have had it double and Triple almost everything, which created, Problems, but after I deleted the extra ones everything went back to normal.

Scan Disk

You may also want to run Scan Disk--Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-Scan Disk. You should really run this once a month, check the fix Errors Automatically box.

Disk Defragmentor

If you install and Uninstall programs frequently, after running Scan Disk run Disk Defragmentor-same place as Scan Disk, this will reorganize your files, instead of them being scattered all over the disk, they will be place at the beginning of the disk. That way, the hard drive is not looking all over the disk to find what it needs. Like my desk, I have papers laying all over the place, OK I know that file is some where, maybe under here or under this. Disk Defragmentor will come along and put all the files back where they belong, so all I have to do, is go to the file cabinet and whala there it is in file cabinet.

Defragmenting Problems

When you run Windows Defragmentor or any Defragmentor, go to Ctlr-Alt-Delete and End the Tasks on everything , except SysTray and Explorer. Defragmentor will take forever or just keep restarting when all those programs are running.

Windows System Information

This can give you a lot of information about your Computer, go to Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Information, it can also be helpful tracking down conflicts with your software or hardware.

DSS Agent

Some Errors come from Startup Programs. One in particular that gave me problem's was DSS agent. Once I disabled it, the problem's went away. I disabled it in the msconfig startup. Start-Run-type, msconfig, click the, Startup Tab, I then unchecked DSS agent. This was a registration program, in a folder called bbstore on my C drive.

DirectX Diagnostic Tool

You find this by going to Start-Programs-Accessories-System Information-Tools-DirectX Diagnostic Tool. You should stay updated to the newest version of DirectX, which is 9.0c, a lot of your programs need DirectX to function properly. You will see the Version you have on the first screen of the Tool. Here is a Link to the latest version of DirectX, if you need it. DirectX 9.0c