Computer errors can pop up when least expected, they can
cause the entire system to suddenly shut down, and they can inadvertently
corrupt data to the point where it can’t be deciphered. Although they can’t
always be avoided, it’s important to remember that computer errors can be
corrected. The key is to understand what computer errors are, understand what
they mean when they show up, and understand how to minimize their occurrence in
the first place.
Basically, computer errors are the result of a number of
things that may or may not have anything to do with the way the computer is
used. They “operate” whenever there’s a conflict among commands. Remember that
computers essentially run off of a series of commands and it’s usually a smooth
process. But when one command conflicts with another command – or when one
command asks for a process or information that isn’t available, the computer
returns results that aren’t useable. That’s an error.
A prime example of this kind of error is when users attempt
to use software that isn’t applicable for their system. Almost all software
accompanies a list of system requirements which dictates what a computer needs
to have in order for the software to work properly. To minimize errors of this
sort, always verify that your computer has the required components. A project
management program that you’re interested in may require a specific operating
system, like Windows XP for example. And although this program may install just
fine on a Windows 98 machine, it will generate a multitude of errors once its
started.
Insufficient memory will cause errors as well. That’s why
software programs include minimum memory requirements. A program that needs
14MB of memory will generate errors on a computer that only has 4MB of memory
if it runs at all. The same goes for disk space, monitor color depth and
resolution. In these situations, problems occur the moment that a piece of
software attempts to access the things (hardware, memory, space, resolution,
etc.) that it cannot find.
Because some programs share common files, errors can also
occur when these shared files are not up to date. For instance, let’s say that
Program A is already installed on a computer and it’s working just fine. Then
let’s say that the user of that computer downloads and installs Program B.
Program B uses a file that Program A installed much earlier, but when Program B
is run, errors popup. Those errors are the result of Program B attempting to
use an outdated (shared) file that was installed by Program A. In order to fix
that problem, the user would have to download an updated version of the shared
file (which to say the least – is not an easy thing to find or do).
Sometimes, errors occur because a system doesn’t have the
required drivers or the drivers that are on the system are the incorrect
version. Both errors in these cases can be resolved by updating the computer on
a regular basis. Microsoft provides a section on its website that can
automatically update a computer online and it does this at no cost in an effort
to reduce errors like this. Always try to keep your computer updated so that
should a program share a file, it will share a file that has been updated on
hundreds of thousands of computers, like yours.
This article doesn’t even begin to cover the entire gamut of
computer errors – but additional information regarding how to get help with a
computer issue (including computer errors) can be found in our article titled,
“Computer Help” no matter what the problem is.
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