Runtime errors can be caused either by a computer’s operating system or by programs running within it. Although this seems to implicate an impossible number of potential culprits in troubleshooting such errors, they’re actually not so bad. It turns out that, as far Windows errors go, these particular errors a computer user has a good chance of doing something about. Understanding the different types of runtime errors and what causes them can often go a very long way toward lessening their frequency and severity, and successfully dealing with them as they arise.

What are they and what do they mean?

As their name implies, runtime errors are errors occurring while the operating system or offending program is still running. This means that it hasn’t crashed, so there is some real hope of making a clean getaway without losing valuable data. Also, standard runtime error messages in Windows are generally accompanied by error code numbers, or by specific information about the application and the problems it is experiencing. This means that troubleshooting is possible with a little detective work, even for non-technical users. Specific error messages can be looked up in Microsoft’s Knowledge Base or on other Internet sites, making it possible in most cases to get detailed information for fixing most runtime error messages.

What causes them?

Since the defining characteristic of runtime errors is that they occur while a program is running, a list of all the underlying causes would be interminably long. Still, the vast majority of runtime errors result from buggy or corrupted software code, with an ever increasing number resulting from computer viruses. How best to go about fixing these errors depends upon whether they arise from installed applications or from the operating system itself.

Application-Based Runtime Errors - If a runtime error is caused by an application running under Windows, the name of the application will generally appear in the title of the error dialog box, along with a short description of the error and some hints at how it can be fixed. These application-based runtime errors usually result from bugs in the application itself, or issues it has with hardware or other software installed on your computer. A first step toward remedying these types of errors is to check the software developer’s website for any available updates or patches. If none are available or if the problem persists, it is often helpful to uninstall and then reinstall the program (this might seem illogical, but it often does the trick and is definitely worth a try).

Operating System Errors - As with application-based errors, runtime errors associated with the operating system come with an error code number and description in their dialog box. These errors are usually caused by corrupted system files or by memory or hardware issues. For both application-based and system-based runtime errors, you won’t in general need to restart your computer, and should avoid doing so until after you have conducted a complete virus scan. This is especially true for operating system runtime errors, since damage due to viruses can spread to other system files and possibly prevent your computer from successfully rebooting.

An ounce of prevention...

In addition to keeping your virus protection up to date, perhaps the best means of preventing runtime errors is through the proper uninstallation of software on your computer. Although you might get rid of the bulk of an unwanted program by dragging it’s file to your recycle bin or removing it with the Add/Remove Programs utility in the Control Panel, it will invariably leave small bits of itself around in exotic places on your computer that you don’t even know about. These program remnants can interfere with the proper functioning of other installed programs, resulting in runtime errors as well as a host of other error types that can be difficult to locate and troubleshoot. For this reason, it is always recommended that you use the uninstall utilities that are included with installed programs whenever possible. If the program you are trying to remove does not come with an uninstall utility, it’s best to use a third-party uninstall utility (these are included in most anti-virus software suites).