Other software errors. Just like OS programmers, the people who develop third-party programs must create software that will work with a sprawling list of hardware, as well as popular programs from other companies. That's a daunting task, in part because each program on the end user's computer needs to share the CPU, RAM, and other system resources. It's a failure to anticipate problems that generate errors. "In general, warning and error messages are used to indicate that a situation has occurred that was not expected," says Russ Miller, director of software development for Corel.

Sometimes, an error message will offer a generalized explanation that the program isn't compatible with a hardware component, but that imprecise message won't necessarily help you fix the problem. Other messages may indicate that system resources aren't available because another program is working, but you still might not have a clue on how to resolve the conflict.

These unclear errors are notorious for their unhelpfulness, at least to ordinary home users; nevertheless, many error messages offer more help than those of the past. For example, if you can't save a file in a specific format, a program might well explain why. And if an application is starved for memory, there's a good chance an error message will give you an accurate heads up.

Things should continue to improve as companies provide a more aggressive reaction to errors. Microsoft lets users send error reports via email, hoping to glean information that will help the company's products work better in the future. Miller indicates Corel's applications offer a similar capability and says, "the software offers to transmit a snapshot of related system data via email that enables programmers and testers to get to the root of problems as quickly as possible and ensure the top concerns are addressed in future updates."

What You Can Do. When you see an error message, be sure to make a copy of it. De-pending on the circumstances, you may be able to highlight the error message and its description using your mouse pointer. Then press CTRL-C to copy the message, open a word processing program, and press CTRL-V to paste the information into a blank document. Save the file for future reference. If you can't copy and paste the message, get out your trusty pen and notepad and jot down the message in its entirety.

After you copy the error message, try re-starting your computer to see if that resolves any problems you experienced. Often, simply clearing your PC's memory with a restart will set things back to normal with no extra effort from you. Recurring error messages are more frustrating because of their persistence, but depending on the situation, you might be able to resolve such errors very quickly. Check out the following tips to combat common errors.

New installations. Many errors surface soon after you install new hardware or software because conflicts often occur between the new product and previously installed components. To put an end to such messages, you might be able to uninstall the program or hardware (and hardware drivers) and then restart your computer to an errorless state.

If you do find that removing a new product eliminates errors, you might have to do some research to figure out the source of the conflict before you can reinstall the new product. Check the manufacturer's Web site for updated drivers, search support areas for known conflicts, and contact technical support for assistance. Sometimes tech support gurus can help you tweak a setting to end software conflicts.

Let it finish. Developing new computing habits can also limit the number of error messages you see. When you first start up your PC, let the hard drive come to a complete stop before starting a task; this lets your computer load all necessary drivers and operating system components necessary for efficient and error-free operation. The same concept works for your other programs. Let each program start up or shut down completely before you move on to another job.

Look it up. You can investigate Windows error messages on Microsoft's support site (support.microsoft.com). Click Search The Knowledge Base, select your OS, and enter part of the error message in the Search For text box. You may well find information here to help fix recurring PC problems.

Just The Beginning. Now you understand a few of the reasons that perplexing and annoying error messages wind up on your monitor. You also know that such messages often occur because too many components are competing for the same system resources.

You will probably never own an error-free system, but with the knowledge you absorb here, you won't panic at every error message you encounter, and your computing sessions will be less stressful and more productive.

by Nathan Chandler