What is a Runtime Error?

A runtime error means that the operating system or an application found something wrong when it tried to run a portion of the programming code. Many times they are the result of a bad macro or an application template that is installed on your computer. A runtime error message can be caused by one oif the following conditions:

• Conflict with terminate and stay resident (TSR) or other running programs
• Software issues with either the operating system or the application itself
• Computer Virus, Trojan, spy ware, etc.
• Insufficient Memory (RAM) or a bad block in the memory

Any of these problems can cause the application to freeze, close unexpectedly, generate an error message, or in the worst case cause the blue screen of death that occurs when the operating systems hangs up and crashes. Believe it or not, the blue screen of death is actually a built-in protective mechanism designed to halt everything in an effort to prevent irreparable damage to an operating system file. If you experience a blue screen of death and turn off the computer then turn it back on and it boots to windows, you just avoided a serious problem. If the machine never boots again, the protective mechanism failed to prevent the damage and you need to either do a system restore or a complete operating system re-installation. However, most runtime errors don’t crash the operating system.

How Do You Fix Runtime Errors?

Conflict with a Running Program

First, make sure you have the latest windows service pack is installed. If not, go to the Microsoft website and download the latest service pack and follow the directions to install it.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, you need to check all of the TSRs running on your machine. Terminate and stay resident programs are programs loaded into memory at startup. Most of the icons you see in the right hand portion of the status bar belong to TSRs.  The first thing to do is right click on all of those icons and turn them off if it is possible. As an example of a TSR, I have a little icon on the status bar from the weather channel that tells me what the outside temperature is where I live. By Right clicking on the icon, I can select exit the application to shut it down and remove it from memory. After turning off as many TSRs as possible, try the application that crashed again to see if it works.

Software Problem

If a specific application is causing the runtime error, visit the publisher’s website to see if there are any patches or updates for the application. If no patches or updates are available, uninstall the application. Reboot the machine to clear the memory. Then reinstall the application. If that doesn’t fix the problem, contact the application publisher’s helpdesk for further assistance.

Add-ons and Plug-ins

Many applications allow you to install add-ons and plug-ins to provide greater functionality. Web browsers are a common example. Acrobat reader, macromedia flash and shockwave are all browser plug-ins. Again, check the publisher’s website for patches or updates. If none are available or they don’t fix the runtime problem, uninstall the application. Reboot the machine to clear the memory. Then reinstall the application. If that doesn’t fix the problem, contact the plug-in publisher’s helpdesk for further assistance.

Computer Virus, Trojan or Spy Ware

Computer viruses can write to most files on the computer including system files. They can also reconfigure applications and system components. As a result, they frequently generate runtime errors. Scan your computer for viruses, ad ware, spy ware, Trojans, worms, etc. Use any good anti-virus program or combination of programs to correct any problems encountered. Besides virus and spy ware scanning, you should also run a registry cleaner to fix any registry problems caused by the infection.

Memory Problems

Memory problems involve running out of memory or having a bad block on the memory chip. Open the system icon in the control panel to see how much memory you have installed. If you don’t have the maximum allowed for your machine, add as much as you can. You can also remove your memory chips following the computer’s user manual and take them to a dealer for testing. If the chip is bad, you should replace it.

Microsoft Knowledge Base

If you do receive an error message with an error code, go to http://support.microsoft.com/gp/errormessage and look up the error message. If it is a known problem, Microsoft usually has step-by-step instructions on how to fix the runtime error. If not, they may be able to direct you to another source for assistance.