Windows has been getting better since its introduction. Windows 95/98 were probably the most error prone out there (though Windows ME was certainly up there), with Windows XP and Windows Vista both being a little bit more stable.

Six Common Causes of Windows Errors

But, and you probably already knew this, Windows comes relatively stable out of the box. The user helps make it unstable, and the user does so by:

1. Downloading a bunch of garbage programs that clog up your hard drive

Yes, you can download as many applications as you want (such is the freedom of owning your own computer, right?), but that doesn’t excuse the fact that downloading garbage or poorly written applications is only going to cause you problems.

2. Improper maintenance of your computer

We aren’t talking about the hard drive, or keeping your folders properly segregated. We’re talking physically. If your computer is constantly struggling, it may be a result of a physical affliction. Perhaps one of your hard drives is dying, a case fan has gone out, or the case itself is loaded with dust and debris.

When was the last time that you popped open the case, grabbed a can of compressed air, and got rid of all the dust inside of it? That’s what we thought.

3. Downloading movies and music from untrustworthy sources

BearShare and LimeWire are not trustworthy sources, so don’t download from them. Torrents are also a great way to clog up your computer, and potentially catch the latest and greatest virus to come out of a programmer’s basement. If you’re going to download music, use a service like iTunes or Napster- both are inexpensive, and the music is high quality and virus free.

4. Letting other people use your computer

No matter how much our friends complain (and believe us, they do) we never let them touch our computer. They are password protected and locked down whenever we aren’t around to use them. Why? Because people love to break stuff that isn’t theirs.

5. Trying to fix their mistakes without educating yourself first

If your computer pops up saying you’re missing a system file the last thing you should do is attempt to solve that problem on your own. Do some research, read a bit, and consult a tech person. What usually happens is you thrash it more than it was when you began, and that’s no good for anyone involved.

6. Leaving it on all the time

Do yourself a favor and turn your computer off every now and again. There’s no reason for the hard drive and fans to be spinning if you’re asleep. The wear and tear on those items adds up to performance decreases, and in the case of your hard drive, instability and other issues that pop up over time.

Want to avoid turning your computer into an expensive piece of useless silicon? See our article (aptly titled “5 Ways to Keep Your Computer Happy”).

Computing can be taxing on you if you don’t take small precautions. Ailments like carpal tunnel can sneak up on you before you know it. To avoid any negative effects, and to enjoy the best possible computing experience, follow these very easy four steps:

1. Sit in a comfortable chair that adequately supports your back

A bean bag won’t cut it. You need a chair with solid back support, and arm rests are a big plus. This will keep you comfortable, but more importantly, this will ensure that you don’t experience back pain when operating your computer.

2. Take a twenty minute break every couple of hours

Believe it or not, but staring at a glowing computer screen can be hard on your eyes. Give your eyes a break and make a sandwich, stand by the water cooler, or go for a walk every now and then. This will relieve eye strain, help prevent headaches, and keep you refreshed when you do sit back down.

3. Learn to type properly

Do you remember those typing classes you took in school? Well, whip out the books and give yourself a refresher. Proper typing is the single best way to prevent carpal tunnel. Not only that, but you’ll type a whole lot faster too.

4. Align your monitor so that you are not looking down at it

Even a small decline, over time, will cause a nice neck ache for you to enjoy. Having your monitor eye level, or even slightly raised, will prevent that from happening.

Along with those four rules, a bit of common sense will keep you chugging along happily and without grief. A lifestyle that involves a bit of exercise is also quite helpful and can go a long way. Believe us, there is no better feeling than relaxing at the computer after a good 45 minute workout. You won’t feel guilty about sitting there, and your body is actually in repair mode, meaning you need the rest then. Instead of being sedentary and doing nothing good for your body, you are actually repairing it and building up strength and immunities so you can healthily compute your future days away!

It sounds a little far-fetched, but error repair software is a viable, cost-effective alternative to taking your computer into an error repair specialist, and it doesn’t require you to erase all of your data either. Many programs, such as RegCure, have been downloaded millions of times by people all over the world.

The process to using an error repair suite to repair your computer errors is simple:

Download the Software

There are dozens of different ones for you to try, but we recommend RegCure. Other software you may want to consider is VirusErase – Again, we only promote software that is tried, tested, and free (unless otherwise noted).

Perform a Free System Scan

One of the beneficial aspects of error repair software is that just about every one (including all of the software we recommended above) will allow you to perform a free system scan. This scan is a comprehensive sweep of your computer, and it will find any errors that need to be repaired.

Purchase a License for the Error Software

While you are able to perform a system scan for free, you are required to purchase a license if you actually want to repair any of the errors found. A single PC license is usually under $40 and is a worthwhile investment (you have unlimited use of the software in the future – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!).

Follow the Instructions Provided to Repair the Errors

In order to repair computer errors with the software, you will simply need to follow the instructions provided to you. It really is that simple!

Bear in mind that the software may not find or be able to remove all of your computer errors. Some errors may be too complex, or if the error is hardware related, beyond the scope of the software to repair. RegCure comes with a 60 day refund policy in the event that it is unable to assist you or repair your computer errors. Considering the average repair technicians’ cost of $200 (and often more), the $30 for error repair software is money well spent.

Repair Software Download Links

RegCure – Free Registry Scan - detects any registry corruptions and helps your computer run more smoothly and efficiently.

VirusErase – Free Virus Scan - detects any viruses you may have, and then continuously monitors your computer for future infections.

The problem is that the operating system became more and more complicated. As hardware expanded so did the drivers required to use them. Windows quickly grew from much more than just an operating system- it became a standard that hardware and software alike were jointly developed for.

The More Complex the Machine, the More Errors it Experiences

The kind of computer errors that Microsoft Windows began to experience grew from simple incompatibility errors to complex, multi-layered errors. When Microsoft released Windows 95 it developed a stigma about computer errors: Windows-based personal computers were riddled with them. Mac fans everywhere ridiculed, and Windows users everywhere endured computer error after computer error.

That’s not to say that Windows is a faulty piece of hardware. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Windows is a capable operating system that does many things very well. Unfortunately, since Windows has become the de-facto standard for operating systems, more hardware and software are designed with Windows in mind than any other operating system, making Windows much more intricate.

How to Avoid Experiencing Tons of Computer Errors with Windows

Your average computer user isn’t too knowledgeable about how to properly use their computer. This results in the user literally creating their very own computer errors to enjoy. To avoid computer errors while using Windows, follow these simple steps:

1. Download an anti-virus and anti-spyware suite. This software will prevent viruses and spyware applications from infecting your computer. Both viruses and spyware can do significant damage before you even realize that your computer is infected with them.
2. Create limited-access accounts on your computer for non-primary users. Who are the main users of the computer going to be? If it’s just you, make a secondary “guest” account with limited access so that your friends and family don’t bugger something up when they’re using your computer.
3. Run a virus, spyware, and error scan at least once per week. If you don’t have an error repair suite, such as RegCure, get one. Like an anti-virus scanner, an error repair suite identifies and repairs computer errors easily and quickly.

What is a DLL and What Causes the Windows DLL Error?

Most Windows DLL errors are caused by missing DLL files, corrupt DLL files, or multiple versions of various DLL files (though this has been less of an issue since clean-up methods have been put in place since 2001). Since a DLL file plays an important role in how your computer is run, having an error with one can be a real pain.

A DLL is Microsoft’s implementation of the shared library concept. Not sure what that means? Essentially it means that the information contained with the DLL file can be shared across multiple paths and programs, allowing your computer to multi-task more efficiently and run on a small RAM footprint. DLL files come in a few different extensions: .dll, .ocx (for libraries containing ActiveX controls), and .drv (for legacy system drivers). What’s important to remember is that a DLL file can contain code, data, or resources in any combination.

In older versions of Windows (Windows 3.1 right up to Windows 2000) DLL errors were much more common than in Windows XP/Windows Vista. This is because it was possible to have multiple versions of the same DLL file, causing programs to often reference the wrong one. This resulted in incompatibilities, system crashing, and poor system performance in general. It was aptly nicknamed “DLL hell”, as it could take even an educated person quite a while to determine the source of, and the solution to, the problem.

Resolving the Windows DLL Error

If you have an error repair suite, resolving a DLL error is usually as simple as booting up the program and running it. Most DLL errors are pretty standard in that it’s typically the same DLL files that are corrupt or missing. If your error repair suite is unable to replace or repair the DLL file in question, however, you have online resources available to you:

• http://www.regcure.com – Free registry scan that detects and repairs missing/corrupt .dll files
• http://www.dll-files.com – A comprehensive directory that has been online since 1998. Chances are good that you’ll find your missing DLL file here.
• http://www.windll.com – Another directory of DLL and SYS files for download.

If you know of any additional sources that you have used or could use to resolve DLL errors, please let us know. We are always working to expand our knowledge base to help other users (and ourselves) about additional fixes for common, annoying errors!