Error Code After A Windows Driver Crash: What Do These Numbers Mean?

Getting to the bottom of the numbers

No one, including even the most hard-core tech geek, memorizes crash codes, but there is a way to find out what these modern-day hieroglyphics mean. I suppose the whole issue of deciphering a crash code raises the question: “Why not just produce the error message instead of a string of numbers?” The short answer is that the crash code is what’s stored in the computer’s memory. Deciphering the little nugget of information may exceed the capability of a crashed computer.

Enter ErrMsg. This is a little application that deciphers a crash code and spells out the results in plain English – or at least English that’s as plain as possible. After reading the interpretation, you still may not be able to decipher what caused your crash, but you’ll at least be dealing with words and not numbers!

ErrMsg is free and will translate error codes from any version of Windows, and works on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. Knowing what you’re up against is just the first step in fixing the problem, but ErrMsg can shine a light on the actions that are most likely to resolve your crash problems.

For example, ErrMsg might indicate a problem with a file structure, a file pointer or an entire file. These problems might lead you to run the built-in CheckDisk utility to check for and fix file system errors. On other hand, an error message might lead you to suspect a driver or hardware problem. In this case, you might try to remove and re-install the correct Windows hardware driver to see if that helps. You may also check the hardware configuration to make sure the computer recognizes and responds to your peripheral hardware correctly.

ErrMsg isn’t the world’s most accurate troubleshooting tool, but it can point you in the right direction when you have no idea where to go! You can also reduce the potential for problems among your Windows drivers by using a driver management program like Driver Detective. Driver Detective downloads, installs, monitors and maintains all of your system drivers, so you don’t have to.

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Symptoms Of Driver Problems

A Dud Driver Isn’t Always A Dead Driver

The first sign of a driver problem may be a Windows error message. Unfortunately, Windows error messages may not be very specific or accurate when it comes to indicating that there may be a driver or hardware problem. Complicating the matter is that some devices are powered on when you boot the computer and some external devices are powered separately. If you receive error messages when you turn on a peripheral device, or the computer cannot reliably detect the external device, that’s a good indication that your driver may need replacement.

If your system crashes when you try to access a hardware device, or behaves erratically when you are working with a driver-dependent piece of hardware, you may have a corrupted driver on your system. If you can never see the device from the computer, or you can see it but cannot access it, this may also indicate a driver replacement is in order.

Poor device function is a good indicator of trouble. This is especially true of video and audio peripherals. If you experience poor sound quality, dropouts, video flashing, poor resolution or other similar problems, consider updating or replacing the suspected audio or video driver.

If you’ve recently installed a new hardware device or driver and suddenly experience problems, the new device driver may be the cause. Be sure to keep your system and drivers updated at all times. Microsoft has gone a long way toward eliminating driver conflicts (very common problem in much older versions of the OS) and resource conflicts, but a new driver can upset the apple cart. The best way to avoid conflicts is to update your drivers and system regularly and apply all OS patches as they are made available.

I recommend the use of Driver Detective for all hardware driver management functions. Driver Detective will track, download, install and archive the hardware drivers required for your particular computer configuration. If drivers become corrupted or lost, Driver Detective will install a fresh copy, thereby eliminating many driver problems.

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Computer Speed Could Be Related To Windows Driver Problems

Bad Drivers Can Slow Your Computer Down
There are about a zillion things that can cause a computer to slow down, so troubleshooting a speed issue can be difficult. If you have the patience to locate the problem, you’re one step ahead of the game.

With speed problems, you want to know what the computer’s processor is doing and what the computer’s memory is doing. When these two resources are taxed, you can expect your computer to slow down. Windows comes with a performance monitor that can help you determine how much of your computer’s memory is in use, and how much of the processor is being used.

You can also use the Task Manager in Windows to find out what programs are running and how much of the processor’s capacity each application is consuming. If you have one process that’s taking up 90% of the processor, shut that application down using the Task Manager and see if your problem improves. It’s also a good idea to reboot the computer, particularly if an application has gone “walkabout” on you. Restarting the computer can clear out other problems in the OS or memory that may have caused the application to misbehave in the first place.

Once you restart your computer, look at the Performance Monitor and the Task Manager again. If the problem persists, scan your computer for viruses and malware that could be causing bad performance. Get rid of whatever you find.
You can also check your drivers. A missing, bad or corrupted driver can wreak havoc on your system. It can significantly increase the time it takes for your computer to boot, and it can also cause hardware malfunctions and other system-related problems.

To diagnose driver problems, unload your drivers and reload them manually one at a time. If you find the offender, uninstall it and re-install a fresh copy of the driver. Test your system to see if your speed problems improve. If unloading and reloading all of your drivers manually sounds like a chore, it is. You could also use a driver manager like Driver Detective. This program can automatically spot bad drivers, or drivers that are missing or in need of an update. Using Driver Detective to manage your drivers won’t solve all of your speed problems, but it will eliminate most of your concerns about your Windows drivers.

Photo Credit: Karola Riegler, via Flickr

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