See also: Windows Registry Error, Windows DLL Error

You’re at your computer happily typing along when suddenly your window closes and a pop-up box appears.  A wave of emotions wash over you, starting with confusion and ultimately ending in sheer frustration: you’ve just encountered a Windows runtime error.

In most cases you aren’t even aware of what you were doing at the time of the error.  Because it can happen so quickly, and typically results in the programs you had open closing, it can be difficult to remember exactly what you were doing and when.  Not only will you have lost any work/information that was open, but you have also likely lost your ability to properly diagnose what caused the runtime error.

What is a Windows Runtime Error?

Like most errors that one will experience when using Microsoft Windows, a runtime error usually has more than one meaning.  However, it typically results during the execution of a program.  What’s interesting about a Windows runtime error, however, is that it is actually a “bug” that was put in place by the program developer to act as a “fail safe”, so to speak.

A runtime error terminates the program before the program crashes quite dramatically on its own.

What Causes a Windows Runtime Error?

There are a myriad of things that can cauase a runtime error.  However, the most common causes are:

• A conflict with another program that is currently running - If a program is attempting to reference files or information that is also being referenced by another program it may cause the program you are using to become unstable.  The result?  A Windows runtime error.

• Software instablity or bugs - If the program you are using has not been optimized properly, or has an issue with the enviornment that it is operating in (such as other programs, hardware, etc.) it may result in a runtime error.

• Computer virus, malware, or spyware - Aside from using up excessive amount of system resources, malicious software (viruses, spyware, malware) can have a profoundly negative impact on your computer and how it operates.  Viruses are one of the biggest reasons your computer may experience a runtime error.

• Lack of system memory or resources - If a program becomes memory starved (unable to access free memory, or your computer does not have any memory available for it to access) it become unstable.  This, of course, results in a runtime error.

How Can You Fix a Windows Runtime Error?

Given that runtime errors are caused by malicious software or program conflicts the solution comes down to rectifying one (or both) of those conditions.

Malicious software is easy enough to get rid of.  Installing an anti-virus software, or the excellent AntiSpyware 2009 (see our review of Anti Spyware 2009 here), is usually enough to get rid of most forms of viruses, malware, and spyware.  It’s important to note that an anti-virus generally will not be very good at removing spyware.  If spyware is your problem, something like AntiSpyware 2009 is going to be the ideal solution (if you’re unsure if spyware is the problem AntiSpyware 2009 will do a free scan for you).

Now, program conflicts is a bit more tricky to resolve.  Runtime errors caused by program conflicts could be the result of one of many different types of conflict: DLL conflicts, shared file conflicts, read/write conflicts, etc.  If you aren’t a computer genius your options are, unfortunately, a little limited to either hiring a professional or using a registry cleaner, such as Registry Easy, to resolve your problem for you.

We recommend using a registry cleaner as they are much less expensive than having a computer repair specialist fix your computer for you.

Our top three registry cleaner programs that are proven to fix Windows runtime errors:

• Registry Easy - Click to read our review.

• Registry Fix - Click to read our review.

• Registry Genius - Click to read our review.