Most of us have encountered a runtime error at some point. These errors are the kind which can hamper smooth working of applications on Microsoft Windows. You can tell a runtime error quite easily from the others, and they will nearly always come with a pop-up message informing you that there’s been an error. It is possible to debug from here, but to actually fix a runtime error; we have to look a little further.

There are many events which can cause runtime errors. The most popular of these are shown in the list below.

Conflicts with other running programs.
Software issue.
Computer virus.
Memory issue.
Conflicts with other running program.

When more than one application is running on a computer simultaneously, conflicts between applications can occur which lead on subsequently to what is known as deadlock state.

Deadlock state is a serious problem in Windows operating systems in which our application gets locked thanks to a resource which is required by another application. The program may be calling on shared resources that are unavailable at the time. To solve this, you should restart the deadlocked applications, saving any changes before doing so as a matter of priority.

Some software issues can also create run time errors, for example bugs which are mistakenly looked over by designers or developer at the time of the application’s creation. Applications will be working smoothly one minute, and then shutting down completely with runtime errors the next. If the runtime error is triggered by a fault in the application, you should check the relevant website for patch releases and fixes. Most software companies will freely distribute fixes to bugs that customers have found.

Some computer viruses also come through malware, spyware and adware. These can tamper with the usual working routine of an application and lead to runtime errors, particularly in cases as mentioned where resources are required by two applications at a given time. Run a simple spyware removal utility and be sure to keep your computer protected from malicious programs. This will usually wipe out those unwanted runtime popups.

Memory is also an important consideration for the origin of runtime errors. Some computers have less memory which makes it not sufficient for an application to run on properly. The failure to deal with memory allocation can trigger all kinds of problems, and you’re likely to notice that your computer is behaving particularly slow and clunky along the way. Runtime errors may appear randomly and at unexpected intervals.

For fixing such errors one should upgrade memory of computer, and ensure that it’s capable of handling the required application. You should increase the amount of RAM to improve your system’s performance, but also be sure to check on the installation requirements of a product before purchase. This will tell you whether there’s enough memory on your system. If you make the mistake of running an application on a low memory machine, you will likely get runtime errors. There is no way of getting around this, you can either upgrade or stop running the program.