Troubleshooting Common Windows Issues: A Simple Guide

Troubleshooting Common Windows Issues

When a new version of Windows appears, users have to face specific update errors. So, how many Windows errors have you experienced in the last week? Surely enough. Plus, it’s doubly unpleasant to see all those pop-up messages, as they are often vague and offer no concrete solutions. So it’s time to fix that. And let this article serve as a simple guide for troubleshooting the most common Windows issues.

Before Troubleshooting: Reboot Your Computer

This advice may seem silly to you, but don’t be too quick to laugh. A simple reboot does fix many problems and only takes a minute. Moreover, you may find that your problem disappears after it, especially if you haven’t shut your device down for a while. Experts recommend turning off a computer weekly to reduce possible errors. But if that doesn’t help, it’s worth moving on to heavier artillery.

Windows Update Error 0x80070057

Sometimes a specific Windows error code doesn’t help. Frequent errors often result in a different code each time, making it difficult to determine the exact cause. But there’s one error code that almost every user knows: 0x80070057. It has been around since Windows XP and usually appears when the Windows Update has a problem. This error usually appears when a Windows backup or installation fails or when the Windows Update refuses to install updates. Solutions include renaming the SoftwareDistribution folder, editing some log files, and replacing corrupt files manually.

The Windows Update is perfect when it works, but bugs are hard to solve. Moreover, Windows issues fix may take much time and effort, especially if you don’t have enough knowledge and skills. So it’s good that there’s an online service like Howly, where you can get expert help for Windows and other Microsoft products 24/7 at any time of the day or night. Moreover, Howly specialists solve problems even faster than the Microsoft call center.

DLL Errors

A DLL is a generic file many applications can call to perform specific actions. They are built into Windows, so each application doesn’t need to create its method, for example, to print a test page. Regardless of which printer application you use, when you click Print Test Page, this calls the default Windows method.

Sometimes, when you try to open an application, you see a message saying that the application won’t start because XYZ.dll is missing from your computer. Your first instinct might be to search for said DLL on the Internet and download a new copy. However, this is not a good idea. For the same reasons, you should check for drivers by yourself since downloading DLL files from the Internet can cause more problems than it fixes.

Furthermore, you have no guarantee that DLL websites offer updated versions, and malware can also infiltrate them. So how do you fix DLL errors? First, you should delete and reinstall the application, which often solves the problem. You can do it in a few minutes if it’s a small application.

If the problem persists, the next option is to recover your system. It will restore your computer configuration to a suitable time a few days ago. First, go back to recent history in which you have not noticed similar problems. After that, reinstall the application if you haven’t already done so. Finally, check for driver updates related to your application, such as your printer or video card.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, you should run a system file checker like a corrupted Windows installation. Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt. Type sfc /scannow to run a file check, which takes a few minutes. The tool will inform you if it finds any errors.

Security Certificate Errors

Security certificates work in every way so that you can connect to websites safely. Website owners who use a secure HTTPS connection must pay a third-party certificate authority, such as GoDaddy or Norton, for a valid certificate. Your browser maintains a list of legitimate CAs that it trusts. When you visit a secure site whose certificate matches your browser’s expectations, everything goes well.

If there is a mismatch, you’ll see an error message that the Web site may not be secure. Sometimes these errors are legitimate. For example, the website’s owner may have forgotten to renew the certificate, which has expired. So it’s better to inform your browser that something is wrong. Or, if an intruder hacks the Web site, the certificate may not be scanned, and thus your browser will alert you that it is not secure.

When this happens, be careful when using a specific website if you’re not sure you trust it. It’s different if you see these errors every time you try to visit any site. And here, you can take concrete actions to fix security certificate errors. The most common reason is that your computer’s timing is inaccurate. Considering that certificates have specific start and end dates. If your computer thinks it is 2003, it doesn’t see any certificates as valid.

Look up your computer’s time by right-clicking the time on the taskbar and selecting Adjust Date/Time. In most cases, you can let Windows set the time automatically, but you can also synchronize all your devices with a smartwatch. So first, make sure you select the correct time zone. And then, after a while, restart your device.

If the watch malfunctions while booting up, the CMOS battery on the motherboard is probably dead. This little battery allows your device to keep track of the time even when it is turned off. You can get a replacement battery on the cheap, but depending on your computer, it may be hard to get. You can contact Howly experts to know if this battery can be simply replaceable.

Conclusion

Error messages are no fun, but you don’t have to be afraid of them. With the help of Howly experts, you can solve all Windows issues. Plus, it’s another good reminder always to keep a backup of your computer. You never know when a bug might prevent you from using your device and force you to reinstall Windows.


Christine TomasChristine Tomas is a tech expert, consultant, and aspiring writer. She writes for different news portals and thematic blogs that helps her stay at the heart of the programming and technology news. Such work gives her the opportunity to write articles on the most relevant topics today.

Troubleshooting Common Windows Issues: A Simple Guide

Leave a Reply

Scroll to top