🖥️ Top 20 Common Windows Errors and How to Fix Them (With Easy Solutions)

If you use a Windows PC, you’ve probably seen weird error messages like “Blue Screen,” “Access Denied,” or “0x80070005.” These errors can be frustrating — but most of them are fixable, even without being a tech expert.

Here’s a helpful guide on the 20 most common Windows errors, what causes them, and simple steps you can take to fix each one.

⚠️ 1. Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

Message Example:IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED
Causes: Driver problems, hardware failure, corrupted system files
Fix:

• Restart your PC

• Update drivers using Device Manager

• Run sfc /scannow and chkdsk /f

• Remove any newly installed hardware

🛑 2. “This App Can’t Run on Your PC”

Causes: Incompatible app version (e.g., 32-bit vs 64-bit), system restrictions
Fix:

• Download the correct version of the software

• Run as administrator

• Check if your PC is 32-bit or 64-bit (Settings > System > About)

⛔ 3. “Access Denied”

Causes: File or folder permission issues
Fix:

• Right-click > Properties > Security > Edit Permissions

• Run the program as an administrator

• Take ownership using command:

  takeown /f "C:\Path\To\File"

💽 4. “The File is Too Large for the Destination File System”

Causes: Trying to copy a file larger than 4GB to a USB drive formatted as FAT32
Fix:

• Format USB to exFAT or NTFS
  (Right-click USB > Format > Choose exFAT or NTFS)

🔍 5. “Windows Could Not Find...” or “Missing DLL Files”

Causes: Corrupt or missing DLL files
Fix:

• Run sfc /scannow in Command Prompt

• Reinstall the program giving the error

• Don’t download DLLs from random websites

🔐 6. Error Code 0x80070005 (Access Denied)

Causes: Windows Update or permission problem
Fix:

• Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

• Grant full control to required folders

• Run Command Prompt as admin and enter:

  net stop wuauservnet stop cryptSvcnet stop bitsnet stop msiserverren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.oldnet start wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserver

⚙️ 7. Windows Update Stuck or Fails to Install

Causes: Corrupt cache or background services
Fix:

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot

• Clear the update cache as shown in #6

• Restart your PC and try again

🧩 8. “There is a Problem with This Windows Installer Package”

Causes: Installation error
Fix:

• Redownload the installer

• Run as administrator

• Update Windows Installer (msiexec)

• Try compatibility mode

🌐 9. “DNS Server Not Responding”

Causes: Internet not working due to DNS issues
Fix:

• Use Google DNS:
  Go to Network Settings > Change Adapter Options > Right-click > Properties > IPv4 > Use this DNS:

  Preferred: 8.8.8.8  Alternate: 8.8.4.4  

• Restart router

🕸️ 10. “Limited Internet Access”

Fix:

• Right-click network > Troubleshoot

• Flush DNS cache with this command:

  ipconfig /flushdns

💾 11. “Windows Cannot Be Installed to This Disk”

Causes: Wrong partition format (GPT vs MBR)
Fix:

• Use Diskpart:

  diskpart  list disk  select disk 0  clean  convert gpt  

⚠️ This will erase everything on the disk.

🧱 12. “Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working”

Fix:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Restart Windows Explorer

• Run sfc /scannow

• Update display drivers

🔁 13. PC Randomly Restarts

Fix:

• Check for overheating

• Disable automatic restart (Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Uncheck auto-restart)

• Update all drivers

🔄 14. System Restore Fails

Fix:

• Turn off antivirus temporarily

• Use Safe Mode to run System Restore

• Run sfc /scannow

🔊 15. No Sound on PC

Fix:

• Check volume mixer and output device

• Update or reinstall sound drivers

• Run Windows Troubleshooter

🔧 16. “A Required Device Isn’t Connected or Can’t Be Accessed” (0xc000000e)

Causes: Boot configuration issue
Fix:

• Boot into recovery mode > Troubleshoot > Command Prompt

• Rebuild BCD:

  bootrec /fixmbr  bootrec /fixboot  bootrec /scanos  bootrec /rebuildbcd

📁 17. Corrupted Recycle Bin

Fix:

• Open Command Prompt and type:

  rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin

Then restart your PC.

🔃 18. “Windows Is Not Genuine”

Fix:

• Make sure your Windows license is valid

• If you bought a legit key, re-enter it:

  slmgr.vbs /ipk YOUR-KEY-HERE

💡 19. “Your PC Ran Into a Problem and Needs to Restart”

This is another form of BSOD.

Fix:

• Same as BSOD steps above

• Update drivers and scan for malware

🧯 20. “0xc000007b – Application Was Unable to Start Correctly”

Causes: 32-bit/64-bit conflict, missing Visual C++ files
Fix:

• Reinstall Visual C++ Redistributables

• Reinstall the app

• Update .NET Framework

Final Tip

You can fix most Windows errors with these built-in tools:

• System File Checker (SFC):

  sfc /scannow  

• DISM Tool:

  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth  

• Windows Troubleshooters from the settings menu

These errors may look scary, but most of them have simple solutions. If you're ever unsure, search the error code or message, or ask in forums with details about your PC model and what you tried.

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