Most common Windows error codes and how to fix them

If you use a Windows operating system you might have already encountered error codes appearing in the dialog boxes when the system reports an error. These codes are automatically generated to help users and developers understand what went wrong and how to fix it. You can check the list of the most common error codes below to understand what happened, find a way to debug the system and get your OS functioning properly.

The most common system error codes in Windows

• ERROR_INVALID_FUNCTION – 1 (0x1) – Incorrect function.
• ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND – 2 (0x2) – The system cannot find the file specified.
• ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND – 3 (0x3) – The system cannot find the path specified.
• ERROR_TOO_MANY_OPEN_FILES – 4 (0x4) – The system cannot open the file.
• ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED – 5 (0x5) – Access is denied.
• ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE – 6 (0x6) – The handle is invalid.
• ERROR_ARENA_TRASHED – 7 (0x7) – The storage control blocks were destroyed.
• ERROR_NOT_ENOUGH_MEMORY – 8 (0x8) – Not enough storage is available to process this command.
• ERROR_INVALID_BLOCK – 9 (0x9) – The storage control block address is invalid.
• ERROR_BAD_ENVIRONMENT – 10 (0xA) – The environment is incorrect.
• ERROR_BAD_FORMAT – 11 (0xB) – An attempt was made to load a program with an incorrect format.
• ERROR_INVALID_ACCESS – 12 (0xC) – The access code is invalid.
• ERROR_INVALID_DATA – 13 (0xD) – The data is invalid.
• ERROR_OUTOFMEMORY – 14 (0xE) – Not enough storage is available to complete this operation.
• ERROR_INVALID_DRIVE – 15 (0xF) – The system cannot find the drive specified.
• ERROR_CURRENT_DIRECTORY – 16 (0x10) – The directory cannot be removed.
• ERROR_NOT_SAME_DEVICE – 17 (0x11) – The system cannot move the file to a different disk drive.
• ERROR_NO_MORE_FILES – 18 (0x12) – There are no more files.
• ERROR_WRITE_PROTECT – 19 (0x13) – The media is write-protected.
• ERROR_BAD_UNIT – 20 (0x14) – The system cannot find the device specified.
• ERROR_BAD_UNIT – 20 (0x14) – The system cannot find the device specified.
• ERROR_NOT_READY – 21 (0x15) – The device is not ready.
• ERROR_BAD_COMMAND – 22 (0x16) – The device does not recognize the command.
• ERROR_CRC – 23 (0x17) – Data error (cyclic redundancy check).
• ERROR_BAD_LENGTH – 24 (0x18) – The program issued a command but the command length is incorrect.
• ERROR_SEEK – 25 (0x19) – The drive cannot locate a specific area or track on the disk.
• ERROR_NOT_DOS_DISK – 26 (0x1A) – The specified disk or diskette cannot be accessed.
• ERROR_SECTOR_NOT_FOUND – 27 (0x1B) – The drive cannot find the sector requested.
• ERROR_OUT_OF_PAPER – 28 (0x1C) – The printer is out of paper.
• ERROR_WRITE_FAULT – 29 (0x1D) – The system cannot write to the specified device.
• ERROR_READ_FAULT – 30 (0x1E) – The system cannot read from the specified device.
• ERROR_GEN_FAILURE – 31 (0x1F) – A device attached to the system is not functioning.
• ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION – 32 (0x20) – The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.
• ERROR_LOCK_VIOLATION – 33 (0x21) – The process cannot access the file because another process has locked a portion of the file.
• ERROR_SHARING_BUFFER_EXCEEDED – 36 (0x24) – Too many files opened for sharing.
• ERROR_HANDLE_EOF – 38 (0x26) – Reached the end of the file.
• ERROR_HANDLE_DISK_FULL – 39 (0x27) – The disk is full.
• ERROR_REQ_NOT_ACCEP – 71 (0x47) – No more connections can be made to this remote computer at this time because there are already as many connections as the computer can accept.
• ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER – 87 (0x57) – The parameter is incorrect.
• ERROR_DISK_FULL – 112 (0x70) – There is not enough space on the disk.
• ERROR_INVALID_NAME – 123 (0x7B) – The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.
• ERROR_INVALID_VARIANT – 604 (0x25C) – The supplied variant structure contains invalid data.
• ERROR_BAD_COMPRESSION_BUFFER – 605 (0x25D) – The specified buffer contains ill-formed data.
• ERROR_AUDIT_FAILED – 606 (0x25E) – {Audit Failed} An attempt to generate a security audit failed.
• ERROR_TIMER_RESOLUTION_NOT_SET – 607 (0x25F) – The timer resolution was not previously set by the current process.
• ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_LOGON_INFO – 608 (0x260) – There is insufficient account information to log you on.
• ERROR_IP_ADDRESS_CONFLICT1 – 611 (0x263) – There is an IP address conflict with another system on the network.
• ERROR_PWD_TOO_RECENT – 616 (0x268) – The policy of your user account does not allow you to change passwords too frequently. This is done to prevent users from changing back to a familiar, but potentially discovered, password. If you feel your password has been compromised then please contact your administrator immediately to have a new one assigned.
• ERROR_NO_SYSTEM_RESOURCES – 1450 (0x5AA) – Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service.

How to find a specific error code

We’ve listed the most common Windows system error codes. If you didn’t find one in the list above and need more help, you can check the full list of error codes, Microsoft Protocols or use the Microsoft Error Lookup Tool that automatically displays the message associated with an error code.

How to fix error codes on Windows?

There are many ways to fix an error in Windows. First of all, check if your system is updated as well as the applications you are using. Then, run a troubleshoot. Click on Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. Choose the field of the problem and run the troubleshoot.

If the problem is still not resolved, contact your computer technician, address Windows support center or use this guided Windows questionnaire.