PC Every Windows error, decoded.
Type the code or message exactly as it appears on your screen. You get what it means in plain English, whether it is serious, and one safe, numbered fix. Free. Nothing to download, no one to call.
Popular right now: 0x80070002 · 0x80070005 · CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED
The index
Five sections at launch. Start with the one that matches what is on your screen.
- 01Windows Error CodesLook up any code — what it means and the safe fix, for Windows 10 and 11.
- 02Windows Update ProblemsUpdates stuck, failed, undoing changes, or a PC that slowed down right after one.
- 03PC Won't Start & BitLockerYour PC will not start, loops through Automatic Repair, or asks for a 48-digit recovery key.
- 04Is This Microsoft Message Real?Fake virus warnings, “call support” pop-ups, and real Defender alerts — told apart, in plain English.
- 05Locked Out & Account RecoveryLocked Microsoft account, code not arriving, forgotten PIN, old Hotmail — getting back in, step by step.
Most-searched codes
| No | Code | What it means, in one line | First safe step |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 0x80070002 | Windows could not find a file it needed — usually during an update. | Restart once, retry the update. |
| 02 | 0x80070005 | “Access denied” — a permission is blocking the install or update. | Sign in as administrator, retry. |
| 03 | 0x80073712 | Some Windows update files are damaged and need repair. | Run the Update troubleshooter. |
| 04 | 0x80004005 | Microsoft's “unspecified error” — the fix depends on where it appeared. | Note where it appeared first. |
| 05 | 0xc000021a | A critical Windows process stopped while your PC was starting or signing in. | Boot to the recovery menu. |
REAL OR FAKE
That warning on your screen — real, or a scam?
Fake Microsoft warnings are the most common tech-support scam there is. Answer five plain questions and get a straight verdict, with exactly what to do next. It takes a minute, and it never asks for your password, a code, or a phone call.
How this site works
Checked against Microsoft
Every fix is verified against Microsoft Learn and Support pages, dated, and re-checked after major Windows updates.
Nothing to install or buy
No downloads, no registry cleaners, no driver updaters, no paid support — and never a phone number to call.
Written to be read
Large type, short steps, no jargon without an explanation. Every page prints cleanly, so the fix can sit beside the keyboard.
More on How We Verify and About this site.