Most of the time we take Windows for granted whenever we turn on a computer, it’s just there.
Think about what Microsoft’s operating system is actually doing under the bonnet, however, and it’s impossible not to be impressed.
Windows holds all the hardware in our computers together, turning a computer from a pile of electrical parts into a way to surf the web, create documents, play games and more.
On the other hand, Windows isn’t perfect. Anyone who’s used a Windows computer will have been presented with one of its many error messages, and sadly these errors are often dumbfoundingly unhelpful when it comes to identifying what’s gone wrong.
Windows can be very stubborn, too, and it’s not always obvious how to change its behaviour to better suit your needs.
Thankfully, many of Windows’ errors and idiosyncrasies can be fixed with a few clicks. Here’s our rundown of the 25 most common problems, warnings and oddities you might encounter in XP and Vista, along with how to ensure they don’t bother you again.
