When researching a particular error there are several places to look for possible resolutions. The error itself can either come from a pop-up window generated by the program that encountered the error or it could be recorded in the windows event log - or both. To check the windows event log right-click on "My Computer" and choose Manage from the drop down list. Then click on the + next to "Event Viewer" and scroll through the Application and System logs for clues and more detailed error messages.

With the exact same text as the error message search Google, Google Groups, the manufacturer's support section of their website and / or Microsoft's support site with the error message surrounded in quotation marks. The quotation marks ensure that only exact word for word matches are returned. Start with partial error messages and use bigger phrases as needed.  If you are too specific you might miss a lot of valuable results. Google groups is a message forum where millions of questions and comments have been posted. It is very likely someone else has encountered your same problem before and someone else replied with a resolution.

If you have an "Event ID" from the windows event log you can search that code-number at www.eventid.net. Another place to search for event ID codes and error messages is Google again or  www.micosoft.com/support.