I encountered one of the most bizarre software bugs I’ve ever come across today.
Microsoft Autoroute 2003 installed on a laptop. Crashes upon loading with an “This program has encountered an error”. My first reaction was that this was a corrupt file. So I uninstalled the application, then re-installed it. One reboot later… no joy.
So I uninstalled, and re-installed to a different directory. Rebooted… no joy.
Finally I did what I should have done to begin with, consulted with the Microsoft Knowledge Base. It gave me the workaround athttp://tinyurl.com/b3k48 (Edit:- link no longer available)
The problem? A network based printer had been installed, but couldn’t be contacted. Now without that KB article, can you tell me one person who’s instinct would have been to associate a problem with a Route Finding application to a network printer?
The majority of problems you come across are usually fixed by common sense and routine, not by the Microsoft Knowledgebase. In fact, looking for KB articles addressing issues in Microsoft Autoroute or a game like Age of Empires is the last thing I’d expect to do, but articles do exist for them and you can be sure what my first port of call is the next time I encounter a problem with a Microsoft app…
Microsoft Autoroute 2003 installed on a laptop. Crashes upon loading with an “This program has encountered an error”. My first reaction was that this was a corrupt file. So I uninstalled the application, then re-installed it. One reboot later… no joy.
So I uninstalled, and re-installed to a different directory. Rebooted… no joy.
Finally I did what I should have done to begin with, consulted with the Microsoft Knowledge Base. It gave me the workaround at
The problem? A network based printer had been installed, but couldn’t be contacted. Now without that KB article, can you tell me one person who’s instinct would have been to associate a problem with a Route Finding application to a network printer?
The majority of problems you come across are usually fixed by common sense and routine, not by the Microsoft Knowledgebase. In fact, looking for KB articles addressing issues in Microsoft Autoroute or a game like Age of Empires is the last thing I’d expect to do, but articles do exist for them and you can be sure what my first port of call is the next time I encounter a problem with a Microsoft app…
RICHARD TUBB
Richard Tubb is one of the best-known experts within the global IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) community. He launched and sold his own MSP business before creating a leading MSP media and consultancy practice. Richard helps IT business owner’s take back control by freeing up their time and building a business that can run without them. He’s the author of the book “The IT Business Owner’s Survival Guide” and writer of the award-winning blog www.tubblog.co.uk
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