If you’re seeing an “A problem caused the program to stop working correctly” error, you’re not alone. Many Windows users are experiencing this issue when they’re trying to open a program.
This is a very annoying issue. And trying to fix it can be just as annoying, because you’ll spend a lot of time reading suggestions on the Internet, and most won’t work.
But don’t worry! The following are a few methods that have helped many other Windows users get rid of their error.
Try these fixes
You may not have to try them all; just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.
- Run your program as an administrator
- Run your program in compatibility mode
- Install the latest patches and updates for your program
- Update your device drivers
- Temporarily disable your antivirus software
- Check for software conflicts
Method 1: Run your program as an administrator
The first thing you should try to fix this error is to run your program as an administrator. To do so:
1) Open File Explorer (press the Windows logo key and E on your keyboard at the same time), then go to where your program is installed.
2) Right click the executable (.exe) file of your program and click Properties.
3) Click the Compatibility tab, check Run this program as an administrator, and then click OK.
4) Double click the executable (.exe) file to run your program. Then check to see if running as an administrator resolves your problem.
Method 2: Run your program in compatibility mode
You may get this error because you are having a compatibility issue with your program. You should try running your program in compatibility mode to fix the issue.
1) Open File Explorer (press the Windows logo key and E on your keyboard at the same time), then go to where your program is installed.
2) Right click the executable (.exe) file of your program and click Properties.
3) Click the Compatibility tab, check Run this program in compatibility mode, and then click OK.
4) Double click the executable (.exe) file to run your program. Then check to see if this helps you get rid of your error.
Method 3: Install the latest patches and updates for your program
Your error may occur because there are some defects in your program. And installing patches or updates for your program is an effective fix for those issues. You should go to the website of your program developer to download the patches and updates, and then install them on your computer. After that, run your program and check if this fixes your error.
Method 4: Update your device drivers
You may get this error because you’re using a wrong or outdated driver. You should update your device drivers to see if this helps you fix your error. If you don’t have the time, patience or skills to update your drivers manually, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy.
Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to be troubled by the wrong driver you would be downloading, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.
You can download and install your drivers by using either Free or Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version it takes only 2 clicks (and you get full support and a 30-day money back guarantee):
1) Download and install Driver Easy.
2) Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
3) Click the Update button next to each device to download the latest and correct driver for it. You can also click the Update All button at the bottom right to automatically update all outdated or missing drivers on your computer (this requires the Pro version — you will be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).
Method 5: Temporarily disable your antivirus software
This error is sometimes caused by interference from your antivirus software. To see if that’s the problem for you, temporarily disable your antivirus and check if the problem persists. (Consult your antivirus documentation for instructions on disabling it.)
If this resolves your problem, contact the vendor of your antivirus software and ask them for advice, or install a different antivirus solution.
Method 6: Check for software conflicts
Your error may also result from software conflicts. You should perform a clean boot to see if there’s any other program that is causing interference. To do so:
1) Press the Windows logo key and R on your keyboard to invoke the Run dialog.
2) Type “msconfig” in the Run box and press Enter on your keyboard.
3) Click the Services tab. Then check Hide all Microsoft services and click Disable all. After that, click OK.
4) Click the Startup tab, then click Open Task Manager.
5) Right click each enabled Startup item, then click Disable. After that, close Task Manager.
6) Click OK.
7) Click Restart.
8) Run the problem program and see if you get the error.
9) If the error disappears, press the Windows log key and R on your keyboard and then type “msconfig” and press Enter on your keyboard.
10) Click the Services tab. Check Hide all Microsoft services. Then enable one (only) disabled service (by selecting its checkbox) and click OK.
11) Click Restart.
12) Run the problem program and see if you get the error. If the error disappears, repeat the steps 9 to 12 until you find out the service that was interfering with your game.
13) Press the Windows log key and R on your keyboard. Then type “msconfig” and press Enter on your keyboard.
14) Click the Startup tab, then click Open Task Manager.
15) Right click one (only) Startup item you disabled in step 5, then click Enable. After that, close Task Manager.
16) Click OK and then click Restart.
17) Open your program and check to see if you see the error. If not, repeat the steps 13 to 17 until you find out the startup item that crashes your program.