Windows 11 For Dummies, 2nd Edition, 2nd Edition

Chapter 20

Getting Strange Messages

IN THIS CHAPTER

Deciphering messages about your Microsoft account.

Interpreting messages about choosing what happens next

Untangling messages about permissions

Error messages in real life are easy to understand. A blinking digital clock means you need to set the time. A parked car’s beep means you’ve left the key in the ignition. A spouse’s stern glance means you’ve forgotten something important.

But Windows error messages may have been written by a Senate subcommittee, if only the messages weren’t so brief. The error messages rarely describe what you did to cause the event or, even worse, how to fix the problem.

When you see a message on your screen that you don’t understand, your first step should be to ask Copilot about the message. Click the Copilot icon on the taskbar. If you’ve been carrying on conversations in the past, click New Topic next to the Copilot title near the top-left corner. Then type your question and include the words from the confusing message. For example, “What should I do when I see a message telling me to enter my network credentials?” Or “What should I do about a message for a file or folder for which I don’t currently ...