It is almost impossible to have an exhaustive list of all the error problems that can occur on a Windows PC. The fact is that Microsoft develops and configures Windows and its software so that it is compatible with all hardware combinations of computers, but cannot predict anomalous behavior or errors due to particular and specific configurations or less common uses. For this reason, Microsoft releases a steady stream of minor updates, patches and hotfixes to correct bugs, security issues, or minor functionality issues. Important security updates for all versions of Windows are always released through the Windows Update service, which is not the case for hotfixes that correct particular features. This means that whenever a software error occurs on your computer or some particular Windows malfunction, it may be that there is a hotfix that corrects the problem and that you have to download and install it manually.
UPDATE: With Windows 10 the Hotfixes released by Microsoft have been withdrawn and integrated directly into the operating system. They can be found by searching for Windows troubleshooting tools .
A HotFix is basically a patch or fix that is applied to the computer in the form of a hotfix.
Updates that Microsoft calls the "hotfix" are optional and there is no guarantee that they will correct a problem after installing and restarting the system. They are always specific to a particular problem and should correct bugs and errors that affect only a small number of users. Unlike Windows updates, which are mandatory for all Windows PCs, hotfixes are answers to well-defined (more or less) problems.
Finding the hotfix for a specific problem may not be easy given the huge amount of these patches and because of the often cryptic and poorly understood description. The best way to find a solution to a problem is to search the Microsoft support pages . Each patch has a unique ID and identification number and is accompanied by an information page. Each patch has an application limited to a certain type of version of Windows. Looking for patches on the Microsoft support site should be enough, but better information is often found by searching on Google.
If there is a fix available for a problem with Windows or other Microsoft programs like Office, you will find the download link for the hotfix.
Unfortunately it should be noted that Microsoft does not have a global page that is a list of all the hotfixes but at least three different sections to look for.
- The Microsoft Security Bulletin where you can find information on security issues.
- Microsoft's most popular downloads which, although not dedicated to HotFix, is a page where it is more likely to find the download of the patch that solves a more common problem.
You can also try to find the solution to a problem on Microsoft's Technet forum, the official website where IT expert users respond who are also able to solve darker problems.
Another way to find Microsoft hotfixes is WHDownloader, a tool that catalogs every update and patch released by Microsoft.
The use is simple, just download and install the program, select the version of Windows (or Office) and follow the list.
You can click on any update or hotfix to open the support page of the Microsoft site.
Unfortunately, the program does not have a good internal search index and makes it impossible to find solutions to problems.
Different from Hotfixes are what Microsoft calls Fix It, which is programs that correct Windows configuration problems.
We talked about this in the article on how to fix Windows errors and solve problems with Microsoft Fix It
To install a hotfix from Microsoft, it may be necessary to go through the procedure to validate the originality of Windows.
Some hot fixes are then only receivable via email. The hotfixes are included in a compressed archive "Microsoft Self-Extractor" and always provide a wizard to complete the installation. In some cases the installation may fail, which means that the computer is not compatible and the fix not applicable. Any installed fix can be viewed by opening the Programs and Features section from the Control Panel, then clicking on " View installed updates ".
However, most Windows users will never need to install a Microsoft hotfix. They serve only a small subset of users affected by a specific problem, which everyone else can safely ignore. Knowing how to find and install a patch can save hours of work when something goes wrong, however.
