- We deal with mistakes and try to correct them all the time. We even have comprehensive guides on Windows 10 errors. But we also like to have a little fun.
- Generating a fake error message for our colleagues has been very entertaining in the office, so we want to share it with you too.
- A little trick can make your life so much easier or more enjoyable. Visit and bookmark the 10 Tips You Need to Know window.
- If you are interested in similar programs, but more serious to use, see our Downloads section for recommendations.
Windows error messages (or dialog boxes) generally inform you about system errors. However, you can also configure fake error messages with and without additional software. This is how you can set a fake error message to make a joke in Windows.
Contents index
- Windows 10 fake error message generators
- Set up a bogus error dialog with the error message generator
- Set up a fake error message with Notepad
Windows 10 fake error message generators
1. Set up a bogus error dialog with the error message generator
Error Message Generator is a program that generates custom error dialog boxes. You can save the ZIP file of the program in Windows by clicking Download error message generator on this page . Open the ZIP file in File Explorer and hit the Extract All button to open the window shown directly below. Then enter a path to extract the ZIP and press the Extract button .
Afterwards, click on ErrorGen.exe in the extracted software folder to open the Error Message Generator window shown directly below. You can enter text for the error message in the text box on the Basics tab. The Basics tab also includes numerous icons that you can choose from. Enter the button text in the Button 1, 2, and 3 text boxes.
When you have configured the error message, you can select Go to display the error message next to the software window. Alternatively, click Hide Main Window and Go to close the program window and display the error message as shown below. However, the error message generator icon remains on the taskbar.
– RELATED: Microsoft’s SetupDiag Finds and Fixes Windows 10 Update Errors
2. Set up a fake error message with Notepad
Since the error message generator icon remains on the taskbar, your fake error message may not be especially convincing. You can set up a more compelling fake error message that opens when a user clicks on a disguised program shortcut without any third-party software. This is how you can set up a bogus error dialog by entering the VBS script in Notepad.
- Open Run by pressing Windows key + R.
- Enter ‘Notepad’ Run and then click on OK to open Notepad.
- Press the hotkey Ctrl + C to copy this script: x = msgbox (“A fatal error has occurred. Restart your computer”, 0 + 16, “Fatal error”).
- Press Ctrl + V to paste the VBS script into Notepad as shown below.
- Now click File > Save As to open the window in the snapshot directly below.
- Select All files from the Save as type drop-down menu.
- Enter a title for the file with .vbs at the end. You can enter any file title, but it must have a .vbs extension at the end.
- Select to save the file to the Windows desktop.
- Press the Save button .
- Now click on the VBS file on your desktop to open its bogus error dialog as in the snapshot below.
