What Causes Runtime Error 6?

Runtime error 6 is an "overflow" problem that may happen for one of a useful of reasons.

Runtime error 6 can occur when data gets too big for its britches.

This "overflow" problem can happen when, somewhere along the way, data has been entered that is too big for its data field. What does this mean in plain English?

Let's say you're working with Microsoft Access (a database program). You have to put information into various fields (boxes), when some of these boxes are pre-set to only accept certain values. (This can be arranged for a variety of reasons; there is no need to go into the specifics here, as it would require some articles!)

If one of these fields is pre-set to accept values ​​of only 0-255, you've caused an overflow error if you accidently entered, say, 377.

Now of course you would not do this. However, sometimes programmers make mistakes. Sometimes a program must generate a random variable and it could be that the parameters on the generator are too wide (it generates larger numbers than it should).

Neverheless, sometimes this does not happen until it's a bit too late. That's why searching for updates, patches, and new versions / upgrades to your software is often a solution to this problem.

Runtime error 6 occurs with Microsoft Site Server 3.0.

Microsoft Site Server 3.0 is an example of how this kind of error may occasionally occur in even the most tested and professional software. Fortunately, this is one instance of runtime error 6 that can be easily cured. Microsoft support currently offers help with this error.

What else can cause an overflow problem?

Typically, the problem with this error comes from a mistake in programming. It can also come from your registry.

The Windows registry is a directory of program files that all the programs on your computer use. It directs functions to connect with their proper compliments in other programs and hardware.

Without it, your word processor would have to search your entire computer for the printer jack, every time you wanted to print a document. It would also have to search your entire computer for the keyboard, screen, and supporting software every time you started it up!

This would leave your computer capable of running more than a handful of programs at any one time - and even those would run slowly.

Registries can become cluttered over time through no fault of yours. They can also become damaged by spyware and viruses - problems that anti-virus programs do not typically fix. You can help avoid this by learning more about runtime error 6 and other registry issues.