How to Make an Error Message in Microsoft Windows (No Downloads)

Last Updated: June 3, 2022

Face it-customizing an error message in Windows is cool, whether you're an application programmer or just someone who wants to prank their co-worker. It doesn't have to be hard, either. You don't need to download any tricky software or tinker with system components and risk an actual error. If you want to create a Windows error message, just follow these simple steps.

Steps

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To open Notepad, head to your start menu, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Notepad.
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2
Copy the line after the bullet below this paragraph, then paste it into Notepad. Notepad should look like this.
- x =msgbox("Message",0+00,"Title")
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3
Now, you will edit the error message. Refer to the bullets below:
- Replace Message with what you want the error message to say. Be sure to enter the message between the quotes, without deleting them. The specified area should look like this, with your message in place of Hello Wikihow.
  
  {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1732413-v4-728px-Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
- Replace Title with what you want the title of the error message to say. Be sure to enter the title between the quotes, without deleting them. The specified area should look like this, with your title in place of Greeting.
  
  {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet2-Version-2.jpg\/aid1732413-v4-728px-Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
4
Next, we're going to determine what buttons and what icon the error message will have.
- Replace 0+00 in Notepad with a code under the Codes section of this article. (See Codes) What icons and buttons the codes will add to the error message is described there. Do not type the description into Notepad along with the code. The specified area should look like this, with your chosen code instead of 1+16.
  
  {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet3-Version-2.jpg\/aid1732413-v4-728px-Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29-Step-3Bullet3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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At the top of Notepad, click File and then Save As. Save the file name as yourname.vbs with any name that you want in place of yourname. Set Save as Type to Any.
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Question

What are operating systems (OS) that will work for this error message?

Samuelcregan698

Community Answer

All operating systems Windows XP+ will work with a custom error message.

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Question

Can I make an option unclickable and greyed out?

GDGamer100

Community Answer

Probably not. Typically buttons don't do anything at all except proceed to the next line of code.

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Question

How do you make it do something when you press "OK" and then quit when you press "Cancel"?

GDGamer100

Community Answer

Think about it: it's a harmless prank that will not do anything. It'll run the next line of code if there is any.

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Codes

0+00 makes an OK message
1+16 makes an OK/Cancel message with an X icon
2+16 makes an Abort/Retry/Ignore message with an X icon
3+16 makes a Yes/No/Cancel message with an X icon
4+16 makes a Yes/No message with an X icon
5+16 makes a Retry/Cancel with an X icon
1+32 makes an OK/Cancel message with a ? icon
2+32 makes an Abort/Retry/Ignore message with a ? icon
3+32 makes a Yes/No/Cancel message with a ? icon
4+32 makes a Yes/No message with a ? icon
5+32 makes a Retry/Cancel message with a ? icon
1+48 makes an OK/Cancel message with a Warning symbol
2+48 makes an Abort/Retry/Ignore message with a Warning symbol
3+48 makes a Yes/No/Cancel message with a Warning symbol
4+48 makes a Yes/No message with a Warning symbol
5+48 makes a Retry/Cancel with a Warning symbol
1+64 makes an OK/Cancel message with an i icon
2+64 makes an Abort/Retry/Ignore message with an i icon
3+64 makes a Yes/No/Cancel message with an i icon
4+64 makes a Yes/No message with an i icon
5+64 makes a Retry/Cancel message with an i icon
16 makes an OK message with an X icon
32 makes an OK message with a ? icon
48 makes an OK message with a Warning symbol
64 makes an OK message with an i icon

How to Make an Error Message in Microsoft Windows (No Downloads)

Steps

Community Q&A

Codes

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