Error code

Technical meaning

Real-world explanation

0

No error

If this is given as an error, the error handler has made an error!

1

Bus error

Commonest on Power Macs, originally using the 68K emulator. Can mean anything, usually software code which has run out of control.

3

Illegal instruction

Any code which has run out of control.

4

Zero divide

A number has been divided by zero. Although specific in meaning, can be very misleading.

11

Miscellaneous hardware exception

Intended to be a catch-all, a common and particularly unhelpful error, often encountered on Power Macs.

25

Out of memory

Surprisingly rarely seen ­ a straight crash is more common if memory is not being well-controlled.

28

Stack has moved into application heap

Memory settings, usually internal to the application, have proved inadequate, or the code has run away.

41

Cannot load the Finder

Usually because of shortage of memory or a System fault.

-17 to
­61

File system errors

Normally a result of failed attempts to access files.

-39

End of file error

The end of a file has been reached unexpectedly. Usually, the file is corrupt and truncated.

-470 to
­489

SCSI Manager errors

A problem with the SCSI software or hardware.

-1000
and below

Mainly networking and recent additions such as QuickTime.

This covers the most common Macintosh error codes.
For further detail and for other errors, see Black & Bleu, included on this CD.