While working with a computer, various messages about system errors sometimes appear on the screen. They may contain a “ton” of unreadable text for an inexperienced user. But we do not need him. You can recognize what the computer wants to “tell” you by a warning window by the error code. Having decrypted it, you will receive the necessary information about the found problem, you can decide on the way of its elimination. In the article, we offer the reader to parse the 402 error. We will consider its signs and causes, we will analyze how to fix the malfunction, for which operating systems it is typical.
Error characteristic
What is error 402? Let's analyze its main characteristics:
- Message on screen: HTTP 402.
- Description (often a brief explanation of the problem is displayed in the warning banner): Payment is required. This error code is not yet operational.
The appearance of error 402 is typical for working with Microsoft products. In particular, for the Windows operating system. A similar kind of error when working with a computer appears on the following OS versions:
- XP.
- ME
- Vista.
- 7th version.
- 8th version.
- 10th version.
Symptoms of Error
How to recognize that this is exactly 402 error? Experts indicate the following characteristic features:
- A window is displayed that reports an error with this code, after which the open program closes spontaneously.
- An Internet browser on your PC displays the same banner with the error code 402 when starting up different sites.
- A warning text is also displayed: Payment Required.
- Windows OS is slow, freezes. Display of information from the keyboard, responses to mouse movements are inhibited.
- The computer “lags”, “freezes” for several seconds.
Sometimes a PC may display a 402 error message even if the root of the problem is not in it. For example, a banner with an error of the form HTTP 404 ("Page cannot be found") is often displayed when a web page is displayed that opens properly.
Causes of error
What are the causes of this error? Basically this is the following:
- Malicious program, virus that seized control of your browser and damaged its important settings.
- Windows registry corruption - due to a software change (installing or uninstalling) associated with the OS.
- Malicious infection by an external malicious application of browser-related files.
So, the main cause of the error is viruses that have settled on your computer. They can damage both the browser used and the Windows registry.
Do not confuse!
Next, we will tell you in detail how to fix error 402. It is important not to confuse it with other problems that are fundamentally different from this:
- Connection error 402 in the Gulf Stream (security system). What is the point here? A connection error with code 402 in the Gulf Stream indicated a system vulnerability. Hackers could obtain the personal information of its clients, which made it possible to remotely control the alarm systems of many objects.
- Error 091-402. It appears not when the browser is working, but when the MFP "Xerox 3045" is not functioning properly.
- Error 402 on Xiaomi. This occurs when the user installs themes (variations on the desktop, menu) from unofficial sources on the smartphone.
And now let's move on to the error of receiving information from service 402. The problem is solved in several steps.
Step 1: restore registry entries
Immediately warn the reader: self-editing the Windows registry to remove keys containing the 402 error is not recommended if you do not have the appropriate preparation. The fact is that a layman can easily make mistakes during work, which will be fraught with the general inoperability of the computer. Even one extra comma will prevent the OS from loading!
We advise even an experienced PC user to turn to reliable registry cleaning tools. For example, to the submitted Microsoft. The program will automatically find corrupted registry entries, broken links, as well as links to files damaged by the virus. The application fixes the problem on its own. What is noteworthy, before each scan of the registry, WinThruster creates a backup copy of it, which, in one click, will undo all changes.
By manually cleaning the registry, we strongly advise you not to resort! But the automatic procedure (using the appropriate software) perfectly improves system performance.
Stage 2: scan the system for viruses
As we already said, the 402 error most often indicates that your computer is infected with viruses. Accordingly, the system needs a full scan for malicious files. This procedure produces a huge number of utilities and applications, both free and paid.
Be careful: not all of them can not only detect, but also remove viruses, damaged files. A proven program in this variety is Emsisoft Anti-Malware. The developers of this antivirus guarantee removal of malware by their product.
Stage 3: cleaning the computer from "garbage"
Daily use of PCs, constant Internet surfing lead to the fact that the system is filled with unnecessary temporary files and folders. If you don’t get rid of them in a timely manner, then such informational garbage will lead both to a decrease in the system’s speed and to the appearance of an error 402. The reason for this is a file conflict or an overload of hard drives.
Hence the way out of the problem is seen in cleaning the system from temporary folders using special programs. Note that the built-in Windows utility does not cope with all the garbage. In particular, she does not “see” the temporary files of Chrome, Microsoft Office applications, Firefox, and hundreds of other programs.
So what to stop at? A great option is WinSweeper from the same Microsoft. The program is designed for comprehensive cleaning of the hard disk from temporary files. It is enough to run the application once a day in automatic scanning mode to free the PC from information junk.
Stage 4: updating drivers
402 errors may appear due to corrupt or outdated device drivers. The reasons for their sudden malfunction are many. However, you can always update drivers to get rid of 402 error.
To simplify and speed up this process, we recommend that you turn to a special utility for automatic driver updates. Among the reliable products can distinguish DriverDoc from Microsoft.
Stage 5: System Restore
Often, a 402 error can occur as a result of incorrect system settings that were set either by you or by malware. Hence, an excellent solution to the problem is to send the computer to the past - at a time when a harmful reconfiguration has not yet been made.
To do this, users turn to "System Restore" on Windows. The procedure is simple, it takes several steps:
- Go to the Start menu.
- In the search bar, enter "System Restore."
- The computer will find this section.
- Go to it. The system may ask you to enter an administrator password to make changes.
- Now you need to follow the instructions of the “Wizard” to determine the recovery point.
- The changes will take effect after the computer restarts.
Step 6: reinstall Windows Operating System
The program may be directly related to the occurrence of this error. Therefore, the problem will be solved by its removal and subsequent reinstallation.
On XP, the algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Go to the "Start".
- Go to the "Control Panel".
- Select Add or Remove Programs.
- In the range of installed programs, find Windows Operating System.
- Click on the caption. Then click on the "Delete" button that appears to the right of it.
- Follow the instructions in the system to completely remove the program.
- You can download it again on the Microsoft website. Open the Windows Operating System installation file to return the program to the computer.
Now the instructions for new versions are 8 and 10:
- Go to the start menu.
- Stop at the "Programs and Features" section.
- In "Name", find Windows Operating System.
- Click the entry. At the top of the window, click on "Delete."
- Follow the system instructions to completely remove the application.
- Re-download the program on the Microsoft website, run the installation file to return the Windows Operating System to your computer.
If all else fails ...
None of the above steps could resolve the 402 error? In this case, we advise you to turn to three more possible solutions to the problem:
- Checking system files using the built-in Windows sfc / scannow tool.
- Install all currently available operating system updates.
- Reinstall Windows on your computer. Before the procedure, do not forget to copy all the important information to your hard drive.
Error 402 most often indicates that malicious viruses have corrupted your browser or other components of the Windows operating system. We presented several ways to solve this problem.