Windows Troubleshooter Guide

Foreword

Let's troubleshoot this together!

Welcome to the troubleshooting wikibook where we endeavor to provide you with knowledge necessary to properly troubleshoot a Microsoft Windows operating system. Unlike many online help websites, where there only exists solutions to problems of ranging usefulness (such as the dreaded response of "please update your system" or "restart the computer" to specific answers involving uninstalling, deleting registry editor keys, and reinstalling software), this book will instead solve not specific problems, but problems that one may face when troubleshooting.

When troubleshooting a problem, it is easy to become confused at where the problem originated from, especially with complex operating systems where a multitude of components ranging from hardware, software, or a combination thereof can either individually fail or fail catastrophically. Either way, the whole system fails to function optimally, and more often than not, the only clue will be a vague comment or, even more baffling, a number. Instead of asking, "what does the number mean?", a troubleshooter will ask "what clues do I have to check in order to find the problem in question?" They ask this because they understand that problems, like solutions, can be very complex, baffling so.

This guide will not provide simple solutions to simple problems. Instead, it will seek to do better, by offering ways to figure out your problems, so that your computer can be fixed.

Audience

This wikibook assumes a general understanding of Microsoft Windows' OS and general computer terminology. Already, you have come across the term OS (Operating System), which will be the kinds of terms expected. Others include CPU, HDD & SSD ( Hard Drive Disk and Solid State Drive), and RAM. In terms of knowing about the OS, it means knowing how to open or install programs, using a mouse, and typing. We will not assume you know shortcuts.

**List of Typical Control Panel Items (Windows 10)**
Administrative Tools	AutoPlay	Backup and Restore	Color Management	Credential Manager
Date and Time	Default Programs	Device Manager	Device and Printers	Display
Ease of Access Center	File Explorer Options	File History	Fonts	HomeGroup
Indexing Options	Internet Options	Keyboard	Language	Mail
Mouse	Network and Sharing Center	Personalization	Phone and Modem	Power Options
Programs and Features	Recovery	Region	RemoteApp and Desktop Connections	Security and Maintenance
Sound	Speech Recognition	Storage Space	Sync Center	System
Taskbar and Navigation	Troubleshooting	User Accounts	Windows Defender	Windows Firewall
Work Folders

**List of Typical Items in Settings (Windows 10)**
System	Devices	Network & Internet	Personalization	Accounts
Time & language	Ease of Access	Privacy	Update and Security

**List of Typical Administrative Tools (Windows 10)**
Component Services	Computer Management	Defragment and Optimize Drives	Disk Cleanup	Event Viewer
iSCSI Initiator	ODBC Data Sources	Performance Monitor	Resource Monitor	Services
System Configuration	System Information	Task Scheduler	Windows Firewall with Advanced Security	Windows Memory Diagnostic

Drivers

This chapter will explain how Windows drivers operate and how they function.

General

This chapter will explain general programs, settings, and tools to maintain and understand how the OS works.

File Extensions
File Access

Malware

This chapter will explain simple malware, how they operate in a general sense, and how you can assist in removing them after your antivirus software fixed the major problem.

Networking

This chapter will explain how the internet is handled client-side (in the perspective of your Windows machine) and how network tools works.

Network Location Awareness — Describes how Windows knows whether you're connected to the internet or not.

The C:\WINDOWS Folder

The C:\WINDOWS directory stores the files necessary to run the operating system. This is why modifications (especially deletion) may negatively affect your computer. Because of the directory's nature of storing the operating system, the files contained therein may baffle most users. However, a general understanding of the directory's structure and the kinds of files that inhabit it may offer you insight as to how Windows works.

This chapter will explain what the C:\WINDOWS directory is and why it is so important, as well as the programs that may inhabit it.

**List of Typical Folders in the C:\WINDOWS Directory (Windows 10)**
assembly	Boot	Cursors	debug	diagnostics
DigitalLocker	en-US	Fonts	Globalization	Help
IME	ImmersiveControlPanel	INF	InputMethod	Logs
Media	MiracastView	OCR	Offline Web Pages	Panther
Performance	PLA	PolicyDefinitions	PrintDialog	Provisioning
PurchaseDialog	Registration	rescache	Resources	security
ServiceProfiles	servicing	Setup	SoftwareDistribution	Speech
System32	SystemApps	SystemResources	SysWOW64	Temp
Web	WinSxS