Troubleshooting Windows Operating Systems 16 PDF

Troubleshooting Operating Systems 16 Perform common Windows OS troubleshooting steps Identify symptoms of and troubleshoot common Windows OS problems Identify symptoms of and troubleshoot problems related to motherboards, RAM, CPU, and power **Turning Things Off and Back On** For as long...

Troubleshooting Operating Systems 16 Perform common Windows OS troubleshooting steps Identify symptoms of and troubleshoot common Windows OS problems Identify symptoms of and troubleshoot problems related to motherboards, RAM, CPU, and power **Turning Things Off and Back On** For as long as we've had computers, turning them off and back on has been key to troubleshooting. Software and hardware can have defects; the longer a system runs without rebooting, the more likely issues arise. A common cause is programs not releasing resources, notably memory, known as a memory leak. Rebooting can quickly solve unrecognized issues, saving time compared to troubleshooting. Although it may feel like conceding defeat, some problems require reboots until updates address them. These issues aren\'t limited to user-run programs. Long-running services, crucial to modern OS operations, can also have bugs. When OS features fail---like network connectivity, printing, or file access---a misbehaving or crashed service might be responsible. To troubleshoot, consider restarting services to resolve issues, especially if Windows alerts you to critical service failures. Restarting services can fix temporary failures. However, you might often find that a full system reboot is more effective, unless the system has restrictions like acting as a database server or handling a massive print job. CompTIA emphasizes that restarting services is a common troubleshooting step, as kicking a failed service may revive it. **Uninstall/Reinstall/Update Applications** From time to time, an application will break. It might break right after installation, following an update, or for no apparent reason. If a program isn\'t functioning well, the first step is checking for and applying updates to see if the issue persists in the latest version. If it destabilizes the system, uninstall it immediately. If the program breaks after an update, it might be due to a bug or incompatibility between the program and the OS. Verify their compatibility. You may need to update the OS or use an older version temporarily. Check if software requirements have changed. Occasionally, programs stop working unexpectedly due to corrupt data files caused by crashes, power outages, or older data file restorations. Uninstalling and reinstalling may resolve data corruption issues. Some programs store data in persistent locations not removed during uninstallation, requiring manual deletion after reinstallation. Research the specific data file locations to delete them. If problems persist, the issue might indicate hardware trouble. A program malfunctioning on one system but working on others could signal early signs of hardware failure in components or peripherals. **Recovering When Windows Breaks** When Windows can\'t load or function correctly, the **Windows Recovery Environment** **(WinRE)** is a powerful toolset for diagnosing and fixing most boot problems. Knowing how to access and use WinRE is essential in failure-to-boot scenarios. **Accessing WinRE** \- If the system is bootable, hold **Shift** while clicking **Restart** on the Start menu or login screen.In the **Settings** app, go to the **Update & Security** section (or **System** in Windows 11), click **Recovery**, then click **Restart now** under **Advanced startup**. \- If Windows can't boot, use Windows installation media and select **Repair your computer**. **Creating Installation Media** Download Windows installation media from \[Microsoft\](https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/) to make a bootable USB drive. Use the media creation tool on a Windows machine or download the ISO file to create a USB drive using your own OS instructions. **Using Advanced Startup Options** If the system can\'t boot into WinRE due to severe issues or potential malware, boot from installation media. The WinRE main menu in Windows 11 includes: \- **Continue** \- **Use a device** \- T**roubleshoot** \- **Turn off your PC** Select **Troubleshoot** to access options such as: \- **Reset this PC** \- **Advanced options** **Advanced Options** Clicking Advanced options provides additional recovery tools: \- **System Restore**: Restores the system to a previous state. \- **Startup Settings**: Changes startup behavior. \- **Uninstall Updates**: Removes recent updates. \- **System Image Recovery**: Recovers the system using a saved system image. \- **Startup Repair**: Fixes common startup issues. \- **Command Prompt**: Accesses system files directly. \- **UEFI Firmware Settings**: Adjusts UEFI settings (if applicable). Using these tools, you can address a wide range of system issues effectively. **Startup Repair** The Startup Repair utility serves as a one-stop, do-it-all option (see Figure 16-6). When run, it performs a number of repairs, including: Repairs a corrupted Registry by accessing the backup copy on your hard drive Restores critical boot files Restores critical system and driver files Rolls back any non-working drivers Rolls back updates Runs chkdsk Runs a memory test to check your RAM Startup Repair fixes almost any Windows boot problem (Windows can even start it automatically if it detects a boot problem). In fact, if you have a system with one hard drive containing a single partition with Windows installed, you'd have trouble finding something Startup Repair couldn't fix. Upon completion, Startup Repair will let you know whether it succeeded and where to find a log file called srttrail.txt that lists exactly what the program found, what it fixed, and what it failed to do. Its content may look cryptic, but you can type anything you find in this file into a search engine and easily find more information. **Command Prompt** Command Prompt in WinRE The Command Prompt in WinRE is the nerdiest option available, functioning similarly to the regular cmd shell in Windows. It allows for advanced system modifications to resolve complex issues. **Utilities** \`diskpart\` is a command-line utility in Windows that is used for disk partitioning tasks. It provides a powerful way to manage disks, partitions, volumes, and virtual hard disks by using commands that you can execute within its environment. Here\'s an overview of what \`diskpart\` can do and how to use it: **How to Start DiskPart** 1\. **Open Command Prompt**: You must first open Command Prompt with administrative privileges. You can do this by typing \`cmd\` in the Windows search bar, right-clicking on \"Command Prompt,\" and selecting \"Run as administrator.\" 2\. **Enter DiskPart**: Type \`diskpart\` and press Enter. This will open the DiskPart environment, indicated by the \`DISKPART\>\` prompt. DiskPart is a powerful command-line disk partitioning utility in Windows. Here are some of the most commonly used DiskPart commands: 1. **list disk:** Displays all connected disks with identifying numbers. 2. **select disk \:** Selects disk n for management. 3. **list partition:** Shows partitions on the selected disk. 4. **select partition \:** Selects partition n on the current disk. 5. **list volume:** Lists all volumes with identifying numbers. 6. **select volume \:** Selects volume n for management. 7. **create partition primary:** Creates a new primary partition on the selected disk. 8. **delete partition:** Deletes the selected partition (use with caution). 9. **extend:** Extends the selected volume into contiguous unallocated space. 10. **shrink:** Reduces the size of the selected volume. 11. **format fs=\:** Formats the selected volume to a specified file system (e.g., NTFS, exFAT). 12. **assign letter=\:** Assigns a drive letter to the selected volume or partition. 13. **clean:** Removes all partitions/volumes from the disk, erasing it. 14. **exit:** Exits the DiskPart utility. **Important notes:** - DiskPart can cause data loss if used incorrectly. Always back up important data before use. - Double-check selections before performing operations. - DiskPart is intended for advanced users familiar with disk management and command-line interfaces. **Startup Repair** The Startup Repair tool typically runs many of these command-prompt utilities automatically. Use the WinRE command prompt when Startup Repair fails. This captures the key points about the WinRE Command Prompt and its utilities. features built into Disk Management, so proceed with caution. You can, for example, delete any partition of any type at any time. Starting diskpart opens a special command prompt as shown here: C:\\Windows\\system32\>diskpart Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.17134.345 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: MIKESPC DISKPART\> You can list volumes (or partitions on basic disks): DISKPART\> list volume Volume Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-- Volume 0 D DVD-ROM 0 B No Media Volume 1 C New Volume NTFS Partition 1397 GB Healthy System DISKPART\> Select a volume to manipulate (you may also select an entire drive): DISKPART\> select volume 1 Volume 1 is the selected volume. DISKPART\> **Reset This PC** When less aggressive options like Startup Repair or System Restore fail, reinstalling Windows may be necessary. Microsoft simplifies this with the Reset this PC option found in WinRE. To access it, select Troubleshoot, then find it with Advanced options. **Reset this PC Suboptions** \- **Keep my files:** Reinstalls Windows while preserving your files, settings, and any applications from the Windows Store. However, it deletes all other applications on your system. \- **Remove everything**: Completely removes all apps, programs, user files, and settings, leaving a fresh Windows installation. Use this as a last resort, and back up your data first. **Rebuild Windows Profiles** Each user account on a Windows machine has an associated user profile recording settings like Desktop preferences. A corrupt profile can prevent login or cause slow load times, often due to anti-malware software or Windows upgrades. To rebuild a profile, either perform Registry edits or create a new user account and copy old settings. **Registry Edit Steps** 1\. Boot into **Safe Mode** using WinRE's Advanced options. 2\. Open an elevated command prompt and type \`regedit\` to access the Registry Editor. 3\. Navigate to \`**HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\ProfileList\`.** 4\. Click the **ProfileList** arrow and select the corrupted profile entry (shown by ProfileImagePath). 5\. Double-click the **State** entry, set the value to 0, and click OK. 6\. If **RefCount** exists, double-click and set to 0. If not, create it via **Edit \| New \| DWORD (32-bit) Value**. 7\. Close the Registry Editor and reboot. **If the profile remains corrupted, create a new user account:** **New User Account Steps** 1\. Boot into **Safe Mode** and open an elevated command prompt. 2\. Activate the hidden administrator account with: net user administrator /active:yes 3\. Reboot and log in as the local administrator. 4\. Create a new user account: **Settings \| Accounts \| Other users \| Add someone else to this PC**. 5\. Copy contents from the corrupted account\'s **Users** folder to the new account's folder, one item at a time. 6\. Reboot and log into the new account. Once verified, delete the corrupted account and rename the new one. Both methods are complex but effective. Expect questions on this topic in the CompTIA A+