Troubleshooting PCs For Dummies
Description
What do you do when "turning it off and on again" doesn't solve your problem? Google something? Throw your keyboard? Pray?
In Troubleshooting PCs For Dummies, bestselling author Dan Gookin delivers an easy-to-follow and practical guide to solving the most common problems that PC users encounter on a daily basis. This book offers quick solutions for issues arising in your desktop or laptop's graphics system, its peripherals, and a whole host of frequent software and hardware problems.
You'll find in-depth troubleshooting guides for everything from power-up issues to important privacy and security problems. You'll also discover how to boost your PC's performance with easy tweaks and adjustments as you get your computer running smoothly and efficiently.
Inside the book:
Detailed discussions of what not to do, including how to avoid counterproductive strategies like deleting important files, installing suspect apps and programs, and failing to perform necessary maintenance
Practical walkthroughs for common hardware maintenance tasks, like upgrading PC components, adding memory and hard drive space, and working with your printer
How to use Windows utilities to keep your system operating at optimum levels.
Perfect for all home and office Windows users, Troubleshooting PCs For Dummies is a must-read tutorial for everyone interested in keeping their Windows PC running safely, quickly, and reliably.
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Dan Gookin wrote the very first For Dummies book in 1991 and has authored several bestsellers with more than 11 million copies in print worldwide. His books have been translated into 32 languages, and he's known for making complex technology simple and fun.
Content
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
How This Book Works 2
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 3
Part 1: Quick Solutions for Annoying Problems 5
Chapter 1: O Trouble, Hinder Thy Bidding! 7
The Secret Source of Computer Woe 7
The Four Horsemen of the Computer Apocalypse 8
New software and updates 9
New or failing hardware 9
Altered settings 10
Time 11
Hardware-versus-Software Problems 11
Dealing with software issues 12
Solving hardware issues 12
Addressing firmware issues 13
When and Whether to Give Up 13
Chapter 2: Quick Fixes 15
Things to Try First 15
Checking the Settings app 16
Restarting the PC 16
Restarting a stubborn PC or laptop 17
Running a troubleshooter 18
Repairing a program 19
Help! 20
Locating Internet support 20
Downloading drivers 22
Perusing forums 24
Contacting tech support 24
Avoiding remote desktop access 26
Table of Contents iii
Part 2: What's Wrong Now? 27
Chapter 3: Startup Problems 29
The Onset of PC Heartbreak 29
I Power On 30
What happens 30
What could go wrong 30
Troubleshooting steps 31
II The POST 33
What happens 33
What could go wrong 33
Troubleshooting steps 34
III Startup Options 35
What happens 35
What could go wrong 36
Troubleshooting steps 36
IV The Search for an Operating System 39
What happens 39
What could go wrong 40
Troubleshooting steps 40
V Operating System Initialization 41
What happens 41
What could go wrong 41
Troubleshooting steps 42
VI. Sign In to Windows 42
What happens 42
What could go wrong 43
Troubleshooting steps 43
The Last Thing You Do 43
Chapter 4: Deter Disk Disaster 45
Windows Storage Overview 45
The Drive Is Full 46
Measuring digital things 47
Using Storage Sense 48
Dealing with large files 49
Uninstalling programs and apps 50
Compressing files 51
More Mass Storage 52
Adding storage media 52
Removing media and mass storage 53
Replacing Drive C 55
Drive Management and Maintenance 56
Defragmentating a drive 56
Checking storage media for errors 58
Formatting media 59
Fun with Partitions 62
Examining drive partitions 63
Creating a new volume in unallocated space 64
Shrinking a volume 65
Extending a partition 67
Deleting a partition 69
Chapter 5: Monitor Mayhem 71
The PC Graphics System 71
Using the proper monitor terms 72
Exploring the PC's graphics system 72
Connecting the data cable 73
Discovering your PC's display adapter 75
Exploring the monitor 76
Adjusting the monitor 78
Saving your eyeballs 79
Captain Video Troubleshooter 80
Seeing nothing 81
Seeing nothing on the monitor 81
Seeing only the mouse pointer 81
Swapping hardware 82
Saving power 82
Adjusting the resolution and scale 84
Updating the video driver 85
Disabling the video driver 87
Chapter 6: Deep Inside the Case 89
Open and Shut 89
Opening the PC case 90
Exploring the guts 91
Closing the PC case 95
Things to Upgrade, Fix, or Repair Inside the Case 96
Upgrading the power supply 97
Replacing the clock battery 98
Expanding memory 99
Adding an expansion card 102
Adding or replacing an internal drive 104
Power Management Issues 108
Locating secret power management controls 109
Setting power management options for specific devices 111
Recovering from a PC coma 113
Updating power drivers 113
Chapter 7: Printer Problems. 115
Between the Computer and Printer 115
Connecting a printer 116
Configuring the printer in Windows 117
Controlling the printer 118
Disconnecting a printer 118
The Windows Side of Printing 119
Printing in Windows 119
Using the Page Setup dialog box 121
Setting the default printer 122
Working with print jobs 123
Canceling a print job 124
Printer Problems and Solutions 125
"It printed on the wrong side of the page!" 125
"Print preview lied!" 126
"What's this extra page?" 126
"What are these wrong colors and streaks?" 126
"I just loaded paper, but the printer says the tray is empty!" 127
"The paper keeps jamming!" 127
Using the Printing Troubleshooter 128
Chapter 8: Peripheral Perils 129
Hardware Troubleshooting 130
Unwinding wireless connections 130
Diagnosing USB issues 131
Doing the hardware swap 132
Running a hardware troubleshooter 133
Audio Anxieties 134
Testing the speakers 134
Fixing silence 136
Testing the microphone 137
Updating audio device drivers 138
Keyboard and Mouse Woes 138
Troubleshooting basic input dilemmas 139
Vacuuming a keyboard 140
Cleaning the mouse 140
Chapter 9: Software Situations 143
Installation Issues 143
Adding software 144
Dealing with installation woe 145
Banish Unwanted Programs 145
The Good and Evil of File Association 147
Understanding file association 147
Hiding or showing file extensions 148
Changing file association 149
Dealing with unknown file types 150
Common Software Problems and Solutions 151
"How can I stop this program from starting automatically?" 151
"I need to run this older program" 154
"This program is broken!" 156
Chapter 10: Network Nuisances 157
Network Connection and Configuration 159
Checking the wires 159
Checking the invisible wires (a wireless network) 160
Viewing the network 161
Managing wireless connections 162
Checking network privacy 162
Network Troubleshooting 164
Checking the Device Manager 164
Resetting the network hardware 164
Updating the NIC driver 165
Resetting the broadband modem 166
Restarting the entire dang doodle network 166
Network Problems and Solutions 167
"What's this firewall warning?" 167
"Where did that network PC go?" 168
"I can't get a wireless connection!" 168
"The Wi-Fi password has changed!" 168
"What's a 'metered connection'?" 169
Chapter 11: Shutdown Issues 171
Such a Turn-Off 172
Walking through the Windows shutdown process 172
Powering over the power button 173
Problems with Restarting 175
Experiencing a random restart 176
Restarting automatically 177
Shutdown Malaise 178
Upgrading software to fix shutdown issues 179
Turning off a stubborn PC 179
Waiting for an update to install 179
Discovering that another user is signed in! 180
Dealing with the Shutdown/Restart Anyway prompt 181
Part 3: Troubleshooting Tools 183
Chapter 12: The Device Manager 185
Your Hardware Oracle 185
Opening the Device Manager 186
Checking hardware in the Settings app 187
Device Manager Duties 188
Dealing with errant hardware 188
Updating driver software 189
Disabling a device 191
Chapter 13: The Task Manager 193
Task Control Central 193
Summoning the Task Manager 194
Exploring the Task Manager window 196
Connecting programs to processes 196
Examining all the processes 197
Enjoying the services 200
Here a Task, There a Task 202
Terminating a stuck program 202
Halting a process on the Details tab 203
Disabling startup programs 203
Chapter 14: The Windows Registry 205
Behold the Registry 205
Understanding the Registry 206
Using the Registry Editor 208
Backing up the Registry 209
Modifying the Registry 210
Making specific Registry changes 211
Finding stuff in the Registry 214
Registry Cleaning 215
Chapter 15: Events and Diagnostics 217
What's Going On Here? 217
Monitoring details in the Task Manager 217
Viewing the Performance Monitor 218
Checking resources 220
What Went On Here? 221
Reviewing events 222
Understanding events 223
Filtering and searching events 224
Diagnostics to the Rescue 225
Understanding diagnostics 226
Viewing system information 226
Diagnosing DirectX 227
Running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool 229
Using other diagnostic tools 230
Chapter 16: System Restore 233
The System Restore Philosophy 233
Understanding System Restore 234
Accepting System Restore's limitations 235
Activating System Restore 235
Restore the System, Restore Your Sanity 236
Setting a restore point 236
Running System Restore 237
Choosing an older restore point 240
Accessing System Restore from the Windows Recovery Environment 240
Undoing a System Restore 241
Chapter 17: The MSCONFIG Utility 243
Welcome to Troubleshooting Central 243
Setting general startup options 245
Pulling up the Boot tab 245
Examining the startup services 246
Disabling a startup service 247
Troubleshooting Tools 248
About Windows 249
Change UAC Settings 250
Command Prompt 250
Computer Management 251
Event Viewer 251
Internet Options 251
Internet Protocol Configuration 252
Performance Monitor 253
Programs 253
Registry Editor 253
Remote Assistance 253
Resource Monitor 254
Security and Maintenance 254
System Information 254
System Properties 255
System Restore 255
Task Manager 256
Windows Troubleshooting 256
Chapter 18: Safe Mode 257
The Mode Is Safe 257
Safe Mode to the Rescue 258
Understanding Safe mode modes 258
Using diagnostic startup 259
Entering Safe mode 260
Reviewing the Safe Boot options 261
Getting into Safe mode at boot time 263
Entering Safe mode unexpectedly 263
Leaving Safe Boot Safe mode 264
Safe Mode Duties 265
Checking for problems in Safe mode 265
Running the System File Checker (SFC) 266
Reviewing the CBS.log file 268
Not Safe Mode Duties 269
Chapter 19: Windows Recovery Environment 271
Startup Keys and Recovery Options 271
Reviewing the startup keys 272
Locating recovery options in Windows 273
Resetting Windows 275
Using Advanced Startup 276
The Sacred Recovery Volume 276
Confirming the PC's recovery volume 276
Creating a recovery volume 278
The Windows Recovery Environment 279
Starting the Windows Recovery Environment 279
Exploring the Windows Recovery Environment 280
Performing startup repair 281
Changing startup settings 282
Using the command prompt 283
Uninstalling updates 284
Accessing the UEFI 285
Choosing System Restore 286
Recovering a system image 286
Part 4: Privacy and Security 287
Chapter 20: Software Updates 289
Look! Another Windows Update! 290
Understanding Windows Update 290
Configuring Windows Update 291
Reviewing updates 292
Updating drivers 293
Using the nerdy winget update tool 294
Other Software Updates 294
Update Hiccups 295
Undoing a Windows update 296
Fixing a stuck Windows update 296
Chapter 21: Keep the Bad Guys Out 299
Malicious + Software = Malware 299
Protecting your PC 299
Obtaining malware (accidentally) 301
Surviving the malware scourge 302
Defending against Viruses and Malware 303
Understanding malware protection 304
Scanning for malware 304
Dealing with an infection 305
Life Behind the Firewall 306
Understanding the firewall 306
Using the Windows Firewall 307
Dealing with a firewall alert 308
Reviewing firewall rules 310
Chapter 22: Backup and Restore 311
An Emergency Copy 311
Obtain Backup Storage 313
File History 314
Setting up File History 314
Reviewing File History settings 315
Recovering an older version of a file 316
Browsing File History 317
Restoring all your personal files 318
Cloud Backup 319
Using cloud backup 319
Backing up files on OneDrive 319
Traditional Backup 320
Configuring the backup procedure 321
Configuring Windows 7 backup 321
Modifying the Windows 7 backup 322
Running a manual backup 324
Restore to the Rescue 324
Restoring a single file 325
Restoring everything 326
The System Image 327
Creating the system image 327
Restoring a system image 329
Part 5: the Part of Tens 331
Chapter 23: Ten Useful Utilities 333
The Task Scheduler 334
The Task Manager 336
The Policy Editor 336
The Services Console 338
The Computer Management Console 338
The Disk Management Console 339
The Event Viewer 339
The System File Checker 340
Troubleshooters 340
Resetting Windows 340
Chapter 24: Ten Tricks to Boost PC Performance 343
Spyware Sluggishness 344
Startup Program Overload 345
Is Memory Leaking? 345
More Memory, Please 346
More (and Newer) Mass Storage 346
Services Necessary and Unnecessary 347
A Less Graphical Solution 349
More or Fewer Processors 350
Laptop Battery Life 352
Bye-Bye, Bloatware 353
Index 355