Troubleshooting & Maintaining PCs All-in-One For Dummies

Dan Gookin wrote the very first For Dummies book in 1991. The author of several bestsellers, Dan’s books have been translated into 32 languages and have more than 11 million copies in print. Dan is the bestselling author of all editions of PCs For Dummies and Laptops For Dummies.

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 4

Book 1: Solve My Problem Now! 5

Chapter 1: Trouble Comes Hither 7

The Root of All PC Trouble 7

What’s Changed? 8

Installing software 8

Adding or removing hardware 9

Changing settings 10

Hardware-versus-Software Problems 11

Dealing with software issues 11

Solving hardware issues 12

Addressing firmware issues 12

When 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 18

Running a troubleshooter 18

Repairing a program 19

Fixing Windows 20

Restoring the system 21

Help! 21

Locating Internet support 22

Downloading drivers 24

Perusing forums 25

Contacting tech support 26

Being wary of remote desktop access! 27

Book 2: O, We Got Trouble! 29

Chapter 1: Startup Problems 31

The Onset of PC Heartbreak 31

Phase I: Power On 32

What happens 32

What could go wrong 32

Troubleshooting steps 32

Phase II: The POST 35

What happens 35

What could go wrong 35

Troubleshooting steps 36

Phase III: Startup Options 37

What happens 37

What could go wrong 38

Troubleshooting steps 39

Phase IV: The Search for an Operating System 42

What happens 42

What could go wrong 43

Troubleshooting steps 43

Phase V: Operating System Initialization 44

What happens 44

What could go wrong 44

Troubleshooting steps 45

Phase VI: Sign In to Windows 45

What happens 45

What could go wrong 46

Troubleshooting steps 46

The Last Thing You Do 46

Chapter 2: Disk Disaster 47

PC Storage Overview 47

Understanding computer storage 48

Exploring mass storage devices 48

Finding mass storage in Windows 50

Adding another mass storage device 52

Adding media 52

Replacing drive C 53

Assigning drive letters 54

Resolving AutoPlay issues 55

Removing media and mass storage 57

Mass Storage Tools and Utilities 59

Opening the Disk Management console 60

Finding mere mortal storage media tools 61

Drive Management and Maintenance 62

Understanding fragmentation 62

Defragmenting a hard drive 64

Checking storage media for errors 65

Formatting media 67

Changing drive letters 71

Joining storage media to a folder 73

Fun with Partitions 74

Examining disk partitions 75

Shrinking a volume 77

Creating a new volume in unallocated space 78

Extending a partition 81

Deleting a partition 82

Chapter 3: Monitor Mayhem 83

The PC Graphics System 83

Using the proper monitor terms 84

Exploring the PC’s graphics system 84

Connecting the display adapter and monitor 85

Discovering your PC’s display adapter 87

Exploring the monitor 88

Adjusting the monitor 90

Saving your eyeballs 91

Orienting a monitor vertically 93

Connecting a second monitor 94

Configuring the second monitor 94

Captain Video Troubleshooter 96

Seeing nothing 96

Seeing only the mouse pointer 97

Swapping monitors 97

Saving the screen 98

Saving power 100

Adjusting the resolution 102

Updating the video driver 104

Disabling the video driver 106

Chapter 4: Internal Issues 107

Deep Inside the Case 107

Opening the PC case 108

Exploring the motherboard 109

Closing the PC case 114

Things to Upgrade, Fix, or Repair Inside the Case 115

Upgrading the power supply 115

Replacing the clock battery 118

Expanding memory 118

Adding an expansion card 122

Adding or replacing an internal drive 124

Power Management Issues 128

Locating power management controls 129

Setting power management options for specific devices 132

Recovering from a PC coma 134

Updating power drivers 134

Chapter 5: Printer Problems 137

Between the Computer and Printer 137

Configuring the printer in Windows 138

Connecting a printer 138

Controlling the printer 140

Disconnecting a printer 141

Keeping the printer stocked 142

Feeding envelopes 143

The Windows Side of Printing 144

Printing in Windows 144

Using the Page Setup dialog box 146

Setting the default printer 148

Working with print jobs 149

Canceling a print job 150

Printer Problems and Solutions 151

“It printed on the wrong side of the page!” 151

“Print preview lied!” 152

“What’s this extra page?” 152

“What are these wrong colors and streaks?” 152

“I just loaded paper, but the printer says the tray is empty!” 153

“The paper keeps jamming!” 153

Using the Printing Troubleshooter 154

Chapter 6: Peripheral Perils 155

Hardware Troubleshooting 156

Checking the Device Manager 156

Diagnosing USB issues 157

Doing the hardware swap 159

Running a hardware troubleshooter 160

Audio Anxieties 160

Testing the speakers 161

Connecting speakers 162

Fixing silence 164

Testing the microphone 165

Running the audio troubleshooter 166

Updating audio device drivers 167

Keyboard and Mouse Woes 167

Troubleshooting basic input dilemmas 168

Taming a wild mouse 169

Making the mouse pointer move faster or slower 170

Improving mouse pointer visibility 171

Using a left-handed mouse 172

Honing the keyboard 173

Vacuuming a keyboard 174

Cleaning the mouse 175

Chapter 7: Software Situations 177

Installation Issues 177

Adding software 177

Downloading software 179

Dealing with installation issues 180

Banish the Unwanted 181

Uninstalling software 181

Removing bloatware 183

Cleaning up the uninstall leftovers 183

The Good and Evil of File Association 184

Understanding file association 184

Hiding or showing file extensions 185

Changing the file association 186

Dealing with unknown file types 188

Common Software Problems and Solutions 189

“How can I stop this program from starting automatically?” 189

“I need to run this older program” 192

“This program is broken!” 193

“How can I purge the recently opened file list?” 194

Chapter 8: Network Nonsense 197

The Network Big Picture 197

Understanding networking 198

Reviewing network hardware 198

Network Hardware Connection and Configuration 201

Plugging in the network 201

Connecting the gateway and modem 202

Configuring a gateway 203

Connecting to a wireless network 206

Managing wireless connections 208

Checking network privacy 209

The Software Side of Networking 210

Looking at the network 210

Checking the Internet connection 211

Enabling sharing options 213

Sharing a folder 215

Accessing shared folders on the network 216

Mapping a network folder to a drive letter 216

Network Troubleshooting 217

Checking the Device Manager 217

Resetting the network software 218

Upgrading the NIC’s driver 218

Resetting the broadband modem 219

Restarting the entire network’s hardware 220

Network Problems and Solutions 221

“What’s this firewall warning?” 221

“Where did that network PC go?” 221

“I can’t get a wireless connection!” 221

“The Wi-Fi password has changed!” 222

“What’s a metered connection?” 222

“The hotel network keeps forgetting my laptop!” 223

Chapter 9: Shutdown Issues 225

Such a Turn-Off 225

Walking through the Windows shutdown process 226

Reviewing shutdown options 228

Problems with Restarting 230

Experiencing a random restart 230

Restarting automatically 232

Shutdown Malaise 233

Upgrading software to fix shutdown issues 234

Turning off a stubborn PC 234

Waiting for an update to install 234

Discovering that another user is signed in! 235

Dealing with the Restart Anyway prompt 235

Book 3: Tools to Use 237

Chapter 1: Windows Recovery Environment 239

Startup Keys and Recovery Options 239

Reviewing the startup keys 240

Locating recovery options in Windows 241

Resetting Windows 242

Using Advanced Startup 244

The Sacred Recovery Volume 244

Checking to see whether the PC has a Recovery volume 244

Creating a repair disk 245

Windows Recovery Environment Duties 247

Starting the Windows Recovery Environment from Windows 248

Starting the Windows Recovery Environment from a repair disk or thumb drive 248

Running the Windows Recovery Environment 250

Performing startup repair 251

Changing startup settings 252

Using the command prompt 252

Uninstalling updates 254

Accessing the UEFI 255

Choosing System Restore 255

Recovering a system image 256

Chapter 2: The Device Manager 257

Your Pal, the Device Manager 257

Opening the Device Manager 257

Looking for hardware in the Settings app 259

Device Manager Duties 261

Dealing with errant hardware 261

Updating driver software 261

Disabling a device 264

Chapter 3: MSCONFIG and the Task Manager 265

The System Configuration Utility 265

Exploring MSCONFIG 266

Reviewing the troubleshooting tools 270

MSCONFIG Startup Options 277

Examining the startup services 277

Disabling a startup service 278

Chapter 4: Safe Mode 279

The Mode is Safe 279

Safe Mode to the Rescue 280

Understanding Safe mode modes 280

Entering Diagnostic mode 281

Using safe boot for Safe mode 282

Getting into Safe mode at boot-time 284

Entering Safe mode unexpectedly 285

Exploring safe boot options 285

Leaving safe boot Safe mode 287

Safe Mode Duties 288

Checking for problems in Safe mode 288

Running the System File Checker (SFC) 289

Reviewing the CBS.log file 291

Not Safe Mode Duties 292

Chapter 5: System Restore 293

The System Restore Philosophy 293

Understanding System Restore 294

Accepting System Restore’s limitations 295

Activating System Restore 295

Restore the System, Restore Your Sanity 296

Running System Restore 297

Getting to System Restore from the Windows Recovery Environment 299

Choosing an older restore point 299

Setting a restore point 300

Undoing a system restore 300

System Restore on Schedule 301

Chapter 6: The Task Manager 305

Task Control Central 305

Summoning the Task Manager 306

Switching tasks 307

Exploring the Task Manager window 308

Connecting programs to processes 309

Examining all the processes 310

Enjoying the services 311

Here a Task, There a Task 312

Ending a stuck program 313

Halting a process on the Details tab 314

Disabling startup programs 314

Chapter 7: The Windows Registry 317

Behold the Registry 317

Understanding the Registry 318

Using the Registry Editor 320

Backing up the Registry 321

Modifying the Registry 322

Making specific Registry changes 323

Finding stuff in the Registry 325

Registry Cleaning 326

Chapter 8: Events and Diagnostics 329

What Has Gone On Here? 329

Reviewing events 330

Understanding events 331

Filtering and searching events 332

Diagnostics to the Rescue 333

Understanding diagnostics 334

Viewing system information 334

Diagnosing DirectX 335

Running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool 337

Using other diagnostic tools 338

Book 4: PC Privacy and Security 341

Chapter 1: PC Privacy 343

App Permissions 344

Setting general privacy options 344

Reviewing the permissions 344

Allowing camera and microphone access 345

Disclosing your location 347

Disabling Cortana 349

On the Interwebs 350

Dealing with activity history 350

Guarding against web page tracking IDs 350

Chapter 2: Keeping Software Current 353

Windows Updates, Doesn’t It? 353

Understanding Windows Update 354

Configuring Windows Update 355

Reviewing updates 356

Updating drivers 357

Other Software Updates 357

Installing a program update 357

Updating the firmware (BIOS) 359

Update Hiccups 359

Undoing an update 360

Fixing a stuck Windows update 361

Chapter 3: Keep Mr PC Safe 363

Malicious + Software = Malware 363

Protecting your PC 363

Obtaining malware (accidentally) 365

Surviving the malware scourge 366

Defending Against Viruses and Malware 367

Understanding malware protection 367

Scanning for malware 368

Dealing with an infection 368

Life Behind the Firewall 369

Understanding the firewall 370

Using the Windows Firewall 371

Dealing with a firewall alert 372

Reviewing firewall rules 373

Chapter 4: Backup and Restore 375

An Emergency Copy 375

Prepare for Backup! 376

Getting external storage 377

Using network storage 378

Configuring File History 378

Selecting folders for backup 379

Modifying the backup routine 380

Making an immediate backup 381

Confirming that the backup worked 381

File Time-Travel 382

Recovering an older version of a file 382

Browsing File History 383

Restoring all your personal files 385

The System Image 385

Creating the system image 386

Restoring a system image 387

Book 5: This Old PC 389

Chapter 1: Performance and Resources 391

The Relationship Between Performance and Resources 392

How Ya Doin’, PC? 393

Viewing the Performance Monitor 393

Checking the Performance tab 394

Monitoring system resources 396

Using the monitors as troubleshooting tools 397

Chapter 2: More Mass Storage 399

The Mass Storage Pie 399

Looking at the storage situation 400

Measuring bulky things 402

Get Yourself More Mass Storage Capacity 403

Dealing with large files 403

Using Disk Cleanup 405

Uninstalling programs 407

Compressing single files 409

Compressing every dang doodle file on a drive 410

Even More Storage 412

Adding mass storage 412

Relocating programs 412

Getting a larger Drive C 413

Chapter 3: Boost PC Performance 415

Man, Your PC is Slow! 415

Understanding slow 416

Unclogging the spyware 417

Finding a memory leak 417

Speed Up Your PC 417

Performing regular maintenance 418

Upgrading the hard drive 418

Adding more RAM 419

Putting ReadyBoost to work 420

Setting the number of processors 421

Disabling background services 423

Index 427