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


Part1: 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


Part2: 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


Part3: 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


Part4: 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


Part5: 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