Troubleshooting Windows Flashcards
Slow system performance
- Task Manager
- Check for high CPU utilization and I/O
- Windows Update
- Latest patches and drivers
- Disk space
- Check for available space and defrag
- Laptops may be using power-saving mode
- Throttles the CPU
- Anti-virus and anti-malware
- Scan for bad guys
Limited connectivity
• Limited or no connectivity: The connection has limited
or no connectivity. You might be unable to access the
Internet or some network resources. The connection is
limited
- Local issues
- Wireless signal, disconnected cable
- Check IP address configuration
- Reboot
- External issues
- Wireless router rebooted/turned off
- Ping your default gateway and external IP
Boot errors
- Can’t find operating system
- OS missing
- Boot loader replaced or changed
- Multiple OSes installed
- Check boot drives
- Remove any media
• Startup Repair • Modify the Windows Boot Configuration Database (BCD) • Formerly boot.ini • Recovery Console: bootrec /rebuildbcd
Startup Repair
- Missing NTLDR
- The main Windows boot loader is missing
- Run Startup Repair or replace manually and reboot
- Missing operating system
- Boot Configuration Data (BCD) may be incorrect
- Run Startup Repair or manually configure BCD store
- Boots to Safe Mode
- Windows is not starting normally
- Run Startup Repair
Application crashes
- Application stops working
- May provide an error message
- May just disappear
- Check the Event Log
- Often includes useful reconnaissance
- Check the Reliability Monitor
- A history of application problems
- Checks for resolutions
- Reinstall the application
- Contact application support
Bluescreens and spontaneous shutdowns
- Startup and shutdown BSOD
- Bad hardware, bad drivers, bad application
• Use Last Known Good, System Restore,
or Rollback Driver
• Try Safe mode
- Reseat or remove the hardware
- If possible
- Run hardware diagnostics
- Provided by the manufacturer
- BIOS may have hardware diagnostics
Black screen
- No login dialog, no desktop
- Driver corruption, OS file corruption
- Start in VGA mode
- F8 for startup options
- Run SFC - System File Checker
- Run from recovery console
- Update driver in Safe Mode
- Download from known good source
• Repair/Refresh or recover from backup
Testing the printer
- Print or scan a test page
- Built into Windows
- Not the application
• Use diagnostic tools
• Web-based utilities
• Built into the printer
• Vendor specific
• Download from the web
site
• Generic
• Available in LiveCD form
Starting the system
- Device not starting
- Check Device Manager and Event Viewer
- Often a bad driver
- Remove or replace driver
- “One or more services failed to start”
- Bad/incorrect driver, bad hardware
- Try starting manually
- Check account permissions
- Confirm service dependencies
- Windows service; check system files
Slow boot
- Boot process hangs or takes longer than normal
- No activity, no drive lights
- Manage the startup apps
- Control what loads during the boot process
- Task Manager
- Startup tab
- Startup impact, Right-click / Disable
- Disable everything
- Load them back one at a time
Slow profile load
- Roaming user profile
- Your desktop follows you to any computer
- Changes are synchronized
• Network latency to the domain controller
• Slows login script transfers
• Slow to apply computer and user policies
• May require many hundreds (or thousands) of LDAP
queries
• Client workstation picks a remote domain controller
instead of local DC
• Problems with local infrastructure
Which of the following tools in Windows provide access to real-time performance data on CPU, RAM, hard drive, and network interface utilization?
Performance Monitor
Resource Monitor
Task Manager
Which of the following adversely affect performance of a magnetic hard drive?
Insufficient amount of RAM
Excessive paging / disk thrashing
File fragmentation
If personal files, such as email, documents, or photos are lost or deleted, Windows System Restore can be used to recover such files.
False
Which of the following would resolve problems related to excessive paging and disk thrashing?
Adding more RAM
Which of the following addresses can be pinged to test the functionality of a Network Interface Card (NIC)?
localhost
::1
127.0.0.1
While trying to start their Windows machine, a user receives “Windows Boot Configuration Data file is missing required information” error message. Which of the following bootrec options should be used by a technician for manual CLI troubleshooting of this error?
bootrec /rebuildbcd
Which of the following answers describe(s) possible cause(s) of the “Missing operating system” error message displayed during system boot?
Damaged hard drive
BIOS does not detect the hard drive
System partition not set as active
Corrupt Master Boot Record (MBR)
Which of the following would be the easiest step to troubleshoot the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) in MS Windows?
System restart
Common causes for a black/blank PC screen include
Monitor connectivity issues
Video adapter driver updates
Recent updates or installations
Which of the following Windows utilities provides access to print spooler settings?
Services (services.msc)
Which of the following answers refers to a common solution for troubleshooting user login problems on a Windows domain?
Rebuilding Windows profiles
Reconstructing Windows profiles
- Login to the computer with the user account
- The profile will be rebuilt
- This will recreate the \Users\name folder
- Login as Domain Administrator
- Copy over any important files from the old profile
- Do not copy the entire profile
- Corrupted files might exist in the old profile
Safe Mode - Windows 7 and 8/8.1
- Press F8 on boot
- Advanced Boot Options
- Safe Mode
- Only the necessary drivers to get started
- Safe Mode with Networking
- Includes drivers for network connectivity
- Safe Mode with Command Prompt
- No Windows Explorer – quick and dirty
- Enable low-resolution (VGA Mode)
- Recover from bad video driver installations
Safe Mode - Windows 10
- F8 probably won’t work
- Windows Fast Startup prevents a complete shutdown
• From the Windows desktop • Hold down shift when clicking Restart • Settings / Update & Security / Recovery / Advanced startup / Restart now • System Configuration (msconfig)
Deleting Windows profiles
- Login to the computer with Domain Administrator rights
- Rename the \Users\name folder
- This will save important files
• Backup the user’s registry • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ProfileList • Right-click / Export • Delete the registry entry - You have a backup • Restart the computer
