Windows Troubleshooting Flashcards
What issues can I resolve potentially with the log analysis tools
application crashes, slow boot or startup, application hangs, unexpected reboots
what questions should you first ask when trying to solve a problem
is the problem unique to one computer or all computers on the network?
does the problem affect a single user or all users?
is the problem related to a particular application? is that application up-to-date?
what do you do once you have figured out what the problem is based on asking questions and looking at system logs?
decide how to fix it, implement the strategy you decide on, record the results, try until succeed. document your findings
which should you do after you have fixed a problem?
educate others on your team and in your company about what you discovered to prevent issues from happening again
What should be one of your first steps when troubleshooting in windows? important so you can have all of your required or recommended software resolutions, operating system patches, updates, a security updates and fixes, .NET framework updates, driver and firmware updates, etc
Windows Update
when do you need to get updates from the hardware manufacturer
if the OEM updates are not available through Windows Update. Ex: computer hardware, peripherals, drivers, patches, third-party apps
when can fragmentation across storage blocks occur in windows?
when files an a hard driver saved, deleted, or altered
what does it mean for fragmentation to occur
a file may become spread across a drive in noncontiguous storage blocks, resulting in performance problems within the system as the hard drive spends seek time finding the scattered file fragments in piecing them back together
what does disc defragmenting do?
automatically relocates file fragments onto a continuous series of storage blocks to remedy seek time delays. optimizes the drive
what is a utility that simplifies removing temporary files including downloaded program files, thumbnail files, system files, and temporary internet files, as well as offering an option to compress the primary hard drive where the operating system is?
disk cleanup
what’s a commandline utility for windows that scans hard drives to find and flag bad sectors, which will be removed from use and no data will be stored on them? tool will attempt to recover any data found on the bad sector
check disk, CHKDSK
what’s a window system utility for performing advanced storage management tasks, including initializing a new drive, extending or shrieking volume, and changing a drive letter?
disk management tool
what’s a software tool for monitoring events and errors produced by the system, security, hardware, software, and more which divides in deforming categories:
custom views
windows logs
applications and services logs
subscriptions
event viewer
what should only be used by advanced system administrators which is likely to cause serious system and software problems if the wrong edits are made to a registry?
Registry Editor, regedit
what is a software tool for changing system settings including the services and applications that can load on system startup
msconfig, system configuration tool
What are the options for booting into safe mode?
system configuration tool: used to configure a clean boot in safe mode to help isolate the source of a system problem
startup settings: accessed through system>recovery or the sign-in screen
where can you access the Windows Troubleshoot menu?
start>settings>system>troubleshoot.
what options are available on the troubleshoot menu
recommended troubleshooter preferences: set preferences for Microsoft’s recommendations for troubleshooting tools
recommended troubleshooter history: easy access to troubleshooting tools used previously
other troubleshooters: a menu then includes tools for troubleshooting internet connections, audio, printers, program compatibility, search and indexing, shirt folders, video, windows store apps, privacy, misc. help.
what are common problems in Windows?
computer is running slowly
computer is frozen
blue screen errors
hardware problems
software problems
application is frozen
peripheral not working
audio problem
how would you troubleshoot that a computer is running slowly?
- reboot the computer
- if rebooting doesn’t work, check whether there’s sufficient processing power, disk space, and RAM to support the OS, hardware, software, and intended computer use.
- check system event logs for errors.
- research any error codes using the Microsoft knowledge base or google.
- run an antivirus and anti-malware scan
- use Windows Update and OEM updates to ensure the system is up-to-date
- Remove temporary and unneeded files and software
- check the software and services that load at startup for potential problem sources.
- reboot into safe mode to see if the performance improves
- unplug peripherals and turn off network connections to eliminate these as slowdown sources
- if using win 11, use the system troubleshoot tools
how do you troubleshoot when a computer is frozen?
- power off the computer
- wait 30 seconds to drain residual power and clear any corrupted RAM data
- boot up the computer again and check system event logs
- if the system does not boot, go to the BIOS and boot in safe mode to gain access to event logs
- research error codes found
- if root cause can’t be found, run the same checks as computer running slowly.
what do you do with a blue screen error?
- if there is a QR code or error code, record this information to research the root cause and possible solutions.
- power off the computer, wait 30 seconds, then boot again. If the system does not boot, go into the BIOS settings to boot into Safe Mode. Obtains event logs in Event Viewer, research error codes. If the root cause not determined, run checks as computer running slowly.
How to troubleshoot hardware problems
check the OEM’s hardware website for updates to drivers, firmware, and software management consoles.
2. if not resolved, check the system device manager to see if the device is disabled or not recognized
3. check sys event logs and research error codes
4. do error checks like computer running slowly
troubleshooting software problemn
- go to the manufacturer’s site to check patches or updates
- update
- check the application event logs and research error codes found
4: computer running slowly checks
troubleshoot frozen application
- end application processes in Task Manager
- restart application
- if the problem persists, reboot computer and try to run the application again.
- if issue unresolved, follow instructions listed for software problems.
troubleshoot peripheral not working
- make sure the peripheral is on and has power
- check cables to ensure they are attached securely.
- try different usb port
- check to ensure BT is active on the computer and peripheral
- reboot the computer to see if it can reconnect to device
what devices are likely to fail? inexpensive, high-use peripherals like mice and keyboards. - swap the peripheral for a working replacement to see if the problem is the peripheral or an error in the computer detecting the peripheral
- check device manager to see if the device has been disables or is not recognized.
- check the event logs for errors.
- Visit OEM website for updates to drivers, firmware, software management consoles.
- Run a Windows Update
Troubleshooting Audio Problems
- Check audio volume
- run the Windows Audio troubleshooter
- Check speaker cables, plugs, jacks, headphones
- check sound settings
- update or repair audio drivers and sound card firmware
- check to ensure the active and default audio devices are the desired audio devices
- Turn off audio enhancements
- stop and restart audio services in Task manager
- restart the computer
- research if specific audio CODECs are needed for audio media
- if audio not working in browser, ensure the browser has permission to use the system audio and/or microphone
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/performance/performance-overview
https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterprisedesktop/tip/How-to-scan-and-repair-disks-with-Windows-10-Check-Disk
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/disk-management/overview-of-disk-management
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-event-viewer-windows-10
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/sysinfo/registry
https://windowsreport.com/system-configuration-windows-10/
Resources on Troubleshooting.
What are signs of a full primary hard drive?
are messages that there’s insufficient space on the drive to save new files, apply an update, install the software. performance issues, hanging, crashing, not loading the operating system after booting up
how do you prevent a hard drive becoming full
, perform maintenance and cleanup computer hard drives to free storage space, improve system performance, and prevent the myriad of issues that can arise
what do you assume if only one employee is reporting a problem with their computer?
that the problem has to do with that user’s computer only, so any system wide changes probably aren’t the problem
what steps might you complete to fix a full hard drive?
- check how much free storage space remains. recommended over 20GB for normal OS processes
- Delete temporary and unneeded files
- storage sense tool to delete unnecessary files, offline cloud files, downloads, recycle bin files. configure storage sense to regularly and automatically clean the hard drive for proactive maintenance.
- Disk Cleanup: alternative to storage sense tool. Performs most of the same operations. drive compression utility. if you run this, but the computer still reports low disk space, the temp folder is probably filling up with Microsoft Store .appx files, and you need to clear the Microsoft Store cache
- Reset Windows Update. If the computer is having errors after an update, it is possible that the update was not successful and you need to reset it. the reset tool can check if a system reboot is required to apply updates, security settings etc changed, update files are missing a corrupted, service registrations are missing or corrupt, and more. settings, troubleshoot>other troubleshooters> windows update
- move files off the primary hard drive onto:
a. internal or external storage: usb, sd
b. network storage: NAS appliances, Enterprise Storage Area Networks (SAN),
c. cloud storage: OneDrive, File Explorer, Google drive. low cost, but less secure. - in System Storage, under Advanced Storage Settings, set the new drive storage as the destination for where new content is saved.
a. set cloud storage to be online-only, to prevent cloud files from downloading an offline or cached version of the files to the hard drive.
b. uninstall apps that are not needed.
c. run antivirus and malware software: some viruses and malware fill up hard drives with trash data - wipe hard drive and reinstall the OS if all else fails. Best method for repairing failed system updates.
Troubleshooting interview steps:
user has application issue.
try to launch application, and they get a generic error message when they try to launch it.
what os? what is the name of the application?
custom app, linux desktop.
last time it worked?
do you know if other users are having this issue?
are you aware if any updates happened over the weekend?
check the apt log, the utility we use to install apps and updates.
look in syslog.
/var/log/apt log.
history.log.
grep command with application name.
update over the weekend.
it is possible the update cause this issue. missing dependency, app got corrupted.
run updates to make sure everything is installed.
sudo apt get update
sudo apt get upgrade
try to launch the application
check the permissions
location: right click on shortcut, see what it says.
which command with location.
/usr/bin
navigate with cd to the application
list permissions
ls -l
r: read
w: write
x: execute
no read or execute permissions for this application.
use a change modify command.
application now works.
follow up: notify the owners of the application to notify other users and prevent other issues.
it is ok not to know everything, but show how you will find out the information you need in real life.
