Troubleshooting & Maintaining PCs All-in-One For Dummies, 4ed

Introduction

About This Book  

How This Book Works  

Icons Used in This Book  

Beyond the Book  

Where to Go from Here  

Book 1: Solve My Problem Now! 

Chapter 1: Trouble Comes Hither

• The Root of All PC Trouble  
• What's Changed?  
• Installing software  
• Adding or removing hardware  
• Changing settings  
• Hardware-versus-Software Problems  
• Dealing with software issues  
• Solving hardware issues  
• Addressing firmware issues  
• When to Give Up  

Chapter 2: Quick Fixes

• Things to Try First  
• Checking the Settings app  
• Restarting the PC  
• Restarting a stubborn PC or laptop  
• Running a troubleshooter  
• Repairing a program  
• Fixing Windows  
• Restoring the system  
• Help!  
• Locating Internet support  
• Downloading drivers  
• Perusing forums  
• Contacting tech support  
• Being wary of remote desktop access!  

Book 2: O, We Got Trouble! 

Chapter 1: Startup Problems

• The Onset of PC Heartbreak  
• Phase I: Power On  
• What happens  
• What could go wrong  
• Troubleshooting steps  
• Phase II: The POST  
• What happens  
• What could go wrong  
• Troubleshooting steps  
• Phase III: Startup Options  
• What happens  
• What could go wrong  
• Troubleshooting steps  
• Phase IV: The Search for an Operating System  
• What happens  
• What could go wrong  
• Troubleshooting steps  
• Phase V: Operating System Initialization  
• What happens  
• What could go wrong  
• Troubleshooting steps  
• Phase VI: Sign In to Windows  
• What happens  
• What could go wrong  
• Troubleshooting steps  
• The Last Thing You Do  

Chapter 2: Disk Disaster

• PC Storage Overview  
• Understanding computer storage  
• Exploring mass storage devices  
• Finding mass storage in Windows  
• Adding another mass storage device  
• Adding media  
• Replacing drive C  
• Assigning drive letters  
• Resolving AutoPlay issues  
• Removing media and mass storage  
• Mass Storage Tools and Utilities  
• Opening the Disk Management console  
• Finding mere mortal storage media tools  
• Drive Management and Maintenance  
• Understanding fragmentation  
• Defragmenting a hard drive  
• Checking storage media for errors  
• Formatting media  
• Changing drive letters  
• Joining storage media to a folder  
• Fun with Partitions  
• Examining disk partitions  
• Shrinking a volume  
• Creating a new volume in unallocated space  
• Extending a partition  
• Deleting a partition  

Chapter 3: Monitor Mayhem

• The PC Graphics System  
• Using the proper monitor terms  
• Exploring the PC's graphics system  
• Connecting the display adapter and monitor  
• Discovering your PC's display adapter  
• Exploring the monitor  
• Adjusting the monitor  
• Saving your eyeballs  
• Orienting a monitor vertically  
• Connecting a second monitor  
• Configuring the second monitor  
• Captain Video Troubleshooter  
• Seeing nothing  
• Seeing only the mouse pointer  
• Swapping monitors  
• Saving the screen  
• Saving power  
• Adjusting the resolution  
• Updating the video driver  
• Disabling the video driver  

Chapter 4: Internal Issues

• Deep Inside the Case  
• Opening the PC case  
• Exploring the motherboard  
• Closing the PC case  
• Things to Upgrade, Fix, or Repair Inside the Case  
• Upgrading the power supply  
• Replacing the clock battery  
• Expanding memory  
• Adding an expansion card  
• Adding or replacing an internal drive  
• Power Management Issues  
• Locating power management controls  
• Setting power management options for specific devices  
• Recovering from a PC coma  
• Updating power drivers  

Chapter 5: Printer Problems

• Between the Computer and Printer  
• Configuring the printer in Windows  
• Connecting a printer  
• Controlling the printer  
• Disconnecting a printer  
• Keeping the printer stocked  
• Feeding envelopes  
• The Windows Side of Printing  
• Printing in Windows  
• Using the Page Setup dialog box  
• Setting the default printer  
• Working with print jobs  
• Canceling a print job  
• Printer Problems and Solutions  
• "It printed on the wrong side of the page!"  
• "Print preview lied!"  
• "What's this extra page?"  
• "What are these wrong colors and streaks?"  
• "I just loaded paper, but the printer says the tray is empty!"  
• "The paper keeps jamming!"  
• Using the Printing Troubleshooter  

Chapter 6: Peripheral Perils

• Hardware Troubleshooting  
• Checking the Device Manager  
• Diagnosing USB issues  
• Doing the hardware swap  
• Running a hardware troubleshooter  
• Audio Anxieties  
• Testing the speakers  
• Connecting speakers  
• Fixing silence  
• Testing the microphone  
• Running the audio troubleshooter  
• Updating audio device drivers  
• Keyboard and Mouse Woes  
• Troubleshooting basic input dilemmas  
• Taming a wild mouse  
• Making the mouse pointer move faster or slower  
• Improving mouse pointer visibility  
• Using a left-handed mouse  
• Honing the keyboard  
• Vacuuming a keyboard  
• Cleaning the mouse  

Chapter 7: Software Situations

• Installation Issues  
• Adding software  
• Downloading software  
• Dealing with installation issues  
• Banish the Unwanted  
• Uninstalling software  
• Removing bloatware  
• Cleaning up the uninstall leftovers  
• The Good and Evil of File Association  
• Understanding file association  
• Hiding or showing file extensions  
• Changing the file association  
• Dealing with unknown file types  
• Common Software Problems and Solutions  
• "How can I stop this program from starting automatically?"  
• "I need to run this older program"  
• "This program is broken!"  
• "How can I purge the recently opened file list?"  

Chapter 8: Network Nonsense

• The Network Big Picture  
• Understanding networking  
• Reviewing network hardware  
• Network Hardware Connection and Configuration  
• Plugging in the network  
• Connecting the gateway and modem  
• Configuring a gateway  
• Connecting to a wireless network  
• Managing wireless connections  
• Checking network privacy  
• The Software Side of Networking  
• Looking at the network  
• Checking the Internet connection  
• Enabling sharing options  
• Sharing a folder  
• Accessing shared folders on the network  
• Mapping a network folder to a drive letter  
• Network Troubleshooting  
• Checking the Device Manager  
• Resetting the network software  
• Upgrading the NIC's driver  
• Resetting the broadband modem  
• Restarting the entire network's hardware  
• Network Problems and Solutions  
• "What's this firewall warning?"  
• "Where did that network PC go?"  
• "I can't get a wireless connection!"  
• "The Wi-Fi password has changed!"  
• "What's a metered connection?"  
• "The hotel network keeps forgetting my laptop!"  

Chapter 9: Shutdown Issues

• Such a Turn-Off  
• Walking through the Windows shutdown process  
• Reviewing shutdown options  
• Problems with Restarting  
• Experiencing a random restart  
• Restarting automatically  
• Shutdown Malaise  
• Upgrading software to fix shutdown issues  
• Turning off a stubborn PC  
• Waiting for an update to install  
• Discovering that another user is signed in!  
• Dealing with the Restart Anyway prompt  

Book 3: Tools to Use 

Chapter 1: Windows Recovery Environment

• Startup Keys and Recovery Options  
• Reviewing the startup keys  
• Locating recovery options in Windows  
• Resetting Windows  
• Using Advanced Startup  
• The Sacred Recovery Volume  
• Checking to see whether the PC has a Recovery volume  
• Creating a repair disk  
• Windows Recovery Environment Duties  
• Starting the Windows Recovery Environment from Windows  
• Starting the Windows Recovery Environment from a repair disk or thumb drive  
• Running the Windows Recovery Environment  
• Performing startup repair  
• Changing startup settings  
• Using the command prompt  
• Uninstalling updates  
• Accessing the UEFI  
• Choosing System Restore  
• Recovering a system image  

Chapter 2: The Device Manager

• Your Pal, the Device Manager  
• Opening the Device Manager  
• Looking for hardware in the Settings app  
• Device Manager Duties  
• Dealing with errant hardware  
• Updating driver software  
• Disabling a device  

Chapter 3: MSCONFIG and the Task Manager

• The System Configuration Utility  
• Exploring MSCONFIG  
• Reviewing the troubleshooting tools  
• MSCONFIG Startup Options  
• Examining the startup services  
• Disabling a startup service  

Chapter 4: Safe Mode

• The Mode is Safe  
• Safe Mode to the Rescue  
• Understanding Safe mode modes  
• Entering Diagnostic mode  
• Using safe boot for Safe mode  
• Getting into Safe mode at boot-time  
• Entering Safe mode unexpectedly  
• Exploring safe boot options  
• Leaving safe boot Safe mode  
• Safe Mode Duties  
• Checking for problems in Safe mode  
• Running the System File Checker (SFC)  
• Reviewing the CBS.log file  
• Not Safe Mode Duties  

Chapter 5: System Restore

• The System Restore Philosophy  
• Understanding System Restore  
• Accepting System Restore's limitations  
• Activating System Restore  
• Restore the System, Restore Your Sanity  
• Running System Restore  
• Getting to System Restore from the Windows Recovery Environment  
• Choosing an older restore point  
• Setting a restore point  
• Undoing a system restore  
• System Restore on Schedule

Chapter 6: The Task Manager

• Task Control Central  
• Summoning the Task Manager  
• Switching tasks  
• Exploring the Task Manager window  
• Connecting programs to processes  
• Examining all the processes  
• Enjoying the services  
• Here a Task, There a Task  
• Ending a stuck program  
• Halting a process on the Details tab  
• Disabling startup programs  

Chapter 7: The Windows Registry

• Behold the Registry  
• Understanding the Registry  
• Using the Registry Editor  
• Backing up the Registry  
• Modifying the Registry  
• Making specific Registry changes  
• Finding stuff in the Registry  
• Registry Cleaning  

Chapter 8: Events and Diagnostics

• What Has Gone On Here?  
• Reviewing events  
• Understanding events  
• Filtering and searching events  
• Diagnostics to the Rescue  
• Understanding diagnostics  
• Viewing system information  
• Diagnosing DirectX  
• Running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool  
• Using other diagnostic tools  

Book 4: PC Privacy and Security 

Chapter 1: PC Privacy

• App Permissions  
• Setting general privacy options  
• Reviewing the permissions  
• Allowing camera and microphone access  
• Disclosing your location  
• Disabling Cortana  
• On the Interwebs  
• Dealing with activity history  
• Guarding against web page tracking IDs

Chapter 2: Keeping Software Current

• Windows Updates, Doesn't It?  
• Understanding Windows Update  
• Configuring Windows Update  
• Reviewing updates  
• Updating drivers  
• Other Software Updates  
• Installing a program update  
• Updating the firmware (BIOS)  
• Update Hiccups  
• Undoing an update  
• Fixing a stuck Windows update

Chapter 3: Keep Mr PC Safe

• Malicious + Software = Malware  
• Protecting your PC  
• Obtaining malware (accidentally)  
• Surviving the malware scourge  
• Defending Against Viruses and Malware  
• Understanding malware protection  
• Scanning for malware  
• Dealing with an infection  
• Life Behind the Firewall  
• Understanding the firewall  
• Using the Windows Firewall  
• Dealing with a firewall alert  
• Reviewing firewall rules  

Chapter 4: Backup and Restore

• An Emergency Copy  
• Prepare for Backup!  
• Getting external storage  
• Using network storage  
• Configuring File History  
• Selecting folders for backup  
• Modifying the backup routine  
• Making an immediate backup  
• Confirming that the backup worked  
• File Time-Travel  
• Recovering an older version of a file  
• Browsing File History  
• Restoring all your personal files  
• The System Image  
• Creating the system image  
• Restoring a system image  

Book 5: This Old PC 

Chapter 1: Performance and Resources

• The Relationship Between Performance and Resources  
• How Ya Doin', PC?  
• Viewing the Performance Monitor  
• Checking the Performance tab  
• Monitoring system resources  
• Using the monitors as troubleshooting tools

Chapter 2: More Mass Storage

• The Mass Storage Pie  
• Looking at the storage situation  
• Measuring bulky things  
• Get Yourself More Mass Storage Capacity  
• Dealing with large files  
• Using Disk Cleanup  
• Uninstalling programs  
• Compressing single files  
• Compressing every dang doodle file on a drive  
• Even More Storage  
• Adding mass storage  
• Relocating programs  
• Getting a larger Drive C  

Chapter 3: Boost PC Performance

• Man, Your PC is Slow!  
• Understanding slow  
• Unclogging the spyware  
• Finding a memory leak  
• Speed Up Your PC  
• Performing regular maintenance  
• Upgrading the hard drive  
• Adding more RAM  
• Putting ReadyBoost to work  
• Setting the number of processors  
• Disabling background services

Index