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Windows 7: Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7
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Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7
Published by gregrocker
19 Mar 2012
Information Published by
This list compiles useful Troubleshooting Steps for performance issues with Win7. It will
gregrocker
show you how to test hardware, utilize built-in System resources to find solutions to
problems, access and interpret the logs, use various tools and fixes.
While General Troubleshooting is useful for serious problems, when a Blue Screen occurs it
is best to also post for analysis in our Crashes forum using this tool:
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions - Windows 7 Forums.
When Win7 fails to boot then start with the steps given here: Troubleshooting Windows 7
Failure to Boot - Windows 7 Forums
To find a location (e.g. Event Viewer, msconfig) type it in Start Search box.
The steps begin with checking over the hardware. If you own an HP, Dell or some
other PC brands you can reboot into the BIOS Boot Menu to run Diagnostics (on Dells
also from the Utility partition) to test the hardware. If you know your hardware is
good you can skip to Step 4.
1. Test the hard drive using maker's HD Diagnostics diagnostics/repair extended CD scan.
Burn ISO to CD using Windows Image Burner then boot the disk to run extended Scan.
Then run a full Disk Check on all partitions, if necessary from System Recovery Options
Command Line.
2. Test your RAM - Test with Memtest86+ CD for 7 or more passes, or overnight.. The
tutorial will show you how to test individual RAM sticks and slots. Check the slots for
debris.
3. Check all cabling is securely connected and in good condition, try reinstalling suspect
hardware, swap RAM sticks, unplug extra HD's, peripherals, CD/DVD drive to see if
problems disappear. Unplug or remove any floppy drive.
4. Check temps for overheating by installing Core Temp which will allow monitoring temps from System
Tray. If running hot blow dust out of the case using canned air or clean out laptop dust, check all
connections carefully avoiding static discharge to components by touching case first, upgrade or reseat
RAM checking for debris in slot.
5. Check for infection by downloading, installing (declining trial), update, run a Full Scan with the free
scanners from Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware, in Safe Mode with Networking if necessary.
6. Many issues can be solved by running a free lightweight AV like Microsoft Security Essentials with the
Windows 7 Firewall for best performance. You can uninstall your AV to run this as a test to be sure. Yours
may also need an Uninstaller (removal tools) for common antivirus software - ESET Knowledgebase
A more aggressive free AV that similarly allows best Win7 performance is Panda Cloud.
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7. Establish a Clean Boot by un-checking everything in msconfig>Startup except AV: Startup Programs -
Change. After reboot enter msconfig>Services, check the box to "Hide All MS Services," repeat above
steps.
Check back periodically that nothing has written itself into either list, if so turn it off in its Program
Preferences or Uninstall it. A program can wait to start until you click on it. Freeloaders slow startup, can
be a drag on CPU/RAM, cause issues and spy on you.
If you have a question about an item Google its name to find out what it does.
8. Run SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker to repair any damaged or corrupt OS files. If it
won't run in Win7 then try from DVD or System Repair Disk Command Line using SFC /SCANNOW Run in
Command Prompt at Boot .
9. You can try System Restore to a point before the problem occurred, if necessary running it from
System Recovery Options.
This step offers a chance to restore to a previous configuration, but System Restore limitations should be
noted as in the first four boxes of System Restore Point - Create.
Always make sure you have as much space apportioned for restore points as you can afford at System
Protection - Change Disk Space Usage
10. Enable hardware auto-updating to make sure you're getting the latest drivers via Windows Updates -
which should also be set to Automatic - then Check for Updates. Install all Important and Optional
Updates, after reboot Check for Updates again until there are no more.
Any missing drivers can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your computer or device model.
Driver Install - Device Manager
11. Check for newer display driver, or roll back to the previous version or try another Windows 7 or Vista
driver. Turn off or uninstall the accompanying software package. Driver Install - Device Manager
12. Use Process Monitor for Application Failures, File System issues, Registry issues, Boot logging,
Memory Stack issues, and misleading Error messages which is demonstrated in this Process Monitor
Demo - YouTube. Type Resource Monitor in Start Search box to narrow down resource hogs.
13. Type "Solutions" in Start Search box to see if any have been queued for Problems reported or
not. Look at the Troubleshooters available on that page to see if one might help. Always report problems
when asked as Windows 7 is interactive this way.
14. Some of these steps suggested to Clean Up Factory Bloatware might help. On weaker hardware you
can improve performance by editing Visual Effects of Sliding, Fading, Animation, Dragging Intact and
Selection Rectangle as shown in Optimize Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums
15. Study the Event Viewer>Custom>Admin view for repeat errors to google verbatim text and ID# to
find out how others have resolved them. Event Viewer - Open and Use in Windows 7
For example: for the repeat errors highlighted below, googling the text will auto-complete showing others
have searched for it, then take you to discussion threads which point to a MS Fixit for the problem.
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16. Check also the Performance log on Advanced Tools page accessed by clicking your WEI score link
at Computer>Properties. Check for queued issues at top of Tools page, Generate A System Health
Report.
17. Look for issues cued in Action Center in bottom-right System Tray.
18. Type "Troubleshoot" in Start Search box, then View All on left hand menu. Run any
Troubleshooters for your suspected problems which can repair or clue you to issues.
19. As a last resort before reinstall try a Repair Install which can fix most problems, as it re-installs the
OS while keeping all programs, files and settings in place.
20. Consider a Clean Reinstall which is actually better than getting a new computer with today's bloated
factory pre-install's. The tutorial compiles everything that works best in tens of thousands of installs
we've directly helped with here, and has been used by over a million consumers without a single
complaint or return with problems if they stick with the tools and methods given.
Special thanks to Steve (Anak) for suggesting sequencing Edits that prioritize hardware
testing.
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20 Mar 2012 #1
lehnerus2000 Nice list and aggregation of links.
W7 Ultimate SP1,
LM18.3 MATE, W10
Home, #All 64 bit
3,988 posts
Adelaide
My System Specs
20 Mar 2012 #2
gregrocker Thanks. I'd been linking this from a post of mine for years because I thought it more a compendium of tutorials
than one itself. But Shawn thought differently so it's official now. Please feel free to suggest any additions. I came
50,800 posts just short of putting in IE9 and IP resets to keep it more general.
My System Specs
24 Apr 2012 #3
DavidE I ran across a thread for Sysinternals Process Monitor that looks useful for troubleshooting.
Take a look and see if this might be added as a troubleshooting tool/note.
Multi-Boot
W7_Pro_x64
Troubleshooting with Process Monitor - Ask the Performance Team - Site Home - TechNet Blogs
W8.1_Pro_x64
W10_Pro_x64
6,317 posts
NC, USA
My System Specs
24 Apr 2012 #4
gregrocker Hi David -
50,800 posts Can you come up with a single sentence that illustrates Process Monitor's various uses for troubleshooting which I
could add?
My System Specs
24 Apr 2012 #5
DavidE Hi Greg,
WOW - single sentence, you're making me think and that is painful... ... Anyway, how is this?
Multi-Boot
W7_Pro_x64
Use Process Monitor for Application Failures, File System issues, Registry issues, Boot logging, Memory Stack
W8.1_Pro_x64
W10_Pro_x64 issues, and misleading Error messages following the instructions at Troubleshooting with Process Monitor - Ask the
6,317 posts Performance Team - Site Home - TechNet Blogs
NC, USA
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Thanks for considering
My System Specs
24 Apr 2012 #6
gregrocker Done. Thanks, David.
50,800 posts You should consider writing a tutorial for various uses of Process Monitor in which case I'd replace the link with
yours.
My System Specs
18 Oct 2012 #7
Slartybart Here's a good reference for all of Windows Sysinternals: Documentation, downloads and additional resources
x64 (6.3.9600) Quote: Originally Posted by SysInternals
Win8.1 Pro & soon
dual boot x64 Sysinternals Live
(6.1.7601) Sysinternals Live is a service that enables you to execute Sysinternals tools directly from the
Win7_SP1
HomePrem
Web without hunting for and manually downloading them. Simply enter a tool's Sysinternals
6,470 posts Live path into Windows Explorer or a command prompt as http://live.sysinternals.com
Penn's Forest /<toolname> or \\live.sysinternals.com\tools\<toolname>.
You can view the entire Sysinternals Live tools directory in a browser at
http://live.sysinternals.com.
What's New (October 3, 2012)
Mark Talks Sysinternals History on Defrag Tools
Defrag Tools, a Channel 9 series that features diagnostic and troubleshooting utilities
including Sysinternals tools, invited Mark on to talk about how Sysinternals started, the
evolution of the tools and how Mark decides when to add features and write new tools.
Windows Internals 6th Edition, Part 2 Published
Part 2 of Windows Internals 6th Edition, is now available. The 6th edition covers kernel
and system changes in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 and adds 250 pages of
expanded feature coverage and hand-on experiments.
PsPing v1.0
PsPing is a new Sysinternals PsTools command-line utility for measuring network
performance. In addition to standard ICMP ping functionality, it can report the latency of
connecting to TCP ports, the latency of TCP round-trip communication between systems,
and the TCP bandwidth available to a connection between systems. Besides obtaining
min, max, and average values in 0.01ms resolution, you can also use PsPing to generate
histograms of the results that are easy to import into spreadsheets.
...more
My System Specs
25 Mar 2013 #8
Anak Quote: Originally Posted by DavidW7ncus
I ran across a thread for Sysinternals Process Monitor that looks useful for troubleshooting.
Take a look and see if this might be added as a troubleshooting tool/note.
Troubleshooting with Process Monitor - Ask the Performance Team - Site Home - TechNet Blogs
Win 7 Home
Premium 64bit Ver Quote: Originally Posted by gregrocker
6.1.7600 Build 7601
- SP1 Done. Thanks, David.
5,588 posts
You should consider writing a tutorial for various uses of Process Monitor in which case I'd replace the link
with yours.
Hi Greg, ran into a problem with Dave's link.
The site opens okay, but when I go to the download link to "Download Process Monitor", well, just click on it, you'll
see, at least I do:
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The process monitor link works okay here:
Basic Troubleshooting Toolkit - Ask the Performance Team - Site Home - TechNet Blogs
I expanded the http to stop the 7F link process.
This is the first link:
h t t p://download.sysinternals.com/Files/ProcessMonitor.zip
This is the toolkit's link:
h t t p://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/processmonitor.mspx
Maybe its the .zip at the end?
My System Specs
25 Mar 2013 #9
gregrocker Thanks Anak. I see the Process Monitor Download link within the MS Tool Kit list is not working at the corrected link Basic
Troubleshooting Toolkit - Ask the Performance Team - Site Home - TechNet Blogs.
50,800 posts
I am trying to find a good tutorial that details how to use Process Monitor to troubleshoot those issues, so if you find one
that also includes the downloads link please let us know here.
Users really like videos, so what do you think about this one?
I've added it to the tutorial for now along with this download link: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb896645.aspx
My System Specs
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