Post by Geoff Diggles on Dec 12, 2010 10:47:08 GMT
Looking for trouble?
Most computer problems can be split into general categories, such as compatibility issues, hardware faults, security troubles and performance problems.
Precise symptoms can vary from one computer to the next, though, so the first thing to do is gather together all the information you can to try and help build your diagnosis.
First, try to establish when the problem started happening, as this can quickly narrow down your list of possible causes and help to define your plan of action.
Did things start going wrong after you installed a specific program, updated some software or added new hardware, for example? If so, then this recent change could easily be the root of the problem. Note down warning messages word for word, including any error codes.
Not a problem
If you keep getting a warning screen that greys out your desktop, don’t panic. This is called User Account Control (UAC) and it’s there to protect your PC by limiting access to important system files and settings.
To limit how often it appears click Start, type user account into the search box and then click the ‘Change User Account Control settings’ link that appears above. In the window that opens, use the slider to change UAC to a setting that suits you. You can turn it off altogether but we don’t recommend this.
Missing programs?
Windows 7 has dumped several tools found in previous versions including Movie Maker, Photo Gallery and even Windows Mail. Instead, these are now available as part of Microsoft’s free Windows Live Essentials download. To fix the problem download the Live Essentials package.
Software compatibility
Microsoft is aware that users of Windows want to run older programs, though, so if you have a favourite program or game from yesteryear that won’t launch in Windows 7, there are a few tools that can help get it working.
Click Start, then All Programs and find the program’s shortcut in the list. Right-click on the shortcut, select properties then the Shortcut tab and click on the Open File Location button. The highlighted file in the window that opens will be the program’s executable file.
Next, right-click on it and select ‘Troubleshoot compatibility’. This will launch Windows 7’s compatibility wizard – follow the steps to see if Windows can automatically detect and fix any problems.
If that doesn’t work, try right-clicking on the file again. This time select Properties, followed by the Compatibility tab. Here you will find a number of manual compatibility options. The trick is to experiment with these settings until you get a satisfactory result. Under where it says ‘Compatibility mode’, put a tick in the box and then choose an appropriate version of Windows from the dropdown menu.
Install a Vista driver
Sometimes a device such as a graphics card inside the computer or a peripheral attached to it (a hard disk, for example) will not work because you do not have the correct Windows 7 driver. Not all manufacturers have made drivers for Windows 7 yet but we have found that in the majority of cases a Vista driver will do the job. This is particularly important for those upgrading from XP.
To install a Vista driver, go to the website for the manufacturer of the device in question and look for the latest Vista drivers for the product in the ‘download’ or ‘support’ section.
Once you have found it, download it to your desktop. If it is contained in a zip file, double-click to extract it. Many drivers come as executable files that you can double-click to run. If this is the case use Windows 7’s compatibility options (see above) to install them correctly: select Vista from the operating system menu under Compatibility Mode.
If there is no executable file, click Start, right-click on Computer and select Manage. Click on Device Manager in the left-hand column, right-click on the relevant device in the right-hand pane and select ‘Update Driver Software’. Follow the wizard, making sure that you select the location of your downloaded Vista driver at the necessary point.
Diagnose Windows 7 problems with the Action Center
Many computer problems seem to happen for no reason whatsoever and may not appear to be connected to any of the scenarios we have covered. So, whether you are suffering strange sound outages, performance slowdowns or random crashes that you cannot attribute to anything obvious, you can use Windows 7’s own troubleshooting toolkit to sort out your problem.
First, check the Action Center. This is represented by a small white flag icon in the Notification Area (in the bottom right-hand side of your screen). Click it once to see if there are any important issues that need resolving – for a fuller picture of your PC’s current condition click on the Open Action Center link.
In the window that opens, you can review the security and maintenance status of your PC by clicking the relevant down arrow. Any issues that urgently need your attention will be flagged up in red. Less pressing matters will be highlighted in orange.
Try the Windows 7 Troubleshooter
If there is nothing obviously amiss here, your next port of call should be the Windows Troubleshooter. You can access this by clicking the ‘Troubleshooting’ link in Action Center. Unlike similar features in previous versions of Windows, this wizard-based help tool is rather useful and can often automatically fix problems it discovers. It is split up into various categories: Programs; Hardware and Sound; Network and Internet; Appearance and Personalization and System and Security. Click the most relevant category and follow the prompts, providing any information necessary.
Solve problems with Safe Mode
1. Switch your computer on and, when the initial Bios screen appears, begin tapping the F8 button. Eventually you should be presented with the Advanced Boot Options screen. Highlight the Safe Mode option using the arrow keys and press Enter on your keyboard.
2. Safe Mode can take a while to start. Eventually you will need to log in with your administrator’s password and a pared-down version of your desktop will appear. Certain features such as internet access may be disabled but you should be able to launch your anti-virus program and scan the PC.
3. Safe Mode can allow you to remove a troublesome driver. Click Start, right-click on Computer and select Manage. Highlight Device Manager in the left-hand task pane, right-click the appropriate device in the right-hand pane and select uninstall. You could also use System Restore
Most computer problems can be split into general categories, such as compatibility issues, hardware faults, security troubles and performance problems.
Precise symptoms can vary from one computer to the next, though, so the first thing to do is gather together all the information you can to try and help build your diagnosis.
First, try to establish when the problem started happening, as this can quickly narrow down your list of possible causes and help to define your plan of action.
Did things start going wrong after you installed a specific program, updated some software or added new hardware, for example? If so, then this recent change could easily be the root of the problem. Note down warning messages word for word, including any error codes.
Not a problem
If you keep getting a warning screen that greys out your desktop, don’t panic. This is called User Account Control (UAC) and it’s there to protect your PC by limiting access to important system files and settings.
To limit how often it appears click Start, type user account into the search box and then click the ‘Change User Account Control settings’ link that appears above. In the window that opens, use the slider to change UAC to a setting that suits you. You can turn it off altogether but we don’t recommend this.
Missing programs?
Windows 7 has dumped several tools found in previous versions including Movie Maker, Photo Gallery and even Windows Mail. Instead, these are now available as part of Microsoft’s free Windows Live Essentials download. To fix the problem download the Live Essentials package.
Software compatibility
Microsoft is aware that users of Windows want to run older programs, though, so if you have a favourite program or game from yesteryear that won’t launch in Windows 7, there are a few tools that can help get it working.
Click Start, then All Programs and find the program’s shortcut in the list. Right-click on the shortcut, select properties then the Shortcut tab and click on the Open File Location button. The highlighted file in the window that opens will be the program’s executable file.
Next, right-click on it and select ‘Troubleshoot compatibility’. This will launch Windows 7’s compatibility wizard – follow the steps to see if Windows can automatically detect and fix any problems.
If that doesn’t work, try right-clicking on the file again. This time select Properties, followed by the Compatibility tab. Here you will find a number of manual compatibility options. The trick is to experiment with these settings until you get a satisfactory result. Under where it says ‘Compatibility mode’, put a tick in the box and then choose an appropriate version of Windows from the dropdown menu.
Install a Vista driver
Sometimes a device such as a graphics card inside the computer or a peripheral attached to it (a hard disk, for example) will not work because you do not have the correct Windows 7 driver. Not all manufacturers have made drivers for Windows 7 yet but we have found that in the majority of cases a Vista driver will do the job. This is particularly important for those upgrading from XP.
To install a Vista driver, go to the website for the manufacturer of the device in question and look for the latest Vista drivers for the product in the ‘download’ or ‘support’ section.
Once you have found it, download it to your desktop. If it is contained in a zip file, double-click to extract it. Many drivers come as executable files that you can double-click to run. If this is the case use Windows 7’s compatibility options (see above) to install them correctly: select Vista from the operating system menu under Compatibility Mode.
If there is no executable file, click Start, right-click on Computer and select Manage. Click on Device Manager in the left-hand column, right-click on the relevant device in the right-hand pane and select ‘Update Driver Software’. Follow the wizard, making sure that you select the location of your downloaded Vista driver at the necessary point.
Diagnose Windows 7 problems with the Action Center
Many computer problems seem to happen for no reason whatsoever and may not appear to be connected to any of the scenarios we have covered. So, whether you are suffering strange sound outages, performance slowdowns or random crashes that you cannot attribute to anything obvious, you can use Windows 7’s own troubleshooting toolkit to sort out your problem.
First, check the Action Center. This is represented by a small white flag icon in the Notification Area (in the bottom right-hand side of your screen). Click it once to see if there are any important issues that need resolving – for a fuller picture of your PC’s current condition click on the Open Action Center link.
In the window that opens, you can review the security and maintenance status of your PC by clicking the relevant down arrow. Any issues that urgently need your attention will be flagged up in red. Less pressing matters will be highlighted in orange.
Try the Windows 7 Troubleshooter
If there is nothing obviously amiss here, your next port of call should be the Windows Troubleshooter. You can access this by clicking the ‘Troubleshooting’ link in Action Center. Unlike similar features in previous versions of Windows, this wizard-based help tool is rather useful and can often automatically fix problems it discovers. It is split up into various categories: Programs; Hardware and Sound; Network and Internet; Appearance and Personalization and System and Security. Click the most relevant category and follow the prompts, providing any information necessary.
Solve problems with Safe Mode
1. Switch your computer on and, when the initial Bios screen appears, begin tapping the F8 button. Eventually you should be presented with the Advanced Boot Options screen. Highlight the Safe Mode option using the arrow keys and press Enter on your keyboard.
2. Safe Mode can take a while to start. Eventually you will need to log in with your administrator’s password and a pared-down version of your desktop will appear. Certain features such as internet access may be disabled but you should be able to launch your anti-virus program and scan the PC.
3. Safe Mode can allow you to remove a troublesome driver. Click Start, right-click on Computer and select Manage. Highlight Device Manager in the left-hand task pane, right-click the appropriate device in the right-hand pane and select uninstall. You could also use System Restore