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Troubleshooting a
Vista computer system that is having problems can be a difficult
task due to the endless software and hardware configuration
possibilities on a machine. However, I've put together a basic guide
for Vista users that may lend a helping hand in finding out where
the trouble lies and how to fix it.
<>System Restore:
If you do not know where to start and you don't have a clue as to
why you're having trouble with Vista, then I recommend using System
Restore to take your system files back to a time when you were not
having any trouble. To use System Restore, follow the instructions
below:
- Go to Start>> All
Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> System Restore
- Click Next
- Select "Choose a
different restore point"
- Click Next
- Select a date and
time that you would like to restore to.
- Click Next to begin
the process
- In the confirmation
prompt, select Yes.
Once system restore
has completed the process, your computer will restart.
<>Identify a Hardware Problem:
In this section I will show you how you can identify a hardware
problem.
-Memory:
Normally, Vista monitors your installed memory and will notify you
when an error occurs. However, for the purpose of
troubleshooting it is a good idea to run the Windows Memory
Diagnostic Tool manually to rule out a possible memory issue. Here's
how:
- Go to Start>>
Control Panel>> System and Maintenance>> Administrative Tools>>
Memory Diagnostic Tool. You may be prompted for an
administrators password or confirmation at this point.
- Select the
option titled: "You can restart your computer and run the tool
immediately".
Once the tool
has completed the diagnostic process, you will know whether your
problem is memory related or not.
-Hard Disk (CHKDSK):
In most cases, problems that develop on a hard disk are from
either corrupt system files or physical errors. To identify a
possible hard disk problem, you will need to scan your drive for
errors. Here's how:
- Go to
Start>> Computer
- Right click
the hard disk that you would like to test.
- Select
Properties
- Select the
Tools tab
- Click the
Check Now button under Error-Checking. You may be prompted
for an administrators password or confirmation at this
point.
- Select
the option: "Automatically fix file system errors"
- Select
the option: "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad
sectors". Selecting this option will perform a thorough
scan of your selected hard disk and attempt to fix any
physical errors on the drive. Depending on the size of
your hard disk, this could take quite some time to
complete. For best results, avoid using your computer
system during this process.
-
Click Start
-Devices:
If you have recently installed a new device on your
computer. It is possible that the driver for your
device is not compatible with Windows Vista. In most
cases, downloading an updated driver from the
manufactures web site will solve this problem. If
you cannot find an updated driver for your device,
try removing the device from your system and see if
Vista now boots correctly.
<>Software:
Software that was designed to run in
Windows XP will usually run fine in Windows Vista. However,
some of the older programs will run poorly or not at
all. You can try running the Compatibility Wizard to
run the program or use the programs Compatibility
tab. For more information click the link below:
I can't get a
program to install on Vista
If you still cannot get your software to run in the
Vista environment, it may be time to find a suitable
replacement or if it is that important a program to
your business, you still have options:
-
Dual-boot Vista and the older version of Windows
that has ran that program.
-
Keep an older system that will run that program.
<>Vista is running slow:
There are many possible causes and remedies for
a Vista system that is running poorly.
-Dual Boot or Multi-boot systems:
If your computer is setup to run two or more
operating systems, you can select the boot order
so that only one operating system will start
when your machine is turned on. Here's how:
-
Go to Start>> Control Panel>> System and
Maintenance>> System
-
Select Advanced System Settings. You may be
prompted for an administrators password or
confirmation at this point.
-
Select the Advanced tab
-
Select Settings under Startup and Recovery
-
Under the System startup category you'll
find a default operating systems list.
Select the operating system that you would
like to use when you start your computer.
-
Click OK and exit all windows.
-Using Startup Repair:
If you are sure that your Vista systems poor
performance is not hardware or virus
related. You can try running the Startup
Repair feature to fix system files that may
have become corrupt or gone missing. Here's
how:
You will need your Vista installation DVD/CD
for this task.
-
Insert your installation disk
-
Restart your computer. Your computer
should boot to your installation disk.
If it won't, you will need to change the
boot order in your BIOS. Consult your
computer manufactures operating guide
for this procedure.
-
You may receive a prompt asking you to
press any key to start Windows from the
installation disk.
-
Select the language setting and then
click Next.
-
Select Repair your computer
-
Select the operating system that you
would like to repair and then click
Next.
-
Select Startup Repair from the System
Recovery Options menu.
-
Follow all of the on-screen prompts and
answer the questions accordingly. Your
system may restart as repairs are made.
-Using the System File Checker (SFC):
If you are
experiencing system lockups or error messages when using Windows
applications, you can try running the System File Checker tool to
scan your operating system for corrupt files. If the SFC finds any
corrupt files, it will automatically replace them with "known" good
files. Here's how to use SFC:
- Go to Start
- In the Serch
field, type in: cmd
- Right click the
"cmd" entry
- Select "Run as
administrator". Continue through any resulting UAC prompts.
- At the command
prompt, type in the following command:
sfc /scannow
- Press Enter on
your keyboard
-Using Safe Mode:
Safe Mode is a very useful diagnostic
tool used to troubleshoot system startup
problems and performance issues. When
you start your system in Safe Mode,
Vista will run only the basic default
Windows settings, services, devices and
drivers. If your system performs fine in
Safe Mode but poorly in regular mode,
you can eliminate these default settings
as the cause. You can access Safe Mode
by tapping the F8 key on your keyboard
as Windows first begins to boot.
If none of the above troubleshooting
steps has helped you with your computer
problem. It might be time to get some
help from our staff of knowledgeable
volunteers. Click the link below for
free assistance:
5 Star Support
Free Help Forums
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