Troubleshooting Windows Vista can be a daunting task especially if the problem is unknown. Computer maintenance is important for every computer and is easily overlooked by many users. Computers become slow down due to a multitude of reasons, some of which are fixable with basic computer troubleshooting skills. Windows Vista provides users with a number of easy ways to troubleshoot problems and offers solutions to many of those problems.
Three common problems associated with slow computers are memory leaks, corrupted files, and bad file archiving. Windows Vista troubleshooting can find and fix memory leaks, identify corrupted files, and archive files correctly.
To run a memory diagnostic:
- Click “Start” and select “Control Panel”
- Click “System and Maintenance”
- Select “Administrative Tools”
- Select “Memory Diagnostic Tool”
- Select the option to restart your computer and run the tool immediately.
- The Memory Diagnostic tool will begin to run. Upon its completion it will display the results to you.
To run System File Checker/Disk Defragmenter:
- Click “Start”
- In the search box enter “cmd” and press Enter.
- Right-click the search result for cmd and select “Run as Administrator”
- Windows Vista might display a confirmation window, select “Ok” and proceed to step 4.
- A black box will be displayed on the screen. Inside of it type ”sfc/scannow”
- Press Enter
- The System File Checker will now run.
To check the Hard Drive with Scan Disk:
- Click “Start” and left click on “Computer”
- Locate Hard Disk (C:) and right-click on it.
- Select “Properties” from the menu
- Locate and click on the “Tools” tab
- Click the “Check Now” button
- To fix file archiving errors check the box labeled “Automatically fix file system errors” also check “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors”
- Select the “Start” button to begin scanning the hard drive for errors.
Using these basic Windows Vista troubleshooting tips you can improve performance easily without having to contact an expensive paid service. Computer maintenance is very important and should not be overlooked. Computer basics can seem a very daunting task at first but are easily learned with practice. The benefits of learning how to perform Windows Vista Troubleshooting are well worth the effort.