®®Microsoft Windows 7 for Power Users

Tutorial 8Troubleshooting Windows 7

XPXPXPXPXPXPObjectives• Develop a strategy for troubleshooting problems• Use Problem Steps Recorder to reproduce a problem• Analyze your computer’s stability with Reliability

Monitor• Create a restore point with System Protection• Use Event Viewer to examine event logs

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XPXPXPXPXPXPObjectives• Use the BIOS Setup utility to view the boot sequence• Examine the Windows 7 boot process and boot in

Safe Mode• Use Task Manager to view running processes and

services• Analyze startup programs and environment variables• Examine System Recovery Tools

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XPXPXPXPXPXPTroubleshooting Tools

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XPXPXPXPXPXPDeveloping a Troubleshooting Strategy• When faced with a problem on your computer system:– Define the problem– Analyze the problem– Devise ways to test the possible cause of the

problem– Draw on all the resources you have to resolve the

problem– Decide how best to proceed in resolving the problem– Consider other alternatives

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XPXPXPXPXPXPDeveloping a Troubleshooting Strategy• Develop a system for reporting problems:– A database of problems and solutions to those

problems– Online form for reporting problems– Remote control of user’s screen

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing the Problem Steps Recorder• The Problem Steps Recorder, a new Windows 7 tool,

records information about what happens when you perform steps

• Press the Windows key, type record steps in the Search programs and files box, and then click Record steps to reproduce a problem under Control Panel in the Search results

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing the Problem Steps Recorder

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing Reliability Monitor• Reliability Monitor is a tool that monitors the

reliability and stability of your computer• Provides information on five types of events:– Application failures– Windows failures– Miscellaneous failures– Warnings– Information

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing Reliability Monitor

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing System Restore and System Protection• System Protection is the Windows 7 component that

creates and saves restore points so you can roll back your computer with System Restore and restore it to an earlier working state

• System Protection creates restore points under the following conditions:– Installing or uninstalling Windows updates, software,

or device drivers– Restoring files from a backup or restore point– Manually– On a specified schedule

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing System Restore and System Protection

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing System Restore and System Protection

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing Event Viewer• Troubleshooting tool that provides detailed

information about significant events that occur on a computer

• Displays information on the following types of events:– Application events– Security events– Setup events– System events– Forwarded events

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing Event Viewer

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XPXPXPXPXPXPBoot Options

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing Your Computer’s BIOS• To view and change BIOS settings, you open a

computer’s built-in BIOS Setup utility– Check and change the boot sequence– Locate important information about your

computer– Specify security settings– View and change power management settings– Adjust POST behavior settings

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing Your Computer’s BIOS

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XPXPXPXPXPXPThe Windows 7 Boot Process• Windows 7 relies on the following system

components to boot your computer:– Boot Configuration Data– Windows Boot Manager– Windows Boot Loader– Windows Resume Loader

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing the Windows Advanced Boot Options Menu• Advanced boot options:– Start Windows Normally– Enable Boot Logging– Last Known Good Configuration (advanced)– Enable low-resolution video (640x480)– Safe Mode– Safe Mode with Networking– Safe Mode with Command Prompt

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing the Windows Advanced Boot Options Menu– Disable automatic restart on system failure• Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)–Stop error

– Disable Driver Signature Enforcement– Directory Services Restore Mode– Debugging Mode– Repair your computer

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing Windows Task Manager• Can be used to shut down a non-responding

application• Right-click the taskbar and then click Start Task

Manager

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing System Configuration• One of the most important troubleshooting tools• Startup problems are a leading cause of problems for

Windows users• Must provide Administrator credentials

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing System Information

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing System Information• An environment variable is a symbolic name (such as

OS) associated with a specific setting– ComSpec– Path– PATHEXT

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing System Information• Other categories under Software Environment

provide the following types of information:– System Drivers– Running Tasks– Loaded Modules– Services– Program Groups– Windows Error Reporting– OLE Registration

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing the Windows Recovery Environment• Special tools in the Windows Recovery Environment

(WinRE) for troubleshooting computer startup problems– Startup Repair– System Restore– System Image Recovery– Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool– Command Prompt

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XPXPXPXPXPXPUsing the Windows Recovery Environment

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