Troubleshooting

Windows 10

Grand Computers Club New Technologies SIG

February 17, 2016

Topics

• Overview

• Requirements & Tools

• Before Starting

• Troubleshooting

• Backup

• Recovery

• Cleanup

• Questions

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Overview

• Proceed with caution • “If it ain’t broke; don’t fix it”

• Golden rule of hacking: • “Back it up BEFORE you screw it up”

• Only YOU are responsible

• Use sources you trust

• Documentation is not always correct

• Validate results

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Requirements and tools

Environment:

• Genuine Windows 10

• Windows controls network, updates, etc.

Tools:

• Windows 10 Control Panel

• Windows 10 settings

• Malwarebytes

• Windows Task Manager

• Various MS tools (Sysinternals)

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Before starting Create a way to return to present state

• Create a restore point

• Create a system image

• Run Belarc advisor and save report

• Inventory media for re-installation

–Windows, programs, drivers, product keys

• Allow 2x estimate for project

• 2+ full days is not unusual if problems 2/17/2016 www.grandcomputers.org 5

Troubleshooting

Threats to data loss:

• 42% hardware failure

• 30% human error

• 13% software corruption & bit rot

• 7% viruses, malware, spyware

• 5% theft, ransomware

• 3% other

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Troubleshooting

Your Windows 10 troubleshooting and repair toolkit

Troubleshooting and repairing Windows 10 problems

How to start Windows in Safe Mode

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Troubleshooting

Start Windows 10 in Safe Mode - method 1

• Restart your PC. When you get to the sign-in screen, hold the Shift key down while you select Power > Restart.

• After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings >Restart.

• After your computer restarts, press F5 on your to select Safe Mode with Networking.

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Troubleshooting

Start Windows 10 in Safe Mode - method 2

• Click Start; click Power and hold the Shift key on your keyboard and click restart.

• Click Troubleshoot.

• Click Advanced options.

• Click Startup Settings.

• Click Restart.

• After your computer restarts, press F5 on your to select Safe Mode with Networking.

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Troubleshooting

Windows Control Panel

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Troubleshooting Windows Settings; search for

“troubleshoot”

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Troubleshooting

Routine maintenance

Automated troubleshooters

Reliability Monitor

Problem details

Task Manager overview

Task Manager's Startup tab

Task Manager's Performance tab

Resource Monitor

System Restore

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Backup & Recovery

Recovery

How to Use All of Windows 10’s Backup and Recovery Tools

Recovery options in Windows 10

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Backup

Settings; Backup

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Backup

File History

• New limitations - it only backs up files located in your user account’s libraries. You’ll need to make libraries appear in FIle Explorer and add folders to these libraries or create new libraries if you want to back up files stored in other folders.

• FH automatically creates backup copies of your files. You can use it to restore all your files if you ever lose them, restore a single file, or roll back a file to an older version.

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Backup

Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

• Microsoft has included the old Backup and Restore feature from Windows 7.

• This tool will allow you to restore any old Windows 7 backups on your Windows 10 computer. You can also use it to back up your Windows 10 PC the same way you’d back up a Windows 7 PC. Unlike File History backup solution, you can use Windows Backup to create a backup of practically everything on your hard drive.

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Backup

Settings; Backup & Restore (Windows 7)

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Backup

System Image Backups

• You’ll find this feature in the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) control panel. Just click “Create a system image” at the left side of the window.

• Unlike other solutions, this allows you to create an entire image of your current Windows system, including your operating system, installed programs, settings, and user files.

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Recovery

Settings; Recovery

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Recovery

OneDrive

• OneDrive is now integrated into Windows itself. Files you store in OneDrive will be stored in your OneDrive account online so you can access them on your other devices, too. If you blow Windows away and restart from scratch — or use Windows on a different device — you just have to log in with your Microsoft account and all your OneDrive files will be available for you in File Explorer.

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Recovery

Reset This PC

• Rather than relying on system image backups, most people should just use the “Reset this PC” feature to restore your computer to its default operating state.

• Tell Windows to keep your user files and reset the operating system (“refresh”) and installed programs to its default state, or remove everything (“reset”).

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Recovery

Reset This PC - continued

• If you remove everything, you can tell Windows to securely erase the drive — something you should do before getting rid of a Windows 10 computer or any other device.

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Recovery

Recovery Drive Creator

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Recovery

Recovery Drive Creator

• You can create a USB recovery drive that will allow you to access these advanced startup options, even if your Windows 10 installation becomes completely damaged and you can’t access this menu.

• Click “Create a recovery drive” to create a USB recovery drive.

• Boot from this drive to access these tools if Windows ever won’t allow you to access them normally.

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Recovery

Advanced Startup Options

• Click “Restart now” under Advanced startup. You can also hold the Shift key as you click Restart in the Start menu.

• You can restore Windows from a system image you created, use system restore to correct problems, and perform other maintenance tasks.

• This menu should also appear if your Windows 10 PC attempts to boot properly and can’t.

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Recovery

System Restore

• System Restore is a Windows feature that can help fix some crashes and other computer problems.

• You can’t use it to restore your personal files if they’re accidentally deleted or modified.

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Recovery

System Restore - continued

• Windows automatically creates restore points once per week. System restore points are also created before major system events such as installing a program or device driver, installing a system update, or uninstalling some software. Windows also creates a restore point just before you restore from a restore point – this allows you to undo the restore operation.

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Recovery

System Restore – continued

• Restore points contain a snapshot of Windows system files, program files, and registry settings.

• When you restore from a restore point, System Restore restores the system files, program files, and registry settings from the restore point to your computer. This effectively resets your system settings, installed programs, and system files to a previous state.

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Recovery

System Restore – continued

• If System Restore doesn’t work, you should try running it in Safe Mode. Note that you can’t undo the restore process if you use System Restore in Safe Mode

• While System Restore normally operates in the background, you can create your own restore points whenever you like. You can also make System Restore use less drive space or delete old restore points to free up space.

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Cleanup

Remove “stuff” to reduce overall work

Perform a disk clean-up by removing:

• Temporary files from installs

• Temporary Internet files, cookies

• Unused programs, toolbars, data

• Old backups; restore points

• Empty recycle bin

• Run chkdsk –f; (fix errors)

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Tune-up

Other tools (use with caution)

• Malwarebytes (malware removal)

• PC Decrapifier (removes unwanted “stuff”)

• CCleaner (registry and system cleaner)

• WinPatrol (startup cleaner & manager)

• Windows “sysinternals”

– www.sysinternals.com

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Tune-up

Windows 10 has tools for basic performance tune-up; D/L others from MS site

Documentation on how to do this is at:

Optimize the Performance of Windows 10

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Tune-up

Other possible steps

• Disable search indexing

• Disable Aero themes

• Disable visual effects

• Disable unwanted services

• Disable UAC (caution)

• Setup ready-boost

• Turn off unused Windows features

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Tune-up

Other possible steps (Continued)

• Tune SSD

• Disable windows sidebar

• Disable other AERO features (peek & snap)

• Adjust power plan for portables

• Disable thumbnail preview

• Turn off wallpaper & screen saver

• Disable sounds 2/17/2016 www.grandcomputers.org 34

Tune-up

Other sites:

Windows 10: The best tricks, tips, and tweaks

How To Make Windows 10 Faster

Optimize the Performance of Windows 10

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Preventive maintenance

Take new restore point; use caution with older dates

Take full backup; set-up incremental

Apply updates (MS, Adobe, Java, etc.)

Run quick & full scans with security tools

Run troubleshooter on demand

Run Malwarebytes in “safe mode” if suspicious

Check www.bleepingcomputer.com for info

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Storage Configuration

Plan before implementation:

• Frequency & time of change

• Percent of change

• Ability & ease to recreate

• Value of data vs. cost to replace

• Layout example: OS, Apps, Data

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Next Meeting

“Device Security & Protection”

Wednesday March 16, 2016

4:00-5:30pm

Havasupai Room

Chaparral Center

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Discussion

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