Download Troubleshooting Windows 7 inside out : [the ultimate, in

Microsoft-
Troubleshooting
Inside Out
Mike
Halsey
Windows® 7
Part 1: Prevention
1
Chapter
3
1.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Upgrade
or
Clean Install?
4
How to Install Windows 7 to Prevent Problems
Keeping Your Installation
How
Big Should
of Windows XP
4
Windows Vista
or
Partitions Be?
7
What To Do When Windows 7 Is Installed
Useful Windows 7
Settings
MSConfig
Moving Your Files Away from
Backing Up Windows 7
to
7
Change
8
11
Windows
12
14
Summary
Chapter 2:
16
The Basic Windows 7 Utilities
17
Action Center
Action Center
17
Settings
19
What Can You Do with Action Center?
19
Windows Update
Controlling
6
20
Windows
Windows Firewall
Update Through Group Policy
22
23
Diagnose/Repair
26
Windows Defender
26
Windows 7 and Anti-Virus Software
Legacy Program Compatibility
The Program Compatibility
27
28
Assistant
29
Windows XP Mode
31
Summary
33
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V
vi
Table of Contents
Chapter 3:
Basic Windows 7
The
Security
35
Reality of Virtualization
36
Windows vNext
37
Anti-Virus Software for Windows 7
38
Microsoft Security Essentials
38
Norton Internet
39
Security/Norton 360
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
39
Windows Defender
39
Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
User Account Control
BitLocker and BitLocker To Go
43
Method 1: Encrypting
a
Hard Disk or Partition with Hardware
43
Method 2:
Encrypting
a
Hard Disk or Partition
43
Method 3:
Encrypting
a USB Flash Drive or
Using BitLocker
Why
with Non-Windows 7
Support
Without Hardware Support
External Hard Disk
Computers
47
Keyboard
Keep Your Anti-Virus Software Up to Date
Make Sure You Have a Good, Up-to-Date Firewall
Get Anti-Spy ware Software
Keep Windows Up to Date
Keep Your Software Up to Date
Always Check Email Attachments
Use
a
Get
Spam and Phishing Filtering
47
47
47
48
48
48
Before
Opening
Them
Secure Internet Browser
Never Click
Anything
Look for the Padlock
43
45
Use BitLocker?
Beware the Weak Link at the
You Don't
48
48
for Your Email Software
Explicitly
Mean To
48
49
the Green Bar
Never Give Private Details Online Unless You Have To
49
Keep Backups
Keep the Driver CDs and Manuals for Your
Keep Windows Maintained
49
Be
Chapter 4:
39
40
or
Careful When You Throw
Away Your
PC
PC
49
50
50
50
Guest Mode
50
Gibson Research
51
Summary
51
Backup and
Moving
Restore
Your Files
Away
from Windows 7
The Disk
Cleanup Wizard
Shrinking, Extending, and Creating Partitions
Moving the Shell User Folders
Using Backup and Restore
Backing Up Files and Data
Restoring Files and Data from a Backup
Third-Party Backup Solutions
Backing Up to the Cloud
Version Control
53
53
53
55
57
57
57
61
62
62
63
Table
Backing Up the Operating System
Restoring Windows from a Windows System Image
Restoring Windows 7 from a System Repair or Install Disc
Corporate Image Backups
Determining How Many Backups You Need and Where to Store Them
Summary
Chapter 5:
Maintaining
Windows 7
Defragmenting
Your Hard Disks
Maintaining
63
63
64
65
66
69
Windows
Disk Cleanup
Internet and Other
Third-Party
69
Defragment?
71
71
71
Temporary Files
Tools and Utilities
Keeping Windows 7 Updated
Keeping Auto-Running Software
72
73
Don't Install Too Much Software
75
76
to
a
Minimum
76
The One Year Reinstall Rule
77
Summary
78
Users
79
How Windows 7 Controls Users
Managing User
79
Accounts
Administrator Password
What Is the Guest Account?
Setting
an
Parental Controls
What's
Group
Missing from
Parental Controls?
Policies
Computer Management
Blocking CDs, DVDs, Flash Drives, and
81
83
87
87
88
89
External Hard Disks
Summary
90
91
Hardware
What's in
80
84
Local Security Policies
Chapter 7:
vii
67
Which Hard Disks and Partitions Do You
Chapter 6:
of Contents
a
93
PC?
Motherboard
Processor
Memory
Expansion Cards and Riser Cards
Optical Drives and Hard Disks
Power
Supply
The PC Case
How Can You Clean the Inside of Your PC?
Hardware Health
Desktops
Laptops
All-in-Ones
93
94
96
97
97
97
98
98
98
99
99
99
99
viii
Table of Contents
Monitoring of
Peripherals
SMART
Keyboards
Hard Disks
100
100
and Mice
100
Monitors
101
Other Devices
101
Surge Protectors, UPS,
Summary
Chapter
8.
and Power
Supply
102
102
Virtualization
103
Virtualization
vs. Dual Booting
Are There Any Benefits to Virtualization?
104
Virtual Hard Disks and Windows 7
105
105
Creating a VHD in Windows 7
Reattaching the VHD
Booting From a Virtual Copy of Windows
Windows Virtual
Installing
Summary
PC and
Another
105
110
7
110
Windows XP Mode
Operating System
115
in Windows Virtual PC
118
Part 2: Quick Fixes
Chapter 9:
119
Annoyances
121
Common Windows 7 Problems
121
You Don't Have Permission to Write Files to
a
Disk
You Can't See Your New Wi-Fi Network
Problematic
Copy
Windows
125
Graphics, Sound, Keyboard,
or
Mouse Drivers
of Windows 7 Is Not Genuine
Update
Search Isn't
Won't Install
Finding
Service Pack
Anything
129
Your Files
129
130
or
131
132
133
Annoyances
134
Windows Gets Stuck
No
at Its
Operating System
Loading
Screen
135
Found
135
A New Monitor Results in No Picture
135
Your USB3 Device Doesn't Work
You've Installed
Your
Summary
a
Headphones
126
128
Update Install Was Interrupted
Windows Starts Up Very Slowly
Windows Shuts Down Very Slowly
Problems with Sleep
Hardware
121
125
Incorrect File Associations
This
116
Fresh
or
Copy of Windows 7 and
Microphone Won't Work
135
Can't Get Online
135
136
136
Table of Contents
Chapter
10:
Viruses, Malware, and Other Threats
Repelling
an
137
Attack
137
Action Center
137
Anti-Virus Software
138
Anti-Malware Software
140
Attack
144
Identifying
an
Look for the Padlock
Do You
Really
144
Need Another Toolbar?
Do You Need that Extra Browser
147
Plug-in
or Download?
Malicious Websites
What Goes
on
the
Internet, Might Stay There
150
Forever
152
Repairing the Damage
Use Your
Try a
Existing
153
Anti-Malware Software
153
Free Online Virus Scanner
McAfee
153
Stinger
154
Safe Mode
155
Manually Removing
Virus Removal
Restoring
Viruses
a
Using
Virus Infection
157
Another PC
Windows 7 from
a
158
Backup
159
Corrupting
the BIOS
159
Where Can Viruses Hide?
161
Summary
11:
148
149
Malicious and Fake Anti-Malware Software
Chapter
ix
162
Easy Ways to Fix Windows 7
163
Restore Previous Versions of Files
163
System
166
Restore
Configuring System
Windows 7
Restoring
Can I
Restore
167
Using System
Restore
168
Undo System Restore Changes?
169
Troubleshooting Software Compatibility
Manually Setting Program Compatibility
170
170
The Automatic Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
Program Compatibility Notifications in Action Center
172
Windows
175
XP
173
Mode
Windows Won't Start
175
Last Known Good
Configuration
176
Safe Mode
176
Windows
177
Startup Repair
Startup Repair from
You Did Back It
Working
Up,
an
Install DVD
or a
System Repair
Didn't You?
180
Common Problems with Device Drivers
Driver Problems
Removing
182
Device Drivers
and
Reinstalling Device
180
181
Device Manager
Installing
178
179
with Device Drivers
Graphics
Disc
187
Drivers
190
x
Table of Contents
Updating Device
Drivers
192
Back Device Drivers
Rolling
193
Action Center Troubleshooter
194
Microsoft Fix It Center
195
Summary
195
Part 3: Technical Fixes
Chapter 12:
197
What Is Windows 7
199
Anyway?
The Windows 7 File and Folder Structure
199
How Does Windows
202
Compare
to Other
Operating Systems?
Summary
Chapter 13:
203
Identifying the Source of a Problem
Taking
a
205
Step-by-Step Approach
Minimum Windows
205
Configuration
206
Safe Mode
Unplug
208
Your Hardware
Why Problems
209
Occur with Windows
211
Keep Things Simple
211
What Are the Causes of Common Problems?
213
The Domino Effect
Have You Tried
Turning
213
It Off and On
Again?
214
The Blue Screen of Death
The
Perpetual
214
Restart
215
Summary
Chapter
14:
Advanced
216
Diagnostic Tools in Windows
7
217
Performance Information and Tools
217
Event
219
Log
How to Read the Event
Log
221
Performance Monitor
222
Resource Monitor
223
Windows Task Manager
224
System
Information
224
System Health Report
226
Computer Management
Using the Windows 7 Performance Tools
Take Time to Step Back
Summary
227
229
230
230
Table of Contents
Chapter
15.
Advanced Repair Methods
231
Repairing Microsoft Internet Explorer
231
Disable Your Add-Ons
231
How to
235
Factory
Reset Internet
Explorer
Can You Reinstall Internet Explorer?
Updating Internet Explorer via Windows Update
Alternatives to Internet Explorer
237
238
238
System File Checker
239
Using MSConfig for Diagnostic Startups
Managing Windows Services
Working with the Windows Registry
Removing the Registry Settings for an Uninstalled Program
Using the System Repair Disc for Advanced Restore
241
244
246
248
249
BootRec.exe
251
Windows
253
Using Safe
Summary
Chapter 16:
Memory Diagnostic
Mode
254
255
Windows Problems
Demystified
257
Windows 7 Core Operating System Files
Windows 7 Security and Policy Folders
The Windows 7
257
260
Registry
260
Personalization Folders
261
Windows 7
261
Logs
Temporary Files
Stores
262
Advanced File Restore
System
262
File Checker
Creating
a
:...
Slipstreamed
Install DVD
264
Step 1: Creating a Windows Pre-lnstallation Environment Startup
Step 2: Installing a Fresh Copy of Windows 7
Step 3: Creating a New Windows Image File
Step
4:
Creating
a
New Windows 7 Installation DVD
Third-Party Slipstreaming Software
Summary
Remote
Help
Disc
264
267
270
270
272
272
273
Using the Internet to Find Solutions
Where Else to Get
Windows Remote
263
263
What You Will Need
Chapter 17:
xi
Help
Desktop
to Problems
273
274
278
Windows Remote Assistance
281
Problem
285
Steps
Summary
Recorder
288
xii
Table of Contents
Chapter 18:
Where to Find More
Help
and
Support
289
Windows
Help
Third-Party Software
289
Sisoftware Sandra Utilities
Sysintemals
Windows
GoToAssist
290
SpinRite
291
Memory Diagnostic
291
AcronisTrue
Image
Paragon Partition Manager
291
Acronis Disk Director Suite
292
291
292
Tom's Hardware
292
Tech PC
292
Forums
Computing.net
292
How-To Geek
292
Annoyances.org
293
Gibson Research
293
Support
293
nVidia Support
293
MSDN
293
Diagnostics
293
Within Windows
The
294
Long Climb
294
Summary
Hardware Problems
Diagnosing
295
295
PC Hardware Guide
Desktop PC Case
Power Supply
295
Motherboard
296
Processor
297
Memory
298
Hard Disk
298
Optical
295
300
Drive
Graphics
300
Card
Expansion Card(s)
301
Fans
301
Keyboards
and Mice
Laptops, Netbooks, and All-in-One PCs
Is
291
Norton Ghost
ATI
Safe
290
290
Third-Party Websites
19:
289
Zinstall zPOD
Windows
Chapter
289
301
301
304
Working
Everything Plugged
In?
305
Minimal Hardware Boot
306
Resetting the BIOS
Jump-Starting Your
307
Summary
PC
309
310
Table of Contents
311
Part 4: Disaster Recovery
Chapter
20:
Chapter 21:
Windows and Data
Recovery Tools
313
Restoring Windows and Data from a Backup
Data Restore Through Over-the-Top Reinstall
313
RAID Drives
318
Summary
318
Restoring from Another
Windows Image
a
on
Another PC
320
320
Summary
324
Linux: An
or
Operating System
Data Restore
Using
on a
Another
321
Disc
Operating System
Remote
System
System Testing
CD and DVD Burning in Linux
Compatible Linux Operating Systems
331
332
333
to Run from a Disc
335
Other Variants of Linux
Linux Installation Disc
or
Pen Drive
Third-Party Rescue
Tools and Services
337
337
Zinstall and zPOD
341
SpinRite
Other
335
336
Summary
GRC
334
334
Ubuntu
Creating
325
330
Desktop
Monitor
a
325
330
Useful Software in Linux
Third-Party Tools
344
O&O Disk
344
Recovery
Ashampoo WinOptimizer
Other
Services
Third-Party
Summary
Chapter 24:
319
Restoring Windows File by File
Restoring Your Data by Using Another PC
System
Chapter 23:
315
319
PC
zPOD
22:
313
You Did Back It Up, Didn't You?!
Restoring
Chapter
xiii
Turning
EFS
347
347
Encrypted File System
Setting Up EFS
an
344
345
When You Can't Recover Data
Restoring
344
348
Key
EFS Off
352
354
EFS Certificates
354
Smart Cards and EFS Certificates
356
File
Encryption Certificate Manager
359
xiv
Table of Contents
Recovering EFS-Encrypted Files
Cipher.exe
359
360
BitLocker and BitLocker To Go
Creating a Copy
Summary
of
Encrypted
361
Data
364
365
Part 5: Power Utilities
Chapter 25:
Advanced Windows
367
Diagnostic Tools
in
Depth.
Computer Management
System Tools
Storage
Services and Applications
369
Performance Information and Tools
380
370
378
378
Visual Effects
380
Indexing Options
383
Power
383
Disk
385
Settings
Cleanup
Advanced Tools
Chapter 26:
385
Control Panel Troubleshooters
398
Summary
400
Windows Firewall in
Depth
401
Windows Firewall
401
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
Managing
Firewall Rules
Adding New Inbound
or
27:
403
405
Outbound Firewall Rules
Setting a Connection Security
Monitoring
Chapter
369
Rule
406
410
410
Port Control for Routers
411
Summary
412
Advanced
Registry Work
413
Registry Sections
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
414
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
414
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
414
HKEYJJSERS
414
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
Registry Keys and Settings
Backing Up and Restoring the Registry
Working with the Registry
Editing, Deleting, or Adding Registry Keys
Backing Up Specific Registry Keys
Finding Information in the Windows Registry
Summary
414
414
415
416
416
417
418
419
419
Table of Contents
Part 6:
Appendices
xv
421
Appendix
A:
Windows 7 Editions
Appendix
B:
Windows 7 Features
by Edition
425
Appendix
C:
Windows 7 Shortcut
Keys
431
Appendix
D:
BIOS
Beep Codes
423
439
Glossary
447
Index
455