Steve Smith explains the art form of high speed diagnostic and repair of computers.
Episode #4-43 released on July 17, 2014
Troubleshooting a computer is somewhat of an art form, especially for we seasoned computer technicians who know how not to waste time, in time critical situations. Today, learn how to save time, and how to correctly diagnose the current situation with your computer and hardware.
First thing to do when your computer tells you, you have an issue, is to go straight to the device manager, and check the properties, and check the device status. If the device is disabled, enabled it. It the device has failed, replace it, and if you don't find your device, but you see an unknown device. Try reinstalling the device, and if that fails, replace it.
If you just updated the driver, and you have issues, use the driver rollback feature in Windows to bring the driver back to the previously installed driver that worked.
In many cases, Windows may ask you if you wish to troubleshoot the issue, and it may fix the issue in the first try, however, this only works correctly if you access to the Internet. You, also, have access to the details of the information. What your interested in is the HEX based error code that can start with either 0 or 1, followed by x, and then a series of numbers and letters like 0x00000000. Go to Google, and use the following search query, 0x00000000 site:microsoft.com, this will only bring up pages from microsoft, and the correct tools to repair the issue. You will be presented with much more accurate instructions on how to fix the issue, including hotfixs, and downloadable replacement files or programs to fix the issue.
Another option, is to use one of my favorite programs, Glary Utilities, just run the system file scanner, and it will see whats wrong, in some cases, that is enough to fix the issue.
Make sure you address the original issue that caused the fault, to prevent future issues with your hardware, this includes Viruses and Malware.
If all else fails, and the hardware is functioning correctly, but Windows wants nothing to do with it, consider reinstalling Windows, altogether.
Host : Steve Smith | Music : Jonny Lee Hart | Editor : Steve Smith | Producer : Zed Axis Productions