Foreword

Let's troubleshoot this together!

Welcome to the troubleshooting wikibook where we endeavor to provide you with knowledge necessary to properly troubleshoot a Microsoft Windows operating system. Unlike many online help websites, where there only exists solutions to problems of ranging usefulness (such as the dreaded response of "please update your system" or "restart the computer" to specific answers involving uninstalling, deleting registry editor keys, and reinstalling software), this book will instead solve not specific problems, but problems that one may face when troubleshooting.

When troubleshooting a problem, it is easy to become confused at where the problem originated from, especially with complex operating systems where a multitude of components ranging from hardware, software, or a combination thereof can either individually fail or fail catastrophically. Either way, the whole system fails to function optimally, and more often than not, the only clue will be a vague comment or, even more baffling, a number. Instead of asking, "what does the number mean?", a troubleshooter will ask "what clues do I have to check in order to find the problem in question?" They ask this because they understand that problems, like solutions, can be very complex, baffling so.

This guide will not provide simple solutions to simple problems. Instead, it will seek to do better, by offering ways to figure out your problems, so that your computer can be fixed.

Audience

This wikibook assumes a general understanding of Microsoft Windows' OS and general computer terminology. Already, you have come across the term OS (Operating System), which will be the kinds of terms expected. Others include CPU, HDD & SSD ( Hard Drive Disk and Solid State Drive), and RAM. In terms of knowing about the OS, it means knowing how to open or install programs, using a mouse, and typing. We will not assume you know shortcuts.

Table of Contents