How To Do Troubleshooting In Windows 7

Stop errors (also sometimes chosen bluish screen or black screen errors) tin occur if a serious problem causes Windows 7 to shut down or restart unexpectedly.

These errors can be acquired by both hardware and software issues, and it can be hard to troubleshoot the problem. The following tools and methods tin oft help become Windows upwardly and running again.

If y'all can start Windows

These tools and methods can aid you roll back your system to an earlier land, and help ensure your computer has the latest updates installed.

System Restore is the easiest matter to try outset. It tin can disengage contempo changes to your computer's system files that might accept acquired the trouble. Organization Restore doesn't affect your personal files, such as e-mail, documents, or photos.

Open Organization Restore

Open up System Restore past clicking the Start button Picture of the Start push button . In the search box, blazon System Restore. Next, in the list of results, click Organization Restore.‌ If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the countersign or provide confirmation.
Follow the instructions on your screen.

Windows creates a report when certain hardware or software bug occur. Activeness Center can check whether in that location's a solution to a reported problem.

Check for solutions

Open Activeness Center by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, then, under Organisation and Security, clicking Review your computer'due south status.
Click Maintenance.
Under Check for solutions to problem reports, click Check for solutions. Windows will notify you if at that place are whatsoever solutions to issues available for your figurer.

Note:Some bug and solutions tin can just be viewed and fixed by an ambassador. Log on using an administrator account to view these bug.

Recent updates from Microsoft might assistance fix the problem. Windows Update helps continue your computer upwards to date with the latest arrangement updates and drivers. You lot can bank check Windows Update manually to help ensure yous have the latest updates to Windows 7 installed.

Check for updates

Open Windows Update past clicking the Start push button . In the search box, type Update, and then, in the listing of results, click Windows Update.
In the left pane, click Check for updates, so wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your reckoner.
If you see a bulletin telling yous that updates are available, or telling you to review updates, click the bulletin to view and select the updates.
In the list, click an update for more data. Select the check boxes for whatever updates that you desire to install, and then click OK.
Click Install updates. Read and take the license terms, and then click Finish if the update requires it. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

If you lot recently installed a hardware device, such as a sound card or video card, an wrong or improperly installed device driver might be causing the problem.

Make sure you take the latest commuter for the device installed. Yous tin can typically find drivers on the device manufacturer'due south website. Most drivers are self-installing—later on you download them, you can normally just double-click the file to begin the installation.

If a driver isn't cocky-installing, follow these steps:

Update a driver

Yous must be logged on as an administrator for this procedure.

Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Organisation and Security, and so, under Organization, clicking Device Manager. If you're prompted for an administrator countersign or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.‌
In the list of hardware categories, notice the device that yous want to update, and so double-click the device proper noun.
Click the Commuter tab, click Update Driver, and then follow the instructions. If y'all're prompted for an ambassador countersign or confirmation, blazon the password or provide confirmation.

Safety mode starts Windows in a limited country. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started, which can help you troubleshoot software problems. For case, if a program runs as soon as yous kickoff Windows and tin't exist shut down, you tin commencement Windows in condom mode, and then try to uninstall the program.

Showtime your estimator in prophylactic mode

Remove all CDs, DVDs, and other media from your reckoner, then restart it. Next, click the Kickoff push button , click the arrow next to the Shut Down push , and so click Restart.
Do one of the following:
- If your estimator has a single operating system installed, press and hold the F8 key as your estimator restarts. You lot demand to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, y'all'll need to try once again past waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and so shutting down and restarting your computer.
- If your computer has more than than ane operating organization, utilise the arrow keys to highlight the operating arrangement you want to offset in safe mode, and then press F8.
On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight the rubber mode selection y'all desire, so printing Enter. For more than information about options, see Advanced startup options (including safe mode).
Log on to your figurer with a user business relationship that has administrator rights.

When your computer is in safe fashion, you lot'll see the words Condom Mode in the corners of your screen. To exit safe way, restart your computer and let Windows starting time normally.

Some errors tin be caused by problems with your estimator's hard disk or random access retention (RAM), rather than problems with Windows or other software running on your computer.

Windows 7 includes tools that can help place and fix certain hardware-related errors. Serious errors might crave you lot to contact the hardware manufacturer for support.

Cheque for hard disk errors

Open Computer by clicking the Start push , and then clicking Computer.
Right-click the drive that yous want to check, and and then click Properties.
Click the Tools tab, and and so, under Fault-checking, click Bank check now. If you're prompted for an administrator countersign or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
- To automatically repair problems with files and folders that the scan detects, select Automatically fix file system errors. Otherwise, the deejay check volition report issues just not fix them.
- To perform a thorough bank check, select Scan for and effort recovery of bad sectors. This scan attempts to discover and repair concrete errors on the bulldoze itself, and it can accept much longer to complete.
- To cheque for both file errors and concrete errors, select both Automatically gear up file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.
Click Start.

Bank check for memory problems

Open Memory Diagnostics Tool by clicking the Start push , and so clicking Control Panel. In the search box, blazon Retentiveness, and then click Diagnose your estimator's retentiveness problems.‌ If you lot're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, blazon the password or provide confirmation.
Choose when to run the tool. If you choose to restart your figurer and run the tool immediately, make sure that you save your piece of work and close all of your running programs. The Retentiveness Diagnostics Tool will run automatically when you restart Windows.

If you can't first Windows at all

The following tools tin can assist you uninstall or ringlet dorsum software changes, repair Windows startup files, and restore your system from an before backup. If none of those suggestions fix the problem, you tin reinstall Windows 7.

Several of the following tools are located on the Organization Recovery Options menu. This menu is preinstalled on your computer's hard disk, and is also on the Windows 7 installation media.

When attempting to recover Windows:

If you use a Tablet PC or other calculator with a touchscreen, you might demand to connect a keyboard and mouse in order to use Startup Repair and the other tools in the System Recovery Options card. For more information, see What are the organization recovery options in Windows 7?
If Windows 7 came preinstalled on your calculator, your computer manufacturer might have included other recovery options. For more information, refer to the documentation that came with your reckoner, or go to the manufacturer'south website.

Safe mode starts Windows in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started, which can help you troubleshoot software bug.

For example, if a corrupted video carte du jour driver is preventing Windows from displaying, or if a program runs as soon as you lot offset Windows and can't be shut down, you can showtime Windows in condom mode before the driver or program starts and then effort to prepare the problem.

Start your computer in safe mode

Remove all CDs, DVDs, and other media from your computer, then restart it. Click the Start button , click the pointer adjacent to the Close Down button , and then click Restart.
Exercise one of the following:
- If your reckoner has a single operating system installed, press and hold the F8 central as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you'll need to try again past waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, so shutting downwardly and restarting your computer.
- If your computer has more than one operating system, utilise the pointer keys to highlight the operating system you want to start in prophylactic mode, and and then press F8.
On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight the rubber mode option y'all want, and then press Enter. For more information about options, seeAdvanced startup options (including safe manner).
Log on to your figurer with a user account that has administrator rights.

When your computer is in prophylactic way, you'll see the words Safe Mode in the corners of your screen. To exit safe mode, restart your computer and let Windows start normally.

Startup Repair can notice and fix certain types of system issues that might prevent Windows from starting, such equally missing or damaged system files.

Startup Repair is designed to start automatically if certain system bug are detected, but you tin also run the tool manually.

Run Startup Repair using preinstalled recovery options

Remove all CDs, DVDs, and other media from your estimator, and so restart it using the reckoner's power push.
Do 1 of the post-obit:
- If your computer has a unmarried operating arrangement installed, press and hold the F8 cardinal as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you need to try once again by waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and then shutting down and restarting your reckoner.
- If your calculator has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys to highlight the operating system you want to repair, and so press and concur F8.
On the Advanced Boot Options screen, apply the arrow keys to highlight Repair your calculator, and then press Enter. (If Repair your computer isn't listed as an option, then your computer doesn't include preinstalled recovery options, or your network administrator has turned them off.)
Select a keyboard layout, and and so click Side by side.
On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair, and then follow the instructions.

Run Startup Repair using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB wink bulldoze, or a organization repair disc

If your reckoner's system is severely damaged and you tin can't access the Organisation Recovery Options menu on your computer, you lot can access it using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB flash drive, or using a system repair disc if you created i earlier.

To use this method, you demand to restart your computer using the disc or USB wink drive.

Insert the Windows seven installation disc or USB flash drive, or a arrangement repair disc, and then shut down your computer.
Restart your figurer using the calculator'south power push button.
If prompted, press any key and and then follow the instructions that announced.
On the Install Windows folio, or on the System Recovery Options page, choose your language and other preferences, and so click Adjacent. If neither the Install Windows folio nor the Organization Recovery Options folio appear, and you're not asked to press any key, y'all might need to alter some organisation settings. To learn how to do this, run across Start your computer from a Windows seven installation disc or USB wink bulldoze.
If you're using the Windows installation disc, click Repair your computer.
Select the Windows installation y'all want to repair, and then click Next.
On the System Recovery Options bill of fare, click Startup Repair, and then follow the instructions.

Y'all can use System Restore from the Organization Recovery Options menu. It's merely similar running System Restore commonly, with one exception: Organisation Restore tin can't create new restore points in this fashion, so yous can't undo a restore functioning. However, you can run System Restore over again and choose a different restore signal, if ane exists.

Run System Restore using preinstalled recovery options

Remove all CDs, DVDs, and other media from your computer, and and then restart information technology using the reckoner's power button.
Do one of the following:
- If your computer has a single operating arrangement installed, press and hold the F8 primal as your reckoner restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you need to endeavour again past waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and so shutting downward and restarting your estimator.
- If your estimator has more ane operating system, apply the arrow keys to highlight the operating organisation you want to repair, and and then press and agree F8.
On the Avant-garde Kicking Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Repair your figurer, and so press Enter. (If Repair your computer isn't listed every bit an pick, then your computer doesn't include preinstalled recovery options, or your network administrator has turned them off.)
Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.
On the System Recovery Options carte du jour, click Organization Restore, and and then follow the instructions.

Run System Restore using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB flash drive, or a system repair disc

If your figurer's system is severely damaged and you cannot admission the Arrangement Recovery Options menu on your computer, you tin can access it using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB flash drive, or using a organisation repair disc if you created one earlier.

To utilize this method, you need to restart your computer using the disc.

Insert the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive, or a organization repair disc, and so shut down your computer.
Restart your computer using the estimator'due south ability button.
If prompted, printing any key and then follow the instructions that announced.
On the Install Windows page, or on the Organization Recovery Options page, choose your language and other preferences, and and then click Next. If neither the Install Windows page nor the System Recovery Options page appear, and y'all're not asked to press whatsoever central, y'all might demand to change some system settings. To learn how to exercise this, see Kickoff your computer from a Windows seven installation disc or USB flash drive.
If you're using the Windows installation disc, click Repair your estimator.
Select the Windows installation you want to repair, and then click Next.
On the Organization Recovery Options menu, click System Restore, and then follow the instructions.

If y'all've used Windows Consummate PC to create a system image backup as part of your backup plan, you can use the system image to restore your reckoner.

A system image is a copy of the partitioning on your hard disk that contains Windows. It as well contains everything on that partition on the date you created the prototype, including Windows, your programs, and user data—such as documents, pictures, and music. You demand to have created a organisation image beforehand to use this option.

When yous restore your figurer from a system image, the contents of your hard disk are replaced with the contents of the organization image. This ways that any changes you've made, programs you've installed, or files you've saved after the arrangement paradigm was created will probable exist lost unless you lot have a recent backup of your data.

Restore from a system image using preinstalled recovery options

Remove all CDs, DVDs, and other media from your computer, and so restart it using the computer's power button.
Do 1 of the following:
- If your computer has a single operating organization installed, printing and concord the F8 key as your calculator restarts. You lot demand to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you demand to endeavor over again by waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and then shutting down and restarting your computer.
- If your computer has more than than one operating system, use the arrow keys to highlight the operating arrangement you desire to repair, and and then press and hold F8.
On the Advanced Kicking Options screen, use the pointer keys to highlight Repair your computer, and then printing Enter. (If Repair your reckoner isn't listed as an option, then your computer doesn't include preinstalled recovery options, or your network administrator has turned them off.)
Select a keyboard layout, and so click Side by side.
On the Organization Recovery Options menu, click System Paradigm Recovery, and so follow the instructions.

Restore from a organisation image using the Windows seven installation disc or a USB flash drive, or a arrangement repair disc

If you lot can't access the System Recovery Options menu on your reckoner, you can access information technology using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB flash drive, or using a organization repair disc if you created before.

To apply this method, you demand to restart your calculator using the disc.

Insert the Windows 7 installation disc or USB wink drive, or a system repair disc, and then close down your computer.
Restart your computer using the computer's power button.
If prompted, press any key then follow the instructions that appear.
On the Install Windows page, or on the System Recovery Options page, cull your language and other preferences, and then click Next. If neither the Install Windows page nor the System Recovery Options page appear, and you're non asked to press any key, yous might demand to change some system settings. To learn how to do this, encounter Start your figurer from a Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive.
If you're using the Windows installation disc, click Repair your computer.
Select the Windows installation yous desire to repair, and and so click Adjacent.
On the System Recovery Options menu, click System Image Recovery, and so follow the instructions.

If you can't recover Windows 7 in any other way, y'all tin can reinstall Windows 7 using your original Windows 7 installation disc or setup files.

Reinstalling Windows 7 will delete whatever programs you've installed and will restore the default Windows settings. You'll demand to restore your user files, and reinstall any programs you've installed using the original installation discs or files.

Install Windows 7 using the Custom option and formatting the hard disk drive

To format your hd during Windows 7 installation, yous'll need to showtime your computer using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB flash drive.

Plough on your computer, insert the Windows vii installation disc or USB flash drive, and and so shut down your calculator.
Restart your computer.
Printing any key when prompted, and then follow the instructions that appear.
On the Install Windows folio, enter your linguistic communication and other preferences, and and then click Adjacent. If the Install Windows page doesn't appear, and you lot're non asked to press any central, you might need to change some system settings. To learn how to practise this, see Commencement your computer from a Windows seven installation disc or USB flash drive.
On the Please read the license terms folio, if y'all accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms, and then click Side by side.
On the Which blazon of installation exercise you want? page, click Custom.
On the Where do you want to install Windows? folio, click Drive options (advanced).
Click the partition that yous want to alter, click the formatting choice you want to perform, and then follow the instructions.
When you lot've finished formatting, click Side by side.
Follow the instructions to finish installing Windows vii, which include naming your computer and setting upwards an initial user business relationship.