Windows Tips and Troubleshooting

 The operating system consists of a number of programs and services that run on a device so humans can interact with and use the device.  The OS manages everything, such as hardware resources, internet connections, security features, and updates, just to name a few.   It manages all the memory, software, hardware, and processes running on the device.   

The OS does things like take input from the keyboard, manipulate programs based on those inputs (like add words to an email), and then perform an action, (like send that data to the router so it can be sent across the world wide web). 

There are a few major operating systems that are commonly used: 

• Desktop and laptop operating systems: 
• Windows 
• Mac 
• Linux 
• Operating systems for mobile devices: 
• Android 
• iOS 

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 (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/explore-windows-architecture/3-examine-windows-client-architecture)  

 We are going to explore the components from the bottom up, in the same order as the OS boots up when you turn on the device: 

Operate System kernel: the kernel takes OS requests from system services and translates those into instructions that are passed to the individual hardware devices inside the computer, like the CPU and memory.  This level also has low-level device drivers that provide the instructions to the hardware devices, like keyboard, mouse and USB drivers on how to function.  Use Device Manager to manage drivers.  

System services: software that interacts with other software components to coordinate them.  This provides higher level functions that require multiple systems to work together.  A good example is the virtual memory manager.  It works with the installed RAM and dynamically sets aside memory for applications to use, this improves overall system performance.  This happens as a background process in Windows.  Use the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) to manage system services.  

• .Net framework / Win32:  the .NET framework is composed of tools, programming languages and libraries to run and write applications.   The .NET framework can be installed on different OS and you can then run .NET framework apps on the device.   Win32 apps are based on the original programing platform that Windows used early on, provides software direct access to system hardware and highest performance.   

Apps: the software interface(s) that the user interacts with, like Word, Outlook, Paint, and the Chrome web browser, for example.  The person using the computer starts and stops the applications based on what they are trying to accomplish.   The system services then coordinates the user input and other services to perform the requested task, like save and close a document.   

• Starting in Windows 8.1, there are two different styles of apps:  
• Traditional desktop apps like Office apps.  These use Win32 APIs and .NET framework. 
• Microsoft Store Apps.  These use Windows RT APIs We can assemble all types of furniture, from IKEA to custom pieces, saving you time and frustration.

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the registry is a hierarchical database that stores user and computer configuration settings.  For example, it retains what image you set for your background.  The registry holds the run-time and environmental settings used by applications and hardware devices. Registry keys hold things like the file path to an executable, server names and OS settings. 

• The registry has five major parts, called hives.  Hives contain keys and subkeys.  The keys contain values that can be modified. 
• HKEY_CLASSESS_ROOT: contains info on what program to use to open a particular file type.  You don’t directly change this one. 
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU): holds the configuration settings for the currently signed in user.  Contains user settings, like color scheme and font size.  You sometimes need to edit this hive.  
• For example HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper stores the name and location of the wallpaper the user choose.   
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM): holds the computer configuration settings.  This is really the only hive that you make changes too.  
• HKEY_USERS: holds the configuration settings for all users that have signed into the device.  The CURRENT_USER hive is a subset of this hive. 
• HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG: holds the current hardware profile that was loaded during start up.   

***Important: changes made to the registry take effect immediately and there is no undo button!  It is best practice to export the registry before you make changes, so you can reimport it if needed.   

•  Settings: designed with end-user in mind and easy to navigate.  Can change many system settings and other functionality, like pair a Bluetooth device, Wi-Fi settings, Accessibility settings, Accounts and Windows Updates, to name a few.   
  • How to find it: Windows Key > Settings cog icon  
• Control Panel: provides an interface with lots of management functions.  Can uninstall software, add printers, look at network adapters, and lot more.   
  • Windows key + R > ‘control.exe’ or search for ‘control panel’  
  • Here are some of the most important items: 
  • Programs and Features: Repair and uninstall software.  Can also see installed updates.   
  • Network and Sharing Center: see connections to Wi-Fi or Ethernet and can change Advanced sharing settings so the device can be seen on the network 
  • Sound: check speakers and headsets are working, can disable or enable audio devices.   
  • User Accounts: see users that have signed into the device, admin accounts, change passwords and prevent an account from expiring.   
• Device Manager: can see all hardware in the device or plugged into the device.  Can see issues with devices, update drivers and uninstall devices.   
  • Windows Key + R > devmgmt.msc or search for ‘Device Manager’ 
  • Need to run it with Admin credentials to uninstall devices 
  • Look for little yellow triangles on the thumbnail of the device, they indicate that Windows has detected a problem with the device. 

• Security and Maintenance: can make changes to security features, like the firewall and run virus scans.  Can also see reliability history and Recover the PC.  Important, the User Access Control setting can also be configured here.  Sometimes you can’t install a program because it is not showing up, but needs permission to run. 
  • Control Panel > Security and Maintenance  
• Microsoft Management Console (MMC): allows you to choose from a number of tools (‘snap-ins’) you can Add and then run, like Event Viewer, Certificates, Group Policy Object Editor and many more.  One of the important tools is the Certificates snap in.  In a domain environment, the client devices need certificates to access resources, like a VPN certificate, for example.  This lets you update those certificates if they have expired.  
  • Windows  Key + R > mmc.exe  
• System Restore (Advanced System Settings): can roll back the files, registry and apps to an earlier version (assuming one was made).  It is a good idea to make restore points often, so you can roll back a device to a good working state.   
  • Windows+R > rstrui.exe 
  • Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > System Protection Tab 
• Windows Recovery Environment: this is used to recover a device that crashed, had a BSOD event or isn’t booting up properly.  You boot into this environment and have a number of things you can do, like recover the device from a USB, boot up in safe mode, open a command prompt and much more. 
  • CMD > shutdown /r /o, can force shutdown the device five times and will boot into the Recovery Environment 
• Event Viewer: lets you see Application, Security, Setup and System logs.  The logs show every thing that happened on the device, from a log in to an application failin

• Task Manager: lets you see and end running processes, memory and hard drive utilization and network connectivity.  I often use task manager to see the network performance, it shows the connection as a nice graph that updates constantly.   
• Resource Monitor:  probably the best way to see detailed, real-time CPU, Memory, Disk and Network information.  You can quickly find information about how the memory is being utilized and, in the network tab, see the IP addresses each site is using.  It is like Task Manager on steroids.   
• Reliability Monitor: this shows a quick look at errors and issues on the device.  This is often the first place I go when troubleshooting a Windows issue.  It can give you a good idea about what the issue is and then you can dig into Event Viewer for a ‘deeper dive’  
  • Search for ‘Reliability monitor’ 
  • Control Panel>All Control Panel Items>Security and Maintenance> Reliability Monitor 
• Registry Editor:  provides a GUI used to make changes to the registry.  You don’t mess with the registry often, but there are times when you need to edit or add a registry key.  Follow the recommended changes exactly as they are described.  Registry changes are immediate and irrevocable.   
  • Windows + R > regedit.exe 
• Windows Update: Windows pushes up dates frequently and it is important that device stay up to date.  Sometimes an issue can be resolved by running the updates, as they contain fixed for known issues, driver updates, and security patches.  
  • Settings > Windows Update  
• Windows Installer (msiexec.exe): software used to install, uninstall and manage software.  It is mostly a CMD tool, with an informational GUI.  This tool is often used in a corporate environment for software deployments.