My digital toolbox 9

Every computer technician carries around USB drives with useful software and scripts to help with diagnosing computer problems. In this edition of My Digital Toolbox, I am going to focus on three (3) programs built into Windows that can help you diagnose problems with your computer.

Device Manager

Device Manager is a crucial tool that allows you to manage and troubleshoot hardware devices installed on your computer. Through Device Manager, you can view a list of all connected devices, including printers, graphics cards, network adapters, and more. It provides information about each device's status and functionality, highlighting any issues such as driver conflicts or hardware malfunctions. You can also update drivers, turn devices on or off, and uninstall hardware components directly from this interface, making it an essential resource for maintaining optimal system performance.

To access Device Manager:

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Start menu, left-click on All apps.
3. Scroll down the list of programs and left-click on Windows Tools.
4. Left-click on Computer Management.
5. Under Computer Management (Local), left-click on Device Manager.

or

1. Right-click on the Start button to bring up the Power User menu.
2. From the context menu that appears, left-click on Device Manager.

Event Viewer

The Event Viewer is a powerful administrative tool that allows you to view and analyze system event logs. It provides detailed information about significant events, such as system errors, security warnings, application crashes, and other critical notifications. By categorizing these events into different logs, such as Application, Security, and System, you can easily troubleshoot issues, monitor system health, and improve overall performance. The intuitive interface makes it accessible to both novice users and experienced administrators, enabling them to gain insights into system activities and identify potential problems effectively.

To access the Event Viewer:

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Start menu, left-click on All apps.
3. Scroll down the list of programs and left-click on Windows Tools.
4. Left-click on Computer Management.
5. Under Computer Management (Local), left-click on Event Viewer.

or

1. Right-click on the Start button to bring up the Power User menu.
2. From the context menu that appears, left-click on Event Viewer.

Reliability Monitor

The Reliability Monitor is a powerful tool that helps you track your system's stability and reliability over time. It provides a detailed timeline of events, including application failures, hardware issues, and Windows updates, allowing you to pinpoint when problems started. The Reliability Monitor presents this information in an easy-to-understand graphical format, showing a reliability score that helps assess the system's overall health. By using this tool, you can diagnose and address issues more proactively, leading to a smoother computing experience.

To access the Reliability Monitor:

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Start menu, left-click on All apps.
3. Scroll down the list of programs and left-click on Windows Tools.
4. Left-click on Control Panel.
5. If viewing the Control Panel by Category, left-click on System and Security, then Security and Maintenance, then Maintenance, then View reliability history. If viewing by Large/Small Icons, left-click on Security and Maintenance, then Maintenance, then View reliability history.