Windows diagnostic utilities are powerful tools designed to help you identify and solve problems on your PC. Even if you are new to using these tools, understanding how to use them correctly can save you hours of frustration and even help prevent bigger issues down the road. However, many beginners make common mistakes when trying to use these diagnostic utilities, which can limit their effectiveness or even cause additional problems. Let’s look at some of these mistakes and how you can avoid them, using simple, step-by-step advice.
What Are Windows Diagnostic Utilities?
Before diving in, let’s quickly explain what diagnostic utilities are. These are built-in or third-party tools provided in Windows to check the health and performance of your computer. Popular examples include Windows Memory Diagnostic, Disk Check (CHKDSK), Performance Monitor, and third-party tools like Glary Utilities.
Are You Ignoring Simple System Checks?
One of the most common mistakes beginners make is ignoring the simplest built-in tools. For example, if your PC is running slowly, you might jump straight to searching for advanced solutions, but Windows Task Manager can often reveal the culprit.
To use Task Manager for a quick diagnosis:
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click the Processes tab.
3. Look at the CPU, Memory, and Disk columns to see if one program is using excessive resources.
4. Right-click a suspicious program and select End Task to stop it (make sure you recognize the program before ending it).
Are You Overlooking Disk Errors?
Another missed step is checking your hard drive for errors. Ignoring disk health can lead to data loss or system crashes.
To run a basic disk check:
1. Open File Explorer and right-click your main drive (usually C:).
2. Select Properties, then go to the Tools tab.
3. Under Error Checking, click Check.
4. Follow the prompts to scan and fix errors.
For a more thorough check, you can use the Command Prompt:
1. Press Windows key + S, type cmd, then right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
2. Type chkdsk /f and press Enter.
3. If prompted, type Y to schedule the check the next time your PC restarts.
Are You Forgetting to Monitor System Performance Over Time?
Many beginners check for issues only when something goes wrong, but monitoring performance regularly can help spot issues early.
To use Windows Performance Monitor:
1. Press Windows key + R, type perfmon, and press Enter.
2. In the left pane, expand Monitoring Tools and select Performance Monitor.
3. Click the green plus (+) icon to add counters for CPU, memory, or disk usage.
4. Watch for unusual spikes or trends over time.
Do You Know How to Use Third-Party Utilities Effectively?
Windows’ built-in tools are great, but third-party utilities can provide even more detailed information and easier workflows. Glary Utilities is an excellent choice for beginners because it combines many diagnostic and repair functions in one simple interface.
How can Glary Utilities help?
– One-Click Maintenance: Run system scans to find and fix registry errors, remove junk files, and optimize startup programs.
– Disk Repair: Quickly check your hard drive for errors or bad sectors.
– Startup Manager: Easily manage which programs launch at boot, helping speed up your PC.
– System Info: See detailed hardware and software info at a glance, which is helpful when diagnosing problems.
To get started with Glary Utilities:
1. Download and install Glary Utilities from the official website.
2. Open the program and click “1-Click Maintenance” for a quick system checkup.
3. Review the results and follow the prompts to fix identified issues.
4. Explore other tabs like “Advanced Tools” for disk repair or startup management.
Are You Backing Up Before Making Changes?
One crucial mistake is making system changes without a backup. Before running repairs or deleting files, use Windows Backup or Glary Utilities’ built-in backup features.
To create a basic backup in Windows:
1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Backup.
2. Choose Add a drive and select your backup drive.
3. Follow the prompts to set up File History.
What Should You Remember?
– Always start with built-in tools before moving to advanced solutions.
– Don’t ignore regular checks—schedule them if possible.
– Use comprehensive utilities like Glary Utilities to simplify the process.
– Always back up your important files before making major changes.
By avoiding these common mistakes and following these beginner-friendly steps, you’ll make the most of Windows diagnostic utilities—keeping your PC running smoothly and avoiding bigger problems in the future.