Getting to know the diagnostic utilities in Windows is essential for anyone who wants to keep their computer running efficiently and troubleshoot problems when they arise. Whether you’re a beginner hoping to understand the basics or an advanced user looking for pro-level tips, this guide will walk you through the most important Windows system diagnostic tools, how to access them, and how to use them effectively. We’ll also discuss how third-party system tools like Glary Utilities can streamline and enhance your diagnostic workflow.
What Are Windows Diagnostic Utilities?
Windows diagnostic utilities are built-in tools and features that help you monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize the health and performance of your PC. These utilities cover everything from checking hardware health and monitoring system performance to analyzing network problems and cleaning up unnecessary files.
Beginner’s Section: Getting Started with Essential Tools
How Do I Access and Use Basic Windows Diagnostic Tools?
Most users should start by learning to access and use the most common built-in diagnostic utilities in Windows. Let’s go through these step-by-step.
1. Task Manager: Monitoring Processes and Performance
– Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc or right-click the taskbar and choose Task Manager.
– In the Processes tab, see which applications use the most CPU, memory, or disk resources.
– Go to the Performance tab to view real-time graphs of CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.
Tip: If your PC is slow, look for processes using too many resources. You can right-click a process and choose End task to stop it (be careful not to end critical Windows processes).
2. Reliability Monitor: Checking System Stability
– Open the Start menu, type reliability, and select ‘View reliability history’.
– You’ll see a timeline with events and errors. Click on days with warnings or “critical events” for detailed information about crashes or application failures.
Tip: This utility is excellent for identifying persistent hardware or software issues.
3. Windows Memory Diagnostic: Testing RAM for Errors
– Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and hit Enter.
– Choose to restart now and check for problems.
– Your PC will reboot and test your memory. After the test, the results appear after you log back in (or check them in Event Viewer under Windows Logs > System).
4. Disk Check Utility: Scanning for Disk Errors
– Open File Explorer, right-click your system drive (usually C:), select Properties.
– Go to the Tools tab and click Check under Error checking.
– Follow prompts to scan and repair drive errors.
5. Network Troubleshooter: Diagnosing Connection Problems
– Right-click the network icon in your system tray and select Troubleshoot problems.
– Follow the steps to let Windows identify and potentially fix network issues.
Intermediate Users: Leveraging Advanced Diagnostic Tools
Which Advanced Diagnostic Utilities Should I Use?
1. Event Viewer: Deep Dive Into System Logs
– Type Event Viewer in the Start menu and open it.
– Expand Windows Logs, focusing on Application and System categories.
– Look for “Error” or “Warning” entries around the time you experienced problems.
– Double-click entries for details.
Tip: Use filters in Event Viewer to find issues faster (e.g., filter by level: Error).
2. Resource Monitor: Detailed Resource Analysis
– Open Task Manager, go to the Performance tab, and click Open Resource Monitor (or type resmon in Start).
– View detailed info about CPU, memory, disk, and network usage per process.
– Use this tool to see if a specific process is causing disk or network bottlenecks.
3. Performance Monitor: Custom System Tracking
– Type perfmon in the Start menu and launch Performance Monitor.
– Add counters for specific components like processor time, disk queue length, or memory usage.
– Create Data Collector Sets to log performance over time.
Tip: Performance Monitor is powerful for tracking down intermittent performance issues.
Professional Tip: Using Glary Utilities for Simplified Diagnostics
Why Use Glary Utilities for Diagnostics and Maintenance?
While Windows provides robust built-in tools, managing all of them separately can be time-consuming. Glary Utilities brings together a suite of system diagnostic and maintenance tools in one easy-to-use dashboard.
Key Features for Diagnostics and Maintenance
– 1-Click Maintenance: Clean junk files, repair registry issues, and fix shortcuts automatically.
– Startup Manager: Diagnose and manage startup programs for faster boot times.
– Disk Check: Scan and repair disk errors from within Glary Utilities.
– System Information: Get a comprehensive overview of your PC hardware and software.
– Duplicate File Finder: Locate and remove duplicate files that may waste space or cause confusion.
– Process Manager: Monitor running processes with more details than Windows Task Manager.
Step-by-Step: Running a Full System Check with Glary Utilities
– Download and install Glary Utilities from the official website.
– Open the program and click the 1-Click Maintenance tab.
– Select the areas you want to check (Registry Cleaner, Shortcuts Fixer, Disk Repair, etc.).
– Click Scan for Issues. After the scan, review the results.
– Click Repair Problems to resolve detected issues.
Tip: Use the Startup Manager in Glary Utilities to disable unnecessary startup programs and speed up your PC’s boot time.
Advanced Users: In-Depth Troubleshooting and Custom Diagnostics
How Can I Go Beyond Basic Diagnostics?
1. Windows System File Checker (SFC) and DISM
– Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click Start, select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal).
– Run sfc /scannow to scan and repair corrupted system files.
– Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair the system image if SFC cannot fix everything.
2. Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT)
– Download WPT as part of the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK).
– Use Windows Performance Recorder (WPR) to trace system activity during slowdowns or errors.
– Analyze the trace using Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA).
3. Reliability and Uptime Analysis
– Use the command prompt: type systeminfo | find “System Boot Time” to see last boot time.
– For uptime history, rely on the Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer as described earlier.
Combining Tools for Comprehensive Diagnostics
A pro-level diagnostic routine often includes:
– Checking Task Manager for real-time issues.
– Reviewing Reliability Monitor for patterns.
– Scanning with Windows Memory Diagnostic and Disk Check Utility.
– Using Glary Utilities for regular maintenance and quick fixes.
– Running SFC and DISM to ensure OS integrity.
– Logging detailed performance data with Performance Monitor and WPT.
Summary: Diagnosing Windows Like a Pro
By learning to use both Windows built-in and third-party diagnostic utilities, you’re equipped to quickly troubleshoot problems, maintain system health, and optimize performance. Beginners can start with Task Manager, Reliability Monitor, and Glary Utilities’ 1-Click Maintenance. Intermediate users should explore Resource Monitor and Event Viewer, while advanced users can leverage Performance Monitor, SFC, DISM, and Windows Performance Toolkit for in-depth troubleshooting.
With regular use of these tools, you’ll keep your Windows system running smoothly and efficiently—just like a pro.