3.1: Common Windows OS Problems

BSOD/Shutdowns

System crashes or stops caused by faulty hardware, drivers, or applications.

Troubleshoot using Safe Mode, system restore, hardware reseating, or diagnostic tools.

Sluggish Performance

Slow system response caused by high CPU/disk usage, outdated OS, low disk space, power-saving settings, or malware.

Troubleshoot via Task Manager, updates, disk cleanup, power adjustments, and antivirus scans.

Boot Errors

Failures during startup caused by missing OS, corrupt boot loader, or damaged BCD.

Troubleshoot using Startup Repair, /rebuildbcd, or recovery tools.

Startup Repair Issues

Problems like “Missing NTLDR,” missing OS, or Safe Mode loops can be resolved by repairing the boot configuration, rebuilding the loader, or reinstalling the OS boot files.

Device Startup Failures

Occur when hardware or services fail to start.

Troubleshoot using Device Manager and Event Viewer, remove or update bad drivers, fix service dependencies, or reinstall related applications.

App Crashes

Occur when software unexpectedly stops.

Troubleshoot using Event Viewer or Reliability Monitor, then repair or reinstall the application as needed.

Low Memory Warnings

Occur when system RAM is insufficient.

Troubleshoot by closing resource-heavy applications, increasing virtual memory (paging file), or upgrading physical RAM.

USB Resource Warnings

Happens when too many devices compete for USB endpoints.

Troubleshoot by moving the device to another port, matching USB versions (e.g., USB 2.0 vs 3.0), or using a controller with higher capacity.

System Instability

Erratic behavior caused by failing hardware or software errors.

Troubleshoot with hardware diagnostics, System File Checker (SFC), and malware scans.

Slow Profile Load

Delays in user login often caused by roaming profiles, slow or distant domain controllers, or incorrect domain controller selection.

Time Drift

Gradual inaccuracy in system clock.

Troubleshoot by enabling automatic time synchronization and ensuring the correct time zone is set.

Reboot

Restarting a system to clear memory leaks, reset applications, and resolve many common performance or stability issues.

Restart Services

Fixes issues with background processes that leak resources or crash. Can be done in Task Manager or Services console to restore functionality without rebooting.

App Reinstall/Update

Resolves corrupted files or misconfigurations by repairing, resetting, updating, or fully reinstalling the application.

Verify Requirements

Ensure hardware and software meet application or OS requirements before installation; use System Information or documentation to confirm compatibility.

System File Checker (sfc /scannow)

Windows tool that verifies integrity of system files and automatically repairs corrupted or missing ones.

Windows Restore

Reverts system settings, drivers, and registry to a previous restore point without affecting personal files. Useful for undoing faulty updates or software installs.

Reimage OS

Reloads or resets Windows using a prebuilt system image to repair or restore the OS when persistent problems can’t be fixed otherwise.

Rollback Updates

Removes recently installed Windows updates from the update history to resolve issues caused by faulty patches or drivers.

Rebuild Profiles

Fixes corrupted user profiles by deleting the old profile and allowing Windows to create a new one upon next login.

Delete Profiles

Back up user files and relevant registry entries, then remove the profile to allow a fresh profile creation and resolve persistent profile issues.

Reconstruct Profiles

Create a new user profile and selectively copy necessary files from the old profile, avoiding corrupted or problematic data.