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Diagnostic

This is something that shouldn't require mentioning but oddly it's all too common. When you start to see trouble with your computer system, by this I refer to that first moment when you see something is off the rails - an error message, your system crashes, something odd on re-boot. Whatever it is, it's definitely not the time to start experimenting with more new software, haphazardly re-installing drivers, or arbitrarily tinkering in the registry; pressing the on/off button of your system rapidly over and over won't typically help much either (graphic demonstration of what won't help).

It is the time to stop, backup any data at risk, find what's wrong and fix that. You can likely fix it if you research it and proceed accordingly. And don't forget, not all error messages or minor glitches indicate a major problem - odd glitches can often be resolved by simply re-booting your computer. A time-honored method of locating solutions is to enter the error message or difficulty into a search engine - this will lead you to tech-help sites, forums or newsgroups where users have encountered the same problem. The most common difficulties are Running Processes (conflicts between processes), corrupt or missing files including drivers, spyware, registry errors, heavy fragmentation.

Notes on Safe Mode

How to run older applications in Compatibility Mode on Windows Vista

Oddball Computer Annoyances and possible easy solutions

Sysinternals Process Explorer - Substitutes for the Task Manager (Go to 'Options' and check to 'Replace Task Manager') ( Alt-Ctrl-Del will then bring up the Sysinternals Process Explorer instead of the Task Manager). Able to display a great deal more information about each running process, you can select to customize columns. Also displays associated DLL files. A must have utility.

Browser Sentinel (Free Trial) - provides info on installed BHO's plus options to disable or for a clean BHO removal (removes the registry entry, the file, and unregisters the DLL module). Also addresses LSP's, ActiveX, Pages, Search Strings, Prefixes, Toolbars, Loaded Modules, Startup and Running Programs, Hosts file, common misconfigurations, NT Drivers, and more.

MJ's Help Diagnostics - freeware program to re-register dll files or ocx files that can prevent help files from working properly. Fixed the"Can't open Help and Support from the Start Menu" problem for me - basically it re-registered a couple of dll files and the problem was solved. You may also want to try this solution to Help and Support troubles from Doug Knox called Fixwinxphelp

Belarc Advisor - free for personal use, a wealth of system info, especially useful is a listing of all installed software with path and index of file. My copy only ran with Internet Explorer as default browser.

Ultimate Troubleshooter (Free Trial) - clean well organized user interface plus a quality database. Clear-cut instructions and suggestions on how to handle running processes and startup items. Processes are color coded for ease in identification. Goes hand in hand with handling spyware.

Security Task Manager (Free Trial) - detailed information about all running processes including DLL's, BHO's, Windows Services, etc. A handy quarantine function allows the user to quarantine a suspicious running items.

SiSoftware Sandra - quality benchmarking and diagnostic, free lite version and trial versions available

PC Pitstop - free online diagnostic resource

Fresh Diagnose

Everest - Last Freeware version, Diagnostic, System Info, Benchmarking, Everest Website

Start Up List

X-Ray PC

BigFix - automatically checks for security and performance updates needed by your system

Autoruns - from Sysinternals, comprehensive auto-start information, a nice addition to your arsenal

A Really Small App - handy program shows RAM and CPU utilization, one click to copy a list of running programs and startups to clipboard

PC Wizard - includes hardware, configuration, system info plus benchmarking tools

Dependency Walker - free utility scans a dll, ocx, exe, sys file and builds a hierarchical tree of dependencies

ProcX - view running processes and modules along with resource usage, also displays associated DLL's by process in a separate pane, right-click and select to search a process name on Google, terminate or delete processes or modules, handy alternative to Windows Task Manager

System Mechanic 7 (Free Trial)  - address a myriad of system issues including security vulnerabilities, popular polished suite including tools to cleanup, compact and defragment the registry, general Internet and temp files cleanup, hard disk defrag including boot time defragmentation of the MFT, System Page File and Registry Hives, Internet Connection Optimization.  Plus Windows Tweak tools, Uninstaller, RAM optimization, Pop-up stopper, Spyware Wizard, and more. Settings for one-click and scheduled maintenance. Organized collection of quality tools. Pro includes Firewall & Virus protection.

Unlocker - solves those instances when you receive an error message from Windows that a file cannot be deleted, access is denied, the source or destination file may be in use, the file is in use by another program or user; Unlocker allows you to view the processes locking the folder or file and lets you unlock them. Handy.

Advanced Process Manipulation - by DiamondCS, utilitarian GUI, dual display shows running processes with associated modules, right click a process in the display to see 10 options such as close file handles, close all handles, close mutex handles.  Right click a module item to access options to load or unload the DLL.

Windows Memory Diagnostic - Microsoft download, tests RAM for errors.