Understanding exactly why a PC is not working as it should be can be a complicated process even for experts. There are so many things on a computer that can cause problems and be the source of errors that being able to make a precise diagnosis can often be an impossible mission.
For this reason it is important to always keep those generic programs ready to use that go to check what is not working, trying to correct the most common problems, restoring the default settings.
Although for many types of errors, a more specific guide has been provided in this blog, we see in this collection, 10 small portable and free programs that can be used to diagnose and solve computer problems quickly .
These error-solving tools can be safely used even by non-experts, given their semi-automatic operation .
1) WinAudit
When the computer is not behaving as it should, you can first check how the general configuration options have been set.
These are collected in the various items of the Control Panel which, however, is too dispersive.
To do it first, you can use the WinAudit program which shows, in a single screen, all information on hardware, Windows configuration, installed applications, services, programs in automatic startup, network settings and much more.
As an alternative to Win Audit you can also use Belarc Advisor for a PC review and diagnosis of security problems.
2) My PC patch
Before anything else, it is essential that every program installed on your computer, including Windows, is updated to the latest version.
Without checking each program one by one, you can use an automatic software update tool.
In the article on how to receive critical updates of important programs, Patch My PC, a simpler and lighter tool and Secunia PSI which is instead a powerful software for checking the security updates of each program, are reported.
3) Complete Internet Repair
When the internet or network connections don't seem to work, it can be difficult for the less experienced to find a solution.
Complete Internet Repair is one of the best internet troubleshooting tools and is fully automatic.
This program, which has been described and explained in the article " Repair the internet connection and restore the network in case of errors ", must always be ready in your USB stick.
4) System Restore Manager
As explained many times, the first thing to do when the PC has problems that did not exist yesterday, is to restore the system configuration.
The System Restore Manager program is one of the best tools to manage system restore points in Windows 7, XP and Vista
You can see all recent restore points, delete them, create new ones and have more choice options.
5) GPU Shark
If you are playing a video game or if you are running a 3D graphics program and the computer goes haywire or becomes unstable, the problem comes from the graphics card and the fact that it overheats too much.
With GPU Shark (light and portable program) you can check the GPU temperature, fan speed, memory and clock speed, voltages and other essential details, more than enough to help expert users understand what's going on.
6) Tweaking Windows Repair
If you are struggling with a more complex PC problem, it is worth trying with this repair tool which provides fast buttons for solving specific problems.
This program can fix errors with IE, the Windows firewall, the registry, network, DVD drive, Windows services, sidebar / gadgets, Windows Update, Windows Installer and more, all almost automatically.
The only difficulty is that everything is written in English.
Since each setting is restored to the original values, be careful and do not press buttons at random, making sure, before use, that you have created a restore point.
Less powerful but also easier to understand and use are in the Microsoft Fix it article on Windows problems to correct common errors .
7) Microsoft Easy fix
Among the suites of automatic computer troubleshooting tools we certainly cannot forget the official one from Microsoft.
Recently, the free download of the portable version of Microsoft Fix-it has been released in Italian, a must-have for any emergency.
8) Kingsoft Pc Doctor
The first rule for solving problems is to prevent them.
A program like that of Kingsoft can be a useful support for the recognition of problems, real or potential on which the diagnosis can then be deepened.
The non-portable program offers a complete overview of the PC and provides automatic tools for maintenance and repair.
9) rKill
I didn't want to get into computer security in this post, but almost always, the cause of a malfunction is related to malware.
rKill, small and portable, for its ability to terminate malware processes automatically, therefore becomes one of those programs to always keep ready on your computer, to always be used before doing any virus cleaning operation with an antimalware such as MalwareBytes.
10) Windows System Control Center
There are two software development companies called Nirsoft and Sysinternals which produce some of the best free troubleshooting tools.
Since there are more than 250 of them, finding what you need may not be easy unless you install Windows System Control Center (WSCC).
This program features a central console which organizes the Nirsoft and Sysinternals tools into categories, with all the links to download and run them.
This management and control panel of the Nirsoft and Sysinternals tools is for experts only.
Finally, I remember that in other articles there are detailed guides on:
- Solutions to common Windows 10 errors
- Windows errors: how to repair the system
