Whether you're new to Windows or a veteran, your system will eventually run into problems that aren't easy to diagnose. Before calling tech support, there are a number of PC diagnostic tools you can try.
Windows System Troubleshooting Tool
Hardware issues can be a headache. They tend to happen when you're using an older version of the operating system or a new Windows Insider build.
If you need a reminder of what hardware is installed on your PC, here are some tools that can help with that.
1. HWiNFO
HWiNFO is the most comprehensive system summary tool by far. It displays all the information about your computer – from CPU temperature to fan voltage. In fact, if you have an AMD processor, this is the PC testing tool you should use, as alternatives like CPU-Z are known to display inaccurate readings.
It's good to have HWiNFO on your PC if you want the most accurate readings from your computer hardware.
2. Performance Monitor
Like older versions of the operating system, Windows 10 and 11 have Performance Monitor. However, unlike older versions, it is now a standalone PC diagnostic tool. Let's see how to open Performance Monitor if you're not familiar with it.
By default, Monitor only shows Processor Time , which shows how much CPU is being used at any given time. However, you can add more counters like disk usage, energy used, paging file size, search index size, etc.
3. Reliability Monitor
The Reliability Monitor is a hidden gem in Windows that Microsoft needs to emphasize to its users. It keeps track of your computer’s history. Any time your computer freezes, or even an application crashes or behaves abnormally in any way, it will be logged in this tool. It also tracks other events like when Windows Updates downloads a new fix or when new software is installed.
The blue line gives an estimate of how stable your system has been over time on a scale of 1-10. To access it, go to the Control panel , select System and Security > Security and maintenance > Maintenance > View reliability history . If your system has a lot of errors, this is the best place to check and find solutions.
Network diagnostic programs for Windows
Whether you're using WiFi or Ethernet, chances are you'll run into network issues eventually. Luckily, there are a number of Windows diagnostic tools that make troubleshooting your Internet connection easy.
WiFi Analyzer is a free tool that analyzes your WiFi network setup to see if your wireless channel is interfering with other nearby WiFi networks.
After analyzing, it will suggest channel settings for you. It's not perfect, especially in apartments and crowded cities. However, it can significantly increase your WiFi speed and reliability, so it's worth a try.
5. SoftPerfect Network Scanner
SoftPerfect Network Scanner is an easy-to-use tool that discovers all devices connected to your network. It supports both IPv4 and IPv6 discovery.
You can use it at home to see how many devices are connected to your network (to check if someone is disconnecting you) or find the IP address of a specific device (like your smartphone). It also lets you remotely initiate a shutdown.
The free version of the software lists up to 10 devices, which is more than enough for home use.
Windows storage drive diagnostics application
When troubleshooting your PC, it's easy to overlook your storage devices, even though storage is one of the most important pieces of hardware to keep it running smoothly. You can buy a new processor, RAM, or GPU, but losing your personal files will cause costs that you can't cover with cash.
Most modern computers come with Solid State Drives (SSDs) which have their advantages but can also suddenly stop working without any warning. But if you want to know if your SSD or hard drive is in good condition , CrystalDiskInfo is the tool you should look into. This tool performs a complete analysis of the health of your data drives including USB drives, SSDs and hard drives. It calculates the overall health and gives you detailed information about error rates, uptime, spin-up time and temperature. This program has a “relative” called ‘ CrystalDiskMark ’ which can also be used to evaluate the read and write speed of the drive.
7. WinDirStat
WinDirStat is a must-have app for anyone who wants a visual guide to their storage. WinDirStat stands for “Windows Directory Statistic” and it does exactly that.
WinDirStat scans your data drive and shows you how much space is used by different folders and files, all displayed in a neat tree hierarchy and detailed graph view. The larger the file or folder, the larger the square on the graph.
WinDirStat is not only perfect for visualizing where your data is stored, but it's also great for cleaning up lost files and recovering disk space.
8. Windows Disk Management
Windows Disk Management is a built-in utility for managing disk partitions. This tool also allows you to check the health of your SSD or HDD and create new partitions.
Using this utility, you can also scan any partition for potential errors on your drive. To do this, open Disk Management , right-click on the partition you want to scan, then go to Properties > Tools > Check . You will need to use an admin account to do this.
Windows tools for diagnosing memory problems
As applications become more memory-hungry, it's more important than ever that your computer's random access memory (RAM) stays in good working order. If you're having RAM problems, try these tools to diagnose the problem.
9. Resource Monitor
Resource Monitor is a Windows diagnostic tool that provides a complete overview of your system. Traditionally, you would have to launch it through Task Manager, but now you can open Resource Manager as a standalone tool.
Resource Monitor is an advanced way to view real-time data about your system and is often used in conjunction with Performance Monitor. If you want to track how processes are using your computer's hardware, Resource Monitor is a great place to start.
10. Memory Diagnostic Tool
Also known as mdsched.exe, the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool runs a comprehensive test of your computer's memory to find any errors that might be preventing your system from functioning properly. It tests your memory for errors and displays the test results so you can take action to fix the errors. This is one of the built-in diagnostic tools, so you don't need a third-party tool. To run this tool, follow the steps below:
Step 1 : Press ' Win + R ' to open the Run dialog box .
Step 2 : Type ' mdsched.exe ' and press Enter to run.
Step 3 : Choose to restart your computer and check for problems or check for problems on the next computer restart.
In both cases, the Memory Diagnostic Tool will run tests on your machine and will notify you of any errors in the memory (including RAM) that could be causing the system failure.
Windows Display Diagnostic Utility
Is something looking strange on your screen? If you notice a small black dot on your screen that isn't dirt, it could be a dead pixel. Luckily, there are apps that can help remove a potentially salvageable dead pixel.
Warning : These apps “revive” a dead pixel by flashing different colors extremely quickly. Therefore, they are not recommended for people with epilepsy or those with a family history of epilepsy.
11. JScreenFix
You notice some spots on your screen that are not caused by dust or dirt, but are dead and annoying. A dead pixel on a computer screen is a conspicuous colored dot that does not change when neighboring pixels change. Such pixels are most noticeable when the screen turns black. If the dead pixels are not the result of a defect in the screen, JScreenFix can fix the problem. It works by highlighting the affected areas with hundreds of different colors every minute. This way, it only takes a few minutes to unstick the pixels.
12. PixelHealer
PixelHealer, although free, is still one of the most effective software diagnostic tools you can use to fix dead pixels. Unlike Jscreen Fix, this utility requires a download, but the file size is less than 100KB so it won’t take long.
The application comes with a portable installer that eliminates the need for installation. You just need to unzip the file and run the program.
Windows malware scanner application
If you think your PC has a virus, don't worry. There are many high-quality malware scanners on the market that are free to use.
13. AdwCleaner
Not many people know about AdwCleaner, which is a shame because it is great and deserves more recognition. It is a simple yet fast, effective and free malware scanner, which is all anyone could ask for.
It is mainly designed to target malware that comes with installation files, so it detects adware, toolbars, potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers, etc. Scan results are sorted by services, files, DLLs, scheduled tasks, registry entries, etc.
14. Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes has been the king of malware scanning for years. Most people have heard of it, but if not, know that many consider it a must-have application on every computer.
Note that Malwarebytes has both a free and premium version. The free version is great and more than enough for most home users. However, the premium version is well worth the money if you love Malwarebytes.
15. ClamWin
ClamWin may look rudimentary but don’t let that fool you; it’s a powerful tool to have in your digital toolbox. Scans can take a while but they detect quite a lot so it’s worth it.
The best part is that ClamWin is open source, unlike the alternatives listed above. This means the code is available for anyone to review, so you can be sure that there are no hidden surprises lurking in the app.
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