Start With the Right Diagnosis
Each guide walks through the decisions that separate similar-looking Windows faults, then points you to the article that matches your exact symptom.
Windows Boot and Recovery Diagnostic Guide
Work out why Windows will not start — firmware, boot configuration, drive detection or a failing repair — before you reset or reinstall.
Windows Device Failure Diagnostic Guide
Tell a driver problem apart from a power, cable or hardware fault before you reinstall drivers or replace a component.
Diagnose Unusual Windows Responsiveness Problems
Find the process, service or resource behind stalls, hangs, high memory use and a desktop that never finishes loading.
Windows Malware Triage and Removal Decisions
Decide what you are dealing with, how far it has persisted, and whether removal is realistic or the machine should be rebuilt.
Windows Service and Server Incident Runbooks
Read the event log properly and trace a failed service, update or network component back to its actual cause.