subject: Advanced Tools For The Normal User [print this page] With the release of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system, many of the performance issues present in past installments of this computer mainstay have been addressed, showing a measurable improvement in areas that were once headaches for even the most capable machines. Still, despite what would appear to be Microsoft's welcome reply to the chorus of complaints about XP and Vista, the onset of problems is to be expected for even the newest release. No operating system is immune from the kind of mistake that results from any number of issues: viruses, malware, negligence, and so on.
Despite how it's currently running, tomorrow could usher in a group of surprising problems, which is expected with even new machines. Windows seven ( Vista, too ) has a strong set of tools - all included inside one easily accessible menu - the annoyed user can make use of when making an attempt to diagnose the source of a problem.
Accessing these tools is as simple as entering a command in the search box that is located in the Start menu. Once you've entered "performance info" you'll be greeted by a window from where you can select "Advanced tools."
After those tools are available, it becomes apparent that you have at your disposal an impressive collection of diagnostic options that will - at the very least - aid you towards determining what lies at the source of your hurting system :
* Clear all Windows Experience Index scores and re-rate system
* View performance details in Event log
* Open Performance Monitor
* Open Resource Monitor
* Open Task Manager
* View Advanced system details in System Information
* Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows
* Open Disk Defragmenter
* Generate a system health report
One of the most educational tools you can use is Open Resource Monitor. Like Task Manager, Resource Monitor provides an outline of your system's resources, permitting you to control the available resources ( RAM, storage, bandwidth ) your system has to work with. Unlike Task Manager, which is kind of vague in its detail, Resource Monitor works at the micro level - meaning, you are given a degree of specificity that illuminates how an individual process or application figures into the general allocation of resources.
Another helpful aid is the "Generate a system health report" option. Similar to having a physical at the doctor's office, this will assess your system's health, generating an analysis which will enlighten you on what areas you must address when experiencing issues with your personal computer's performance. Taking only a few moments, the system analysis will return a report that details every critical aspect of your system. Using this diagnostic analysis, you will be left with a clearer picture of how your PC is faring. For example, if there is a driver that's impedeing your capability to hear sound, this report will highlight that conflict.
These are just the tools that are fairly self-explanatory in their use and interpretation. The more complicated tools - like View performance details in Event log - are as beneficial, but they require an amount of expertise that your average user may be without.
