Ed Bott - Windows 10 Support Secrets

110 CHAPTER 8 | Troubleshooting and recovery And after I clicked Apply This Fix, the troubleshooter found a second problem. For some reason, this system had been configured not to check for automatic updates to device drivers. Here, too, it offered the choice of whether to make a change or ignore the problem, as shown here: Even if you’re a certified support expert, it pays to run those troubleshooters just to identify problems like this one. The final step offers a clear summary of problems detected and fixed, with an option to view detailed information that can be useful for a support professional. Troubleshooters aren’t just in Windows itself. You can find additional troubleshooters online. This one, for example, is designed to fix problems with the Store : http://bit.ly/store-troubleshooter . Likewise, some support articles include Fix-It buttons that can make configuration changes automatically to repair a specific, known problem. Before running any such tool, of course, you should make sure it comes from an actual Microsoft site and not from an untrusted third party. Getting help from an expert If you’re like me, you are called on regularly to help friends and family members fix PC-related problems. Those calls don’t always need to involve an onsite visit, thanks to two tools included with Windows 10. The first tool, called Steps Recorder, solves a problem common among friends and family who don’t have a technical background: They don’t know how to accurately describe what they’re seeing on the screen, leading to alternately frustrating and hilarious conversations. Using Steps Recorder, they can show you, with pictures and comments, exactly what’s happening on their screen. By emailing that detailed report to you (or to another support professional), they decrease the chances of miscommunication and dramatically increase the chances of a successful resolution. To start this tool, type psr (that command name is short for the old name of this program, Problem Steps Recorder) in the search box, and then click the Steps Recorder shortcut from the top of the search list. In the Steps Recorder window, click Start Record, as shown here: