The fact that in Windows operating systems, regardless of their version, errors constantly occur, you will not surprise anyone. In almost 99% of 100 cases, they are associated with information stored on the hard drive. However, not every computer error checking program is capable of correcting specific failures. Next, we dwell on the most important aspects of troubleshooting, malfunctions, and system failures.
Why is a program required to check the computer for errors?
As for the causes of failures, they can be listed for hours. This includes incorrect shutdown of applications or the entire system as a whole, mismatch of device drivers to the OS, sudden power outage, physical damage to the hard disk, errors in the system files or their absence, virus infection, incomplete or incorrect removal of software components, etc.
As you can see, there can be many reasons, and not every program for checking a computer for errors is designed for a comprehensive solution to the problem. No, of course, you can use the so-called optimizers, but, as practice shows, it is better to use narrowly targeted applications. By the way, you should not disdain with your own means of Windows, sometimes they help even better than third-party utilities.
System update
As you know, in any version of Windows there are "bugs" and flaws. Sometimes this can lead to system crashes or security vulnerabilities. That's why Microsoft Corporation with enviable regularity patches holes, releasing new updates.
By default, in any Windows OS that supports this function, updates are automatically searched for and installed (with a constant connection to the Internet). As a last resort, in the “Update Center” you can use manual search and installation if the automatic mode is disabled or the connection is made only at a certain time.
Drivers
Very often errors can occur due to hardware conflicts, or rather, the inconsistency of their drivers with the system itself. Therefore, before you use any program to correct (delete) computer errors, you must go to the "Device Manager" and view the conflicting devices.
As a rule, if there are any in the system, they are marked with a yellow icon with a question mark. In such a situation, you can try to install or update device drivers from your own system database, which does not always work, but it is better to use a “native” driver disk or special applications for automatically searching or updating drivers that refer directly to the official resource of the equipment manufacturer. You can also add that if automatic system update is enabled, some drivers are also updated.
Antivirus for Windows
Viruses are a fairly serious threat to both the operating system and the hardware components. The simplest example is the situation with a virus developed back in the mid-90s, when, when exposed to a system, it focused the entire brightness of the screen at one point, after which, naturally, the monitor crashed.
Note that not every standard anti-virus can identify a potential threat “on the fly” even with updated signature databases, because viruses grow by leaps and bounds. Here it is recommended to use portable utilities such as Dr. Web CureIt! Or Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool. In this case, it is desirable that the main antivirus software and portable application differ by manufacturer.
Checking the RAM of your hard drive with your own Windows tools
Now let's talk about the most common error situations. This is a malfunction in the hard drive, because all the information is stored on it. We must say right away that sometimes there may be problems with the RAM strips, but this is more a physical, rather than a software mismatch. And to date, there is no software way to resolve such conflicts. So if someone tells you that there are utilities that fix such errors, this is absolute nonsense. Program for analyzing errors on a computer (for "RAM") - yes. But certainly not to eliminate them. A striking example is the Memtest86 + utility.
But back to the errors on the hard drive. As a rule, they arise in the system partition, which affects the performance of the "OS". They can also be contained in logical partitions, but in this case only the applications installed there are susceptible to failures, although, as a result, their incorrect operation or permanent abnormal termination can affect the system as a whole.
First, you should use the standard verification tool, called from the disk or partition properties menu. In this case, it is desirable to use the option to automatically correct system errors. But only sometimes such an approach may not give the desired result.
In this case, it is better to use the command line, which introduces the abbreviation chkdsk with the letter of the disk. This command is unique in that you can add additional parameters to it in the form of a right “slash” (slash) and a parameter letter. For example, combining chkdsk with: / f is similar to checking with automatic error correction, but it works much more correctly. And there are a lot of such teams in completely different variations.
Utilities for analyzing and fixing HDD errors
If the user is already not strong in the system, we will see what can be done if an immediate check of the hard disk for errors is nevertheless required. How to check? Yes, it’s very simple - use any available third-party utility.
Among them are Norton Disc Doctor, CheckDisk, HDD Scan and many others. For the most part, these are fully automated utilities that allow you to check and fix errors on the hard disk in one click.
But for experienced users, there is a more powerful tool - this is the Victoria program. Of course, it is quite complex, but the most powerful of all known utilities, which the world has no equal. And it works in Windows mode, in DOS compatibility mode . By the way, it is in the second case that it shows the best results.
Windows 7: check system files for errors
Checking system files is quite problematic. You don’t have to do this manually, especially since no user can really tell how many and which files should be in the system. In addition, they may be present and may, but their structure will be damaged. What to do in this case? Everything is simple. A program for checking the computer for errors in the system part is suitable.
The simplest utility is the small free program BUG DOCTOR. It is able to perform automatic analysis and correct small errors. Alas, she does not know how to restore system files or look for a replacement for them.
Since most system files are made in the form of dynamic libraries with the .dll extension, a utility called DLL Suite is perfect for a complete analysis, search, and automatic download of damaged or missing components. It is very often used even in cases when the operability of Windows of any version and not only the "seven" falls below a critical limit.
Applications for working with the registry
One of the most important roles is played by the registry. Incorrect or incorrect keys can both slow down the system and cause side crashes. Again, manual editing is a thankless task, even with special knowledge.
Utilities like Registry Optimizer, Vit Registry Fix Professional, etc. are useful here. Along the way, it is worth advising the iObit Uninstaller utility, which is indirectly related to this issue. It is designed to remove unnecessary applications and has a forced cleaning mode of the system from residual files and registry entries. As already understood, this is not a program for checking the computer for errors, but rather a means of preventing their occurrence in the future due to improper uninstallation of applications and their components.
Comprehensive Utilities
As for complex utilities, they contain almost all of the above modules and check the system in automatic mode. But they are suitable mainly for inexperienced users.
Today they can be counted a lot. The most outstanding are Advanced System Care, Ashampoo WinOptimizer, CCleaner, AVG PC TuneUp, Glary Utilities, Error Repair Pro, System Mechanic, Rising PC Doctor and many others. Any such program for checking a computer for errors can not only fix them, but also optimize Windows, for example, by disabling unnecessary background services.
But, as mentioned above, one should not expect too much from them, but still use highly targeted utilities, which largely determines the final result.