5 Effective Trouble Shooting Tools in WIN XP

Msconfig: A command-line tool (one that you can run from the Command Prompt or using the Run dialog on the Start menu) that opens the System Configuration Utility, which you can use to troubleshoot and resolve startup errors and resolve unwanted prompts by third-party applications.

Use Msconfig when troubleshooting errors that occur during the startup process, to rid the computer of third-party software prompts after startup, to discover and resolve problems with running services, or to resolve errors regarding the boot paths configured on multiboot computers.

To use Msconfig to open and use the System Configuration Utility, follow these steps:

1. From the Start menu, select Run.

2. In the Run dialog box, type msconfig and click OK.

Msinfo32: A command-line tool that opens the System Information window, which provides detailed information about the computer system configuration

Use Msinfo32 when you need to obtain information about the local or remote computer's hardware configuration, computer components, installed software, or drivers (signed or unsigned); or when you need to get information about the BIOS version; verify that memory is installed and available; check product activation status; determine hardware conflicts; and more.

To use Msinfo32 to open the System Information window and to browse through the available data, follow these steps:

1. From the Start menu, select Run.

2. In the Run dialog box, type msinfo32 and click OK.

Chkdsk :A command-line tool that creates a status report of the integrity of the hard disk and corrects errors on the disk.

Use Chkdsk (Check Disk) to view the file system type (NTFS or FAT) and to verify the integrity of the disks installed on the computer. By adding the appropriate parameter (/F), you can also fix errors on the disk.

To use Chkdsk to check the integrity of the hard disk and automatically fix any errors it finds, follow these steps:

1. From the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and select Command Prompt.

2. To see all of the Chkdsk parameters, at the command prompt, type chkdsk /?

3. At the command prompt, type chkdsk /F to run Check Disk and automatically correct disk errors.

Disk Defragmenter: A program included with Windows XP that analyzes hard disks and locates and consolidates fragmented files and folders.

Disk Defragmenter looks for and consolidates fragmented files, those that are saved in various areas of the hard drive rather than in one place. Opening defragmented files takes less time than opening fragmented ones because the information is stored together on the disk rather than haphazardly. Use Disk Defragmenter when the user complains that the computer seems slower than usual, when the user has not used Disk Defragmenter in the past or does not use it on a regular basis, and when no distinct problems can be found for the slowdown.

To use Disk Defragmenter, follow these steps:

1. From the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and select Disk Defragmenter.

2. To analyze the disk to see whether it needs defragmenting, select the disk from the top pane, and select Analyze from the bottom.

3. To defragment the volume, select Defragment.

SFC /Scannow A command-line tool that scans and verifies all protected system files on the computer and replaces any missing files.

System File Checker (SFC) is a command-line utility that allows a technician or user to determine whether any protected system files are missing. Missing system files can cause problems with the boot process or problems when operating system components are opened.

To use the SFC /Scannow utility to determine whether there are any missing files and to replace them, follow these steps:

1. From the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and select Command Prompt.

2. Type SFC /scannow (note the space after SFC) and press Enter or Return.