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comptia-a-plus-core2/notes/TRB-1-windows-os-issues.md

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TRB-1: Windows OS Issues

Status: not started

Domain:

  • 3.0 Software Troubleshooting

Objective alignment:

  • 3.1 Troubleshoot common Windows OS problems

What You Need To Know

Windows troubleshooting questions usually give a symptom and ask for the most likely next step.

Common symptoms:

  • Blue screen of death
  • Slow performance
  • Frequent shutdowns
  • Services failing to start
  • Application crashes
  • Low memory warnings
  • USB controller resource warnings
  • System instability
  • No OS found
  • Slow profile load
  • Time drift

Memory Trick

Use B-S-S-A-D-P-T:

  • Boot
  • Services
  • Storage
  • Applications
  • Drivers
  • Profiles
  • Time

Shortcut:

  • A Windows symptom usually points to boot, services, storage, drivers, profile, or time.

Symptom Matching

No OS found:

  • Check boot order.
  • Check whether the drive is detected.
  • Check boot files and startup repair.

BSOD:

  • Suspect drivers, hardware, memory, storage, or recent updates.
  • Use Event Viewer, Reliability Monitor, and memory/storage diagnostics.

Slow performance:

  • Check Task Manager for CPU, memory, disk, and startup load.
  • Check available disk space.
  • Review recently installed apps.

Services not starting:

  • Check Services console.
  • Check dependencies.
  • Review Event Viewer.

Slow profile load:

  • Suspect large profile data, network profile issues, login scripts, or domain connectivity.

System time drift:

  • Check time zone, CMOS battery, and time synchronization.

Commands To Know

sfc /scannow

Checks protected Windows system files and attempts repair.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Repairs the Windows component store used by SFC.

chkdsk

Checks file system status.

eventvwr.msc

Opens Event Viewer for logs and error clues.

perfmon /rel

Opens Reliability Monitor for a timeline of failures.

Exam Clues

  • If Windows cannot find an OS, think boot order, missing boot files, or failed drive.
  • If the system fails after a driver update, roll back the driver or boot into Safe Mode.
  • If apps crash after system corruption, use DISM and SFC.
  • If performance is slow, gather evidence before changing settings.