Questions tagged [troubleshooting]
DO NOT USE. Burnination [status-planned] (go to tag info / Meta for details) Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving that uses logical, systematic steps to solve the problem.
1,298
questions
231
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Troubleshoot High CPU usage by the "System" process
I have noticed that from some time my system is freezing and its probably caused by the high CPU usage which is caused by the system process.
All applications I'm running is the Skype, TeamSpeak and ...
- 2,423
116
votes
4
answers
426k
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Windows 10 high memory usage (unknown reason)
A few days ago I updated my PC to Windows 10. However, after some use my PC started to slow down until it was impossible to use – it was due to high memory usage. After a restart, everything came back ...
- 1,263
81
votes
6
answers
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How do I find what's eating up all of my system's memory? (not SuperFetch)
How does one diagnose/discover memory-related problems, if Task Manager appears to not be reporting correctly?
I must have a memory leak or something -- I'm at 75% usage of my 12 GB of memory, but ...
- 5,994
80
votes
4
answers
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Windows Update doesn't work and consumes 100% of CPU (Win7 SP1) [duplicate]
I've observed a strange behaviour with Windows Update (Win7 SP1). The process svchost is consuming an entire core of my Virtual Machine (VirtualBox) doing nothing (i.e., there is no network traffic ...
- 991
79
votes
17
answers
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How do I troubleshoot a Windows freeze or slowness?
A machine is described as being "really slow" or "freezing". How can I troubleshoot/resolve this issue? What should be the first steps to take?
75
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3
answers
140k
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Is there any way to recover unsaved notepad++ docs?
I had to immediate shut down, and I lost about 20 unsaved tabs, is there any way to recover these?
- 751
59
votes
5
answers
27k
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What is the proper way of debugging a slow Windows installation?
You know the drill - you've been asked to check why your cousin's computer is running slow.
I was right there yesterday. Being a Mac user since 2007 I haven't really dug deep in Windows internals in ...
- 693
51
votes
10
answers
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Which malfunctions cause old computers to slow down and crash?
I've had a few computers of my own break after a few years of use, and I've seen computers owned by friends and family do the same thing. They either slow down (even running the original software ...
- 722
41
votes
6
answers
23k
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How do I get to the root cause of high Deferred Procedure Calls?
I've got a Dual core processor, and one of the two is constantly at 100%. Looking in ProcessExplorer shows me that it's Deferred Procedure Calls. Reading around the net seems to give me tons of ...
- 1,798
40
votes
5
answers
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What is the purpose of using a large ping packet?
While analyzing some traffic logs, I noticed a node pinging its gateway with a large ping packet size, ranging from 700 bytes to 1 MB. It's a constant ping from node to gateway and the size per ping ...
- 950
40
votes
1
answer
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How can I view the active threads of a running program?
I know I can see all running processes in Task Manager. But how can I see the single threads that run inside these processes?
- 87.9k
39
votes
4
answers
3k
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How do I troubleshoot when I have no clue where to start?
I am looking for hints, tips and answers on how to get started on troubleshooting when:
The problem is intermittent
The problem could lie literally anywhere - operating system; free source software; ...
- 559
38
votes
5
answers
209k
views
How to find my DNS Server address in Windows 7
What is the easiest way to know my current DNS server's IP address or domain name? I am trying to troubleshoot my broadband Internet connection under Windows 7.
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32
votes
5
answers
49k
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GIMP stuck on "Loading Data Files: Fonts"
I load up GIMP and it gets stuck on "Loading Data Files: Fonts" every time.
I have deleted my GIMP profile multiple times, I cleared my font cache, I even searched for corrupt fonts, (0kb font file ...
- 355
30
votes
5
answers
46k
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How to test a power supply?
My computer powered off the other day on its own, and now when I push the power button, nothing happens. My assumption would naturally be that the power supply is done (possibly well done) but is ...
- 403
29
votes
2
answers
58k
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Process Monitor: Entries with BUFFER OVERFLOW
I´m trying to solve IE 8 performance problems on my system at the moment.
I analyzed my system with Sysinternals Process Monitor and found lots of "BUFFER OVERFLOW"s entries in the Log (See ...
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votes
3
answers
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Laptop randomly waking up = Hibernate / Low Battery?
A (Windows 7) laptop has been annoying me since the day we got it. When it is put to sleep (the lid closed), it seems to intermittently wake up randomly during the night (i.e., 10pm, 1:30am, 7am, etc.)...
- 69k
23
votes
8
answers
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What registry key or windows file determines where monitors are placed in a multi monitor environment?
I have a laptop with a USB to VGA adapter which allows me to add a third monitor to my laptop (the second monitor uses the onboard slot).
It worked fine on Windows Vista - you could go into Windows' ...
dfree
23
votes
13
answers
21k
views
Why are my hard drives failing?
I have a small Ubuntu server running at home, with 2 hard drives. There are two software raids (raid1) on the disks, managed by mdadm,
which I believe is irrelevant, but mentioning it anyway.
Both of ...
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22
votes
3
answers
34k
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How to diagnose Blue Screens in Windows 7 (64bit)
Using programs like WhoCrashed and BlueScreenView you can see the BSOD and the errors but how do you tell exactly what's causing the BSOD?
I'm not sure if it's because of bad hardware, bad driver ...
ritch0s
22
votes
3
answers
36k
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How do I troubleshoot hardware issues related to a computer freeze/crash?
What are some common guidelines and issues related to hardware being the issue of a computer crash?
What should I look for and how do I troubleshoot these problems?
What are some tools that are ...
20
votes
4
answers
5k
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Router restarts after big git push or big file upload
My problem is that modem (Modem / router #1 presented below) restarts itself, when I make git push with a lot of files (I'm not sure how big the push must be to break the connection, but smaller ...
19
votes
2
answers
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How can I view the call stack of a running process/thread?
Someone asked me to get a call stack or stack trace of a running process so that he could analyze it for me.
How can I get that information?
- 87.9k
18
votes
7
answers
21k
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Why does restarting a computer fix things?
The title say sit all, but why does restarting a computer tend to fix things? It seems like IT folks always ask, "Have you restarted your PC?" But Why?
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votes
4
answers
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What does this dtrace error mean?
When running iotop -C 5 12 on my late-2010 Macbook Pro (10.6.7) I get repeated instances of this error:
dtrace: error on enabled probe ID 5 (ID 19507: io:mach_kernel:buf_strategy:start): illegal ...
- 1,911
18
votes
4
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Google Chrome sometimes loses its pinned tabs?
In some occasions; for instance, when I don't leave the browser open long enough and close it again; then upon reopening the browser lost all my pinned tabs. Does anyone know why this happens and what ...
- 57.5k
18
votes
5
answers
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How can I kill an unkillable process?
I closed an application, but the process remained in the list. I try to stop in from the task manager, but nothing happens. No error messages, process just stays in the list. I try to debug it, but ...
- 1,035
17
votes
5
answers
707k
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How can I "turn on wireless capability" in Windows 7?
On my laptop I have a strange bug or something that fairly frequently causes wireless networking to become spontaneously disabled. Network connections drop out & all available APs disappear.
...
- 801
17
votes
5
answers
1k
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Any game kills my sound
Every time I quit a game such as Braid, Fallout3, AVP all sound on the PC dies (Control Panel > No Audio Devices) I installed a new sound card (SB Audigy) and updated to the latest drivers, and it ...
- 311
15
votes
16
answers
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Windows 7: Wi-Fi connection drops intermittently - only returns after "Troubleshoot connection" resets the adapter
On our laptop (running Windows 7) the Wi-Fi connection drops intermittently.
Symptoms:
Connectivity is suddenly lost, and the "signal strenght" indicator in the tray shows zero strength and a yellow ...
- 23.2k
14
votes
8
answers
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Why is usable RAM less than total RAM?
My girlfriend bought a laptop last week. It's a core 2 duo with 4 GB
We installed vista 64bit, and one of the first things we did was right click on "My computer" to see gthe properties. Immediately ...
- 8,768
14
votes
2
answers
45k
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How to find last-added USB device in Windows?
Is there a way to find the last-added USB device in Windows (perhaps something like "dmesg" for Windows)?
I'm plugging the USB device in, and it makes the sound of connection, but when I check ...
- 5,994
12
votes
4
answers
862
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Why do people suggest you try using another USB port? [duplicate]
Just curious why this is always on the list for trouble shooting USB devices.
Is it just because how USB works, some kind of tech myth, or just in case there's an actual hardware fault with the USB ...
- 231
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votes
3
answers
32k
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How do I troubleshoot a slow hard drive?
My computer is suffering of slow-downs and I'm not surprised (it's around 6
years old). Here's what I've verified:
They are not very frequent (only a couple of times a day).
When they happen a single ...
- 8,768
12
votes
5
answers
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Robocopy permission denied
Robocopy is preinstalled with Windows 7. I've used it many times in the past. I tried to copy a folder to a remote share with
robocopy c:\source "\\server\share\path" /s /r:2 /w:2`
As a result I ...
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votes
6
answers
4k
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Why is notepad++ blocking my autohotkey shortcuts?
I have a series of keyboard shortcuts defined in my autohotkey script. Currently, none of them work whenever notepad++ has focus.
The script is loaded as usual. The keyboard shortcuts (mostly stuff ...
- 8,768
12
votes
2
answers
6k
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Common Mac OS folders/settings to check (when trying to get rid of a pesky self-launching app)
If there's an app that starts up by itself, what would the most efficient places to look for it be? Does anyone have a nice comprehensive list of where to check for Startup Items, Login Items, Login ...
- 1,398
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votes
6
answers
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Why does restarting/resetting the router work?
So, I'm a technology guy and sometimes I have to troubleshoot a home network, including my own. I make sure the wires are in securely and that the lights suggest there's an actual internet connection. ...
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votes
1
answer
4k
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All invalid hostnames resolve to localhost in my browser. What is going on?
Update: jump to the end of this question for the happy conclusion to this epic tale.
Note: I have IIS7 installed locally for web development.
This is what happens in my browser for random sites:
...
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12
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Static / snow on external display when waking up Mac
I have a Philips 222E display connected via a mini-DP (mini-DisplayPort) to DVI adapter and DVI cable to a MacBook Air (mid-2011).
Every time that the MacBook Air wakes from sleep, the display shows ...
- 9,893
12
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5
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Monitor image became offset to the right. How to fix this?
Got this odd problem where the image in the monitor is offset to the right. It’s offset a lot.
I have an external monitor, which is connected to a laptop. I don’t use the laptop’s display, only the ...
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votes
1
answer
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Now who's using my COM port?
I am trying to figure out who's locking my COM port. Tried to search but could not find a way to figure that out. I am using XP.
Was wondering if 'Process Explorer' utility provides something for the ...
Manav Sharma
11
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How to diagnose right-click menu slowness?
Is there a way to find specifically what's causing Windows 7 explorer slowness, like right-click menu delay and even opening new explorer windows/drives/folders?
Slowness when opening new explorer ...
- 5,994
11
votes
10
answers
23k
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Why does Internet Explorer sometimes fail to connect to anything until I restart it?
IE has an annoying problem on my PC (XP SP3). I start it and try to go to Google (for example) and it'll sit there saying "Connecting" but nothing will happen and it doesn't matter how many times I ...
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3
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Troubleshooting a Windows 7 PC that wouldn't sleep
I have a new Windows 7 PC that wouldn't sleep (not just automatically, but also when specifically told to). The screen goes black momentarily, but within two seconds the machine comes back as if ...
- 1,239
10
votes
1
answer
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How to determine the OSX process which is presenting a dialog?
Today when restarting a MacBook Air I got a pop-up stating "The managed object model version used to open the persistent store is incompatible with the one that was used to create the persistent store....
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votes
6
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Identify what's painting the empty space in my Windows notification area?
I have an "icon" in my Windows (XP, if it matters) notification area (by the clock) which renders no image, but rather an empty square space (no borders -- nothing rendered at all in the space where ...
- 1,897
9
votes
4
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Partition table corrupted (USB flash drive)
It's an 8 GB Patriot thumb drive, which I've used extensively with lots of data. Today, it is detected, but all data is gone: (EDIT at least some data is still there, but the partition table is gone)
...
9
votes
3
answers
37k
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wi-fi connection drops periodically for a few seconds
I've read the similar question on wireless connections dropping, but no answer seems to apply to my case
I have configured the wi-fi lan of my router to broadcast sid and use WPA-PSK.
Every few ...
- 248
9
votes
3
answers
3k
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Windows 7 Backup not backing up custom library?
I have created a custom Library under Windows 7 64bit professional to handle my source code. When I tried Windows Backup and Restore for the first time I get the following error
Backup encountered ...
- 3,508