The Ultimate TroubleshooterThe Ultimate Troubleshooter

TUTTUTJuly 26, 2005July 26, 2005

Lorain CountyLorain County

ComputerComputer

Users GroupUsers Group

What’s RunningWhat’s Running

I checked my home PCI checked my home PC

Before I started any programsBefore I started any programs– 27 tasks were running27 tasks were running– 49 services were running … 97 were installed 49 services were running … 97 were installed

to run when neededto run when needed

And I had already cleaned up my systemAnd I had already cleaned up my system

How do I Know What’s RunningHow do I Know What’s Running

Taskbar – lists the programs you startTaskbar – lists the programs you startSystem Tray – lists some programsSystem Tray – lists some programsCtl-alt-delCtl-alt-del

Applications - Also list programs you startApplications - Also list programs you startProcesses – lists all processes running in backgroundProcesses – lists all processes running in background

Start Start Run “msconfig” Run “msconfig” Startup StartupShows applications that initiate at startup ... But not Shows applications that initiate at startup ... But not tasks and processestasks and processes

The Ultimate Troubleshooter (TUT)The Ultimate Troubleshooter (TUT)

What are TheseWhat are These

You can Google any of them to find outYou can Google any of them to find out

There is a database - Task List at There is a database - Task List at www.answersthatwork.comwww.answersthatwork.com to look them up to look them up

There is The Ultimate Troubleshooter (TUT) There is The Ultimate Troubleshooter (TUT) which lists them for youwhich lists them for you

There are a few other software programs ... There are a few other software programs ... but I do not know much about thembut I do not know much about them

Why worry?Why worry?

RAM is a limited resource on your PCRAM is a limited resource on your PC

Every active task/program consumes RAMEvery active task/program consumes RAM

The more tasks running in the background, The more tasks running in the background, the less available to run your programsthe less available to run your programs

There are estimates that 50-65% of all There are estimates that 50-65% of all lockups, crashes, shut downs, slow downs, lockups, crashes, shut downs, slow downs, etc. are caused by background tasks …etc. are caused by background tasks …

Not virus, spam, hardware problems or software bugsNot virus, spam, hardware problems or software bugs

The Ultimate Troubleshooter (TUT) The Ultimate Troubleshooter (TUT) is Software is Software

to identify what’s running on your PCto identify what’s running on your PC

that describes what each task or service doesthat describes what each task or service does

and gives views/recommendations about eachand gives views/recommendations about each

explains how to make changes, if you wantexplains how to make changes, if you want

and alsoand also

takes complete hardware inventory of your PCtakes complete hardware inventory of your PC

helps automate housekeeping and maintenancehelps automate housekeeping and maintenance

has additional tools for internet troubleshootinghas additional tools for internet troubleshooting

How do they get loadedHow do they get loadedWhen new software is installed, your program files are loaded When new software is installed, your program files are loaded

butbutso are other tasks that the so are other tasks that the vendorvendor feels you should run with feels you should run with the programthe program

Update monitorsUpdate monitors– They continuously check internet for updatesThey continuously check internet for updates

SchedulersSchedulers– They schedule backups or notificationsThey schedule backups or notifications

Launch monitorsLaunch monitors– Wait for hardware to be activiated (scanner, camera)Wait for hardware to be activiated (scanner, camera)

Spyware/adwareSpyware/adware– You get ads to upgrade or buy other productsYou get ads to upgrade or buy other products

AlsoAlso

Internet DownloadsInternet Downloads

VirusesViruses

Hardware driversHardware drivers

Different CategoriesDifferent Categories

Applications that you startApplications that you start– Email, Internet Browser, Word Processor, Photo Editor, etcEmail, Internet Browser, Word Processor, Photo Editor, etc

Applications that start automaticallyApplications that start automatically - - essentialessential

– Anti-virus, Firewall, etcAnti-virus, Firewall, etc

Applications that start automaticallyApplications that start automatically –– your choiceyour choice

– Launch monitors, schedulers, update checking softwareLaunch monitors, schedulers, update checking software

Applications that start automatically – Applications that start automatically – unwantedunwanted

– Spyware, adware, etcSpyware, adware, etc

TUT demo - OpenTUT demo - Open

Reads/displays all tasks that are runningReads/displays all tasks that are running

Tabs for tasks, services, hardware and Tabs for tasks, services, hardware and startupsstartups

Color codes them by importanceColor codes them by importance

Can sort by clicking on titleCan sort by clicking on title

TUT demo – TUT demo – Tasks/services/startupsTasks/services/startups

Left Click on any task, service or startup Left Click on any task, service or startup get ATW description/views get ATW description/views

recommendations (with instruction if required) in recommendations (with instruction if required) in semi plain Englishsemi plain English

Tools to get into control panel, startup, registryTools to get into control panel, startup, registry

Right Click Right Click Get menu to stop task or change startup modeGet menu to stop task or change startup mode

Double ClickDouble ClickGet properties of task – generally with function Get properties of task – generally with function

TUT demo – HardwareTUT demo – Hardware

Click on Hardware TabClick on Hardware Tab– Complete listing of all hardware Complete listing of all hardware – Detailed technical data for each internal Detailed technical data for each internal

component and attached peripheralcomponent and attached peripheral

TUT demo – HousekeepingTUT demo – Housekeeping

Click on Housekeeping tabClick on Housekeeping tab

List of tasks to do … you choose which List of tasks to do … you choose which ones you wantones you want

When you click “GO”, a checklist is When you click “GO”, a checklist is presented which you should go through to presented which you should go through to be sure that you don’t have problemsbe sure that you don’t have problems

TUT demo – UtilitiesTUT demo – Utilities

Click on Utilities iconClick on Utilities icon

List of other utilities – internet/networkList of other utilities – internet/networkTCP/IP configurationTCP/IP configuration

Name server lookupName server lookup

PingPing

Trace RouteTrace Route

WhoisWhois

For Techies! I don’t know what they are For Techies! I don’t know what they are … yet. … yet.

TUT demo – EmailTUT demo – Email

There are some tasks that are not known There are some tasks that are not known by ATW – Coded whiteby ATW – Coded white

When you click on Email, you can send a When you click on Email, you can send a list of the unknown tasks to ATW as well list of the unknown tasks to ATW as well as any other comments you have. as any other comments you have.

CommentsComments

TUT IDs 80-90% of the tasks TUT IDs 80-90% of the tasks You can check out the rest by typing into GoogleYou can check out the rest by typing into Google

The Semi-Plain English descriptions and The Semi-Plain English descriptions and recommendations make TUT somewhat recommendations make TUT somewhat unique, useable and therefore, valuableunique, useable and therefore, valuableATW views are just that … use their input ATW views are just that … use their input but configure your PC based on your but configure your PC based on your needsneedsThe Housekeeping function is good but The Housekeeping function is good but requires some work (checklist) to runrequires some work (checklist) to runSome PCs with XP/SP2 won’t start … there Some PCs with XP/SP2 won’t start … there is a fix on the ATW websiteis a fix on the ATW website

TUT SummaryTUT SummaryGives you info to take control over your PCGives you info to take control over your PC

What it doesWhat it doesWho makes itWho makes itWhether it is valuableWhether it is valuableHow to fix itHow to fix it

Provides “how to” instructions to help you Provides “how to” instructions to help you implement what you want to doimplement what you want to doPresented in reasonably understandable Presented in reasonably understandable languagelanguageHousekeeping program is pretty goodHousekeeping program is pretty goodWORTH THE COST - $35 downloadWORTH THE COST - $35 download

NEW STARTUPSNEW STARTUPS

Demo on how tasks get installedDemo on how tasks get installed