❏ Run Hardware Diagnostics (F12 on Dell computers)
❏ Check disk for errors:
chkdsk /r
❏ Press Y
❏ Reboot
❏ Check Windows Reliability Monitor
❏ Check Event Viewer and blow away the logs
❏ Run Nirsoft BlueScreenView
❏ Uninstall junk programs
❏ Uninstall Java
❏ Uninstall Flash
❏ Remove current AV, if needed run ESET AV Remover
❏ Run cleanmgr as admin
❏ Do a Windows Update cache reset:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
net stop bits
rd /S /Q C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
❏ Run BleachBit
❏ Reboot
❏ Run MS Safety Scanner
❏ Run KVRT
❏ Run ADWCleaner
❏ Run Chrome Cleanup Tool
❏ Install and run a scan with Malwarebytes
❏ If needed, run ESET Service Repair Tool
❏ Run Dism Restore Health:
dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
❏ Run SFC Scan:
sfc /scannow
❏ Reboot
❏ Run windows update (if needed see troubleshooting below)
❏ Run Webroot System Analyzer
❏ Clean up the SxS folder:
dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase
❏ Max out UAC
❏ Make sure SmartScreen is enabled
❏ For reckless users, enable Isolated Browsing
❏ If needed do Windows Search purge (see below)
❏ If needed, update Chrome
❏ If needed, update Firefox
❏ Install recommended Browser Extensions in all browsers
❏ If on Dell install Dell Support Assist and update drivers
❏ Run Sysinternals Autoruns and disable unneded junk
❏ Run Microsoft SaRa to troubleshoot Office issues
If windows is not updating:
❏ Reset catroot2 folder:
net stop cryptsvc
md %systemroot%\system32\catroot2.old
xcopy %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 %systemroot%\system32\catroot2.old /s
del %systemroot%\system32\catroot2/*.*
net start cryptsvc
❏ Reboot & check for updates
❏ Download Reset Windows Update Tool
❏ Use options 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12
❏ Reboot & check for updates
If search is wonky or you want to reclaim space:
net stop wsearch
rd /s /q %programdata%\Microsoft\Search
Next delete following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\SetupCompletedSucessfully
If you are having networking issues, try the following:
ipconfig /flushdns
nbtstat -R
nbtstat -RR
netsh int reset all
netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset