www.it-ebooks.info www.it-ebooks.info Troubleshoot and Optimize Windows 8 ® Inside Out Mike Halsey www.it-ebooks.info Published with the authorization of Microsoft Corporation by: O’Reilly Media, Inc. 1005 Gravenstein Highway North Sebastopol, California 95472 Copyright © 2012 by Mike Halsey All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. ISBN: 978-0-7356-7080-8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 QG 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed and bound in the United States of America. Microsoft Press books are available through booksellers and distributors worldwide. If you need support related to this book, email Microsoft Press Book Support at mspinput@microsoft.com. Please tell us what you think of this book at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/booksurvey. 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Indexer: Angela Howard Cover Design: Twist Creative • Seattle Cover Composition: Zyg Group, LLC Illustrator: Rebecca Demarest www.it-ebooks.info iii Contents at a Glance Chapter 14 Easy Ways to Repair Windows 8 237 Part 3: Using Advanced Technical Fixes Chapter 15 Understanding Windows 8 281 Chapter 16 Advanced Windows 8 Troubleshooting Tips 289 Chapter 17 Troubleshooting Windows 8 Problems in Your Home or Workplace 305 Chapter 18 Troubleshooting Windows 8 Startup 325 Chapter 19 Using Windows 8 Advanced Diagnostic Tools 337 Chapter 20 Using Advanced Repair Methods 359 Chapter 21 Demystifying Windows 8 Problems 385 Chapter 22 Utilizing Remote Help 401 Chapter 23 Finding More Help and Support 419 Chapter 24 Diagnosing Hardware Problems 429 Chapter 25 Troubleshooting a Windows 8 Installation 447 Part 1: Preventing Problems Chapter 1 Finding Your Way Around Windows 8 3 Chapter 2 Repairing Windows 8 in 30 Minutes or Less 13 Chapter 3 Preventing Problems Before They Occur 27 Chapter 4 Using the Basic Windows Utilities 45 Chapter 5 Optimizing Windows 8 Security 63 Chapter 6 Optimizing Backup and Restore 81 Chapter 7 Performing Maintenance on Windows 8 103 Chapter 8 Managing Users in Windows 8 115 Chapter 9 Managing Hardware 131 Chapter 10 Working in a Virtual Environment 143 Part 2: Applying Easy Technical Fixes Chapter 11 Dealing with Windows 8 Annoyances 171 Chapter 12 Managing Application Compatibility 205 Chapter 13 Responding to Viruses, Malware, and Other Threats 215 www.it-ebooks.info iv Contents at a Glance Part 5: Using Advanced Utilities Chapter 33 Using Advanced Windows 8 Diagnostic Tools 555 Chapter 34 Exploring Windows 8 Firewall In-Depth 599 Chapter 35 Making Changes to the Registry 615 Part 6: Appendices Appendix A Windows 8 Editions and Features by Edition 629 Appendix B Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts 635 Glossary 639 Part 4: Disaster Recovery Chapter 26 Recovering Encrypted Data 461 Chapter 27 Using Windows Data Recovery Tools 469 Chapter 28 Restoring Windows from Another PC 481 Chapter 29 Using Linux to Rescue Your Windows System 491 Chapter 30 Using Third-Party Rescue Tools and Services 505 Chapter 31 Working Safely with Windows 8 Encryption 513 Chapter 32 Applying Best Practices to Windows 8. . . . . . 535 www.it-ebooks.info v Table of Contents What do you think of this book? We want to hear from you! Microsoft is interested in hearing your feedback so we can continually improve our books and learning resources for you. To participate in a brief online survey, please visit: microsoft.com/learning/booksurvey Introduction xix Features and Conventions Used In This Book xxi Acknowledgments xxiv Part 1: Preventing Problems Chapter 1: Finding Your Way Around Windows 8 3 Finding the Desktop 3 Using the New Charms 4 Using the Taskbar 5 Accessing the Action Center and Notication Area 6 Finding the Full Control Panel 6 Finding the Computer Management and Administrative Tools 8 Searching in Windows 8 11 Summary 12 Chapter 2: Repairing Windows 8 in 30 Minutes or Less 13 What Can Often Go Wrong with Windows 15 What to Look for 15 Fixing Common Startup Problems 17 Fixing Common Security Problems 21 Fixing Common Conguration Problems 21 Refreshing Windows 8 22 Summary 26 Chapter 3: Preventing Problems Before They Occur 27 Upgrading or Performing a Clean Install 29 How to Clean Install Windows 8 to Prevent Problems 29 Upgrading to Windows 8 from XP, Vista, or Windows 7 31 www.it-ebooks.info vi Table of Contents How Big Should Partitions Be? 32 What to Do When Windows 8 Is Installed 33 Useful Windows 8 Settings to Change 35 Managing Startup Programs 37 Moving Your Files Away from Windows 39 Backing Up Windows 8 41 Summary 44 Chapter 4: Using the Basic Windows Utilities 45 Windows 8 Utilities 45 Refresh 45 Windows Update 47 Desktop Utilities 48 The Action Center 48 Windows 8 Automatic Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Action Center Settings 50 What Can You Do in the Action Center? 51 Windows Update 52 Controlling Windows Update Through Group Policy 54 Windows Firewall 55 Windows Defender 57 Legacy Program Compatibility 59 The Program Compatibility Assistant 60 Summary 62 Chapter 5: Optimizing Windows 8 Security 63 Security, Windows XP, and Virtualization 64 Windows 8 and Antivirus Software 66 Turning Windows Defender Off 66 AVG Anti-Virus FREE 67 Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security 68 Kaspersky Internet Security 68 Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool 68 User Account Control 68 BitLocker and BitLocker To Go 70 Method 1: Encrypting a Hard Disk or Partition with Hardware Support 71 Method 2: Encrypting a Hard Disk or Partition without Hardware Support 71 Method 3: Encrypting a USB Flash Drive or External Hard Disk 71 Administering Your TPM Chip 72 Enabling BitLocker 73 Why Use BitLocker? 75 What do you think of this book? We want to hear from you! Microsoft is interested in hearing your feedback so we can continually improve our books and learning resources for you. To participate in a brief online survey, please visit: microsoft.com/learning/booksurvey www.it-ebooks.info Table of Contents vii Beware the Weak Link at the Keyboard 76 Keep Your Antivirus Software Up to Date 76 Ensure That You Have a Good, Up-to-Date Firewall 76 Keep Windows Up to Date 76 Keep Your Software Up to Date 76 Always Check Email Attachments Before Opening Them 77 Use a Secure Internet Browser 77 Get Spam and Phishing Filtering for Your Email Software 77 Never Click Anything You Don’t Explicitly Mean To 77 Look for the Padlock or the Green Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Never Give Private Details Online Unless You Must 78 Keep Backups 78 Keep Your Backups in a Safe Place 78 Keep the Driver CDs and Manuals for Your Computer 78 Get a Windows Installation DVD for Your Computer 78 Keep Windows Maintained 79 Be Careful When You Throw Away Your Computer 79 Gibson Research 79 Summary 80 Chapter 6: Optimizing Backup and Restore 81 Moving Your Files Away from Windows 8 81 The Disk Cleanup Wizard 82 Shrinking, Extending, and Creating Partitions 83 Moving the Shell User Folders 85 Using Backup and Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Backing Up Files and Data 86 Restoring Files and Data from a Backup 90 Backing Up to the Cloud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Backing Up the Operating System 91 Creating a Windows 8 System Image 91 Restoring Windows from a Windows System Image 94 Restoring Windows 8 from a System Repair or Install Disc 94 Creating a Custom Refresh Image 95 Refreshing Windows 8 96 Refreshing Windows 8 from the Control Panel 97 Creating a Recovery Drive 97 File History and Version Control 98 Determining How Many Backups You Need and Where to Store Them 100 Summary 101 Chapter 7: Performing Maintenance on Windows 8 103 Maintaining Windows 8 on ARM 103 Windows 8 Automatic Maintenance 104 Defragmenting Your Hard Disks 105 www.it-ebooks.info viii Table of Contents Maintaining Windows 8 107 Disk Cleanup 107 Internet and Other Temporary Files 108 Third-Party Tools and Utilities 108 Don’t Install Too Much Software 109 Keeping Windows 8 Updated 111 Keep Auto-Running Software to a Minimum 111 The One-Year Reinstall Rule 113 Summary 113 Chapter 8: Managing Users in Windows 8 115 How User Account Control Works 115 Managing User Accounts 116 Setting an Administrator Password 116 The Guest User Account 120 Family Safety 121 Windows Web Filter 123 Group Policies 124 Local Security Policies 125 Computer Management 127 Blocking CDs, DVDs, Flash Drives, and External Hard Disks 128 Summary 129 Chapter 9: Managing Hardware 131 What’s in a Computer? 131 The Motherboard 132 Processor 135 Memory 135 Expansion Cards and Riser Cards 135 Optical Drives and Hard Drives 136 Power Supply 136 The Computer Case 136 How Can You Clean the Interior of Your Computer? 136 Hardware Health 137 Desktops 137 Laptops 138 Ultrabooks and Tablets 138 All-in-Ones 138 SMART BIOS Monitoring of Hard Disk Drives 138 Peripherals 140 Keyboards and Mice 140 Monitors 140 Other Devices 141 Surge Protectors, UPS, and Power Supply 141 Summary 142 www.it-ebooks.info [...]... Files Where Are Windows 8 Apps Stored If Not in Program Files? Comparing Windows 8 with Other Operating Systems Summary 282 284 286 287 287 288 Chapter 16: Advanced Windows 8 Troubleshooting Tips 289 Taking a Step-by-Step Approach ... 359 359 362 365 366 366 366 3 68 372 374 377 379 379 380 383 383 Chapter 21: Demystifying Windows 8 Problems 385 The Core Operating System Files in Windows 8 Windows 8 Security and Policy Folders The Windows 8 Registry ... 442 444 446 446 Chapter 25: Troubleshooting a Windows 8 Installation 447 Troubleshooting Stand-Alone Installation Problems Upgrading from x86 (32-Bit) to x64 (64-Bit) Upgrading Windows XP to Windows 8 Upgrading Windows Vista and Windows 7 to Windows 8 Optimizing... 255 255 257 257 2 58 259 260 260 261 261 262 269 272 274 275 276 277 2 78 Part 3:  Using Advanced Technical Fixes Chapter 15: Understanding Windows 8 281 Understanding the Windows 8 File and Folder Structure What Is WinSxS and Do I Need It? Other Important Windows System Folders and Files ... The Drive Letter Has Changed on My USB Backup Hard Disk www.it-ebooks.info 171 172 172 173 176 182 185 186 186 188 189 189 189 190 191 192 193 195 195 195 195 196 197 197 1 98 1 98 1 98 1 98 199 199 200 200 200 x Table of Contents My Wireless Printer Has Stopped Working 202 My Laptop Battery No Longer Holds a... why this happens, and how you can set about the sometimes complex process of troubleshooting a problem to begin with Beginning with the assumption that preventing problems from occurring is the best starting point, Troubleshoot and Optimize Windows 8 Inside Out guides you through the technical maze of Microsoft’s latest operating system, all the while explaining the how’s and why’s of troubleshooting... Assumptions About You You have already have been repairing or supporting computers and users in some fashion, be this privately (within your friends and family circle), for a business or organization (either formally or informally), or within an enterprise environment You are also keen to expand your skills and knowledge and broaden and deepen your technical understanding of Windows 8 and how it works and interacts... advanced administration and configuration tools for Windows 8 in depth, looking at how they can be used for advanced troubleshooting and optimization, and how you can use them to configure Windows 8 to further prevent and mitigate problems www.it-ebooks.info Features and Conventions Used In This Book xxi Features and Conventions Used In This Book This book uses special text and design conventions to... Around Windows 8 3 Chapter 2 Repairing Windows 8 in 30 Minutes or Less 13 Chapter 3 Preventing Problems Before They Occur 27 Chapter 4 Using the Basic Windows Utilities 45 Chapter 5 Optimizing Windows 8 Security 63 Chapter 6 Optimizing Backup and Restore 81 Chapter 7 Performing Maintenance on Windows 8 103 Chapter 8 Managing... 305 305 306 306 307 307 3 08 309 315 315 316 317 3 18 319 319 320 323 Chapter 18: Troubleshooting Windows 8 Startup 325 Using Windows Startup Repair Manually Repairing Corrupt Boot Files Windows 8 and Dual/Multi-Boot Systems . Disks and Windows 8 146 Creating a VHD in Windows 8 146 Reattaching the VHD 1 48 Booting from a Virtual Copy of Windows 8 1 48 Using Hyper-V in Windows 8 152 Creating. . . 380 Using Safe Mode 383 Summary 383 Chapter 21: Demystifying Windows 8 Problems 385 The Core Operating System Files in Windows 8 385 Windows 8 Security