Keep Your PC Running Like New
Simple, step-by-step fixes for the most common Windows PC problems.
What's Wrong With Your PC?
Pick your problem and jump straight to the fix.
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My PC Is Slow
All PC Speed guides -
No Sound or Microphone
All Sound guides -
Screen or Display Trouble
All Display guides -
Driver Problems
All Drivers guides -
Error Messages and Crashes
- Fix the Blue Screen of Death
- Fix "Error Writing to File"
- Fix Windows Update Problems
- Fix Random Shutdowns
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Browser and Privacy
- Clear Your Browser's Data and Cache
- Block Tracking Cookies in Chrome
- Remove Ads in Chrome and Edge
- Install a Program Safely and Securely
PC Speed
4 guides Back to top
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How to Fix 100% CPU Usage in Windows 11 and 10
CPU stuck at 100% in Windows 11 or 10? Find the process in Task Manager, update, scan for malware, trim startup apps and use a clean boot to find the cause.
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How to Fix 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10 and 11
Disk stuck at 100% in Windows 10 or 11? Find the cause in Task Manager, tame search indexing, free up space, update drivers and check the drive for errors.
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How to Fix Slow Startup in Windows 11
Windows 11 taking too long to start? Turn off startup apps you don't need, install updates, free up disk space, scan for malware and check your power mode.
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How to Speed Up a Slow Windows PC
Windows PC running slow? Restart, update, trim startup and background apps, free up disk space, change power mode and visual effects, and scan for malware.
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Drivers
4 guides Back to top
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How to Fix Realtek Audio Driver Problems in Windows 11 and 10
No sound after an update? Check the Realtek driver in Device Manager, then update, roll back or reinstall it in Windows 11 and 10, step by step.
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How to Fix USB Driver Issues in Windows 11 and 10
Fix "USB device not recognized" in Windows 11 and 10: try another port, check Device Manager, reinstall or update the driver, and check the drive for errors.
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How to Update Drivers in Windows 11 and 10
Check if your drivers are up to date, then update them with Windows Update, Device Manager or the maker's website, and undo an update that causes trouble.
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How to Update Your Graphics Driver in Windows 11 and 10
Update your Intel, NVIDIA or AMD graphics driver with Windows Update, Device Manager or the maker's website, and roll it back if something goes wrong.
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Windows Errors
10 guides Back to top
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How to Fix "Error Writing to File" on Windows 10 and 11
Getting "Error writing to file" when you install or update a program on Windows 10 or 11? Restart, run as admin, free up space and check Windows Security.
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How to Fix "Windows Cannot Access the Specified Device, Path, or File"
Fix "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file": check the file and shortcut, unblock downloads, check security software and file permissions.
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How to Fix Install Error 0x80070643 in Windows
Seeing install error 0x80070643? Learn what it means, why Security Essentials is retired, and how to fix failed Windows updates step by step.
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How to Fix Programs That Won't Install in Windows
Can't install a program on Windows 11 or 10? Restart, free up space, check app install settings and S mode, repair Windows files and try the next fix.
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How to Fix Random Shutdowns in Windows 11 and 10
Windows 11 or 10 PC turning off by itself? Check Event Viewer, power, heat, drivers and memory to find the cause of random shutdowns and fix it.
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How to Fix Windows Boot Problems
Windows 11 or 10 won't start? Check power and devices, open the recovery environment, run Startup Repair, use Safe Mode and undo recent changes.
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How to Fix Windows Update Problems
Windows Update stuck or showing an error? Run the troubleshooter, free up space, clear the update cache, repair system files and try the next fix.
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How to Fix the Blue Screen of Death in Windows 11
Fix a Windows 11 blue screen (stop code) error: read the stop code, use safe mode, update or roll back drivers, repair system files and test memory.
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How to Fix the MSVCR100.dll Missing Error
MSVCR100.dll missing or not found? Reinstall the app, install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable from Microsoft, and avoid risky DLL download sites.
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How to Repair System Files Using System File Checker (SFC)
Use System File Checker (sfc /scannow) and DISM to find and repair missing or corrupted Windows system files, and learn what each SFC result message means.
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Display
3 guides Back to top
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How to Fix VGA No Signal Problems in Windows 11 and 10
Monitor says VGA No Signal? Check the cable, the monitor's input and the port, reset the graphics driver, and find out if the monitor or the PC is at fault.
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How to Fix a Black Screen in Windows 11
Windows 11 stuck on a black screen? Wake the display, reset the graphics driver, restart Explorer, then use safe mode or System Restore if it stays black.
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How to Fix a Flickering Screen in Windows 11 and 10
Find out if a driver or an app makes your screen flicker, then reset, roll back or reinstall the display driver, or update or remove the app causing it.
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Sound
2 guides Back to top
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How to Fix Microphone Problems in Windows 10 and 11
Microphone not working? Let apps use it, pick it as your input device, test it and turn up the input volume, run the troubleshooter, and reinstall the driver.
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How to Fix Sound Problems in Windows 11
No sound on your PC? Check the output device, volume and mute, run the audio troubleshooter, turn off enhancements, and update or reinstall the audio driver.
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Files & Disk
2 guides Back to top
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How to Find and Remove Duplicate Files in Windows
Find duplicate files in Windows 11 or 10 with File Explorer, check which copy to keep, then delete the extras safely and get your disk space back.
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How to Fix Programs That Won't Uninstall in Windows 10 and 11
Can't remove a program in Windows 10 or 11? Close it, try Settings and Control Panel, repair it, run Microsoft's uninstall troubleshooter and scan for malware.
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Browsers & Privacy
3 guides Back to top
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How to Block Tracking Cookies in Chrome
Block third-party tracking cookies in Chrome, delete the ones already stored, and stop ads following you, with the matching steps for Edge and Firefox.
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How to Clear Your Browser's Data and Cache
Clear your browser cache and cookies in Chrome and Edge on Windows, clear just one site, and see what you lose (and keep) when you do.
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How to Remove Ads in Chrome and Edge
Stop pop-ups, intrusive ads and notification spam in Chrome and Edge with built-in settings, and remove the extensions and apps that cause them.
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Windows How-To
15 guides Back to top
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10 Tips for Fixing Computer Problems at Home
Fix common Windows 11 and 10 problems at home: restart, update, close frozen apps, scan for malware, run troubleshooters, fix drivers and use System Restore.
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How to Connect Your PC, Laptop or Phone to Your TV
Show your Windows 11 or 10 PC on your TV with an HDMI cable, Miracast or Chromecast, get the sound to play through the TV, and fix a TV that won't connect.
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How to Create a Bootable USB Drive or DVD for Windows
Make a bootable Windows 11 USB drive or DVD with Microsoft's free Media Creation Tool or an ISO file, then start your PC from it to install or repair Windows.
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How to Fix Bluetooth Problems in Windows 11 and 10
Bluetooth not working on your PC? Check it's on, re-pair the device, run the troubleshooter, update the driver and stop it disconnecting in Windows 11 and 10.
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How to Fix Copy and Paste Not Working in Windows 11 and 10
Copy and paste stopped working? Check clipboard history, clear the clipboard, restart, install updates, find a conflicting app and repair system files.
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How to Fix File Explorer Issues in Windows 11 and 10
File Explorer frozen, crashing or won't open? Restart it from Task Manager, install updates, repair system files and run Startup Repair in Windows 11 or 10.
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How to Fix Start Menu Issues in Windows 11 and 10
Start menu won't open or keeps freezing? Restart Windows Explorer, install updates, repair system files and re-register the Start menu in Windows 11 and 10.
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How to Fix Touchpad Problems in Windows 11 and 10
Laptop touchpad stopped working? Check it's switched on in Settings, fix the mouse setting that turns it off, then update, reinstall or roll back the driver.
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How to Fix Wi-Fi Problems in Windows 11 and 10
Wi-Fi not connecting, dropping or showing No Internet? Check airplane mode, restart your router, reset the connection and fix the driver in Windows 11 and 10.
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How to Fix a USB Drive That Won't Eject in Windows 11 and 10
USB drive won't eject or says it's in use? Close what's using it, eject from the taskbar or Settings, bring back a missing icon and check the removal policy.
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How to Install a Program Safely and Securely
Install software on Windows 11 or 10 without the unwanted extras: get it from the official source, scan it, make a restore point and check your PC afterwards.
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How to Make Text Larger on Your Computer, Phone and Browser
Make text easier to read: change text size and scale in Windows 11 and 10, zoom web pages in Chrome and Edge, use Magnifier, and enlarge text on your phone.
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How to Take a Screenshot on Your PC, Phone and Tablet
Take a screenshot in Windows with Print Screen, Windows + Shift + S or Snipping Tool, find where it's saved, and capture your iPhone, iPad or Android screen.
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How to Use a System Restore Point in Windows 11
Undo a bad app, driver or update with System Restore in Windows 11 and 10, even when your PC won't start, plus how to turn restore points on first.
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Should You Upgrade to Windows 11?
Windows 10 support has ended. See whether your PC can run Windows 11, how to upgrade for free, how to go back, and your options if your PC can't upgrade.
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Explainers
3 guides Back to top
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Common Technology Terms You Should Know
Plain-English meanings of the tech terms you see every day, from CPU, RAM and drivers to HTTPS, cookies, phishing and VPNs, plus where to find them on your PC.
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What Is OneDrive on My Computer?
OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage, built into Windows. See what it does to your files, what its icons mean, and how to free up space, pause or unlink it.
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What Is the Cloud? Cloud Storage Explained
What "the cloud" means, how cloud storage keeps your files reachable from any device, and how to start backing up a Windows PC to the cloud safely.
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PDF Guides
3 guides Back to top
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How to Compress PDFs for Free
Make a PDF smaller for free: save it at minimum size, compress its pictures, keep only the pages you need, zip it or share a link. Windows and Mac steps.
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How to Convert PNG to PDF for Free
Turn a PNG image into a PDF for free with tools already on your Windows PC, combine several images into one PDF, and convert a PDF page back to PNG.
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What Does PDF Stand For? A Simple Guide to PDF Files
PDF stands for Portable Document Format. Learn where it came from, and how to open, create, edit, fix and password-protect PDFs for free on Windows.
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WinZip Products
3 guides Back to top
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5 Reasons to Use WinZip System Utilities Suite
What WinZip System Utilities Suite does: one scan for junk and leftovers, tools to free disk space, remove programs, manage startup apps and optimize drives.
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Is WinZip Driver Updater Safe?
Where WinZip Driver Updater gets its drivers, its backup, restore and exclusion features, what the free trial includes, and how to uninstall it.
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What Is WinZip Driver Updater?
What WinZip Driver Updater does, where its drivers come from, how to scan and update, back up and restore drivers, and what the free trial includes.
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