This troubleshooting routine is designed to find if issues like blue screen of death (BSOD), crashes or freezing are caused by a particular component.
Step 1: First, let's check it is not something obvious in Windows 10
If there are issues, then you can use DISM with the RestoreHealth option, which will run an advanced scan and repair any problems with Windows 10 automatically.
- Open Start.
- Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Quick note: While the command is running is normal to see the process stuck at 20 or 40 per cent, after a few minutes, the process will complete successfully.
Once you complete the steps, the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool will connect to the Windows Update servers to download and replace any damaged files in the local image for Windows 10 as necessary.
Step 2: Can you check the storage drive health?
In Windows, you can quickly check the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drives from the Command Prompt. Just right-click the Start menu, select Run, and type "cmd" or type "cmd" into the search bar. In the pop-up box, run:
wmic diskdrive get model,status
It will return "Pred Fail" if your drive's death is imminent, or "OK" if it thinks the drive is doing fine.
Step 3: Run a test on the memory?
This tool will push your RAM to its limit and expose any weaknesses in the hardware that might be causing your system faults.
Check out our help centre article on creating a MemTest86 bootable testing memory stick. Remember to follow the instruction to create the bootable pen drive, al lot of people mess up and just copy the files they download to the USB stick and then wonder why it does not work.
Run the imageUSB application
Create a MemTest86 Bootable Pen Drive to test your RAM for errors
Step 4: Run a processor diagnostic?
This tool will push your CPU to its limit and expose any weaknesses in the hardware that might be causing your system faults.
For Intel Processors run the 64bit version of the Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool linked below
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19792/Intel-Processor-Diagnostic-Tool
For AMD processors download the Windows: 64-bit version Prime95 and run a blended test
https://www.mersenne.org/download/
Step 5: Perform a Clean Boot
Clean Boot State which is used to diagnose and troubleshoot advanced Windows problems. If your computer or program is not starting normally, or if you receive errors when you start the computer that you cannot identify, you could consider performing a “clean boot.”
type msconfig in start search and hit Enter to open the System Configuration Utility.
Click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup. Clear the Load Startup Items check box, and ensure that Load System Services and Use Original boot configuration are checked.
Click the Services tab. Select the Hide All Microsoft Services checkbox. Now click Disable all.
Click Apply/OK and restart the computer. This will put Windows into a Clean Boot State.
If the clean boot helped you fix the error, fine! Else in the General tab, also click to clear the Load System Services checkbox, click Apply/OK and restart.
If your system recovers, you have stopped the offending software from running.
Step 6: Do you have a graphics card in your PC? You can run Furmark and see if stressing the GPU is part of the problem.
This tool will push your graphics card to its limit and expose any weaknesses in the hardware that might be causing your system faults.
Step 7: Reset Windows 10
If stress testing the main components of the PC does not expose a single component causing the failure, then we need to reset Windows 10.
Reset Windows 10 | Reset this PC
Step 8: Time for a PC technician
If the preceding steps haven't resolved the issue or highlighted a component that needs to be changed, then the PC will need returning to Punch Technology (or your manufacturer if you are a non-Punch customer).