Computer Fault-Finding Tools
By Tony Oldhand
It's frustrating when your computer isn't running right. It may be slow, freezing up, or not loading pages correctly. All these are symptoms of faults in your system, caused by corrupted files. Luckily, free tools are available to find system faults. Many of these tools also include repair utilities, restoring your computer to peak efficiency.
Microsoft Fix-It Center
Microsoft offers free utility programs called Fix-It (see Reference 1). Download and install the program designed for your problem, such as a CD not playing or recording correctly. Other Fix-It solutions include programs to diagnose and correct problems with printing, or performance problems in Vista. Fix-It will find the fault and automatically correct it.
Eusing Registry Cleaner
Eusing offers a free registry cleaner (see Reference 2). If your computer is running slow, or has errors, its registry may be corrupted. This program will find the faults in the registry and correct them accordingly.
Advanced System Care
I O Bit offers a free program called Advanced System Care (see Reference 3). This program will find faults and correct them. The program will also defragment the registry and delete obsolete files. I O Bit states that it will fix multiple system errors.
Microsoft Office 2007 Utility
If you have Microsoft Office 2007, a fault-finding utility program is built in to the program. To access it, Click on the Microsoft icon in the upper left-hand corner. In the drop-down menu, click on "Word Options" if in Word, "Excel Options" if in Excel, etc., then click "Resources." In the resources window, click "Run Microsoft Office Diagnostics." This will scan Microsoft Office. The diagnostic will detect, find and repair faults in the program.
References
Writer Bio
Tony Oldhand has been technical writing since 1995. He has worked in the skilled trades and diversified into Human Services in 1998, working with the developmentally disabled. He is also heavily involved in auto restoration and in the do-it-yourself sector of craftsman trades. Oldhand has an associate degree in electronics and has studied management at the State University of New York.