Diagnosing Windows problems methodically
A repeatable way to diagnose any Windows desktop problem: gather symptoms, reproduce, isolate, change one thing, verify and document.
- Level
- Beginner
- Length
- About 40 minutes
- Contents
- 3 lessons · 1 video · final exam
- Status
- Published · updated 1 Oct 2026
Skills you'll practise
- Collect the facts that matter (what, who, when, what changed) before touching the computer.
- Isolate a fault to hardware, Windows, an application, the user's profile or the network.
- Change one thing at a time and verify the result against the original symptom.
- Write a ticket note another technician can pick up without asking you anything.
Course outline
- 1.Diagnosing Windows problems methodicallyVideo · 4 min
- 2.From symptom to causeLesson · 8 min
- 3.Changing, verifying and documentingLesson · 8 min
- 4.Building an evidence timelineLesson · 10 min
- 5.Diagnosing Windows problems methodically: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 16 questions
- 6.Diagnosing Windows problems methodically: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
- 7."It's been slow since the update"Scenario
- 8.Final exam8 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out
Sources it draws on
The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.
- CompTIA A+ troubleshooting methodology (six-step model)
- Microsoft Support: Troubleshooting tips for Windows
- ITIL 4: incident management practice
See it with your own jobs and topics
Tell us about your team and we'll walk you through setup, from choosing jobs to your first skills check.