How to Get Help in Windows

Whether you’re learning to use your computer or trying to fix a problem with the operating system, knowing where to get help in Windows is a valuable skill. While there are many online resources, Windows has many features designed to help users too.

Starting with the tools built into Windows can help you understand what is wrong and help point you in the direction of solutions even if you have to find them in other places once you’ve exhausted your resources within Windows. 

What Kinds of Help Are Available in Windows?

Guides

In Windows 10 and Windows 11, the best guides are called Windows Tips. These appear when you use different operating system functions and can guide you on what to do in each app. 

The Windows Tips app doesn’t turn on when the computer starts by default, but it’s easy to access. Here’s how you use it.

1. Press the Windows Key.
2. Type Tips in the search bar.
   
3. Click the corresponding app.
4. Scroll through the options that appear on the app. There should be a section for the newest updates, an area to help you get started with your OS, suggestions for improving the search functions, keyboard shortcuts, remote learning tips, and advanced operating system suggestions, among others. If you’re curious about one of these functions, click on the tile.
   
5. Read the tip that appears, and then press the arrow keys to navigate through other available tips. Depending on what your app offers, there will be varying amounts of tips.
   
6. If you have a specific idea of what you’re looking for, you can return to the main screen of the Tips app by clicking the home icon at the bottom left of the app.
7. Type a keyword that matches what you’re searching for in the box at the top.
   
8. Press Enter.
9. Click on a corresponding tip, or if there are none available, you can press the button to search it online and find answers elsewhere.

Windows Tips is a great place to start if you’re trying to learn about Windows and how to use your operating system better. While it won’t fix any specific problems for you, it can make your experience using Windows a lot better.

Troubleshooters

Windows has a variety of troubleshooters to help locate, diagnose, and fix multiple issues with your computer. To open the troubleshooters, do the following:

1. Press the Windows Key + X.
2. Choose Settings.
3. Select Update and Security.
   
4. Choose Troubleshoot.
   
5. Click Additional Troubleshooters.
   
6. Click on any available troubleshooters to start the process, and follow the prompts to go through the steps.
   

Each of these troubleshooters is made to address a different potential problem in Windows. 

• The Internet Connections troubleshooter is a good one to run when you’re having problems with your internet connection. If you’re having repeated issues with various web pages, it may also help you find the solution.
• The Playing Audio troubleshooter can help with any audio issues.
• The Printer Troubleshooter can help you fix connected printers or issues sending documents to print.
• The Windows Update troubleshooter should be run if you can’t update Windows correctly.
• The Bluetooth, Network Adapter, Power, and Keyboard troubleshooters are designed to look for problems with these specific parts of your system.
• The Program Compatibility troubleshooter can help you fix issues with older programs not designed for the version of Windows you’re currently on.
• The Network adapter troubleshooter is another one that can help you diagnose problems with connecting to the internet.

There are often otter troubleshooters available as well. Each is relatively easy to use, even for someone without much computer software knowledge. Don’t be afraid to use these when you have problems and need help with Windows.

Utilities

Utilities work like troubleshooters but require you to use command line entries to pull them up and run them. While they may appear a bit more challenging to use at first, they’re straightforward once you get the hang of it. Don’t be afraid to try command line entries while working on your PC.

Here are a few different utilities to use. For each one, open a Command Prompt or PowerShell window by doing the following:

1. Press the Windows Key + X.
2. Choose PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). Which appears depends on how your system is set up.
   
3. Click Yes to confirm you want to open it.

Once you have the window up, you can use the commands below to access each utility. 

Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

The Hardware and Devices troubleshooter used to be built into the operating system like the ones mentioned in the above section. However, now you have to use a Command Prompt or PowerShell window to access it.

1. Type “msdt.exe -id devicediagnostic” without quotes in the PowerShell window.
   
2. Press Enter.
   
3. Click Next.
4. Follow the prompts in the window that appears on the screen. Opening this utility opens a new window with the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. The prompts you’ll get depend on what is happening with your system.

Once you’re done, you can restart your computer to see whether the problem you’re trying to fix is solved. 

System File Checker

System File Checker is designed to locate problems with your operating system. Often it can recover the damaged files and replace them on its own. Sometimes, though, you have to find the damaged files on another device and replace them with your own.

1. Type “dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth” without quotes in the PowerShell window.
   
2. Press Enter.
3. Type “sfc /scannow” without quotes in the PowerShell window.
   
4. Press Enter.
5. Wait for the scan to finish before you read the results and decide how you want to fix any problems. 

If System File Checker can’t fix the problems, you can just reinstall the operating system if you don’t want to find another computer, copy the damaged files, and replace them in your operating system. 

CHKDSK

CHKDSK is a perfect tool for finding problems with your hard drives. If you think they’re damaged, run this scan to see whether they are.

1. Type “chkdsk H: /f /r /x” without quotes in the PowerShell window.
   
2. Press Enter.
3. Type Y.
4. Press Enter. Your computer will restart and begin to perform the scan. 

If CHKDSK finds problems and repairs them, you should be fine. If it finds problems and can’t fix them, it may be time to replace your disk. 

Rollbacks and Startup Repair

You can also use system rollbacks and startup repair to take care of catastrophic issues with your system. However, you must ensure you have the correct files available to help you when needed.

System Restore

If you create restore points as you use your computer, you can roll back your operating system to an earlier point. The restore point is a snapshot, so your computer works as it did the day you saved the restore point. 

1. Press the Windows Key and type Control Panel in the search bar.
   
2. Click the corresponding app.
3. Search Control Panel for the term Recovery.
   
4. Click Recovery.
5. Click Configure System Restore.
   
6. Click Create to create a recovery point.
   
7. Click System Restore to roll back to an earlier save.
   

System Restore works best for undoing software changes that make your computer work less efficiently. It won’t fix hardware problems. However, it’s still a good practice to regularly create restore points. 

Startup Repair

You can access Startup Repair from your Windows installation media, even when you can’t access your operating system. It’s handy to keep a USB with the same version of Windows around. Also, don’t forget to save your Windows key in a place where you can access it even if your operating system isn’t working.

1. Put the startup media on your computer.
2. Access BIOS and move the startup media into the first place for bootable drives. You want the computer to start the removable media so you can get to the Startup Repair function.
   
3. Click Next.
4. Click Repair Your Computer.
5. Click Troubleshoot.
   
6. Click Advanced Options.
7. Click Startup Repair.
   
8. Follow the prompts to complete the process. You will have access to a log file in your Windows\System32\Logfiles folder after it’s complete.

You can also access Startup Repair in a few other ways. Hard restarting your computer three times should put you into the Windows Recovery environment. You can access it from the Update and Security area as well. 

What if I Still Need Help With Windows?

If you still need help with Windows, there are plenty of free resources online to help you troubleshoot and repair problems with your computer. You can also find message boards where people work together to solve problems, as long as you’re willing to share the details of the problem. If all else fails, you can always seek a Windows expert and pay for personal advice and help if needed.