Why Problems Occur with Windows

So many things can go wrong with Windows because every single PC is unique. It is highly unlikely, especially outside of a business space, that another PC exists with exactly the same hardware, installed software specification, and updates as yours. Your PC will contain a unique mix of software and hardware components, and there would be no way for any person or any company to ever test all of the possible combinations for stability. There are logo certification programs for Windows hardware and software, and a great many vendors do indeed put their products forward for testing by Microsoft. All that these tests prove, however, is that on a basic Windows system, they will be stable and not cause the system to crash. What can’t be tested is how a certain piece of software or hardware will interact with other software or hardware on your machine, some of which might not have been submitted for certification.


Keep Things Simple
The sheer number of software packages you have installed or the number of hardware devices you have plugged in can also cause problems on your computer. I always keep my Windows systems simple and uncomplicated. When it comes to hardware, I like multifunctional devices such as printer/scanner combinations, and I avoid unnecessary USB devices, such as USB attached speakers. Your PC already comes with audio out jacks that are perfectly good.

I also try to avoid installing all the software that comes with a new device. Wi-Fi adapters and printers are common culprits for loading your PC with bloatware. You may also find, if you have a new PC, that it came preloaded with lots of software that you don’t need and will never use. The software packages that come bundled with hardware devices broadly fall into the following categories.

• Trialware. Software that will expire after a period, normally 30 days. If you do not intend to buy the software after this time, you should uninstall it because it might, especially in the case of trial anti-virus software, leave programs and services running that can slow down Windows 7 or cause other problems.

• Dupliware. Programs that duplicate Windows features, such as Wi-Fi connection software, media players, or CD/DVD burners.

• Craplets. ‘Useful’ utilities that your PC supplier might have preloaded onto your computer. They are intended to simplify certain tasks, such as writing notes or accessing media files. They will always run when Windows launches at startup, although you will probably never use them.


Don’t Install Programs that Duplicate Features in Windows
Why would you want to install a software package that simply duplicates Windows functionality? By default, the operating system can burn CDs and DVDs (including audio discs and ISO image files), play media (video, TV, and audio), display photos and images, and much more.

Although a few Windows functionalities available in Windows Vista have been removed from Windows 7, such as the Calendar and Email software, a great many functions still exist. (Note that these programs have been moved to the excellent Microsoft Live Essentials Suite, which you can get from http://download.live.com.)

The more software you install on your PC, the more problems you invite. If at all possible, avoid having software packages installed that duplicate functionality that’s already in Windows. CD/DVD burning software is a good example. You should need these only if you have a Blu-Ray burner in your machine.

Source of Information :  Microsoft Press - Troubleshooting Windows 7 Inside Out