Tag: computer problems

Checking for Solutions to Problems

February 22, 2008 by Jason

Microsoft collects information about Vista from users. When a problem occurs, Vista usually asks whether you want to send information about the problem to Microsoft and, if you do, it stores these tidbits in a massive database. Engineers then tackle the “issues” (as they euphemistically call them) and hopefully come up with solutions.

One of Vista’s most promising new features is Problem Reports and Solutions, and it’s designed to make solutions available to anyone who goes looking for them. Vista keeps a list of problems your is having, so you can tell it to go online and see if a solution is available. If there’s a solution waiting, Vista will download it, install it, and fix your system. Read More»

Running the Memory Diagnostics Tool

February 22, 2008 by Jason

Few problems are as maddening as those related to defects because they tend to be intermittent and they tend to cause problems in secondary systems, forcing you to waste time on wild goose chases all over your system.

Therefore, it is welcome news indeed that Vista ships with a new Memory Diagnostics tool that works with Microsoft Online Crash Analysis to determine whether defective is the cause of program crashes. If so, Memory Diagnostics lets you know about the problem and schedules a for the next time you start your . If it detects actual problems, the system also marks the affected memory area as unusable to avoid future crashes.

Vista also comes with a that’s part of the Policy Service. If a program is leaking memory (using up increasing amounts of memory over time), this tool will diagnose the problem and take steps to fix it. Read More»