The latest OS from Microsoft is as versatile as it is complex to learn. It is complex, I say, because it is a total revamp unlike the other versions which graduated over a period of time. Windows 8 is very different in many other ways also, because for the first time in the history of Windows series of releases, Microsoft is attempting to enter the mobile phone world in a big way. The software itself is very robust and there is little chance of things going wrong. Most often, the reason why you may have trouble is, you don’t know how to set them right.
It is not uncommon to get into an undesirable situation by choosing the wrong options. If you are using Windows 8 the first time you better read the whole documentation before you begin using it. There is always help available. Before you take the plunge to do some troubleshooting, here are some questions you will have to ask yourself and answer.
- What is the nature of the problem – Hardware or Software?
- When did Windows 8 start malfunctioning?
- What is the problem you notice?
- Is what you see different from other machines running Widows 8?
- Have you checked the Help section and tried to resolve your issues?
- Have you tried the built-in trouble shooter?
- Have you tried the reboot option at least once?
Normally answering these questions should provide the solution, but here are some problems which may defy an answer and keep persisting.
Apps refusing to launch:
Most often the reasons for apps refusing to launch have nothing to do with either the Windows 8 or the apps itself. The likely culprit is your monitor if you are not using the latest ones. Understand that Windows 8 does not support resolution under 1024 X 768. You can set it right by adjusting the screen resolution in screen resolution area, and if that is not possible on your monitor, then you will have to replace it with something better.
Sluggish Running:
Running too many programs beyond the resources of your computer can cause sluggishness. You can set it right by going to the task manager pane. It will show you a list of programs that are currently running and what is consuming your computer’s resources like CPU, RAM and Hard Disk. If you are connected to a network it will show you that detail too. You can either stop running some programs and improve the speed of your computer.
Solving Problems Related to Sound:
Before you take any corrective measure, check at least with three resources to confirm that something is wrong with the machine. Chances are that the problem may not be related to the hardware or Windows 8. Here are the 3 resources: Any Music DVD, music website like BBC2 and You Tube. If one of these works you should rule out any hardware related problems. In which case, reinstall the app, which may be corrupted. If all three don’t work, then, in all probability the sound card of your computer may require attention. You should, before that, check that you haven’t muted the volume. If it was muted, then reset the volume control.
Sometimes, the problem may not be related to Windows or the computer, in which case, if you are using a headphone, try it on another computer. If it works well, then revert back your attention to your computer. Still another problem can be with the sound card driver. You can try reinstalling it, if you are not using the right version.
Problems Related to Hibernation and Sleep
One of the most common problem that get reported is the machine awakening without a reason from the sleep/hibernate mode. Sometimes the problem may be with the mouse, and placing the mouse upturned should be enough. But that is not always the case. To check that settings are correct for sleep/hibernate, go to Control Panel and locate the Device Manager. Right click on the device you suspect is causing the problem. If it has a power management tool, then deactivate the wake option.
Sometimes the reverse may be your problem – Widows 8 refusing to wake up from sleep/hibernate. Here again the best solution is to do some setting in the Device Manager. As usual select the appropriate device and select power settings and then select awake to bring the computer back into action.
By default, most settings in Windows 8 are based on normal usage pattern. Chances are that sometimes, you made a setting based on your understanding of an earlier version of Windows. Therefore, before you begin using Windows 8, do some experimenting and come to grip with settings peculiar to it.
Thank you to my Guest Post Author: Lance Goodman
This is a guest post by Lance Goodman of dishtvoffer.com, a site that offers savings and current information on dish tv guide, as well as dish.com services.
Zeki Elke
Jan 27. 2013
Good article, as a new user of Windows 8 this article is very helpful.
Zeki Elke recently posted…Omerta – City of Gangsters Demo