Using Windows Help and Support Center to Configure and Troubleshoot Hardware - PC Hardware Help

Windows tries to be helpful when it comes to giving you a hand in troubleshooting computer issues or managing and configuring your computer. Most of the time it's not too much help at all but occasionally it can offer some good advice which it should since it's the thing that is giving you the problems to begin with!

Windows XP offers a tool called the Help and Support Center. Using this software you can learn about things such as setting up security, learning about Windows, customizing your computer, setting up networking connections and setting up many types of hardware. It is broken down into categories such as help topics, assistance and tasks.

Once you open the Help and Support Center program you will be presented with all the tasks you can perform with this tool.

If you need to figure out how configure a hardware device or find out why one is not working it is a good place to start. You can also learn how to check your hardware configuration and keep your computer up to date.

It also offers articles and tutorials on topics such as hardware profiles, Device Manager and Plug and Play devices. It also offers a glossary on just about every hardware device you can imagine as well as Windows keyboard shortcuts to get your work done faster.

You can also get a listing of command line tools to help you troubleshoot problems and get an overview of the command shell which is where you will run these tools from.

The Help and Support Center will also do scans of your system to check items such as your network settings and check the status of your hardware and software.

To access this tool go to Start and then Help and Support and then click on the Hardware link on the lower left.

Related Tips:
Using Remote Assistance
Using Windows XP System Restore
Using Event Viewer to Troubleshoot
Viewing and Troubleshooting Windows Services
Using SFC (System File Checker)

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