Network
Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
When an XP machine
lost its network connection, you merely got an error message. But
now, if a Vista machine loses connectivity, the response is much more
intelligent and pro-active. When you call for the Network Troubleshooter,
the first thing it does is try to restore the connection automatically.
If that fails, the Network Diagnostics then presents you with a list
of repair options.
Under the covers,
Vista consults the Network Diagnostics Framework (NDF). As you may
guess, the new NDF technology extends to wireless diagnostics as well.
Vista
Disk Diagnostics
Hard disks usually
show warning signs before failure, which, in the past, were merely
logged in the system event log. Windows Vista, however, has built
in diagnostics that specifically listen for these messages. The troubleshooter
not only alerts you of them, but it also suggests data backup and
disk replacement techniques.
One reason for
using an up to date kit is that new hard disks include SMART technology
(Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology). So, naturally,
Vista listens in and acts upon these SMART messages. It is claimed
that Vista can even detect applications experiencing bad block problems
and it is able to silently restore the corrupted data from the backup,
presumably using the Volume Shadow Copy service.
Vista
Memory Diagnostics
The Vista Memory
Diagnostics monitors the memory hardware. If the built in Vista diagnostics
finds an error, it will alert you and ask you to run a more exhaustive
analysis with the Windows Memory Diagnostic tests. If Vista can contact
MOCA (Microsoft's Online Crash Analysis), it can then check if an
error is due to failing memory. The software can then prompt the user
to perform memory diagnostics, which will run detailed tests on your
RAM modules. Even more, MOCA and Vista can do all of this without
requiring an additional download or separate boot disk. That's incredible!
Resource
Exhaustion Prevention
Resource Exhaustion
Prevention monitors disk, memory, processor time and network bandwidth.
When any of these four crucial resources approach its limit, Windows
Vista warns users that their applications may experience problems.
The Resource Exhaustion Prevention monitor then presents the user
with a list of the top consumers, which also helps you to identify
the source of the problem.
Event
Logs
Being good at
troubleshooting is easy. I mean, all you have to do is read the logs!
Seriously, all that separates the professionals from the amateurs
is the ability to read the logs. To state my case another way, Vista's
built in diagnostics and troubleshooters reward those who look in
the logs for clues to the root of their problem. Here is one more
way you can look at the Event Logs and troubleshooting techniques.
That is, if there are no logs corresponding to your problem. Otherwise,
you might be in trouble! However, if there is an entry, someone out
there has seen your situation before and there should be a solution
waiting for you.
Now, don't be
put off by previous bad experiences of Event Logs. Vista is very clear
and it's the most comprehensive to date. To view them, click on the
Start button and type "event viewer"
in the Start Search dialogue box. Begin by scanning
the Overview and Summary section and then seek out
any Critical Events that may have happened in the last 24 hours. You'll
then be good to go!
Hope you find
this to be very informative and helpful for your Vista journey!
~ Ramachandran
Kumaraswami
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