Diagnostic tool in Windows 11: a complete guide to taking care of your PC

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Having good diagnostic tools in Windows 11 It makes the difference between reacting when the PC is already a disaster and anticipating problems before something serious happens. Many users only remember these utilities when they experience crashes, blue screens, or strange restarts, but Microsoft's system and several third-party applications offer a great deal for monitoring the computer's health.

At the same time, it's easy to get frustrated: some people upgrade to a new version like Windows 11 24H2 And suddenly the problems begin: the Start button freezes, search stops working, the Microsoft Store won't open, certain formats like JPEGs won't open… and to top it all off, some official tools only generate reports without fixing anything. In this context, it's important to understand what each tool does, its limitations, and what real alternatives we have for detecting and, above all, fixing errors.

What do we mean by diagnostic tool in Windows 11?

When we talk about a diagnostic tool for Windows 11 We're not just talking about a program that magically fixes things. In practice, these are utilities that gather detailed information about the hardware, operating system, network, and security, and present it in a more or less clear way so we can pinpoint the source of a problem.

In many cases, these tools focus on monitor and record eventsCPU temperature, disk errors, memory failures, crashing applications, suspicious processes, performance bottlenecks, etc. Some remain at the diagnostic and logging stage; others provide recommendations, and a few can directly repair certain components.

The real value is that the more reliable information The sooner we know what's happening inside the PC, the sooner we can make decisions: replace a failing hard drive, uninstall a problematic driver, check the RAM, or strengthen security. Hardware failures, in particular, are often silent until it's too late, so preventative diagnostics are invaluable.

Windows 11 includes several built-in tools, but there are also third-party utilities that greatly expand what we can see and measure. It's advisable to combine both approaches: use what the system already offers and supplement it with specialized software when a more in-depth view is needed.

Complete hardware monitoring: HWiNFO

One of the best ways to know the state of your PC is to install HWiNFOA very popular free tool that offers an enormous level of detail about your hardware. It's ideal when you suspect temperature problems, unstable voltages, or components that aren't performing as they should.

With HWiNFO you can see from the exact CPU and GPU temperature It tracks everything from fan speeds and power consumption to the clock speeds of each core, the status of motherboard sensors, and a long list of other advanced parameters. The sheer amount of data might seem overwhelming at first, but once you get used to it, it becomes an indispensable reference.

The beauty of HWiNFO is that it not only displays static data, but also allows monitor in real time While gaming, export logs and compare how your computer performs before and after hardware changes or Windows updates. If the CPU reaches 95°C or the graphics card temperature spikes, you'll see it clearly and can evaluate options such as... custom liquid cooling.

This information helps you detect, for example, if a load hang is due to a overheatingThis could be due to a low-power supply or a fan that spins too slowly. Windows 11 itself doesn't display this level of detail, so HWiNFO is a great complement to the native tools.

Performance Monitor: the integrated performance monitor

Within Windows 11, one of the most underrated utilities is Performance Monitor (Performance Monitor). It is a powerful, integrated tool that allows for precise analysis of resource usage over time.

To open it, simply press Win + R, to write perfmon o Performance Monitor and select the first option that appears. Initially, you'll see a graph focused on CPU usage, but the tool goes much further: you can add counters for disk usage, memory, network, queue times, page size, energy consumption, and many more indicators.

The real usefulness of Performance Monitor lies in the fact that it allows you to create follow-up sessions These counters record specific metrics over minutes or hours. This allows you to analyze what happens just before a crash or a performance drop: if the disk reaches 100% usage, if the RAM runs out and the system starts paging frantically, or if a specific process hogs all the resources. In serious diagnostic environments, it's a key tool for understanding bottlenecks and anomalous behavior and taking corrective action. optimize services and performance without installing anything additional, as it comes included as standard with Windows 11.

Although the interface isn't the most user-friendly, in serious diagnostic environments it's a key tool for understanding bottlenecks and anomalous behavior without installing anything additional, as it comes pre-installed with Windows 11.

System stability history: Reliability Monitor

Another little-known gem of Windows 11 is the Reliability historyThis tool, accessible by searching the taskbar for the "View reliability history" option, also provides a clear timeline of all system errors and significant events.

Instead of navigating through complicated technical logs, this view summarizes system behavior in one stability scale from 1 to 10Day by day. Every program crash, hardware error, failed update, or critical problem is marked on a graph, allowing you to detect at a glance when the failures started.

By clicking on a specific day, you can see details of the errorswhich application failed, which module was involved, or which update might have triggered the problem, and, if necessary, uninstall programs and clean the pc to test if the error disappears. It's ideal for correlating, for example, that the crashes started after installing a certain driver or a specific Windows 11 patch.

For any diagnostic task where you want to know if your system has worsened after a change, Reliability Monitor is much more convenient and visual than manually checking the Event Viewer, and is often the first place worth checking when something suddenly stops working.

Network and WiFi diagnostics: WiFi Analyzer and SoftPerfect Network Scanner

Connectivity problems are a classic: the connection is slow, the ping spikes for no apparent reason, or the Wi-Fi seems overloaded. For these situations, using a dedicated diagnostic tool can save many hours of trial and error.

A very useful option is Wifi analyzerThis application is designed to visually analyze how your wireless network behaves. It shows which channel your router is using, which channels are most congested by neighboring networks, and how strong the signal is at different points in your home or office.

With that information you can decide change channel or band (2,4 GHz vs. 5 GHz) to reduce interference. If the analysis reveals that your router is sharing a channel with several nearby networks, you're likely to experience dropouts and speed reductions, and the tool helps you adjust your router settings for improved stability.

On the other hand, Soft Perfect Network Scanner It's excellent for examining which devices are connected to your network, both IPv4 and IPv6. The free version allows you to list up to 10 devices, which is sufficient in many homes to confirm if someone is using your Wi-Fi without permission.

The ability to see at a glance all active devices Knowing the IP and MAC addresses of devices on the network helps with both security and diagnostics: if there are more devices than expected, the network may be overloaded; if a particular device generates excessive traffic, you can also suspect it. If you have occasional problems with device detection, such as when Your PC is not detecting your mobile phone.These types of scanners help to locate where the fault is.

Tools for monitoring disk status: CrystalDiskInfo and WinDirStat

Storage is a critical factor for the stability of Windows 11. A mechanical hard drive with bad sectors or an SSD with too many errors can be responsible for crashes, blue screens, and extreme slowness, even when the rest of the hardware is perfect.

CrystalDiskInfo It's a tool designed specifically to monitor the status of hard drives, SSDs, and external drives. It reads SMART data from the drives (internal health information) and displays it on a simple dashboard with indicators such as temperature, number of errors, reallocated sectors, uptime, and more.

If CrystalDiskInfo marks the drive as "Good"There's usually no immediate cause for concern. However, if warning messages appear or the drive's health drops, it's a good idea to back up your data and consider replacing the drive. This tool doesn't repair the drive, but it does alert you before it fails completely and you lose data.

Complementing the above, WinDirStat It's excellent for understanding where your space is being used and cleaning up drives with little free space. It scans your disks and displays a visual map where each file and folder occupies a block proportional to its size, in a very graphic way. Thanks to this representation, you can locate huge forgotten filesrunaway temporary folders or remnants of old installations that continue to occupy gigabytes and, at the same time, clean the PC inside and out to reclaim space.

RAM memory check: Windows memory diagnostics and proactive analysis

RAM failures are among the most troublesome: they cause random crashes, unexplained restarts, and difficult-to-interpret blue screens. To address them, Windows 11 includes the Windows memory diagnostics, which is accessed by typing its name in the Start menu search (Win + S) and running the tool.

When you start it, the system proposes Restart and analyze memory Before Windows loads, a special boot process runs to test the RAM modules for errors. If any problems are found, a warning will be displayed upon returning to the desktop, and the issue will also be recorded in the system logs.

In addition to this classic utility, Microsoft is introducing a new feature of proactive memory diagnosis This feature is available in the latest Windows 11 Insider Program builds (for example, build 26220.6982). It runs when the system detects an unexpected restart or an abnormal shutdown.

After this type of failure, Windows will display a notification prompting you to perform a quick memory analysisIf the user agrees, the check is scheduled for the next restart and runs before the operating system finishes booting. The test lasts about five minutes on average and, if it detects errors, provides clear information about the type of failure and possible actions to take.

The goal is to bring more transparency to these "mysterious" restarts related to memory corruption, faulty drivers, or problematic hardware. Furthermore, the data from these diagnostics is collected anonymously so that Microsoft can... identify error patterns frequent updates and refine future updates, although not all systems are compatible: ARM64 systems, configurations with certain administrator restrictions, and machines with BitLocker without Secure Boot are currently excluded. If you are an advanced user, you can combine these reports with Useful scripts for Windows 11 that automate periodic checks and cleanings.

Sysmon: the advanced system monitor now integrated into Windows 11

Another key component in the diagnostic arsenal is sysmon (System Monitor), a tool that for a long time had to be downloaded separately from Microsoft Sysinternals and is now natively integrated into the latest versions of Windows 11. However, it comes disabled by default.

Sysmon acts as a device driver and a system service that handles record advanced eventsIt can create processes, load DLL libraries, install drivers, establish network connections, record changes to file creation dates, and more. It can also record process image file hashes, which is very useful for forensic analysis and security.

This information is written to the Windows event logs, allowing administrators and advanced users track suspicious activitiesIt can detect anomalous behavior following malware infection or diagnose complex problems that are not visible with simpler tools. Essentially, it's a highly detailed black box of what's happening on the system.

To activate the built-in version of Sysmon in Windows 11, first make sure you don't have an older, manually downloaded version installed; if so, uninstall it. Then, from the Settings app (Win + I), go to System > Optional features > More Windows features and activate Sysmon in the Windows Functions window.

Once the feature is enabled, you need to open a Command Prompt or PowerShell window with administrator privileges and run the command Sysmon -iThis initializes the service. From that moment on, the monitor will begin to continuously record events, integrating directly into the system without the need for additional third-party software.

When native tools aren't enough: problems after upgrading to Windows 11 24H2

Microsoft diagnostic tools aren't always enough to fix everyday problems, especially after some major Windows 11 updatesThere are cases of users who, when switching from 23H2 to 24H2, have seen how the PC, which previously worked without problems, begins to become unstable.

Typical situations include the Home button stops respondingThe search bar freezes, applications fail to open, the inability to connect to the Microsoft Store, or even the inability to open basic files such as JPEG photos.

In some cases, Microsoft support recommends updating to the newer version (for example, from 23H2 to 24H2) in the hope that compatibility issues will be resolved. Sometimes this does improve the situation (for example, programs start working again, or the Start button becomes responsive), but other problems persist: search remains broken, the Microsoft Store won't connect, or the integration of certain applications continues to be problematic.

The integrated diagnostic tool that many find in these cases is limited to displaying logs and reportswithout offering a magic "fix everything" button. Even temporarily disabling third-party security software, starting in Safe Mode, and trying to get Windows to recommend other update paths doesn't always work.

In these circumstances, beyond using Sysmon, Performance Monitor, or Reliability History, it may be essential to rely on external tools To rule out hardware problems (memory, disk, power supply) and determine whether the problem stems from a conflicting update, a faulty driver, or a component that is physically failing. It's also advisable to perform a Advanced PCIe diagnosis if you detect faults related to cards or internal connectivity.

Diagnosing and manually repairing damaged system files

A common source of errors and strange behavior in Windows 11 are... corrupted system filesAlthough tools like SFC or DISM can repair many of them automatically, there are cases where a specific file cannot be fixed that way and manual intervention is necessary.

The typical procedure involves first reviewing the log file Windows records the results of integrity checks to determine which file is corrupted and its exact location. Once identified, the system searches for good copies of that file (for example, on another machine or on installation media) to replace it.

The initial step is to take administrative ownership of the corrupted file. From an elevated command prompt, run the command takeown /f <Ruta_Y_Archivo>For example, for the jscript.dll file located in System32, you would use takeown /f C:\windows\system32\jscript.dll.

Next, the administrators must be given the opportunity to be granted this power. full control over the file. This is done with the command icacls <Ruta_Y_Archivo> /grant administrators:F. Following the previous example, it would be icacls C:\windows\system32\jscript.dll /grant administrators:FThis ensures we have the necessary permissions to replace it.

Finally, the correct version of the file is manually copied over the damaged version, using the command copy <Archivo_Origen> <Archivo_Destino>. For example: uterine copy E:\temp\jscript.dll C:\windows\system32\jscript.dllThe source must be a known valid copy, from a healthy system or reliable sources.

If this process fails to resolve the problem, the damage may affect more internal components or the Windows 11 installation itself, in which case you may need to resort to Windows recovery options: reset the computer, repair by booting from an installation medium, or ultimately, reinstall the operating system from scratch after making a backup.

Security and malware: Malwarebytes, ClamWin and ESET SysInspector

On many PCs, performance problems or strange behavior are not due to updates or hardware, but to malware or unwanted softwareTherefore, the concept of a "diagnostic tool" also includes security-focused applications that scan the system for threats.

Malwarebytes It's one of the best-known solutions in this area. Although Windows 11 includes Windows Defender, many people supplement its protection with Malwarebytes, either the free or paid version. It's especially effective at detecting malware, adware, PUPs (potentially unwanted programs), and traces of infections that other antivirus programs miss.

The free version is more than enough for most users as a tool for on-demand scanningIt installs, updates, and runs a full scan when an infection is suspected. The premium edition adds real-time features and other advanced options, but the free version is usually sufficient for basic diagnostics.

ClamWin It's another interesting alternative. It's an open-source antivirus whose interface may seem outdated, but it stands out for its ability to detect malware and malicious software with an engine constantly improved by the community. It integrates well with manual scans of folders, removable drives, or specific files.

Along with these solutions, the following deserves special mention: ESET SysInspectorIt's a free diagnostic tool that can be used independently or integrated into ESET products for home, endpoints, and servers on MS Windows. It's not a typical antivirus, but rather a deep system analyzer.

SysInspector gathers extremely detailed information about Running processes, log entries, loaded drivers, network connections, services, and critical componentsBased on this data, it generates a risk-rated report for each element, helping to identify suspicious components that may be related to malware or conflicts. For persistent infections, it is helpful to supplement these analyses with guides on rescue antivirus.

Using these types of security tools focused on analysis, you can obtain a "snapshot" of your system that goes beyond a simple "no viruses found," which is essential when your PC is behaving strangely, there are odd connections, or performance degrades without apparent explanation.

Backup, Microsoft account, and synchronization: essential context

Beyond the technical diagnosis, there's a practical aspect that shouldn't be overlooked: keeping your data safe and your work environment synchronized. In Windows 11, logging in with a microsoft account It provides advantages that, indirectly, facilitate recovery after a serious failure.

By using that account, you can sync Passwords, favorites, and settings Microsoft Edge browser preferences, reading lists, themes, and other settings are transferred across devices. This means that if you need to reinstall or switch computers, the user experience is restored much faster, without having to rebuild everything manually.

Additionally, it's possible to automatically save your photos and files to OneDriveso they are protected in the cloud and accessible from any device. In a scenario where a hard drive starts to fail (something you can detect with CrystalDiskInfo) or the system becomes unstable after an update, having up-to-date copies in the cloud greatly reduces the impact.

In the field of diagnostics, this means that you can focus on repairing the system No need to panic about losing important documents, knowing that much of your personal data is already backed up off-screen. And if you do need to format, the return to normal will be much less traumatic.

Whether we like the integration with the Microsoft account or not, taking advantage of the synchronization and backup options is a logical complement to all the diagnostic tools mentioned, because it minimizes the consequences of the failures that these tools help to detect.

Reviewing all these utilities—from performance monitors like Performance Monitor and Sysmon, to hardware testers like HWiNFO, CrystalDiskInfo, or Memory Diagnostics, to network and security tools like WiFi Analyzer, SoftPerfect Network Scanner, Malwarebytes, ClamWin, or ESET SysInspector—it becomes clear that Windows 11 offers a very powerful ecosystem for understanding what's happening on your PCThey won't always automatically fix all problems (especially after conflicting updates), but combining them with good backup practices, Microsoft account synchronization, and, if necessary, manual system file repairs puts you in a much stronger position to prevent occasional glitches from turning into real disasters.