Diagnose Windows virtualization, shared folders, devices and recovery issues with prerequisites, specific steps and official Microsoft sources.
▦ASUS MotherboardTroubleshooting guide
Power turns on, but the display stays blank and the DRAM LED remains lit
ASUS desktop motherboards with Q-LED; a steady DRAM indicator and no BIOS screen after assembly or a memory change
▦ASUS MotherboardTroubleshooting guide
Restarts or application crashes began after enabling a memory profile
ASUS desktop motherboards with accessible BIOS; the only recent tuning change was enabling XMP, EXPO or DOCP
▦ASUS MotherboardTroubleshooting guide
An installed M.2 SSD is absent from the expected BIOS list
M.2 SSDs on ASUS desktop motherboards; BIOS is accessible but SSD detection is unclear
▦ASUS MotherboardTroubleshooting guide
Startup stops with a CPU fan warning and requests BIOS attention
ASUS desktop motherboards with an air CPU cooler and a startup CPU FAN ErrorCPU FAN Error
▦ASUS MotherboardTroubleshooting guide
Startup checks stop after a processor replacement
ASUS desktop motherboards after a CPU replacement; compatibility checks when startup does not reach BIOS
▦ASUS MotherboardTroubleshooting guide
Pressing power produces no startup indication or CPU-fan activity
Desktop builds with an ASUS motherboard; pressing the case power button does not start the system
▦ASUS MotherboardTroubleshooting guide
Startup shows a CPU over-temperature warning and asks for F1
ASUS desktop motherboards reporting CPU Over Temperature Error during startupCPU Over Temperature Error
▦Windows 11 DisplayTroubleshooting guide
Choose a refresh rate lists only 60Hz, or the maximum value is missing
Windows 11 / Windows 10. A monitor rated for 144Hz or higher is connected over DisplayPort, HDMI or USB-C, but the maximum value is missing from the settings list or the display reverts to 60Hz after selecting it
▦Windows 11 MemoryTroubleshooting guide
Installed RAM reads like 32.0 GB (15.9 GB usable), with only about half of the installed amount usable
Windows 11 / Windows 10. About or Task Manager shows several GB less usable memory than installed RAM, or a large Hardware reserved value
▦2.5GbE Ethernet adapterTroubleshooting guide
The motherboard or network adapter supports 2.5GbE, but Windows shows Link speed (Receive/Transmit) as 1/1 (Gbps) or 1000 Mbps
Windows 11 / Windows 10. A 2.5GbE onboard LAN port (such as Intel I225 or I226) or network adapter where Windows shows a link speed of 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps)
▦Gaming monitor OSD settingsTroubleshooting guide
Right after turning on overclocking or raising the maximum refresh rate in the monitor OSD, the monitor shows "No Signal" or the screen stays black
Windows 11 / Windows 10. The screen shows "No Signal" or stays black right after you changed overclocking (a higher maximum refresh rate) or the DisplayPort version setting in the monitor's on-screen menu (OSD), or after adding a custom resolution in the graphics driver
▦M.2 NVMe SSDTroubleshooting guide
A large copy to an NVMe SSD starts fast, then the transfer speed drops sharply partway and either stays low or keeps rising and falling
M.2 NVMe SSDs installed in Windows 11 / Windows 10 desktop or laptop PCs where copying or exporting files of tens of gigabytes or more, such as games or video, starts fast and then drops sharply partway through
▦USB external SSD / M.2 SSD enclosureTroubleshooting guide
A USB 20Gbps or USB4 external SSD copies large files far below the maximum speed on its product page, no faster than a 10Gbps or 5Gbps product
Windows 11 / Windows 10 desktop or laptop PCs with a USB 20Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2), USB 40Gbps (USB4) or Thunderbolt external SSD or M.2 SSD enclosure attached, where transfers never reach the product's advertised speed and stay at 10Gbps or 5Gbps levels or lower
▦Inkjet / laser printer (Brother, Epson)Troubleshooting guide
Every page comes out completely blank right after a new ink or toner cartridge was installed
Pages come out completely blank, or one or more colors are missing, immediately after replacing an ink cartridge, ink bottle, toner cartridge or drum unit (worked through the published procedures for Brother inkjet and laser machines and Epson inkjet printers, which follow the same order on other makes)
▦Windows 11 power mode / energy saver, laptop maker power profiles (Lenovo Intelligent Cooling)Troubleshooting guide
The same work becomes slower the moment the power adapter is unplugged: lower frame rates, longer exports, sluggish response
Windows 11 (energy saver on 24H2 and later, battery saver on 24H1 and earlier and on Windows 10). Lenovo ThinkPad Intelligent Cooling user guides are used as the published example of the maker side
▦Windows 11 / Windows 10 external USB storage (removal policy, write caching, USB selective suspend), bus-powered and self-powered USB hubsTroubleshooting guide
An external HDD or SSD vanishes partway through a multi-gigabyte copy or backup, and File Explorer stops the copy with an error such as the device being unreachable
Windows 11 / Windows 10 (the default removal policy is Quick removal from Windows 10 version 1809 onwards). For the power-delivery side, Buffalo’s published explanation of self-powered and bus-powered USB hubs is used (published 2015-12-10, updated 2017-05-19; the figures are for USB 2.0 hubs)
▦PCs whose WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) is serviced through Windows Update, on the versions KB5028997 lists under Applies ToTroubleshooting guide
The same update fails over and over in Windows Update, and retrying only adds another failure to the history
KB5028997 lists Windows 10 (version 1607, 21H2, 22H2 and others), Windows 11 version 21H2, 22H2 and 23H2, and Windows Server 2016 / 2019 under Applies To (page read on 2026-09-20). Microsoft does not state that the same procedure applies to versions that are not on that list.
▦Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs showing a connection notification after something is plugged into a USB-C port: a device, a dock, a display or a chargerTroubleshooting guide
A notification such as USB device functionality might be limited appears as soon as something is plugged into USB-C
Microsoft's support page carries steps for both Windows 11 and Windows 10, where the notification setting lives in different places. Eleven notifications are listed, and Microsoft does not state that the same explanation applies to wording that is not on the page. The page was read on 2026-09-21.
▦Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs with memory integrity (core isolation) on in Windows Security, or where turning memory integrity on reports incompatible driversTroubleshooting guide
A notification says a driver can't load on this device, without naming the hardware
Microsoft's support pages cover the meaning of the notification, why memory integrity ends up turned off, and the four hardware security capability messages shown on the Device security page in Windows Security. No build-specific differences are given. The pages were read on 2026-09-21.
▦A Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC with a built-in display. On a setup with only an external monitor, the Windows brightness slider itself may not appearTroubleshooting guide
Brightness and contrast shift on their own when a video moves from a dark scene to a bright one
Microsoft's support page covers changing brightness manually, changing it automatically with the lighting conditions, changing it automatically with the displayed content (on some Windows 11 PCs), and the limits on night light. The content-based setting has three options. No build-specific differences are given. The page was read on 2026-09-21.
▦A Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC. The settings concerned are under Settings > Privacy & security > Search. On a Copilot+ PC, semantic indexing is additionally on by defaultTroubleshooting guide
A file does not appear in the results even when its name is typed exactly
Microsoft's support page covers the two indexing modes, Classic and Enhanced, the locations each covers by default, the per-file-type choice between indexing properties only and properties with content, a rule of thumb for index size, how long the first run takes, and semantic indexing and language handling on Copilot+ PCs. No build-specific differences are given. The page was read on 2026-09-21.
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
Windows asks to reconnect the backup drive
File History on Windows 11 / Windows 10, with an external or network destination
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
An external SSD or hard drive is absent from This PC
Windows 11 / Windows 10; healthy data volumes without a drive letter
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
Large files fail to copy despite available free space
Windows 11 / Windows 10; copying to USB drives, SD cards or external storageFAT32
▦WSL 2Troubleshooting guide
WSL 2 error 0x80370102 prevents a distribution from starting.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)0x80370102
▦Windows Subsystem for LinuxTroubleshooting guide
Restore the WSL optional component when error 0x8007019e appears.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)0x8007019e
▦WSL 2Troubleshooting guide
WSL alone cannot resolve names while a VPN is connected.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)DNS
▦Hyper-VTroubleshooting guide
Hyper-V is missing from Windows Features or cannot be enabled.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)Hyper-V
▦Hyper-V nested virtualizationTroubleshooting guide
WSL 2 or Hyper-V cannot run inside a Hyper-V virtual machine.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)0x80370102
▦Windows SandboxTroubleshooting guide
Windows Sandbox is missing or cannot start.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)0x80070002
▦Windows SandboxTroubleshooting guide
Disable networking and clipboard sharing in Windows Sandbox.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)WSB
▦Windows SMB clientTroubleshooting guide
An SMB share repeatedly asks for credentials or returns access denied.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)0x80070035
▦Windows network discoveryTroubleshooting guide
Shared computers do not appear under Network in File Explorer.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)SMB
▦Windows mapped drivesTroubleshooting guide
A mapped network drive cannot reconnect after sign-in.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)0x80070043
▦Remote DesktopTroubleshooting guide
Remote Desktop NLA rejects credentials.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)NLA
▦Remote DesktopTroubleshooting guide
Remote Desktop is not listening on TCP port 3389.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)0x204
▦Windows HelloTroubleshooting guide
Windows Hello PIN is unavailable or must be reset.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)0x80090016
▦Windows Storage SpacesTroubleshooting guide
Storage Spaces reports a warning or degraded state.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)Degraded
▦Windows Print SpoolerTroubleshooting guide
A print job remains stuck on Deleting.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)Spooler
▦Windows USB power managementTroubleshooting guide
USB devices repeatedly disconnect after idle or sleep.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)Code 43
▦Windows power managementTroubleshooting guide
Hibernate is missing from the power menu.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)powercfg
▦Windows optional features / DISMTroubleshooting guide
Adding a Windows optional feature fails because source files are missing.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)0x800f081f
▦Windows InstallerTroubleshooting guide
Resolve Windows Installer error 1618: another installation is running.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)1618
▦Windows InstallerTroubleshooting guide
Windows Installer error 1601: service cannot be accessed.
Windows 11 (confirm the edition and hardware requirements for the feature)1601
▦WindowsResolved
Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC fails
Windows 11 23H2/22H2 (Targeted by KB5066189 in this record. The same symptoms were also reported in other Windows 10 and LTSC editions, but the corrective update to be applied differs depending on the OS)KB5063875
▦WindowsResolved
Upgrading using Windows Setup > Upgrade displays error 0x8007007F and the process fails
Upgrade from Windows 10 1809/21H2/22H2 to Windows 11 22H2/23H2, and some upgrade paths from Windows Server 2016/2019 to Server 2019/20220x8007007F
▦WindowsResolved
Unable to create or select a word after entering a complete character structure
Windows 11 23H2 and Windows 11 22H2 Enterprise/Education after KB5062552. The KB5062663 preview fix is listed for 23H2; do not install that package on 22H2 or another Windows version.KB5062552
▦Windows 11Resolved
Device becomes unresponsive
Windows 11 24H2 (device with sprotect.sys 1.0.2.372 or 1.0.3.48903 installed)sprotect.sys
▦Windows 11Resolved
Blue screen error occurs on Windows 11 24H2
Windows 11 24H2, device equipped with Intel 11th generation Core processor and IntcAudioBus.sys 10.29.0.5152 or 10.30.0.5152IntcAudioBus.sys
▦Windows 11Investigating
Custom desktop background does not load and becomes solid black
Windows 11 25H2/24H2 (OS build 26100.9278, KB5120998 or later)KB5120998
▦Windows 11Workaround available
Microsoft Teams doesn't start or closes unexpectedly
Windows 11 26H1/25H2/24H2 ARM-equipped device (KB5121003 or later; Surface Pro 11, Surface Laptop 7, etc.)KB5121003
▦Microsoft Defender Antivirus on WindowsInvestigating
"Microsoft Defender Antivirus is turned off" notification appears when starting or using Windows
Windows 11 26H1/25H2/24H2/23H2, Windows 10 22H2/21H2/LTSC 2019/LTSC 2016, and Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012 R2/2012 with the latest Defender updates
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
Updates fail to download or install
Windows 11 / Windows 100x800705b4
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
Windows functions do not work
Windows 11 / Windows 10DISM
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
Sign-in or application operation fails during normal startup
Windows 11 / Windows 10
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
You will be asked for a 48-digit recovery key upon startup.
Windows 11 / Windows 10BitLocker
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
Displays as offline even though the power is on
Windows 11 / Windows 10
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
The expected network does not appear in the Wi-Fi list
Windows 11 / Windows 10
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
System drive capacity bar is red
Windows 11 / Windows 100x80070070
▦WindowsTroubleshooting guide
Windows won't start
Windows 11 / Windows 10WinRE
▦Windows 11Troubleshooting guide
Bluetooth is missing from Quick Settings
Windows 11
▦Windows 11 BluetoothTroubleshooting guide
The device does not appear in Add device
Windows 11
▦Windows 11 AudioTroubleshooting guide
Video audio or notification sounds cannot be heard
Windows 11
▦Windows 11 MicrophoneTroubleshooting guide
Other meeting participants cannot hear you
Windows 11
▦Windows 11 CameraTroubleshooting guide
The camera image is black
Windows 110xA00F4244
▦Windows USB / Device ManagerTroubleshooting guide
The USB device is not recognized
Windows 11 / Windows 10Code 43
▦Windows Device ManagerTroubleshooting guide
A network, audio, USB, or other device does not work
Windows 11 / Windows 10Code 10
▦Windows 11 ActivationTroubleshooting guide
An error appears under Activation
Windows 11 Home / Pro / Enterprise / Education0xC004F074
▦Windows 11 / .NET Framework 3.5Troubleshooting guide
.NET Framework 3.5 cannot be enabled in Windows Features
Windows 11 25H2 and earlier. Windows 11 26H1 (build 28000) and later use a standalone installation method and are outside this scope0x800F081F
▦Windows 11 File ExplorerTroubleshooting guide
Opening a folder causes a freeze
Windows 11
▦Windows 11 Default AppsTroubleshooting guide
Double-clicking a file opens an unintended app
Windows 11
▦Windows 11 Search IndexingTroubleshooting guide
Existing files do not appear in Start or File Explorer search
Windows 11
▦Windows 11 Date and TimeTroubleshooting guide
The clock is off by minutes or hours
Windows 110x80072F8F
▦Windows 11 DisplayTroubleshooting guide
No image appears after connecting HDMI or DisplayPort
Windows 11
▦Windows 11 Power and SleepTroubleshooting guide
Keys or the mouse cannot wake the PC
Windows 11