Guides from the
Windows Help Desk
Every guide follows our editorial policy: the exact problem first, the safest fix first, and clear notes on which versions it applies to.
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WinRE: what the Windows Recovery Environment is and how to open it
What WinRE is, how to open the Windows Recovery Environment in Windows 11 and 10 (even when Windows won’t start), what each recovery option…
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How to schedule an automatic shutdown in Windows 11 and 10
Set a shutdown timer with the shutdown command, cancel it, or shut down at the same time every day with Task Scheduler in Windows…
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How to open Command Prompt as administrator in Windows 11 and 10
Six quick ways to open Command Prompt as administrator in Windows 11 and 10, how to check the window is elevated, and what to…
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How to run sfc /scannow in Windows 11 and 10 (and read the results)
Run sfc /scannow the right way in Windows 11 and 10: open an admin window, run DISM first, understand each result message and see…
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How to force Windows Update to check and install updates
Force Windows Update on Windows 11 or 10: check manually, resume paused updates, get early updates, use the Installation Assistant or install a single…
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“The password is incorrect. Try again” at Windows sign-in: how to fix it
Fix “The password is incorrect. Try again” on the Windows 11 or 10 sign-in screen: keyboard checks, Microsoft account and local account resets, and…
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System Restore “You must enable system protection on this drive”: how to fix it
Fix the System Restore error “You must enable system protection on this drive” in Windows 11 and 10, including greyed-out settings and the recovery…
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How to remove Ask search engine from Chrome, Edge and Firefox
Remove the Ask search engine and Ask Toolbar from Windows 11 and 10: uninstall the Ask programs, then clean up Chrome, Edge and Firefox…
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Windows Update “Something went wrong”: how to fix it
Fix the Windows Update “Something went wrong” message in Windows 11 and 10: quick checks, update services, resetting the update cache, DISM and SFC,…
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Component Services (dcomcnfg) in Windows: what it is and how to open it
What the Component Services administrative tool does in Windows 11 and 10, four ways to open it, and how to change DCOM permissions safely.