If some Windows functions aren't working or Windows crashes, use the System File Checker to scan Windows and restore your files. Though the steps below might look complicated at first glance, just follow them in order, step-by-step, and we’ll try to get you back on track.

Along with software updates for Windows 10 or Windows 11, it's important to make hardware updates, also known as updates for drivers and firmware. You can quickly check the health of your Surface drivers and firmware using the Surface app. Open the Surface app.

If you can’t boot from your USB recovery drive or don’t see the Recover from a drive option, you may need to ensure that the boot-from-USB function in the Surface BIOS is enabled or configure the boot order so the USB drive is the first option. For more info, see Boot Surface from a USB device.

It's a good idea to create a recovery drive. That way, if your PC ever experiences a major issue such as hardware failure, you'll be able to use the recovery drive to reinstall Windows 11. Windows updates to improve security and PC performance periodically, so we recommend you recreate the recovery drive annually.

Experience Microsoft Copilot on windows devices using the Copilot app! The Copilot app helps you get answers and inspiration from across the web, supports creativity and collaboration, and helps you focus on the task at hand.

Virtualization lets your PC emulate a different operating system, like Android™ or Linux. Enabling virtualization gives you access to a larger library of apps to use and install on your PC. If you upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on your PC, these steps will help you enable virtualization.

All Outlook Data Files (.pst) and Offline Data Files (.ost) are listed along with the name of the account the files are associated with. If you cannot open your Outlook data file or suspect that the file is damaged, use the Inbox Repair tool (scanpst.exe) to repair errors in the file.

Open Device Manager. In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then select Device Manager from the menu. Was this information helpful?

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Windows will let you know if you need to restart your device to complete an update, and you can choose a time that works best for you to complete that update. The latest Windows update is Windows 11, version 23H2, also known as the Windows 11 2023 Update.