Use this tool to find and remove specific prevalent threats and reverse the changes that they made (see Covered malware families). For comprehensive malware detection and removal, consider using Windows Defender Offline or Microsoft Safety Scanner.

When critical Windows system files are missing or corrupted, your operating system may begin to malfunction. Common symptoms include Windows features not working properly, system errors, or Windows becoming unresponsive or freezing.

Download the drivers for the desired device from the device manufacturer's site. Make sure to download the correct drivers that match the version and architecture of Windows. Once downloaded, if necessary, uncompress the downloaded drivers. Make a note of where the drivers are located on the Windows device.

After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11. Learn more. Note: Use these steps for Windows programs.

Find out the steps you can take if you receive a message telling you a driver can't load on your device.

Microsoft Defender is free anti-malware software included with Windows if you have a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium subscription. It's kept updated automatically through Windows Update. There are also anti-malware products made by other companies that you can choose from.

To find information about restoring your device in this scenario, please visit the article, Windows Recovery Environment. These steps might look complicated at first glance, but following them in order, step-by-step, will help get you back on track. Sign in to the computer as an administrator.

Real-time protection is a feature in the Windows Security app that continuously monitors your device for potential threats such as viruses, malware, and spyware. This feature ensures that your device is actively protected by scanning files and programs as they are accessed or executed.

To help diagnose and resolve many of these issues, you can use the Microsoft PC Manager app, which provides tools to clean up storage, manage startup apps, and optimize system performance. Download PC Manager app. This article lists several solutions that may help improve your PC’s performance.

To change the default name or location of this backup file, in the Enter name of backup file box, enter a new name, or choose Browse to select the file you want to use. You may need to run the tool several times in order to repair your Outlook Data File.