When something goes wrong with your PC, it’s natural to panic and start frantically scouring the web for advice. But the information you find online is often unhelpful and confusing, which might lead you to consider paying for professional technical support.
Thankfully, it’s possible to fix most Windows problems for free, using tools built into the operating system. But unless you have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Windows registry and Command Prompt, that’s often easier said than done, which is where FixWin (tinyurl.com/APC528fixwin) proves invaluable.
This brilliant free PC-repair program provides dozens of solutions to common computer woes. Created by the webmaster of PC-help site The Windows Club (www.thewindowsclub.com), it performs complex commands and tweaks with one click and lets you run Windows’ own troubleshooters – which Microsoft plans to remove soon (see tinyurl.com/APC528ts).
In this feature, we explain how to use FixWin to repair a wide range of PC problems, without paying a cent. The latest version (FixWin 11.1) works with both Windows 10 and 11, and doesn’t require installation – just click the Download File button at tinyurl.com/APC528fixwin, then extract and run the contents of the ZIP file.
Note that because it makes changes to your PC, FixWin may trigger a SmartScreen warning, but it’s completely safe to use so click ‘More info’ then ‘Run anyway’.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Fix corrupt system files that make your PC crash
• Restore and repair missing and broken features
• Mend a broken internet or Wi-Fi connection
• Force Windows to recognise installed devices, such as your CD drive
• Stop Windows Update hanging when updating
• Solve problems relating to your antivirus software
• Perform complex registry tweaks with one click
What to fix first with FixWin
1 Fix damaged system files that cause crashes
Before you try any other repairs in FixWin, you should run the System File Checker Utility on the Welcome screen ( 1in our screenshot below). This scans your PC to check whether protected system files have been altered, and fixes any that are damaged or missing by replacing them with correct versions. It’s particularly useful if you’re experiencing frequent crashes, including the dreaded Blue Screen of Death, or seeing error messages about missing DLL files.
Running the System File Checker (SFC) usually involves opening Command Prompt in Windows, as an administrator, and typing makes things easier by doing the same thing with the click of a button, without you needing to type anything.
