Windows device overview and communication troubleshooting guide

1. Overview of Windows System

The Windows system is a series of operating systems developed by Microsoft, which are widely used in personal computers, servers, mobile devices, and so on. Here is detailed information about the Windows system:

1. Versions of Windows System

2. Versions of Windows 10

3. New Features of Windows 11

• AI Functions: It provides intelligent security features to protect devices from phishing, network, and hacker attacks.
• Redesigned Appearance: It has a brand-new look, with new tools, sounds, and applications.
• Gaming Experience: It provides better performance, smoother picture effects, and natural lighting and shadow effects.
• Encounter between Creativity and Intelligence: With the help of AI, it's easy to edit photos and videos.

2. Installation and Upgrade

1. Installing Windows 10

1. Prepare an empty USB flash drive with a capacity of no less than 8GB, and back up important files on the USB flash drive.
2. Download the Windows 10 image file and use the "Windows 10 Media Creation Tool" to create a bootable USB flash drive.
3. Restart the computer, press specific keys (such as F2, F10, DEL, etc.) to enter the BIOS settings, and set the USB flash drive as the first boot option.
4. ｉｎｓｅｒｔ the prepared Windows 10 bootable USB flash drive and follow the prompts of the installation wizard, including selecting the language, time, and keyboard layout, entering the product key (if available), selecting the installation version, accepting the license terms, and selecting the installation location.
5. After the installation is completed, perform the initial settings according to the prompts, including logging in to a Microsoft account or creating a local account.

2. Upgrading to Windows 10

1. Ensure that the computer meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 10:
   • Processor: A 1 GHz or faster processor that supports PAE, NX, and SSE2.
   • Memory: At least 1 GB (for 32-bit) or 2 GB (for 64-bit).
   • Hard disk space: At least 16 GB (for 32-bit) or 20 GB (for 64-bit).
   • Monitor: 800 x 600 resolution.
2. Back up important files and data. You can use an external hard disk, a USB flash drive, or a cloud storage service.
3. Check whether commonly used software supports Windows 10.
4. Ensure that the Windows 7 system is up to date. You can check and install all available updates through "Windows Update" in the "Control Panel".
5. Purchase a genuine license for Windows 10 to obtain the product key.
6. Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, run the tool, and follow the prompts to perform the upgrade operation, including accepting the license terms, selecting the "Upgrade this PC" option, downloading the installation files, selecting what to keep (keep personal files and apps, keep only personal files, keep nothing), and clicking the "Install" button. The computer will restart several times during the installation process. Please wait patiently. After the installation is completed, perform the initial settings according to the prompts.

3. Upgrading to Windows 11

1. Ensure that the computer meets the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11:
   • Processor: A 1 GHz or faster 64-bit processor (dual-core or multi-core) or System-on-a-Chip (SoC).
   • Memory: 4 GB.
   • Storage: A storage device with 64 GB or more.
   • System firmware: Supports UEFI Secure Boot.
   • TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
   • Graphics card: Supports DirectX 12 or higher versions and WDDM 2.0 driver programs.
   • Monitor: A high-definition (720p) display with a diagonal length greater than 9 inches, with 8 bits for each color channel.
2. Download the Windows 11 installation files. You can use the "Windows 11 Installation Assistant" or the "Windows 11 Media Creation Tool".
3. Run the installation files and follow the prompts to perform operations, including accepting the license terms, selecting installation options (such as keeping personal files and apps, keeping only personal files, keeping nothing), and selecting the installation location.
4. After the installation is completed, perform the initial settings according to the prompts, including logging in to a Microsoft account or creating a local account.

4. Checking the Windows Version

1. Via the "winver" Command: Press the "Win + R" key combination to open the "Run" dialog box, enter "winver", and then press Enter. The popped-up window will display the Windows version and build number.
2. Via the "Command Prompt": Open the "Command Prompt", enter the "systeminfo" command, and press Enter. Among the listed information, find the "OS Name" item, which will display the specific Windows version and service pack information.
3. Via "PowerShell": Open PowerShell, enter the "Get-ComputerInfo | Select-Object -Property WindowsVersion" command, and press Enter. It will display the Windows version and build information.
4. Via the "Control Panel": Search for "Control Panel" in the "Start" menu, open it, find "System and Security", and click "System". Here, you can see information similar to the "About" page, including the Windows version, system type, etc.

3. Solutions for Windows Unable to Communicate with Devices or Resources

When the Windows system has a problem that it cannot communicate with devices or resources, it may be caused by various reasons, such as incorrect network settings, driver issues, or system services not started. Here are some common solutions:

1. Check Network Connection

Ensure that the device is correctly connected to the computer. Check whether the connection cable is damaged or loose. If using a wireless network, ensure that the computer and the device are on the same network.

2. Check Driver Programs

Verify whether the driver programs of the device have been installed and updated. You can find the device through "Device Manager", right-click it, and select "Update Driver". If updating the driver program cannot solve the problem, try reinstalling the driver program.

3. Check Network Settings

Check whether the network connection is normal. Try resetting the network settings (through "Settings" > "Network & Internet" > "Status" > "Network Reset"). Additionally, you can try changing the DNS server to a public DNS, such as Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1).

4. Reset WINS Settings

In some cases, the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) settings may cause this error. Open "Control Panel" > "Network & Internet" > "Network Connections", right-click the network connection, select "Properties", and then click "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)". In the "Advanced" tab, make sure that "Use WINS to resolve names" is not checked.

5. Run System File Checker (SFC)

SFC is a Windows tool that can scan and repair damaged system files. In the Command Prompt (run as an administrator), type the following command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

.

6. System Restore

If the above solutions are ineffective, you may need to perform a system restore. System restore will restore the system to its previous working state. Open "Control Panel" > "System and Security" > "System" > "System Protection", click "System Restore", and then follow the prompts to operate.

7. Other Methods

• Reset DNS Configuration: Reset the DNS client service through the Command Prompt. Enter the ipconfig /release command to release the current DNS settings, and then enter the ipconfig /renew command to reacquire them.
• Change DNS Server Address: You can try changing to a public DNS server address, such as Google's 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4.
• Check Hardware: If it is an external device, try replacing it with a different USB port or testing it on another computer to determine whether it is a hardware problem.
• Start System Services: Press the Win+R keys to open the Run dialog box, enter services.msc to open the Service Management Window, find relevant services (such as "Network Connections", "Server", etc.), and ensure that they are in the "Started" state.
• Clear DNS Cache: Use the shortcut keys to bring up the Command Prompt, and enter ipconfig/flushdns in the Command Prompt to clear the DNS cache.
• Change Power Options: For laptop users, select the high-performance mode instead of the energy-saving mode in the power options.

If none of the above methods can solve the problem, it may be a more complex issue, such as system configuration errors or hardware failures. At this time, it is recommended to contact the customer support department of the computer manufacturer or a professional computer repair service to obtain more professional help.

4. Steps to Check and Repair Windows System Files

1. Using System File Checker (SFC)

Open the Administrator Command Prompt:

• Press the Win + X keys, and then select "Command Prompt (Administrator)".
• Or enter "cmd" in the search bar, and then right-click and choose "Run as administrator".

Execute the SFC Scan:

• Enter the "sfc /scannow" command in the Administrator Command Prompt window and then press the Enter key.
• The system will start to scan all protected system files and attempt to repair any damaged files.

View the Scan Results:

• After the scan is completed, the system will display the scan results. If everything is normal, you will see the message "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations".
• If the system finds damaged files and successfully repairs them, you will see the message "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them".

2. Using Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool (DISM)

Open the Administrator Command Prompt:

• The same as above, open the Administrator Command Prompt.

Check the Health Status of the System Image:

• Enter the "Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth" command and then press the Enter key. This command will report the status of the system image, including whether there are any damaged files.

Repair the System Image:

• Enter the "Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth" command and then press the Enter key. This command will attempt to repair any damaged files in the system image and restore them to the source files of the official system.

Precautions

• Before performing these operations, make sure that your system has been updated to the latest version so that you can obtain the latest repair tools and files.
• If system file damage causes the system to fail to start normally, you may need to use the installation media or the recovery environment to run these commands.
• If you are not familiar with these operations, it is recommended to seek the help of professional technicians.

5. How to Reset Windows Network Settings

In the Windows system, you can reset network settings through the following two main methods:

Method 1: Reset Network Using the Settings Interface

1. Open Settings:

   • Press the "Win + I" key combination to open the Settings window, and then click "Network & Internet".
   • Alternatively, you can search for "Settings" through the "Start" menu and then select "Network & Internet".

2. Enter the Network Reset Page:

   • In the "Network & Internet" settings window, click the "Status" menu item on the left side, and then find and click the "Network Reset" shortcut link in the right window.
   • In Windows 11, you need to click "Advanced network settings" first, and then select "Network Reset" in the "Other settings" section.

3. Execute Network Reset:

   • Click the "Immediately Reset" button, and then click "Yes" in the confirmation window that pops up.
   • The system will prompt that it is about to log out of the system and restart the computer. After the computer restarts, the network reset will be successful.

Method 2: Reset Network Using the Command Prompt

1. Open the Command Prompt (Administrator):

   • Right-click the Start button at the bottom left corner of the desktop, and then select "Command Prompt (Administrator)" in the popped-up menu.
   • Alternatively, you can press the "Win + R" keys to open the "Run" dialog box, enter "CMD" and press the "Enter" key, and then enter commands in the Command Prompt window.

2. Execute the Network Reset Command:

   • Enter the "netsh winsock reset" command and then press the Enter key. The system will prompt that "The Winsock catalog was successfully reset. You must restart the computer to complete the reset".
   • You can also execute other commands as needed, such as "ipconfig /release" (to release the IP address), "ipconfig /renew" (to reacquire the IP address), and "ipconfig /flushdns" (to clear the DNS cache).

3. Restart the Computer:

   • Close the Command Prompt window and then restart the computer to make the network settings take effect.

Please note that before performing network reset, it is recommended that you back up any important network settings or credentials, because the reset operation will restore all network settings to the default state, including the connected Wi-Fi networks, VPN configurations, and Ethernet settings. If you encounter a situation where you cannot access the Internet after resetting the network, you can try updating the network card driver or reconfiguring the network connection.

6. Under What Circumstances to Consider Using System Restore to Solve Windows Communication Problems

In the following circumstances, you can consider using system restore to solve Windows communication problems:

1. Driver Problems: When outdated or damaged device drivers cause Windows to be unable to communicate with devices or resources, and if updating or reinstalling the drivers cannot solve the problem, you can try system restore.
2. Network Configuration Errors: If incorrect network settings or DNS issues cause communication problems, and after trying conventional methods such as changing the DNS server and resetting network settings are ineffective, you can consider system restore.
3. System Services Not Started: When Windows services responsible for specific functions are disabled or stopped running, and the related communication functions cannot be used normally, and the problem remains unresolved after starting the services, you can consider system restore.
4. Hardware Failures: If physically damaged hardware (such as network cards, USB ports, or internal connecting cables) causes communication failures, and after checking hardware connections, replacing ports, and other operations still cannot solve the problem, you can try system restore.
5. Software Conflicts: When certain third-party software or security programs interfere with the normal communication between Windows and devices, and the problem still exists after disabling or uninstalling the relevant software, you can consider system restore.
6. System File Damage: When system file damage causes communication problems and tools such as the System File Checker (SFC) cannot repair them, you can consider system restore.
7. Communication Port Initialization Failure: If the initialization of the communication port fails, and after checking system updates, hardware connections, booting into safe mode, and other methods are all ineffective, you can try system restore.
8. wlanapi.dll File Missing: When the absence of the wlanapi.dll file causes the wireless network function to fail to work normally, and after using methods such as the System File Checker, copying files from other computers, reinstalling drivers, and using DLL repair tools still cannot solve the problem, you can consider system restore.

Before performing system restore, make sure to back up all important data to prevent loss during the restore process. In addition, system restore will not affect personal files, but it may remove recently installed programs and drivers. If you are not familiar with the system restore process, it is recommended to seek the help of professional technicians.