3. Computername Look forduplicate names by pinging the computername while suspect
machineis turned off
DCHP value Compare valueand network settings;insertE4E and expecterror
DNS Compare valuewith model;E4E and expectnetwork errors
Domain Compare valuewith model; change computername and expecterror
Firewall Compare and simplifysettings
Gateway Compare settings with model
IP address Check duplicates by shutting down machineand pinging the same IP
Subnetmask Compare valuewith model
Networkinginterface Compare model;insertmodelto replace suspectobjectif possible;
connectto a nearestdomain ornetwork and compare resultwith a model
TCP Ports Compare valuewith model;close PORT and expectknown error
Components Isolation Task
Network Components
4. Authentication Testwith wrong username/password;then do same thing with a model
machine
Automatic login Do manuallogin;automate using existingornon-existing account
BootOptions Simplify bootoptions;compare bootsettings
BIOS Simplify BIOS or hardware settings; compare settings with model
Dependentservices Minimize dependentservices; stop service and expecterror;compare
setting with model
Device drivers comparefile profile;revertto old version and compare results with model;
use generic drivers if possible to simplify
Environmentvariables Simplify variable valueortype; manually entervalue instead;pass
variable to a modeland compare results
Firmware Compare firmware properties with model; downgradeversion and
comparewith model
Group Policy Simply group rules;compare rules with model
Guestaccount Simply accountby stripping all access to guestthen add permission
gradually
Components Isolation Task
Startup Components
5. Hard drive Insertknown modelHD to replace HD; Insert problem HD to a model
machine
Partitions Changeactive partition;use smalleractive partition and test; use a
modelHD or vice versa
PATH Simplify path;comparepath with model;shorten path;
Policies Simplify policies then incrementally add new rules;compare policies
with modelmachine;
POST (poweron self-test) Compare allhardware and settings with modelmachine;Insertbad
hardware and do E4E
Registry Compare model;insertmodelto replace suspectobject
Services Compare settings with model;Rename servicesfile forE4E; copy model
file to problem machine
UserAccount Simplify userpermission;add extra rights step by step then compare
results
Workgroup Create workgroup from modelmachine then compare
Win 7 core OS Simplify with safe mode;
Components Isolation Task
Startup Components
6. Printqueue Printfrom a differentmachine to that same queue and compare results;
compare queuesettings from model;
Printdrivers Compare driver file with model;Use generic driverand compare results
with model
Printersettings Compare printersetup with model
Spoolerservice Printto anotherprint queue;
Spoolerfile Compare and check version with model;Insertmodelfile
Registry Printersetting Compare and/orcopy workingmodel; HKLMSYSTEM
CurrentControlSetControlPrintPrinters<printername>
PrinterDriver folder Compare version;delete /rename file and expecterror; copy working
driverfile; C:..System32DriverStoreFileRepository ;
C:..System32spoolDRIVERSx643 (dllfiles)
PrinterConnectionUSB Use otherUSB port; use known working USB port;connectprinterto a
modelmachine
PrinterConnectionTCP Ping PrinterTCP; compare TCP settings
Components Isolation Task
Printing Components
7. Encryption Create a simple basic file to encryptthen decrypt;simplify file permission;
encrypta minimum numberof files;do manualinstead of automated
File backup Backupone file with basic file properties then restore;compare from model;
create one file for backup;Try manualinsteadof automated
File compression Compress one basic file orfolderto compare with model
File permissions Simplify file permissions;compare model;Applyfile permission ona simple file
and compare behaviorwith model
Read and Execute
permission
Assign permissionto one basic useraccount then admin account.Then
compareresults with model.Insertmodelfile to suspectfile.
File extensions compareextensionsettings with model;create custom extension association;
simplify applicationthatopens the extension
Removabledrives Simplify - save to local, remote then removable
Shared folders Share folderto local users then externalusers;Comparewith model
File (itself) Simplify file properties;compare properties with modelfile;insert modelfile
Components Isolation Task
File Access Components
8. 3rd Party
applications(local)
Simplify application settings;compare modelsetup
Web application Compare web and networkenvironmentwith modelmachine
InternetExplorer Compare IE modelsettings;simplify setting;create new IE profile
Shared network
resources
Share locally then remotely;share to one person then group;compare folder
settings with modelfolder
URL
Accesslocalwebsite then remote website.Accessinternalwebsite then
external;use IP numberand compare results with model;E4E DNS
Components Isolation Task
Other Components