Tool Time
This tool lets you update drivers, disable devices, or investigate yellow exclamation marks.
What is Device Manager?
This tab in Task Manager shows CPU, RAM, Disk, and Network usage.
What is the Performance tab?
This command clears the cluttered command prompt screen.
What is cls?
This editor allows you to view and change registry keys. Handle with care.
What is regedit?
This Microsoft-developed file system is required to install Windows and supports permissions, encryption, and journaling.
What is NTFS?
This tool launches with msinfo32 and spills everything from BIOS to driver details.
What is System Information?
This deeper diagnostic tool is used for long-term monitoring with Data Collector Sets.
What is Performance Monitor?
This command launches the classic tool to verify and repair protected system files.
What is sfc /scannow?
This snap-in lets you view and manage user and group accounts locally.
What is Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc)?
You’d choose this file system for a USB stick that needs to work with both Windows and macOS — but keep your files under 4GB.
What is FAT32?
This tool schedules backups, cleanup tasks, or stealth updates at 3AM.
What is Task Scheduler?
This built-in utility lets you dig deeper into live stats like threads, handles, and hard faults per second—think of it as Task Manager with a magnifying glass.
What is Resource Monitor?
This command copies entire directory structures and can preserve timestamps.
What is robocopy?
This file path stores most of the registry’s system-wide hive files.
What is C:\Windows\System32\Config?
This 64-bit Microsoft file system for removable media supports massive volumes and file sizes but skips journaling and encryption.
What is exFAT?
This tool logs Windows boot activity and can disable services to help you troubleshoot startup delays.
What is System Configuration (msconfig)?
This tool isn’t just for watching in real time—it’s for setting up long-term logs with counters like disk queue length and available memory to catch issues over time.
What is Performance Monitor?
This command checks for and repairs bad sectors, but takes forever to finish.
What is chkdsk /r?
This tool lets you manage digital certificates for users or the local computer.
What is certmgr.msc?
You’d find this file system running on Linux servers — it’s the successor to ext3 and preferred for new installs.
What is ext4?
This utility is used to inspect partitions and can delete your boot volume with zero warnings.
What is diskpart?
When troubleshooting slow performance, this is the first stop for quickly spotting CPU hogs and force-quitting frozen apps, but don’t expect detailed graphs or logging.
What is Task Manager?
This command shuts the system down with a 45-second warning.
What is shutdown /s /t 45?
This editor can control password length, USB access, and script permissions system-wide.
What is gpedit.msc (Group Policy Editor)?
This Apple file system supports encryption, snapshots, and journaling and is used by macOS on modern Macs.
What is APFS (Apple File System)?