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Door staff@engadget.com (Jack Peachey) - 01 Nov 2026
Those non-Settings options are especially important, as using Windows-X here allows you to forgo memorizing many hotkeys and access some excellent menu features. Task manager is an obvious one, as it's an important tool in monitoring Windows' background processes. Task Manager can close non-responsive programs, use its Processes tab to monitor activity, the Startup tab to review processes and disable any inessential resource hogs, and much more.
Similarly, Event Viewer can also help you troubleshoot elusive PC issues, chiefly by running its aptly-named Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool. If you're experiencing random crashes, file corruption, or suspect hardware problems, you can open Event Viewer from the Win+X menu and navigate Window Logs > System > Filter Current Log and select MemoryDiagnostics-Results in the Event Sources section, all of which will give you a readout on any extant issues with your system. Disk Management (which lets you read the status of different disk partitions active on your machine) and the Mobility Center (which, for laptop users, allows you to configure display, keyboard and wireless settings) can help you keep tabs on your computer in similar ways.
Similarly, Event Viewer can also help you troubleshoot elusive PC issues, chiefly by running its aptly-named Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool. If you're experiencing random crashes, file corruption, or suspect hardware problems, you can open Event Viewer from the Win+X menu and navigate Window Logs > System > Filter Current Log and select MemoryDiagnostics-Results in the Event Sources section, all of which will give you a readout on any extant issues with your system. Disk Management (which lets you read the status of different disk partitions active on your machine) and the Mobility Center (which, for laptop users, allows you to configure display, keyboard and wireless settings) can help you keep tabs on your computer in similar ways.