How to troubleshoot Windows? Post your checklist [closed]

Let me start with the list:

General:

• Install most current updates/service packs.
• Verify drivers, look for conflicts, upgrade to newer ones.
• Use Process Explorer to see a bit more details about what's being run
• Use Process Monitor(combined filemon and regmon) to see details about particular process
• Check the services - (services.msc from command prompt).
• Problems with graphics/sound (especially with older apps) - verify DirectX (run dxdiag from console), try disabling hardware acceleration.
• See what's being run on windows boot time - Windows start points
• Scan for viruses (anyways, you should have it updated and running all the time).
• Run some anti-malware tool
• Look at windows event log (eventvwr from console)
• Make sure there is at least ~250mb free space on Windows drive.
• Check virtual memory settings.

Network:

• See network settings (from console: ncpa.cpl and ipconfig /all)
• Inspect firewall configuration. If you have turned Windows firewall off, check if it isn't started up.
• Look if hosts file is not modified %WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Hardware:

• Run full HDD scan and defragment.
• Run memory test http://www.memtest86.com/

You should know most (if not all) of it already, but hopefully this helps somebody.

Start -> Run -> msconfig -> startup tab

Uncheck everything. Restart and try to duplicate the problem (some apps/services will not function). If the problem is resolved, go back into msconfig and re-check half the startup items. Restart & duplicate the problem. Narrow the services down by 1/2 each time.

If you are in the a wondrous situation where you have an image of a workstation you can just nuke it, if it was a software problem its fixed, if its a hardware problem you now know.