Independent and free. Not official support for Microsoft, McAfee, Norton or any manufacturer.

No downloads. No sign-up. No phone numbers.

2026 edition 20 procedures Windows 11 and 10

The field manual for your home PC.

Free, numbered procedures for viruses, antivirus software such as McAfee and Norton, Windows, printers and Wi-Fi. Each one uses the tools already in Windows, in a sensible order, with a box to tick at every step.

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  • No phone numbers
Fig. 1 Where common faults show up. Pick the letter that matches yours.
  1. Homepage or search engine changed1.4
  2. Wi-Fi connected, nothing loads5.1
  3. Pop-up says the PC is infected1.6
  4. Antivirus says “not protected”2.1
  5. Everything has become slow3.1
  6. Printer shows as offline4.1

Troubleshooting chart

Find the line that matches what you see, check the probable cause, then open the procedure. 24 symptoms across five sections.

Symptoms, their probable causes and the procedure to follow
SymptomProbable causeProcedureTime
1Viruses & malware
My PC is acting strangely and I think it has a virus Often a normal slowdown; sometimes malware Is it really a virus? 8 min
I want to check my PC for viruses No scan has been run recently Scan with Defender 15 min
Windows Security says it found a threat Defender detected a file it could not remove automatically Scan with Defender 15 min
Something stops my virus scan from running Malware or a faulty driver interfering Start in Safe Mode 7 min
My homepage or search engine changed on its own A browser extension or forced policy Fix a hijacked browser 10 min
Pop-up ads keep appearing in my browser Site notifications or an adware extension Fix a hijacked browser 10 min
My files will not open and there is a ransom note Ransomware has encrypted the files Ransomware: first steps 12 min
A pop-up says my PC is infected and to call a number A scam web page, not a real infection Fake security alerts 6 min
2Antivirus software
McAfee says I am not protected Expired subscription or real-time scanning off McAfee “not protected” 12 min
McAfee will not update Damaged installation or blocked update McAfee “not protected” 12 min
Norton will not open or update Pending update or damaged installation Norton will not open 12 min
Norton says my PC is at risk Out-of-date definitions or a feature switched off Norton will not open 12 min
I cannot uninstall McAfee or Norton Leftover services or a half-finished uninstall Remove McAfee or Norton 10 min
Windows Security says virus protection is off Another antivirus registered, or a leftover setting Defender is off 8 min
I got an antivirus invoice I did not order A phishing email copying a real brand Renewal invoice scams 7 min
Which McAfee plan do I need? Overlapping plan names and features McAfee plans explained 9 min
Which Norton plan do I need? Overlapping plan names and features Norton 360 plans explained 9 min
Is the free Windows antivirus enough? Unclear what Defender already covers Do you need paid antivirus? 10 min
3Windows & updates
My PC has become very slow Start-up apps, a full drive or pending updates Slow Windows PC 10 min
Windows Update is stuck or keeps failing Low disk space or a corrupted update cache Windows Update stuck 12 min
4Printers
My printer says it is offline Lost Wi-Fi connection or "Use printer offline" switched on Printer offline 8 min
A document is stuck and nothing will print A stalled job blocking the queue Print queue stuck 8 min
5Internet & Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is connected but nothing loads Router, DNS or a provider outage Wi-Fi but no internet 8 min
My internet is very slow Distance from the router or a crowded channel Slow Wi-Fi at home 10 min

Think the PC has a virus? Work in this order.

Four procedures from Section 1. Most infections are dealt with by the end of the second one.

  1. Is it really a virus? Rule out the everyday causes that look like malware but are not. Procedure 1.1 8 min
  2. Scan with Defender Update Defender, then run a full scan and an offline scan. Procedure 1.2 15 min
  3. Start in Safe Mode Only if something stops the scan from running or finishing. Procedure 1.3 7 min
  4. Fix a hijacked browser Clear the extensions and settings a scan does not touch. Procedure 1.4 10 min

Files will not open and there is a ransom note? Skip the order and go to procedure 1.5, Ransomware: what to do in the first hour.

Contents

Five sections, 20 procedures. Each one lists what it applies to, how long it takes and how hard it is before you start.

Search all procedures
  1. 1 Viruses & malware 6 procedures
    1. 1.1Is it really a virus?8 min
    2. 1.2Scan with Defender15 min
    3. 1.3Start in Safe Mode7 min
    4. 1.4Fix a hijacked browser10 min
    5. 1.5Ransomware: first steps12 min
    6. 1.6Fake security alerts6 min
  2. 2 Antivirus software 8 procedures
    1. 2.1McAfee “not protected”12 min
    2. 2.2Norton will not open12 min
    3. 2.3Remove McAfee or Norton10 min
    4. 2.4Defender is off8 min
    5. 2.5Renewal invoice scams7 min
    6. 2.6McAfee plans explained9 min
    7. 2.7Norton 360 plans explained9 min
    8. 2.8Do you need paid antivirus?10 min
  3. 3 Windows & updates 2 procedures
    1. 3.1Slow Windows PC10 min
    2. 3.2Windows Update stuck12 min
  4. 4 Printers 2 procedures
    1. 4.1Printer offline8 min
    2. 4.2Print queue stuck8 min
  5. 5 Internet & Wi-Fi 2 procedures
    1. 5.1Wi-Fi but no internet8 min
    2. 5.2Slow Wi-Fi at home10 min

We are not McAfee, Norton or Microsoft.

PC Fieldbook is an independent publication. The product procedures in Section 2 are self-help steps we wrote ourselves; they are not official support, and nobody here can see or change your account. For subscriptions, billing, refunds or activation, go to the company that sold you the software:

Type these addresses yourself, or use the links above. Scammers buy search ads that look like official support pages.

What is in this manual, and what is not

Included

  • Procedures in a sensible order, quickest and safest first
  • A plain explanation of what each step does and why
  • A caution before any step that restarts the PC or changes important settings
  • Links to the vendor’s official support when only they can help
  • A date on every procedure, so you know when it was last checked

Not included

  • Phone numbers, or support, repair or remote-access services
  • Downloads, or software you must install to read a procedure
  • Claims to be official Microsoft, McAfee, Norton or manufacturer support
  • Affiliate links, paid placements or sponsored reviews
  • Accounts, sign-ups or newsletters

How procedures are researched, dated and corrected: editorial policy. Who publishes this site: about PC Fieldbook.