Index
All procedures
20 procedures in five sections. Type a word or two to narrow the list, for example McAfee, pop-up or printer.
1Viruses & malware
- Procedure 1.1: Is it really a virus? Symptoms to check first Which symptoms point to malware, which almost never do, and a five-minute check before you change anything.
- Procedure 1.2: Scan for and remove malware with Microsoft Defender Update Defender, run a full scan and an offline scan, act on what it finds, and confirm the PC is clean.
- Procedure 1.3: Start Windows 11 or 10 in Safe Mode Three ways into Safe Mode, for when malware or a faulty driver stops Windows or a scan from working.
- Procedure 1.4: Fix a hijacked browser: unwanted homepage, search engine and pop-ups Remove rogue extensions, notification spam and forced settings from Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
- Procedure 1.5: Ransomware: what to do in the first hour Disconnect, document, do not pay, look for a free decryptor and restore from a backup.
- Procedure 1.6: Fake security alerts: how to close them safely Recognize a scareware page, close it without clicking anything inside it, and stop it coming back.
2Antivirus software
- Procedure 2.1: McAfee says “not protected” or will not update: what to check Confirm the subscription, run an update, turn real-time scanning back on and reinstall cleanly if needed.
- Procedure 2.2: Norton will not open, update or scan: what to check Restart, run LiveUpdate, check the subscription, then repair or reinstall Norton the safe way.
- Procedure 2.3: Remove McAfee or Norton completely from Windows Uninstall through Windows Settings, then use the vendor’s own removal tool if anything is left behind.
- Procedure 2.4: Microsoft Defender turned off? Switch real-time protection back on Get Defender protecting again after removing or switching antivirus software, or when the switch is greyed out.
- Procedure 2.5: Antivirus “renewal” invoices: how to spot the scam Invoices for renewals you never ordered are a common scam. Check your real account without touching the email.
- Procedure 2.6: McAfee plans explained: what each tier includes What the McAfee tiers add on top of basic antivirus, how renewal pricing works, and how it compares with Defender.
- Procedure 2.7: Norton 360 plans explained: what each tier includes What each Norton tier adds, what to check about renewal pricing, and how it compares with Defender.
- Procedure 2.8: Do you need paid antivirus? Defender compared with paid suites What Microsoft Defender already covers, what paid suites add, and a short way to decide for your household.
3Windows & updates
- Procedure 3.1: Slow Windows PC: checks in order of likely payoff Restart properly, trim start-up apps, free up storage and find what is using the processor, before installing anything.
- Procedure 3.2: Windows Update stuck or failing: a safe order of fixes Give it time, free space, run the troubleshooter and reset the update components, without risking your files.
4Printers
- Procedure 4.1: Printer shows as offline: a practical checklist Check the connection, the print queue and the Windows printer settings, in that order.
- Procedure 4.2: Documents stuck in the print queue: clear it and restart printing Cancel the stuck job, restart the Print Spooler service and clear the spool folder if it will not budge.
5Internet & Wi-Fi
- Procedure 5.1: Connected to Wi-Fi but no internet A short sequence that separates a fault on your PC from a problem with the router or your provider.
- Procedure 5.2: Slow Wi-Fi at home: find the bottleneck Measure first, then work through distance, interference, the router and your plan, cheapest fix first.
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