Support for Windows 7 technical problems and troubleshooting

Learn more

10 reasons to buy Windows 7

Genuine Windows for your business

Video: Understand the key differences between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7

32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions

Windows 7 system requirements

Windows 7 Compatibility Center

IT Pros: Visit the Windows Client TechCenter on TechNet

Visit the Windows 7 Professional for Small Business site

Office 2010 + Windows 7: better together

A history of Windows

Get Windows 7 today

Solve problems

Windows 7 Top Solutions: Browse the most-viewed troubleshooting articles by category

Error message: "The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded”, when logging on to Windows 7 or Windows Vista

Get the steps to create a new user profile to fix a corrupted user profile

Visit the Windows 7 Help & How To Center for guidance on features and basic troubleshooting

Identify and fix common sound problems in Windows

Identify and fix common printer problems in Windows

Warning message when multilingual user interface (MUI) pack is installed in incorrect edition of Windows 7: "This copy of Windows is not genuine"

Related support centers

Learn about Windows 7 Service Pack 1

What's included in Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Documentation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932)

Learn how to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Get ready and install Service Pack 1

How to Uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Release Candidate (RC)

What is the System Update Readiness Tool?

IT Pros and Developers: Visit TechNet for Service Pack 1 Deployment Resources

Install the Windows 7 installation software feature update (KB976902)

Resolving problems with Service Pack 1 installation

Troubleshoot problems installing Windows 7 Service Pack 1

Resolving error 0xc0000034 after installing Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) (Updated)

Why am I receiving "Error 0xC000009A" after installing Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)? (Updated)

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) installation error: 0x800F0A12

Activation

Product Activation Solution Center

How do I activate Windows 7?

Windows 7 activation error: invalid product key

The Product Key is not valid. Please re-type the product key error during install

Windows 7 activation error: 0xC004F061

Learn more before you install or upgrade

Upgrading to Windows 7

Installing Windows 7: Recommended links

Windows 7 upgrade paths

Installing Windows 7 on a netbook

Windows installation problems: frequently asked questions

Install, reinstall, or uninstall Windows

Get step by step guidance on how to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7

Program Compatibility Assistance: frequently asked questions

How to use Program Compatibilty troubleshooter to run older Windows programs

Upgrade to another edition of Windows 7 by using Windows Anytime Upgrade

Get Windows 7 today

Solve install or upgrade problems

Uninstalling programs: frequently asked questions

Upgrade stops responding (hangs) at 62% when you upgrade to Windows 7

A Windows Update is not installed successfully, you receive an error message and the computer restarts

How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder

Getting the best performance

Fix Windows system performance problems on slow Windows computers

Learn more about improving performance with ReadyBoost

Get more speed with ReadyBoost and a storage device

Ways to improve your computer’s performance

Open the Performance Troubleshooter

Maintaining your computer

What is Action Center?

Learn how Action center checks for problems on your computer

Sleep and hibernation

Power plans: frequently asked questions

Fix power consumption problems and extend the laptop battery life

Settings

Video: Changing Windows settings

Secure and protect your PC

Protect your PC with Microsoft Security Essentials

Turn automatic updating on or off

Install Windows updates in Windows 7

Tips for creating strong passwords and passphrases

Diagnose and fix Windows security problems automatically

Use the SmartScreen Filter to help combat online threats

How to use Tracking Protection and ActiveX Filtering in Internet Explorer 9

BitLocker Drive Encryption

Windows Firewall: recommended links

Visit the Virus & Security Solution Center

Visit the Microsoft Security Center

Viruses: frequently asked questions

Windows Live Family Safety

Resolving problems with updates

Run this tool to help fix problems that might prevent Windows updates and service packs from installing

Your computer may freeze or restart to a black screen that has a "0xc0000034" error message after you install Service Pack 1 on Windows 7 or Windows 2008 R2

You receive a "0x80070002" or "0x80070003" error code after you download an update from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or from Windows Server Update Services>

You receive a "0x80070490" error code when you use Windows Update or Microsoft Update Web sites to install updates

You receive error code "0x80073712" or the "Windows Features" dialog box is empty when you try to install updates or components in Windows 7 or in Windows Vista

Windows Update Error 800B0100

Visit the Windows Update Support Center for more Windows Update Solutions

Resolve printing problems

Printer Problems in Windows

Automatically diagnose and repair printing problems and printing errors

Troubleshoot network printer problems

Choosing print options

Access files and printers on other HomeGroup computers

Share files and printers with HomeGroup

Resolve hardware problems

Recommended Links: Installing new hardware

Which version of DirectX is on your computer?

Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly

Hardware devices are not working or are not detected in Windows

Your CD or DVD drive cannot read or write media

Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware

How to open the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

The DVD drive does not function after you install Windows 7

Files and folders

Troubleshoot "access denied" when opening files or folders

Diagnose and repair Windows File and Folder Problems automatically

Explanation of Regsvr32 usage and error messages

Windows search is not working and search is slow or shuts down

Backup and recovery

How to back up or transfer your data on a Windows-based computer

How to back up the registry in Windows 7

Back up your programs, system settings and files

Restore your computer from a system image backup

Back up and restore: frequently asked questions

What are the system recovery options in Windows 7?

Startup Repair: frequently asked questions

What to do if Windows won't start correctly

How to start your computer in safe mode

You cannot access OEM recovery applications on the System Recovery Options menu after you upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7

Desktop and personalization

Change your desktop background (wallpaper)

Get the latest Windows downloads

Navigate quickly with Jump Lists

Learn more about Peek and peer past your open windows

Video: Getting around the desktop

What happened to the Windows Sidebar?

What happened to the Quick Launch toolbar?

What happened to the Run command?

Learn about the Snipping Tool

Geek your rig: extras

Using location and other sensors

Facebook + Windows

Download languages for Windows

Popular Themes

Surreal Territory by Chuck Anderson theme

Waterdrops theme by J.P. Peter

Bing Maps Aerial Imagery theme: United States

Fresh wallpaper, updated automatically

Choose from many more themes to personalize your desktop

Resolve desktop problems

Fix broken desktop shortcuts and common system maintenance tasks

How to customize the default local user profile when you prepare an image of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2

Automatically diagnose and repair problems when the visual Aero Glass effects, themes, and transparencies

Email

What happened to Windows Mail?

What happened to Outlook Express?

How can I get Windows Live Mail?

Using e-mail and the Internet (video)

Learn more about EMail at this Support Center

Learn more about Windows Live Mail and Windows Hotmail

Networking

How to open the networking troubleshooters

Identify and fix network connection problems in Windows

Wireless network connection problems in Windows

Start here to set up a home network in Windows 7

Setting up a wireless network

HomeGroup networking

Home sweet homegroup

Open the HomeGroup troubleshooter

Why can't I create a homegroup?

Why can't I access my homegroup?

Why can't I join a homegroup?

Why can't I print to printer in my homegroup?

Access files and printers on other HomeGroup computers

Getting online

Connect to the Internet Wizard

Why is my Internet connection so slow?

Visit the Internet Explorer Support Center

Music and sound

No Sound in Windows

Diagnose and repair sound playback problems automatically

Open the Playing Audio Troubleshooter

Getting sound from your computer: recommended links

Video: Windows MediaPlayer 12

Windows Media Player Solution Center

Pictures and video

How do I get pictures from my camera to my computer?

What happened to Windows Photo Gallery?

What happened to Windows Movie Maker?

What happened to Windows Import Video?

Playing video files crashes or freezes Internet Explorer or Windows

The DVD drive does not function after you install Windows 7

Support options

This Windows 7 Support Center is designed to assist you with finding a solution to the top Windows 7 issues, as well as product information. If you are unable to find a solution on this support center, this tab provides additional support options below.

Ask the Community

Have a question? Post a question or browse for solutions in the Microsoft Answers forums

IT-Professionals: Post a question or browse for solutions in the Microsoft TechNet Windows 7 forums

Developers: Post a question or browse for solutions in the MSDN Software Development for Windows Client forums

Blogs

The Windows Blog

Engineering Windows 7

Windows Client Blogs on TechNet for ITPros

Self-Support Options

Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for technical solutions to common break-fix issues

Visit the Windows Client TechCenter on TechNet for advanced troubleshooting and guidance for IT Pros

Visit the Windows Client Developer Center on MSDN

Microsoft Premier Customers: Visit Microsoft Premier Online for troubleshooting resources or to submit an incident online

Microsoft Partners: Access unlimited online support via the Microsoft Partner Network

Paid Incident Support

To contact a Microsoft Support Professional via e-mail, on-line submission or phone click on the product and version below that is applicable to you. We’ll ask you a few questions in order to serve you efficiently.

Windows 7 Enterprise

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows 7 Professional

Windows 7 Starter

Windows 7 Ultimate

Contract Incident Support

IT-Professionals: Contact a Microsoft Support Professional using your TechNet Subscription

Developers: Contact a Microsoft Support Professional using your MSDN Subscription

Enterprise customers visit Microsoft Premier Online

Microsoft Partners visit the Microsoft Partner Network

Get Volume licensing with Microsoft Software Assurance

Customer Service

To find information about non-technical customer service issues visit the Contact Us page. The Contact Us page is where you can find information on these and other top customer service issues:

Product sales and licensing

Replacements, refunds and rebates