# Using Native Windows Tools to Troubleshoot

## What

Things break, thank goodness! If they didn't all IT engineers would be out of work. But what do you do when things break? Specifically, if a FileWave client on a Windows device isn't working right, what tools are available to help? Turns out there are tons of options!

## When/Why

We'll turn to other tools whenever we need an alternate method of confirming things with remote machines. This list isn't meant to be all-inclusive, but is a great "starter pack" of tools you can use!

<p class="callout info">Note that access to remote Windows tools is always reliant on being logged in with a MSFT account that has rights to perform those actions. </p>

## How

Here is a list of super-helpful tools:

- **Services App**: Everyone knows the services app, but did you know you can use it against remote machines too? Just right-click on Services and choose to connect to another computer (by name or IP). Great for checking, starting and stopping services. [![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/scaled-1680-/WIaS7aFV14qyY9UU-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/WIaS7aFV14qyY9UU-image.png)
- **Task Scheduler**: Task scheduler is also available for remote connection:

[![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/scaled-1680-/ioNhltlFbH2uka2m-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/ioNhltlFbH2uka2m-image.png)

- **The remote file system**: Yep, you read that right, you can actually browse the remote machine's files. In explorer, just navigate to \\\\ip(or name)\\c$. Great for looking at log files and generally just checking file status.

[![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/scaled-1680-/vx2UIOE5ZURrIeRq-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/vx2UIOE5ZURrIeRq-image.png)

- **Event Viewer**: You can also remotely connect to Event Viewer, which is an excellent tool for MSI troubleshooting in particular:

[![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/scaled-1680-/d7TAyfROjfUo9Ba2-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/d7TAyfROjfUo9Ba2-image.png)

- **PowerShell**: PowerShell is a fantastically helpful tool, and you can do almost anything with it. For instance, you can't use the Add/Remove Programs tool to remotely access another machine, but you can use PowerShell to remotely connection and see what is installed:

[![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/scaled-1680-/i8PwjXZ1bj7xjeoG-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/i8PwjXZ1bj7xjeoG-image.png)

- **PSTools**: PSTools aren't native to Windows, but they are an excellent source for a wide range of utilities, PSEXEC in particular. (Link below about using PS Tools)

- **Tasklist** and **Taskkill**: These are old school DOS commands, but are super helpful to see running processes on remote machines (and to kill them if necessary. Do tasklist /? or taskkill /? for instructions:

[![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/scaled-1680-/9PScObPA73zqU0ci-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/9PScObPA73zqU0ci-image.png)

- **Regedit**: Yes, even regedit can connect to remote registries. For FileWave specifically this is helpful to change client preferences if client monitor isn't working: [![image.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/scaled-1680-/5G2iUpRscHZz6Lck-image.png)](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/5G2iUpRscHZz6Lck-image.png)

## Related Content

- [PSExec as a Helper in Troubleshooting](https://kb.filewave.com/books/filewave-client/page/psexec-as-a-helper-in-troubleshooting "PSExec as a Helper in Troubleshooting")
- [Script Best Practices](https://kb.filewave.com/books/filewave-general-info/page/script-best-practices "Script Best Practices")
- [Using PowerShell to Remotely Check the Windows FileWave Client Status](https://kb.filewave.com/books/filewave-client/page/using-powershell-to-remotely-check-the-windows-filewave-client-status "Using PowerShell to Remotely Check the Windows FileWave Client Status")