winutil/docs/KnownIssues.md

Launch Issues

Blocked by anti-virus

Windows Security (formerly Defender) and other anti-virus software are known to block the script. The script gets flagged due to the fact that it requires administrator privileges & makes drastic system changes.

To resolve this, allow/whitelist the script in your anti-virus software settings, or temporarily disable real-time protection. Since the project is open source, you may audit the code if security is a concern.

Download not working

If christitus.com/win is not working, or you want to download the code from GitHub directly, you can use the direct download link:

irm https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil/releases/latest/download/winutil.ps1 | iex

If you are seeing errors referencing TLS or security, you may be running an older version of Windows where TLS 1.2 is not the default security protocol used for network connections. The following commands will force .NET to use TLS 1.2, and download the script directly using .NET instead of PowerShell:

[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12
iex (New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil/releases/latest/download/winutil.ps1')

If it still isn't working and you live in India, it might be due to India blocking GitHub's content domain and preventing downloads. See more on Times of India.

If you are still having issues, try using a VPN, or changing your DNS provider to one of following two providers:

Provider	Primary DNS	Secondary DNS
Cloudflare	1.1.1.1	1.0.0.1
Google	8.8.8.8	8.8.4.4

Script blocked by Execution Policy

1. Ensure you are running PowerShell as admin: Press Windows Key+X and select PowerShell (Admin) in Windows 10, or Windows Terminal (Admin) in Windows 11.
2. In the PowerShell window, type this to allow unsigned code to execute and run the installation script:

   Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope Process -Force
   irm christitus.com/win | iex
   

Runtime Issues

WinGet configuration

If you have not installed anything using PowerShell before, you may be prompted to configure WinGet. This requires user interaction on first run. You will need to manually type y into the PowerShell console and press enter to continue. Once you do it the first time, you will not be prompted again.

MicroWin: Error 0x80041031

This error code typically indicates an issue related to Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the issue:

1. Reboot Your Computer:

   Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve temporary issues. Restart your computer and try mounting the ISO again.

2. Check for System Corruption:

   Run the System File Checker (SFC) utility to scan and repair system files that may be corrupted.

   sfc /scannow
   

3. Update Your System:

   Make sure your operating system is up-to-date. Check for Windows updates and install any pending updates.

4. Check WMI Service:

   Ensure that the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service is running. You can do this through the Services application:

   • Press Win+R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type services.msc and press Enter.
   • Locate Windows Management Instrumentation in the list.
   • Make sure to set its status to "Running" and the startup type to "Automatic".

5. Check for Security Software Interference:

   Security software can sometimes interfere with WMI operations. Temporarily disable your anti-virus or security software and check if the issue persists. WMI is a common attack/infection vector, so many anti-virus programs will limit its usage.

6. Event Viewer:

   Check the Event Viewer for more detailed error information. Look for entries related to the 80041031 error and check if there are any additional details that can help identify the cause.

   • Press Win+X and select Event Viewer.
   • Navigate to Windows Logs > Application or System.
   • Look for entries with the source related to WMI or the application use to mount the ISO.

7. ISO File Integrity:

   Ensure that the ISO file you are trying to mount is uncorrupted. Try mounting a different ISO file to see if the issue persists.

If the problem persists after trying these steps, additional troubleshooting is required. Consider seeking assistance from Microsoft support or community forums for more specific guidance based on your system configuration and the software you use to mount the ISO.

Windows Issues

Windows takes longer to shut down

This could be for a number of reasons:

• Turn on fast startup: Press Windows key+R, then type:

  control /name Microsoft.PowerOptions /page pageGlobalSettings
  

• If that doesn't work, disable Hibernation:
  • Press Windows Key+X and select PowerShell (Admin) in Windows 10, or Windows Terminal (Admin) in Windows 11.
  • In the PowerShell window, type:

    powercfg /H off
    

Related issue: #69

Windows Search does not work

Enable Background Apps. Related issues: #69 95 #232

Xbox Game Bar Activation Broken

Set the Xbox Accessory Management Service to Automatic:

Get-Service -Name "XboxGipSvc" | Set-Service -StartupType Automatic

Related issue: #198

Windows 11: Quick Settings no longer works

Launch the Script and click Enable Action Center.

Explorer (file browser) no longer launches

• Press Windows key+R then type:

  control /name Microsoft.FolderOptions
  

• Change the Open File Explorer to option to This PC.

Battery drains too fast

If you're using a laptop or tablet and find your battery drains too fast, please try the below troubleshooting steps, and report the results back to the Winutil community.

1. Check Battery Health:

   • Press Windows Key+X and select PowerShell (Admin) in Windows 10, or Windows Terminal (Admin) in Windows 11.
   • Run the following command to generate a battery report:

     powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:\battery_report.html"
     

   • Open the generated HTML report to review information about battery health and usage. A battery with poor health may hold less charge, discharge faster, or cause other issues.

2. Review Power Settings:

   • Open the Settings app, and go to System > Power & sleep.
   • Adjust power plan settings based on your preferences and usage patterns.
   • Click on Additional power settings to access advanced power settings that may help.

3. Identify Power-Hungry Apps:

   • Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
   • Navigate to the Processes tab to identify applications with high CPU or memory usage.
   • Consider reconfiguring, closing, disabling, or uninstalling applications that use a lot of resources.

4. Update Drivers:

   • Visit your device manufacturer's website or use Windows Update to check for driver updates.
   • Ensure graphics, chipset, and other essential drivers are up to date.

5. Check for Windows Updates:

   • Open the Settings app, and go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
   • Check for and install any available updates for your operating system.

6. Reduce Screen Brightness:

   • Open the Settings app, and go to System > Display.
   • Adjust screen brightness based on your preferences and lighting conditions.

7. Enable Battery Saver:

   • Open the Settings app, and go to System > Battery.
   • Turn on Battery saver to limit background activity and conserve power.

8. Check Power Usage in Settings:

   • Open the Settings app, and go to System > Battery > Battery usage by app.
   • Review the list of apps and their power usage. Disable or uninstall any you don't need.

9. Check Background Apps:

   • Open the Settings app, and go to Privacy > Background apps.
   • Disable or uninstall unnecessary apps running in the background.

10. Use powercfg for Analysis:

    • Press Windows Key+X and select PowerShell (Admin) in Windows 10, or Windows Terminal (Admin) in Windows 11.
    • Run the following command to analyze energy usage and generate a report:

      powercfg /energy /output "C:\energy_report.html"
      

    • Open the generated HTML report to identify energy consumption patterns.

11. Review Event Logs:

    • Open Event Viewer by searching for it in the Start menu.
    • Navigate to Windows Logs > System.
    • Look for events with the source Power-Troubleshooter to identify power-related events. These may highlight battery, input power, and other issues.

12. Check Wake-up Sources:

    • Press Windows Key+X and select PowerShell (Admin) in Windows 10, or Windows Terminal (Admin) in Windows 11.
    • Use the command powercfg /requests to identify processes preventing sleep.
    • Use the command powercfg /waketimers to view active wake timers.
    • Check Task Scheduler to see if any of the discovered processes are scheduled to start on boot or at regular intervals.

13. Advanced Identification of Power-Hungry Apps:

    • Open Resource Monitor from the Start menu.
    • Navigate to the CPU, Memory, Network, and other tabs to identify processes with high resource usage.
    • Consider reconfiguring, closing, disabling, or uninstalling applications that use a lot of resources.

14. Disable Activity History:

    • Open the Settings app, and go to Privacy > Activity history.
    • Turn off Let Windows collect my activities from this PC.

15. Prevent Network Adapters From Waking PC:

    • Open Device Manager by searching for it in the Start menu.
    • Locate your network adapter, right-click, and go to Properties.
    • Under the Power Management tab, uncheck the option that allows the device to wake the computer.

16. Review Installed Applications:

    • Manually review installed applications by searching for Add or remove programs in the Start menu.
    • Check settings/preferences of individual applications for power-related options.
    • Uninstall unnecessary or problematic software.

These troubleshooting steps are generic, but should help in most situations. You should have these key takeaways:

• Battery health is the most significant limiter on your device's runtime. A battery in poor health usually cannot be made to last like it used to, simply by closing some applications. Consider replacing your battery.
• Background applications that use CPU and memory, make lots of or large network requests, read/write to disk frequently, or that keep your PC awake when it could be conserving energy are the next major concern. Avoid installing programs you don't need, only use programs you trust, and configure applications to use as little power and run as infrequently as possible.
• Windows performs a lot of tasks that may affect battery life by default. Changing settings, stopping scheduled tasks, and disabling features can help the system stay in lower power states to conserve battery.
• Bad chargers, inconsistent power input, and high temperatures will cause batteries to degrade and discharge faster. Use trusted high-quality chargers, ensure input power is steady, clean any fans or airflow ports, and keep the battery/PC cool.