There comes a moment for every Windows user when the computer starts feeling a little sluggish. Maybe apps take longer to open, maybe the fans spin more often than usual, or maybe something simply doesn’t feel right. And that’s usually when panic begins — Is my hardware failing? Is my RAM broken? Why is storage mysteriously full again?
Instead of waiting for things to go wrong, having a few reliable diagnostic tools on your PC can save hours of frustration and sometimes even prevent expensive repairs. That’s why today, we’re walking through five free diagnostic apps that genuinely help you understand what is happening inside your Windows machine.
This is not a technical lecture — think of it more like a guided conversation. I’ll walk you through why each tool matters, how it helps, and where beginners may get confused. By the time you finish, your PC will feel far less mysterious.
Let’s begin.
🟦 1. Microsoft PC Manager — A Simple Start for Every Windows User
Before we dive into the more technical utilities, it helps to begin with something light and beginner-friendly. Microsoft PC Manager fits that beautifully. It’s designed for people who don’t want to sift through complicated menus yet still need a clean, healthy computer.
A gentle introduction to your PC’s health
As soon as you open Microsoft PC Manager, it doesn’t throw numbers or charts at you. Instead, you are guided toward a simple Health Check — a button that quietly evaluates everything slowing down your system.
When you run Health Check, it scans for:
- Storage that can be freed
- Temporary traces or leftover usage files
- Startup items slowing down boot time
- Unused apps taking space and memory
- Basic network stability
- Optional system settings that can reduce clutter
And instead of overwhelming you, it simply shows boxes you can tick. Once selected, clicking Optimize Now resolves most issues instantly.
For example, the script indicates cases where more than a thousand usage traces were found or long-unused apps were identified. These are exactly the kinds of small problems that accumulate silently.
Beyond diagnosis: It actually fixes things
Microsoft PC Manager includes additional helpful modules:
- PC Boost to clear memory
- Storage Management to reclaim free space
- Startup App Control to make your system boot faster
This alone can make a noticeably slow PC feel lighter again.
Official Download
Microsoft PC Manager (Microsoft Store):
https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9pm860492szd
🟦 2. HWInfo — Deep, Professional System Monitoring (Used by NASA!)
Once you’re comfortable with general PC health, it’s time for a deeper look. Not everyone needs the next level, but power users, IT professionals, gamers, and hardware enthusiasts swear by HWInfo — and for good reason. It’s so accurate that even NASA uses it to monitor mission-critical systems.
Why HWInfo feels overwhelming (and why that’s okay)
The first moment you open it, you’ll notice two separate windows:
- A System Summary — showing CPU, GPU, RAM, motherboard, storage, and sensors
- A detailed tree view — where clicking each hardware category reveals more data than you thought existed
If this feels intimidating, that’s completely normal. HWInfo is incredibly deep, but it doesn’t require you to understand everything immediately. You can close the extra screen if it confuses you; the core window is enough for most users.
What HWInfo helps you diagnose
- Overheating issues (CPU, GPU, VRM temperatures)
- Throttling problems
- Power draw irregularities
- Fan speed failures
- Battery wear levels
- Sensor readings in real-time
- Failing drives or unstable components
This tool turns your PC into a transparent box — nothing hides from you.
Portable versions included
You can either install HWInfo normally or run it as a portable tool (no installation needed). There’s even a version that supports very old systems, including DOS.
Official Download
HWInfo (official site):
https://www.hwinfo.com/
🟦 3. Memtest86+ — When You Suspect Your RAM Is Betraying You
RAM issues are among the most frustrating hardware problems. A faulty memory stick can cause:
- Random crashes
- Blue screens
- Application freezes
- Strange system instability
Yet diagnosing RAM inside Windows is unreliable — it requires a boot-level test.
Why Memtest86+ Works Differently
Memtest86+ cannot run inside Windows because RAM must be tested before the operating system loads anything into it. So the tool has a different procedure:
- Download Memtest86+
- Prepare a blank USB drive (all data will be erased)
- Use the tool to create a bootable USB
- Restart your PC and boot from the USB
- Let the memory test run completely
The process looks a bit old-school, but it’s extremely reliable. If your RAM has even a single bad memory block, Memtest86+ will find it.
The official site also provides a detailed README explaining every test pattern and how to interpret error screens.
Official Download
Memtest86+:
https://www.memtest.org/
🟦 4. CrystalDiskInfo — A Trusted Classic for Monitoring Hard Drive & SSD Health
Your storage drive holds everything — work, photos, apps, your OS — so knowing its health status is crucial. CrystalDiskInfo has been the go-to tool for over a decade because it reads S.M.A.R.T. data directly from your drive.
What CrystalDiskInfo shows you
When you open it, the tool instantly displays:
- Drive health status (Good / Caution / Bad)
- Temperature
- Power-on hours
- Number of reallocated sectors (critical indicator)
- Error counts
- Wear leveling for SSDs
- Details of every connected drive
If you have multiple drives, you can switch between them at the top.
Customizations that help
The script mentions two very useful tweaks:
- Changing UI theme (dark mode looks great)
- Switching temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit
Go to:Function → Advanced Feature → Temperature Type → Fahrenheit
Why this tool is essential
A failing drive often gives subtle signs months before it dies. CrystalDiskInfo lets you catch those signs early, preventing data loss.
Official Download
CrystalDiskInfo:
https://crystalmark.info/en/software/crystaldiskinfo/
🟦 5. TreeSize & WizTree — Understanding What’s Eating Your Disk Space
Towards the end of a diagnostic journey, there’s always one question left:
“Why is my storage full? I didn’t download anything!”
Windows tends to accumulate hidden folders, large caches, old backups, and duplicate files. Instead of searching manually, disk analyzers like TreeSize and WizTree reveal everything in a clean, visual format.
TreeSize
TreeSize provides:
- Folder-by-folder size visualization
- Easy mass deletion
- Bulk file renaming
- File archiving
- Quick identification of giant folders
Although the premium features require payment, personal non-commercial usage is free.
WizTree
WizTree is extremely fast — it scans your drive almost instantly using the NTFS Master File Table. Many people prefer it because of its clean UI and speed.
Both tools are significantly better than Windows’ built-in Storage Manager.
Official Downloads
TreeSize:
https://www.jam-software.com/treesize
WizTree:
https://diskanalyzer.com/
🟦 A Quick Note on Safety
Disclaimer:
Diagnostic tools are safe, but always download them from official websites. Avoid third-party download portals that may bundle unwanted software. Running hardware tests (like Memtest86+) may require restarting your PC, so save your work beforehand.
🟦 Final Thoughts
Keeping a Windows PC healthy isn’t just about speed — it’s about understanding your hardware, noticing early signs of trouble, and using the right tools to diagnose issues. Microsoft PC Manager keeps things simple, HWInfo reveals the deeper technical layers, Memtest86+ checks memory integrity, CrystalDiskInfo monitors your drives, and TreeSize/WizTree clean up the storage mess.
With these tools together, your system becomes transparent, manageable, and easier to maintain. And perhaps most importantly — it gives you confidence. Computers stop feeling unpredictable once you know how to read their signals.
If you want, I can expand each section further, add a full FAQ, or convert this into a 2500–3000 word ultimate guide.
#Windows11 #PCTools #Diagnostics #HardwareMonitoring #FreeSoftware #TechGuide #dtptips
