If your Windows PC feels messy, vulnerable, slow, or one bad update away from ruining your weekend, start here.
I’ve put together my free Windows checklists, related videos, and step-by-step guides in one place so you can find the weak spots before they turn into a bigger problem.
The free checklists help you figure out what to check. The paid guides, playbooks, and expanded checklists help you take the next step without turning your PC into a digital paperweight.
Start with the problem you’re trying to solve
Worried your Windows PC is not locked down?
Start here if you want to check the basic Windows security layers most home users never review until something goes wrong.
Free checklist:
Windows Security Quick-Start Checklist
Full step-by-step guide:
Windows Security Hardening Playbook
Best first step:
Download the free checklist first. If you find settings you are not sure how to fix, use the full playbook.
Router or Wi-Fi hasn’t been touched in years?
Start here if your home network is still running on old settings, weak passwords, outdated firmware, bad placement, or “it works, so I never looked at it” energy.
Free checklist:
Home Wi-Fi and Router Quick-Start Checklist
Full step-by-step guide:
Home Wi-Fi and Router Lockdown Guide
Best first step:
Download the free checklist first. If your router settings look like a dusty junk drawer, use the full guide to clean it up properly.
Afraid to reset or reinstall Windows?
Start here before you wipe the machine, reinstall Windows, or click anything that sounds like it might magically fix everything.
Free checklist:
Reset This PC Quick-Start Checklist
Expanded paid checklist:
Reset This PC Expanded Checklist
Best first step:
Download the free checklist before you reset anything. It helps you avoid losing files, drivers, product keys, browser data, and other things people usually remember five minutes too late.
Not sure your backups would actually save you?
Start here if you have some files backed up somewhere, but you are not completely sure what would happen if your PC died, got encrypted, or Windows decided to have a little meltdown.
Free checklist:
Pre-Repair Backup Quick-Start Checklist
Expanded paid checklist:
Pre-Repair Backup Expanded Checklist
Best first step:
Download the free checklist before you repair, reset, reinstall, or “just try one thing.” A backup you have not checked is just a wish with a progress bar.
Not sure your accounts are actually locked down?
Start here if you reuse passwords, skip MFA because it is annoying, or are not completely sure what would happen if someone got into your email, Microsoft account, bank account, or password manager.
Free checklist:
Account Lockdown Quick-Start Checklist
Expanded paid guide:
Account Lockdown Playbook
Best first step:
Download the free checklist and lock down the accounts that could cause the most damage first. Because once someone gets into your email, they may not need to hack anything else. They can just reset everything.
More Windows survival resources are coming
I’m continuing to build out more free checklists, guides, and plain-English walkthroughs for Windows security, backups, recovery, maintenance, and older PCs.
Bookmark this page and check back later — or join the email list from one of the free checklist pages so you’ll know when new resources are added.
Not sure where to start when Windows starts acting stupid?
Start here if Windows is acting weird, your PC feels slower than it should, or you are not sure which “fix” is actually safe to try first.
Free guide:
Windows Survival Quick-Start Guide
Best first step:
Download the free guide and get a simple starting point before you start clicking random fixes, deleting folders, resetting Windows, or trusting advice from some forum post written in 2012.
Not sure where to start?
If you are not sure which resource to grab first, start with security.
Your Windows PC, your router, your backups, and your recovery plan all work together. If one layer is weak, the whole setup gets uglier fast.
My recommended starting point:
Download the free Windows Security Quick-Start Checklist first. Then, if you want the full step-by-step walkthrough, use the Windows Security Hardening Playbook.