How to test a computer after a Windows update

After a Windows update, your computer may feel different, or a camera, microphone, speaker, or other device may stop working. A quick check can help you separate a temporary slowdown from a problem that needs a setting or driver fix.

Start with TooLab’s Test Everything. It runs browser-based checks step by step and gives you a report, so you can see which parts of the computer respond normally and which need a closer look.

Run a check after the update

1. Open Test Everything on the computer that received the Windows update. Use the same browser and connected devices you normally use.
2. Restart Windows if you have not already. Updates can finish installing after the first restart, and a restart also clears temporary problems left by installers.
3. Follow the test steps and try the hardware you want to check. For example, press keys, move the mouse, speak into the microphone, and play the speaker test at a comfortable volume.
4. Read the report and note any test that fails, behaves differently than expected, or cannot run. A test that is unavailable is not automatically evidence of a hardware fault.
5. Try the computer in the app or task that first showed the problem. If the browser test works but one app does not, check that app’s settings before changing drivers.

If Windows is still downloading or installing updates, let it finish before comparing performance. Background work can temporarily slow down the computer and affect browser-based performance results.

What the result means

The tests you needed work normally

If the keyboard, mouse, camera, microphone, speakers, or other relevant checks behave as expected, the update probably did not break that hardware. If only one program still has trouble, look for a device selection, permission, or app update issue rather than replacing the device.

One test fails or shows unexpected input

A failed test narrows down what to investigate, but it does not identify the cause by itself. A microphone that receives no sound could be muted, blocked by privacy settings, or affected by a driver. Check the matching Windows setting and test again before deciding the hardware is faulty.

Several devices fail at once

When multiple unrelated devices stop working after the same update, suspect a shared setting, a driver issue, or unfinished update installation. Restart the computer, check Windows Update for another pending restart, and look for device warnings in Device Manager.

The computer feels slow, but individual devices work

Performance can be temporarily affected by update cleanup, file indexing, or other work running in the background. Close demanding apps, connect a laptop to power, wait for background activity to settle, and repeat the test under similar conditions. A browser test is useful for comparison, but it cannot show every Windows process or diagnose all causes of slow performance.

A test cannot run

Some browser features need permission or a supported browser. Camera and microphone checks ask for permission first. A blocked permission, an unsupported feature, or a device that is not connected can prevent a test from running without proving that the hardware is damaged.

How to fix problems after an update

1. Restart once more. Open Start, choose Power, then Restart. This is the quickest way to finish pending setup and release devices held by an app.
2. Check Windows Update status. Open Settings › Windows Update. Install any pending updates, and restart if Windows asks. You can check Update history there to see which update installed around the time the problem began.
3. Check the device’s Windows setting. For sound, open Settings › System › Sound and confirm the correct input or output device is selected. For a camera or microphone, open Settings › Privacy & security › Camera or Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone, and confirm access is allowed for the app you use.
4. Look for a driver warning. Right-click Start and open Device Manager. Expand the relevant device group and look for a warning symbol. Open the device’s properties to read its status before uninstalling or changing anything.
5. Check optional driver updates. Open Settings › Windows Update › Advanced options › Optional updates. If Windows offers a driver for the affected device, install it and restart. Do not install an unrelated driver just because it is listed.
6. Try the app’s device settings. Choose the intended camera, microphone, speaker, or other device inside the app. Apps can keep an old selection after Windows changes which device is the default.
7. Consider rolling back a driver only when the timing fits. In Device Manager, open the affected device’s properties and check the Driver tab. If Roll Back Driver is available and the issue began immediately after that driver changed, rolling it back may help. Follow your organization’s support process on a managed work or school computer.

When to suspect hardware damage

A Windows update can reveal a device problem, but it is less likely to physically damage the device. If a built-in keyboard, camera, or speaker still fails after the relevant settings and driver have been checked, test an external device or try the affected device on another computer when possible. If the same fault follows the device, contact the manufacturer or a repair shop. For a computer under warranty, keep the test results and update date to share with support.

What a browser test can and cannot tell you

Test Everything checks hardware through the browser, on the computer where you open it. It can help confirm that a device responds, but it does not inspect Windows update logs, prove that every driver is correct, or diagnose every internal fault. Use the report to identify what to check next, then use Windows settings or the affected app to confirm the cause.

For a useful comparison, note the date, the device you tested, and whether Windows had finished installing updates before you ran the check.