Microsoft is no longer going to sit back and let Windows take all the heavy fire. The fact is that the Windows operating system has been transformed into a traditional "source of all evil," for crashes, system errors, hand-ups, or any additional issues. Also true is that Microsoft's proprietary operating system has been responsible for its fair share of problems. However, not for all. And the Redmond company is working on a new tool to make this obvious to consumers. Windows Advisor is designed to share the blame for any issues across the platform, indicating the source.

"While in the past support was limited to a help desk, today the lines are becoming blurred between the various technologies. When a user has a sluggish Internet connection, is it due to a connectivity issue, spyware, a virus, an outdated or poorly maintained computer, the router, a failing hard drive, or simply the customer's impatience? To be effective in today's environment, computer care and support services must be more comprehensive and accurate. That's where we believe Windows Advisor comes in," reads the excerpt from the tool's testing program description as provided by Mary Jo Foley.

The tool is designed to integrate only with Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2 at this point, but it is clear that Microsoft will make it play well with Vista SP1, XP SP3, and even Windows 7. Microsoft already has an Advisor in place, but it is designed to assess whether Windows XP-based consumer machines are capable of upgrading to Windows Vista or not. Windows Advisor however is a new breed of tools which will take standard Windows troubleshooting one step further. The tool is in limited beta at this point in time and Microsoft failed to indicate a deadline for its availability.

"Windows Advisor is an easy-to-use self-help tool that notifies users about problems on their PCs and helps fix them. Windows Advisor scans users' PCs continuously, notifies them about important issues, and, when possible, suggests easy fix solutions. The program also provides users with self-help solutions, including a 1-click checkup function that enables them to check their PCs whenever they like; tips and tutorials that teach users how to perform certain actions on their PCs; and a toolbox that concentrates the important tools that are found in the operating system into one easy-to-find location," adds the description of the tool.