Why is it that your computer always freezes when you are on a fast-approaching deadline? Or when you’re right in the middle of something super interesting? Perhaps computers just have a cruel sense of humor.
We’re used to things running quickly and efficiently these days, so it can be extra frustrating to have to sit and wait for your computer to respond. While it’s not uncommon for computers to freeze once in awhile, if it’s happening to you regularly, there’s a problem.
This post should help you determine if it’s an easy fix you can do on your own, or if you’ll need to get your computer professionally serviced.
Your computer probably isn’t freezing because of this guy.
First and foremost try some good old-fashioned patience. Wait a few moments for everything to process and for your computer to finish completing a task.
If it continues to stay frozen, see if it’s deadlocked: Press Num Lock and watch to see if the LED turns off and on. If it will go on, press Ctrl+Alt+Del and end the offending frozen program.
Still not working? Let’s figure out the problem by following these steps:
1.Beware software issues!
Typically a computer that continually freezes is caused by a software issue. If you notice your computer freezes whenever you are using a specific program, ensure you have the latest update for it (check with the developer of the program).
The culprit could also be malware, so be sure to regularly run a virus scan.
2.Too many cooks in the kitchen.
Are you the type of person that runs a ton of programs all at once? As convenient as it may seem, it’s actually using a lot of resources to keep them all running, which results in freezing. To test to see if that is the case, just run one program at a time and see if that solves the problem.
3. Bad driver?
If you’ve determined the above aren’t the issues, it might be corrupted or outdated drivers. How do you know? Open the device manager, and find “System Devices” (just type System Devices in your search bar navigation). If there’s a yellow exclamation mark or red x, there’s a problem. Click the symbol to launch a troubleshoot.
4.Operational operating system?
Make sure your operating system has all of the latest updates installed on it. This won’t be a problem if you are on Windows 10, as the updates are automatically turned on. If you have Windows 10 for Business you may have delayed an update (knowingly or unknowingly), so you’ll have to double-check.
5.Too hot!
Unlike humans, when a computer becomes too hot they freeze. If you’re on a laptop, try propping it up to allow the bottom to get air. If you’re using a desktop, it could be a fan issue. One way to tell is if your fan is broken is if it’s making high pitched or squealing noises. Regardless of what noises you hear, carefully inspect the fan on the back of your computer for any visible problems. If everything looks good, you might have to physically check the other fans (which requires you to open your computer). Or, if your computer monitors RPM of fans, check the CMOS for BIOS errors.
Your computer may also have thermal sensors, so you can see if the CPU is running too hot (most computers run 69.8°F to 89.6°F)
6.It’s hard being hardware
A malfunction or misconfiguration in the hardware can cause freezing as well. If you’ve added a new hardware recently then try removing it to see if that solves the problem. If you haven’t done any recent installs, then individually remove any expansion cards and unplug connected devices and see if one of them is causing an issue.
7.Broken Windows
If all is good with your hardware, it might be a serious Windows issue. Try running the troubleshoot for your version of Windows first. If that fails, backup everything you need, erase and then reinstall Windows.
Here are some tips for improving your Windows 10 performance!
8.Hardware failure 🙁
If nothing has worked for you, Hardware failure might be the culprit. A way to determine if this is the case is if your computer turns off during or after installation of your operating system. If it’s hardware, it could be the RAM, CPU, Motherboard or Power Supply. This is when we’d recommend you bring in your computer to be serviced.
Don’t give up on your computer, we can help!
Need some clarification on any of the above steps? Contact us and we can walk you through it. Or, request a service call if you feel more comfortable leaving it up to the professionals.
