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Computer Freeze - Computer Lockup:
Troubleshooting Computer Freeze (Lockup)
Problems
By Michael Woodford
How familiar does the following sound? Your computer was working fine, but
then suddenly started locking up (aka hanging or freezing), rebooting itself
(crashing) or shutting down spontaneously? If you know only too well what I
am talking about, then read on! Performing the simple steps below can fix
the majority of lockup cases.
1. Check for recently installed software or hardware.
If the lockups started to happen after you installed a new peace of
hardware, new software program, or new drivers, uninstall it and see if the
problem goes away.
2. Run your antivirus program.
One of the first things to do in the case of sudden lockups is to run your
antivirus program. Check your antivirus manufacturer's website for updates
and latest virus definition files. (This is absolutely necessary, outdated
antivirus is not going to be of any use!) If you don't have antivirus
software installed - or if updates are unavailable - run one of the
web-based antivirus scans that some major antivirus vendors like Trend Micro
are offering for free. You can find a comprehensive list of available
web-based scans and free antivirus programs on http://www.free-antivirus.info.
Registry Cleaner Product
- Check your registry for corruption. Free registry scan.
Anti-Spyware Product
3. Run some good spyware removal tool.
If your machine is not infected with any viruses, it is still possible that
it has some harmful adware or spyware is present. Download and run some good
spyware removal tool such as AdAware or Microsoft AntiSpyware. Check http://www.free-antivirus.info
for a list of free spyware removal applications.
4. Check for free hard drive space.
When no viruses are found, check out free hard drive space on drive C:. Make
sure there is more than 20% of free space available; low disk space can lead
to random lockups.
5. Check for overheating.
Overheating is another known cause of lockups. It can be caused by problems
with fans inside the case, dust buildup, or other cooling problems. Make
sure the power supply fan and CPU fan are running and free of dust buildup.
You can check the temperatures inside the case by running Motherboard
monitor
http://mbm.livewiredev.com Make sure the temperatures are within the preset limits. Be very careful
while cleaning inside the computer case (use plastic vacuum crevice tool)
and NEVER OPEN THE POWER SUPPLY CASE as it contains high voltage.
6. Check the hard disk.
Check the hard disk - it is possible that its logical structure is
corrupted. To check the disk for errors, right-click on the disk C: icon in
"My Computer", select the "Tools" tab, check all check boxes in the "Check
disk options" field, and press the "Check now" button. It should ask whether
you want to schedule the check next time you restart your computer - answer
"Yes" and restart your PC. The check will be performed automatically after
startup; it can take a while, so be patient. The program will attempt to fix
some problems automatically – however, if the hard disk is failing
physically, it will need to be replaced. It is also a good idea to run Disk
Defragmenter (located in Start Menu > Programs > Accessories > System Tools)
to optimize data placement on the hard disk for increased performance and
reliability.
7. Check the memory.
Sometimes random lockups can be attributed to the computer memory (RAM)
starting to fail. You can test the memory by running Windows Memory
Diagnostic that can be downloaded from http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp.
If memory problems are found, try re-seating the RAM (pull it out and plug
it back in). If it doesn't work, replace the defective RAM.
8. Check for other hardware problems (advanced users).
More hardware-related problems can be diagnosed by running hardware tests
from the Ultimate Boot CD that can be downloaded from http://www.ultimatebootcd.com.
However, you should only use it if you know what are you doing - some
programs on that CD can be dangerous when used inappropriately (for example,
some of them can wipe the contents of your hard disk).
9. Update Windows and drivers.
Some lockups can be caused by outdated software components - update your
windows and drives by running a windows update: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
(it's good idea to run it regularly).
The above steps will help diagnose and eliminate the most common causes of
lockups. Hundreds more of other possible scenarios need to be dealt with on
a case-by-case basis, as it all goes down to your particular computer
configuration. Asking on PC
troubleshooting forums/newsgroups should help you figure out solutions to
not-so-obvious lockup cases.
About the Author:
Michael Woodford is a computer expert from a team that runs
HowToFixcomputers.com and
CertFAQ.com.
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