What to do when your computer keeps freezing

If you find that your PC freezes when you are using it, then it is time for a virtual spring clean. In this article, we will show you how to diagnose problems and what to look for when your computer keeps crashing. These basic steps will improve your productivity, save frustration and won't even cost you a penny. Read on to learn how to solve your computer problems.

Removing software

Restarting your computer If your PC keeps freezing within a few minutes of switching it on, you will need to boot into safe mode. To do this, restart your computer and repeatedly tap the F8 key. This will load the operating system with a limited set of drivers which should prevent crashes.
Removing problem software When you are operating in safe mode, you can start removing problem software. Start off by uninstalling any software that you don't use anymore. This could include old games, programs and demos which all clog up the registry, and use up vital system resources. Space If your hard disk is too full, then the performance will drop as space used for swap disk caching will be taken up by unnecessary software. In today's media rich world, it is not unusual to horde high definition films and video clips on the hard drive. These take up huge amounts of space and can affect performance. Once you have removed any software that you rarely use, do the same for your media library.

Invisible processes

Many programs have clients or processes which run in the background. These processes aim to speed up the loading of media or provide an easier way to connect with certain services. The reality for many people is that they simply do not use these programs, yet they still sit in the background eating up vital system resources. Cleaning up your boot routine To solve this problem, you need to clean up your boot routine. Check the start menu first and remove any programs that you don't use. Next, type "msconfig" into the run box from the start menu. This allows you to stop unnecessary start-up processes from loading. You will be shocked to find how many extra programs that you are running without even realising it. Updating After your virtual "spring clean", make sure that you update all of your drivers and operating system. Hardware conflicts can be a major cause of a crashes, so ensure that you have the latest versions of all software and hardware drivers. It may be worth investing in the device doctor software to make sure that you are always on top of the latest updates.