PC Freezing? Here are 4 Common Causes -- and Solutions
When a computer freezes up, there are usually a few things that contribute to the problem that most PC owners experience. Following are some common reasons your computer might be freezing up, and how to keep it from happening.
4 Reasons Your Computer May Freeze Up -- And Solutions on How to Fix Them
Following are four common reasons most computers freeze up. Solutions are offered to fix each problem. Good luck!
My Computer Freezes – Possible Reason #1: Check RAM
Solution: You can increase RAM by buying more or removing unnecessary files from your hard drive, which is usually all most need to do. How do you remove files that may be clogging up your hard drive and free up more RAM? The following is for Windows XP, a common operating system.
How to Remove Files from Your Computer That May Be Causing It to Freeze Up
From your computer make the following clicks: Start>Control Panel>Performance and Maintenance>System.
Under “Paging file size,” click “Custom size.” Then, enter the amount of memory you want to save for Virtual memory. Enter the initial and maximum size values.
Then click “Set.”
Tip: Enter the same values for the initial and maximum sizes. This will prevent your CPU from continuously changing the paging file size.
My Computer Freezes – Reason #2: Maybe It’s Clutter
Most clutter on a computer is caused by its Registry.
What is a Registry?
Basically, a registry is a database that contains all of your computer’s information, ie, hardware/software configuration, your installed/uninstalled programs, your preferences, files you created, deleted and modified, downloads you made, etc.
In short, everything you do on your computer is stored in its Registry and it creates an awful lot of junk, ie, clutter. This clutter slows your system down.
Solution: Clean the registry. By cleaning it, you free up space for your system to runner smoother and quicker. So, how do you clean your computer’s Registry?
Registry Cleaners: How to Remove Unnecessary Clutter from Your Computer
Use a Registry cleaner. A Registry cleaner is the best way to remove clutter from your computer, prevent it from freezing up and restore some speed to your system.
A good cleaner will scan your computer’s entire Registry, repair system errors and remove unnecessary and excessive clutter.
My Computer Freezes – Reason #3: Maybe It’s File Fragmentation
Fragmentation is when pieces of a file are scattered all over your hard drive. To explain, every time you access a file on your computer, it searches your entire hard drive to find all the pieces associated with that file.
For the most part, computers save files o the largest available space available on the hard drive. Over time, space becomes fragmented on your hard drive. So, pieces of a file will be saved in different spaces.
Fragmentation slows your computer down because it has to hunt for the various components of a file when you access it.
Solution: Defrag your hard drive.
How to Defrag Your Computer
Defragging puts the pieces back together again. How do you do it? Follow these steps: Go to “start,” then “programs,” then “accessories,” then “System Tools,” then “Disk Defrag.” Click “Run.”
My Computer Freezes – Reason #4: Maybe It’s Spyware
Spyware, also referred to as adware, is a very common reason computers freeze up. What is it? When you surf the internet, things called cookies are dropped onto your computer to identify you. Cookies store information about you like what you have in your shopping cart. It helps advertisers serve up better ads to you. Most cookies are harmless.
Some though have spyware that tracks the moves you make online and sends it to other websites. Over time, these build up and can take up space on your computer.
Solution: Delete spyware from your system.
How to Remove Spyware from Your Computer
There are many programs you can use to remove spyware, virsuses and other harmful files from your computer to help it run faster. Many of these registry cleaning programs will fix all of the above problems, and offer routine maintenance programs to keep your computer in top working condiction.
If your computer is freezing up, running slow or simply not performing the way you want, you can literally diagnose the problem with the click of a button. How?
By running a free registry scan. Doing this will help you diagnose (and remove) the problem(s), so you can get back to work knowing your system is virus and spyware free.
When a computer freezes up, there are usually a few things that contribute to the problem that most PC owners experience. Following are some common reasons your computer might be freezing up, and how to keep it from happening.
4 Reasons Your Computer May Freeze Up -- And Solutions on How to Fix Them
Following are four common reasons most computers freeze up. Solutions are offered to fix each problem. Good luck!
My Computer Freezes – Possible Reason #1: Check RAM
RAM is the acronym for Random Access Memory. It’s where a computer’s programs, operating system and data is stored so that it can be accessed. When there’s not enough of it, your computer can freeze. You use RAM every time you search, open a file, play a game, etc.
Solution: You can increase RAM by buying more or removing unnecessary files from your hard drive, which is usually all most need to do. How do you remove files that may be clogging up your hard drive and free up more RAM? The following is for Windows XP, a common operating system.
How to Remove Files from Your Computer That May Be Causing It to Freeze Up
From your computer make the following clicks: Start>Control Panel>Performance and Maintenance>System.
From here, under the “Advanced” tab, click “Settings.” Then go to “Virtual Memory” under this same Advanced tab. Then click Change. Under “Drive [Volume Label]” click on the drive with the paging file you want to change. This will usually be your C: drive.
Under “Paging file size,” click “Custom size.” Then, enter the amount of memory you want to save for Virtual memory. Enter the initial and maximum size values.
Then click “Set.”
Tip: Enter the same values for the initial and maximum sizes. This will prevent your CPU from continuously changing the paging file size.
My Computer Freezes – Reason #2: Maybe It’s Clutter
Most clutter on a computer is caused by its Registry.
What is a Registry?
Basically, a registry is a database that contains all of your computer’s information, ie, hardware/software configuration, your installed/uninstalled programs, your preferences, files you created, deleted and modified, downloads you made, etc.
In short, everything you do on your computer is stored in its Registry and it creates an awful lot of junk, ie, clutter. This clutter slows your system down.
Solution: Clean the registry. By cleaning it, you free up space for your system to runner smoother and quicker. So, how do you clean your computer’s Registry?
Registry Cleaners: How to Remove Unnecessary Clutter from Your Computer
Use a Registry cleaner. A Registry cleaner is the best way to remove clutter from your computer, prevent it from freezing up and restore some speed to your system.
A good cleaner will scan your computer’s entire Registry, repair system errors and remove unnecessary and excessive clutter.
My Computer Freezes – Reason #3: Maybe It’s File Fragmentation
Fragmentation is when pieces of a file are scattered all over your hard drive. To explain, every time you access a file on your computer, it searches your entire hard drive to find all the pieces associated with that file.
For the most part, computers save files o the largest available space available on the hard drive. Over time, space becomes fragmented on your hard drive. So, pieces of a file will be saved in different spaces.
Fragmentation slows your computer down because it has to hunt for the various components of a file when you access it.
Solution: Defrag your hard drive.
How to Defrag Your Computer
Defragging puts the pieces back together again. How do you do it? Follow these steps: Go to “start,” then “programs,” then “accessories,” then “System Tools,” then “Disk Defrag.” Click “Run.”
My Computer Freezes – Reason #4: Maybe It’s Spyware
Spyware, also referred to as adware, is a very common reason computers freeze up. What is it? When you surf the internet, things called cookies are dropped onto your computer to identify you. Cookies store information about you like what you have in your shopping cart. It helps advertisers serve up better ads to you. Most cookies are harmless.
Some though have spyware that tracks the moves you make online and sends it to other websites. Over time, these build up and can take up space on your computer.
Solution: Delete spyware from your system.
How to Remove Spyware from Your Computer
There are many programs you can use to remove spyware, virsuses and other harmful files from your computer to help it run faster. Many of these registry cleaning programs will fix all of the above problems, and offer routine maintenance programs to keep your computer in top working condiction.
If your computer is freezing up, running slow or simply not performing the way you want, you can literally diagnose the problem with the click of a button. How?
By running a free registry scan. Doing this will help you diagnose (and remove) the problem(s), so you can get back to work knowing your system is virus and spyware free.
