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Stop Windows Freezing and System Lockups

By Gaelim Holland

Windows freezing up is one of the most frustrating problems that you can experience while using your PC. This problem causes your computing experience to be brought to a complete standstill. Often there is a loss of data and even program coding can be corrupted due to your system locking up. Although there multiple causes for this problem. At least 90 percent of the time, it can be attributed to software conflicts. However, this article should help you track down the cause of the unexpected Windows freezing.

Windows Freezing Up Due to Hardware Conflicts

Before we take a look any problems in your operating system, we need to make sure that your computer is not overheating or having hardware failure. Every system generates heat, some more than others. Make sure that your computer fan is free of excess dust and rotating smoothly. Use compress air to remove any debris or dust.

You can also use Windows system health tool, Reliability and Performance Monitor, to track changes with hardware components. It allows you to graphically view any problems with your hard disk, memory and CPU. You can access this monitor by following the directions below.

1. Press CTRL-ALT-DELETE.
2. Click the Resource Monitor in Task Manager.
2. Click the tabs under Disk, Memory, CPU and Memory.
4. Search for any irregularities, spikes or interruptions.

Vista users can save time by using the option of generating a system health report.

1. Go to the Control Panel.
2. Click Performance Information and Tools.
3. Go to Advanced Tools.
4. Generate System Reports.

Your hard drive is major hardware piece that can cause Windows freezing. Due to its moving parts, the hard drive can be physically damaged. By simply bumping your PC, a sector of your hard drive can be damaged thus causing a system error. Luckily, Windows can instruct your hard drive to skip over these bad sectors while accessing your hard drive. In some cases, the errors to the hard drive filing system can be fixed completely. Here is how:

1. Right click your C Drive.
2. Choose Properties.
3. Got to Tools.
4. Check the Options: "Automatically fie system errors" and Scan for an attempt recovery of bad sectors.
5. Click Start.

Memory is another essential hardware component that can cause Windows freezing. Your computer performs a memory test when starting up. So, it will notify you of any failures. Also you can visit Microsoft website to download a useful tool to determine if your RAM is failing.

Software Conflicts That Can Cause System Lockup

Now, that you've checked whether your hardware has caused Windows freezing. Let's move on to software conflicts. Your hardware and software must communicate fluidly to avoid interruptions and system lockups. Windows freezing will occur if it cannot access your hardware. It can go into an infinite loop.

Drivers serve as a connection between hardware and software. These files must be updated constantly to avoid problems or Windows freezing. Windows Device Manager allows you to monitor, update or rollback driver. In the Disk Manager you can also run a scan for driver conflicts. To run this scan, follow the instructions below.

1. Click Start.
2. Choose Run command.
3. type " compmgmt.msc ", This will run a scan of your drivers.

1. Click Start.
2. Click Control Panel.
3. Click System.
4. In the System menu, click the hardware tab.
5. Click Device Manager to bring up a full list of hardware drivers, Look for exclamation marks that indicate trouble.
6. Right click and choose Properties to evaluate the status and troubleshoot the hardware device.