A situation in which the laptop freezes and does not respond to pressing a single button is, unfortunately, not uncommon. Many inexperienced users do not know what to do in such a situation. In this article we will tell you what actions can and should be taken in such a situation to try to return the laptop to working condition.
Why does my laptop freeze?
There are many reasons for this problem. This could be a program failure, driver conflict, update error operating system, as well as a signal about the imminent failure of one of the laptop components, such as the motherboard or hard drive.
In any case, there is no need to panic if your laptop freezes. The first thing you need to do is reboot it. This will allow it to reload the operating system and it is very likely that after this it will work as expected.
How to restart a laptop if it freezes?
If you remember the system unit of a regular desktop computer, then it almost always has special button reboot, which is called Reset.
Reset button on system unit computer
If your computer freezes, pressing this button will immediately reboot it.
But there is no such button on the laptop. If only the power button.
Not everyone knows that the power button can be used to urgently reboot a laptop. More precisely, turn it off and on again. In essence, this is a reboot.
The laptop power button, which must be held pressed for about 3-5 seconds to shut down the laptop in an emergency
So, in order to do this, you need to press the power button of a frozen laptop and hold it pressed for 3-5 seconds until the laptop screen goes dark and the fan stops spinning. This action will turn off your laptop.
You can also remove the battery if you have a removable one.
Removing the battery in a laptop
Now turn it on as usual by pressing the power button once. The operating system should load.
If this does not happen, then you may need to reinstall or restore the operating system, or in the worst case, repair or replace the internal components of the laptop.
Sooner or later, every user encounters the problem of laptop slowdown. If your computer freezes and stops responding to commands, what should you do and how can you improve performance?
Why does my laptop freeze?
The reasons for freezing can be completely different due to the versatility of the device. List of the most common factors:
- overheating of hardware components;
- unnecessary utilities in startup;
- simultaneous operation of two conflicting programs (for example, antiviruses);
- incorrect operation of drivers, as well as their absence;
- system registry overload;
- the action of malware;
- hard drive fragmentation;
- failure in the PC system.
Sometimes the problem is a lack of system resources to run complex programs or games. If the laptop model is outdated, replace the device or its components (video card, HDD, RAM).
Laptop frozen - what to do?
Troubleshooting instructions follow from the most simple methods to complex (no need to reinstall the OS if the problem is solved by restarting the PC).
1. Restart your computer
If you hardly turn off your laptop, putting it into sleep mode during rare breaks, the RAM will gradually become clogged. Although RAM automatically cleans out old cells to make room for new tasks, over time the system still becomes overloaded old information. To speed up your device, simply turn it off and turn it on again - the RAM will be completely cleared.
This method is also suitable for eliminating minor system software failures.
2. Check the registry status
When you install new programs, data about them is automatically written to the registry. After uninstallation, parts of these utilities will remain on the system - folders, extension data, temporary files. All this clogs the registry and leads to freezes.
It is better for non-professionals not to clean the registry manually - you may not remember which one important parameter You have deleted. Take advantage CCleaner program- it does an excellent job of cleaning the registry and optimizing PC performance.
3. Defragment hard drive partitions
After installing and uninstalling programs or editing documents, their clear location on the optical disk is disrupted, which slows down the response time to user actions. This condition is called increased fragmentation hard drive. Defragmentation of the drive is automated (if desired, set a convenient time and frequency for the procedure), but you can additionally perform it manually.
If your laptop freezes on Windows 7, 8, 10, do the following:
4. Optimize startup.
Some installed programs by default take effect in background, slowing down startup and wasting system resources. If there are few of these programs, you may not notice the slowdown, but a large number of utilities in autorun significantly slows down the work. Remove unused software if your laptop freezes and doesn't respond to commands.
5. Remove unnecessary software
Check to see if you have several anti-virus utilities and optimization programs installed on your PC. They can conflict with each other, causing a significant system freeze. Remove unnecessary things, thereby speeding up performance.
6. Check your laptop for viruses
Prevent malware from appearing on your PC. Malicious utilities can cause more serious damage to your security than just causing a freeze. If a threat does arise, scan your laptop after downloading one of the popular antiviruses. Check periodically for antivirus updates. The system firewall cannot always cope with constantly updated Trojans and worms, so you shouldn’t really rely on it to work.
7. Update device drivers
Go to Device Manager and view the list of drivers. If opposite one of them is yellow exclamation mark, this means the device is not working correctly. You need to either install the driver again, or simply update it - double-click on its name and click the corresponding button. If you have a disk with drivers for your laptop, insert it into the drive and designate it as a place to look for drivers. If there is no disk, search for it manually on the Internet by name or ID, or turn on automatic search.
8. Do not allow the device to overheat.
If you frequently work with your laptop on your lap or on any soft, uneven surface, the ventilation holes may be blocked, causing the hardware to overheat. Use special cooler stands that support correct work cooling system, and regularly check the inside of the laptop for dust. It would be a good idea to periodically change the thermal paste and prevent it from drying out completely.
9. Check the system for “weak points”
It is not necessary to open the laptop and check the condition motherboard“by eye”, especially if you don’t understand this. There are plenty of diagnostic utilities available - install one of them and check if everything is ok with the software or hardware. If problems are detected, or the laptop freezes or does not respond to anything, fix the problem yourself or contact service center.
A laptop can freeze for many reasons. Sometimes troubleshooting is quite a difficult task, but if you do not find and fix the problem, the computer will freeze regularly, preventing you from using the device normally.
Common Causes
Before answering the question: “The laptop keeps freezing. What to do?" it is necessary to establish the reason causing this behavior. In most cases, the user can cope with the initial diagnosis independently.
All reasons leading to freezing can be divided into two groups:
- software arising due to software errors or viruses;
- hardware related to malfunction or problems with computer components.
Solve the problem with software possible at home. If the laptop freezes due to hardware failure, then in most cases you will have to resort to the services of specialized service centers.
The most common problems that can cause a laptop to freeze:
- viruses;
- program crash;
- insufficient free space;
- CPU overheating;
- problems with components;
- errors during antivirus operation;
- a large number of programs in startup.
Let's take a closer look at the main reasons. This will help diagnose the problem and allow you to quickly solve the problem.
Presence of malware
A variety of malware can damage or destroy important information on your hard drive. In addition, they often make changes that interfere with normal operation of the operating system. As a result, the laptop may start to slow down or freeze completely.
Users who actively use the Internet mostly suffer from malware. You can also pick up malicious programs from any media: USB flash drives, disks, and others.
You can avoid trouble with viruses by installing and updating specialized antivirus programs on time. In situations where the PC has already started to freeze, check for infection malware can be done using specialized utilities from security system manufacturers.
Video: Repairing a frozen laptop
CPU overheating
Laptop is enough compact device and all the components in it are located close to each other. Modern high-performance processors generate a large amount of heat during operation. Naturally, manufacturers try to provide sufficient cooling. However, it is not uncommon for the CPU to overheat.
Let's look at the main reasons why overheating occurs:
Dust accumulates quickly inside the case of a modern mobile PC and must be removed using a can of compressed air. Cooling system failure is less common and requires replacement. Cleaning of dirt can be done at home, but to replace the fan, radiator, etc., it is recommended to contact a service center.
Problems with RAM
Incorrect operation of modules RAM can also cause your PC to freeze or cause other problems. As a rule, defects in this component appear fairly quickly after installation. When looking for reasons why your computer is not working correctly, it is recommended to run a special utility, for example, MemTest, and run a test.
If problems are detected with the RAM module, it will need to be replaced with a new one. The user can perform this operation independently or at a service center. During the warranty period, it is recommended to contact the place of purchase without trying to solve the problem yourself.
The system disk volume has decreased
During their operation, the operating system and programs create many temporary files that reduce free space on system disk. When there is no unallocated space left, applications begin to slow down.
This problem can be solved simply by deleting unnecessary programs and data as well as temporary files. This can be done using the operating room Windows systems or using special utilities, for example CCleaner.
Programs crash
The software may contain errors, and users often set invalid parameters in the application configuration. These reasons can lead to the laptop starting to freeze at the most inopportune moments.
Usually, when problems arise with the software, you will see a corresponding message on the screen. To restore operation, you will have to boot Windows into " Safe Mode"and reinstall or remove the problematic application.
The most common problems arise from the following software:
- drivers;
- system utilities;
- applications to increase computer performance.
Antivirus operation
Modern antiviruses consume significant computer resources. By themselves, they extremely rarely cause the computer to freeze, but they can have a significant impact on performance.
However, when, after installing the antivirus, the computer begins to freeze, you need to reboot into “Safe Mode” and disable or remove it. Then you need to check the compatibility of the program versions and the operating system, reinstall and configure it in accordance with the documentation.
The problem should be resolved, but if this does not happen, then it is recommended to check for viruses on your computer and disable unnecessary programs in startup. As a last resort, you should contact technical support developer.
Device problems
Problems with components can lead to the most unpredictable consequences. The computer may begin to freeze during startup, games, or other applications.
The main problems that cause a laptop to freeze are most often associated with the following components:
Diagnosing the problem yourself is usually quite difficult. It is recommended to check the temperature of the processor and video card, test the hard drive and RAM for errors. This can be done using specialized utilities. Some information, such as temperature central processor can be found in the BIOS.
Many programs in Startup
A large number of applications running alongside Windows can also cause your computer to slow down or freeze completely. Often, users do not pay attention to the settings of the installation program, as a result of which completely unnecessary software ends up in autorun.
You can solve the problem by changing application settings, using specialized utilities, or simply removing unnecessary programs. After changing the settings, you will need to reboot.
In cases where the amount of RAM is small, it is worth considering upgrading. You can increase RAM by replacing modules or, if there are free slots, by simply adding them.
What to do to keep your laptop from freezing
Prevention helps to effectively combat most problems that lead to reduced system performance. In addition, it helps to avoid unnecessary expenses for laptop repair and maintenance at a service center.
Basic preventive measures to maintain system performance:
- dust removal;
- deletion unnecessary applications;
- regular cleaning of directories with temporary files;
- disabling unnecessary autorun elements.
Cleaning your laptop from dust and checking the cooling system will not only avoid performance degradation, but also extend the life of your computer. In some cases, due to overheating, components fail and the system simply does not turn on. Cleaning should be done every few weeks.
Removing unnecessary applications and temporary files allows you to free up free space on your hard drive and thereby improve system performance. Disabling unnecessary startup items will free up space in RAM and improve performance. You can perform these actions regularly using special utilities.
Video: What to do when your laptop hangs
Reboot methods
If any problems occur, the first step is to restart your computer. This allows the system to start from the beginning and possibly avoid errors. A reboot will also be required to launch diagnostic tools, some antivirus utilities, and enter Safe Mode.
Let's look at the main ways to restart a laptop running Windows:
- program;
- mechanical.
Program
Most convenient way perform a reboot - software. It allows you to avoid accidental data loss and also save all changes made to Windows configuration. Microsoft, when developing its operating system, provided many ways to manage power and reboot.
Let's look at the main options for restarting a laptop from Windows:
- via the Start panel;
- using the task manager;
- using the command line.
Via the Start panel
The classic reboot method is to select Shut Down from the Start menu. In the window that appears, the user is given several actions to choose from: reboot, shutdown, and put the computer into sleep or hibernation mode.
Via Task Manager
The task manager built into the operating system also allows you to shut down your work.
To start it it is enough:
Via command line
Team Windows string allows you to perform most of the functions available from the GUI.
First of all, it is necessary:
- open command line by using the corresponding Start menu item or pressing the Win+R combination;
- by entering cmd command in the window that appears:
Mechanical
There are times when programmatically The laptop does not turn off and you have to resort to mechanical actions.
The main methods of hardware shutdown of a laptop:
- using the “Power” button;
- disconnecting the battery.
Via the "Power" button
The Power button is used to turn on the computer, and you can also force the power to turn off if you hold it down for a few seconds. In this case, the laptop will lose power.
Battery disconnection
It is rare to resort to disconnecting the battery, only in cases where the computer is frozen so that it does not respond to the keyboard and holding the power button. You need to unplug the laptop and then remove the battery for a few seconds.
Most errors related to laptop freezing can be resolved by the user himself. If the reasons are hardware in nature or cannot be identified, it is recommended to contact a specialized service center.
>Sometimes we are faced with an unknown reason for the low speed of the PC and even, worse, constant freezes of the operating system. This usually happens with computers and laptops that have served us for quite a long time.
Even advanced users cannot always understand the reasons for this computer behavior, let alone poorly trained beginners. This article will help diagnose the causes of freezing and braking. computers and independently eliminate a number of problems that have arisen.
1. Software problem
Since you are reading this article, you have begun to notice that the computer cannot cope with some computing tasks, it takes more time to open familiar sites, it slows down even when using simple toys, when watching videos, pictures, and so on. The first thing that comes to mind is to contact a specialized computer repair center, but do not rush to do this, try to cope with this problem yourself.
The system itself has such utilities in its set, but they are basic and, as a rule, do not always cope properly with such problems, especially when using the computer for a long time. After thoroughly cleaning and configuring the system special programs, the computer will definitely work faster.
2. Component overheating problem
If it's a computer, then programs won't help here. If exceeded permissible temperature one or more components of a computer/laptop, it starts to slow down a lot and may even freeze. This is a protective measure designed to reduce the load and, accordingly, the temperature.
Make sure that all cooling system vents have unobstructed air flow and are not blocked by foreign objects. Pay attention to the sufficient space between the wall computer desk and air intake holes for cooling the system unit.
The same goes for laptops. It is not recommended to place the laptop on soft surfaces, such as a blanket, that prevent the free flow of cooling air. Today there are many different stands that provide additional cooling, allowing you to reduce the heating of the laptop during prolonged use and workload. If the problem has already occurred, then read my article on how to deal with it.
The next reason for unstable operation may be overheating of processors and computer hardware components due to clogging of the cooling system with common dust and suspended particles that are drawn in by the fan along with the cooling air. Over time, dust accumulates on radiators, fans, and other cooling system components, preventing sufficient air from flowing through for effective airflow. electronic components system unit.
Install a utility that will help you measure the processor temperature, for example AIDA64. It should be without load within 42 - 47 C. If the temperature is above 70, then it is necessary to clear the cooling system of clogging or replace the fan, which may not be working. Carry out a visual inspection: if the fan does not spin or operates intermittently, or you hear extraneous noise during its operation, then clean it and lubricate it with oil, but it is better to replace it. It may have been damaged in the process long work, the grease has hardened, and so on.
Damage to the radiator can also cause freezing or stuttering. In this case, some tubes will feel hotter than others to the touch. If this is the case, then replace the cooling radiator or the entire system assembly. Replacing the thermal paste with a new one often helps. This is more difficult to do with a laptop; without disassembling it is almost impossible. Disassembling the laptop must be done very carefully, having first downloaded and studied the step-by-step instructions.
Assess your capabilities and if you are not confident in your disassembly abilities, it is better to contact a service center. You can use a can of compressed air for these purposes, but when using a laptop for a long time, this method is not very effective. This method is preferable for preventive computer maintenance work, once or twice a year.
Unstable operation of the system may depend on more complex problems associated with a malfunction of the power supply or other components that require specialist intervention. Adequately assess your capabilities so as not to harm your computer self-repair. In a complex situation of equipment damage, when it is impossible to figure it out on your own, it is preferable to trust a specialist.
