A major annoyance for users is when their computer freezes and it’s a very common problem. A computer freezing is nothing new and have been occurring well before the start of my career in IT (15 odd years) but less about that and more on how to fix the annoyance.

What causes a computer freezing?

Like most computer problems there are various reasons why a computer can freeze such as:

• A Computer virus or spyware
• Software conflicting
• A Hardware fault
• The computer over heating

Check for a computer virus or spyware

One of the biggest causes of computer problems is probably down to a computer virus or spyware being installed. A computer can become easily infected without the knowledge of the user. One signal of having a virus or spyware installed is the computer freezing so if your computer freezes a lot its highly advisable to run a scan using anti-virus software. I’ve previously posted what is  the best free anti-virus software and  8 Online virus scanners to use if you don’t already have an  anti-virus program for your computer.

Fixing software conflicts that causes computer freezes

Software conflicts can be a difficult one to fix unless you know exactly what programs are conflicting. You can however use a simple tool that is built into Microsoft Windows called MSCONFIG that allows you to edit what programs load when your computer starts. I recommend trying to perform a “clean boot” of your computer to first see if it stops the computer freezing. See article KB 310353 on performing a clean boot, although this is for Windows XP it also works for Windows Vista and Windows XP.

Ensure you software is compatible for your computer

Not every software program will work on every computer or even every Operating System. If you’ve installed any programs on your computer such as a game make sure to check its required specifications. If you have upgraded to the new version of Windows 7 from either XP or Vista ensure all your software is compatible.

Perform regular updates

Each and every month Microsoft release critical updates for their software ensure you install these updates each time they are released. Not only does Microsoft Updates install security patches they also install fixes for known problems or bugs.  You may also want to check if any of the hardware on your computer has updated drivers available to download including the motherboard chipset, modem, monitor, printers, scanners and even cameras.

Finding Hardware Faults

Being able to find a hardware fault on your computer can be difficult but can be the cause of why a computer freezes. Such faults can occur with memory, graphics cards and even the whole monitor. You may need to have your computer checked out by a computer specialist as they’ll know what checks to perform to find a fault. Even though there are programs available to perform hardware diagnostics I can’t recommend any to use at this point, I personally don’t use such programs.

Make sure your computer is not over heating

When a computer over heats it can cause faults such as freezes. Ensure you PC is well ventilated and the internal fans actually work – you should be able to hear the fans spin when the computer is powered on. Dust can also gather on the fan causing it to not work to its full potential, a can of compressed air can be useful to blow dust out of the fan. If you are using a laptop make sure the vents are not covered and air can easily circulated around the sides and back.

These are just some of the more common causes of why a computer freezes and although I haven’t provided a full how to guide these tips should be used as a starting point on what to check.