With the right guidance, you can easily fix computer crashes and hang problems by yourself. Even if you have no technical knowledge at all, you can still fix it with proper guidance.
If you are someone who spends a significant amount of time working on a computer, you have probably experienced the frustration of a computer crash or a hang-up. These issues can be frustrating, especially when they happen in the middle of an important project.
They might seem like something that demands you to call the technician. However, there are several things you can do to fix computer crashes and hang problems by yourself.
I have worked as a computer technician for over seven years and I can assure you that some of these crashes are caused by minor issues. Most of the time, they don’t even demand that you call the technician.
My goal with this article is to help you resolve computer crashes and hangs as they happen. I mean doing everything by yourself without calling in the technician.
How To Fix Computer Crashes And Hang Problems
There are so many things that can cause your computer to crash. While most of them require that you get certain tools to help you resolve them, others can be resolved with just a few mouse clicks. Below are some of the things you should do in case you find your computer crashing often.
1. Check your cooling system
Overheating can cause all sorts of problems for your computer, including crashes and hang-ups. Make sure your computer is properly ventilated and that its fans are working properly.
Sometimes, dust clogs the air vent from the inside of your computer. You may have to open your computer to check and clean the air vent. Consider using a cooling pad to keep your computer cool if you are using a laptop.
You can use software like SpeedFan to check if your CPU is overheating. If it is, consider cleaning your heat sink and applying a thermal paste.
2. Check the RAM
Random Access Memory (RAM) plays a major role in the functioning of the computer. The computer needs at least one functional RAM present on the motherboard to be able to function.
In most cases, if the RAM is malfunctioning your computer will crash every now and then. If you find yourself in such a situation, the first thing you must do is remove your RAMs, clean them, and reinsert them.
Make sure you insert only one if it is functioning well without any crashes, then you can add the other one. If it crashes, remove it and try on the other one. If both crash, the problem could be something different.
You can also follow my previous tutorial about how to replace your computer RAM if you don’t know how to do that yet.
3. Check if your motherboard
Every component in the computer is connected to the motherboard. If your computer is crashing, the probability that a component on the motherboard is not properly connected is very high.
In this case, what you have to do is to open your computer and properly check all the cables connected to the motherboard.
One of the cables you should pay more attention to is the connection between your hard disk and the motherboard. Most of the time, if this cable loses contact, every little vibration will cause your computer to crash.
4. Check peripherals
Apart from the mouse and keyboard, any other connected device can cause your system to crash. Pen drives, external hard disk drives, etc.
If you are experiencing crashes and hanging, disconnect all peripherals and restart your computer.
It is rare that the mouse and keyboard will cause your computer to crash but you can also try different ones to see if your system will crash again.
5. Make sure your power-supply work properly
The power supply unit is treated as an external body whether in a system unit or laptop. Sometimes short circuits in the power supply could interrupt the current flow. This will cause the system to crash.
Checking the power supply is usually a job for the experts since they have to check if the right amount of current is being supplied. But there are some tiny checks you can do yourself. Check if all power connectors are firm.
If they are loose, it is likely they could cause the computer to crash from the slightest vibration.
6. Check your CMOS or laptop battery
Most of the time, after a system unit crash, the very first thing you have to do is to boot without the CMOS battery. In case a system configuration is causing this crash, removing the CMOS battery will reset the configuration to factory default.
In Laptops, removing the battery could solve some of these problems. There are some laptops that can not work without a working battery. An example of such a laptop is the Apple Macbook Pro. This laptop will crash every now and then if you are running with a damaged battery.
Check for malware and viruses
Malware and viruses can cause all sorts of problems for your computer, including crashes and hang-ups. Make sure you have antivirus software installed on your computer and that it is up-to-date. Perform a full scan of your computer to check for any malware or viruses. If any are found, follow the instructions to remove them.
You can also repeat the scanning process on weekly basis to keep your computer safe.
7. Update your operating system and drivers
One of the most common causes of computer crashes and hang problems is outdated software. Another is if some of your operating system files are missing.
If you have not updated your operating system or drivers in a while, it is time to do so. Go to your computer’s settings and look for any available updates. Install them and restart your computer.
This simple step can often fix many common issues. Even if some of your operating system files are missing, updating could restore the missing files.
8. Remove unnecessary programs
Having too many programs running on your computer can cause it to slow down and eventually crash or hang. Go through your list of installed programs and remove any that you don’t use or need. This can free up space on your computer’s hard drive and improve its performance.
9. Clean up your hard drive
Over time, your computer’s hard drive can become cluttered with temporary files, old downloads, and other unnecessary data. Use a disk cleanup tool to remove these files and free up space on your hard drive. This can improve your computer’s performance and reduce the likelihood of crashes and hang-ups.
Conclusion
Knowing how to fix computer crashes and hangs is an important skill to learn. Most of these issues are minor issues that do not demand that you call the technician.
Always make sure to keep a few tools that will help you open your computer when needed. In case your computer crashes, check your RAM, Power Supply Unit, and all the cables connected to the motherboard.
While most of the issues are hardware issues, software issues also do cause the computer to crash. Make sure you update your software, remove unwanted software and perform regular Malware scans as well.