Computer freezes
Every person using a computer must have faced the problem of the computer freeze from time to time. It is a common problem as it occurs on a regular basis. When the computer suddenly stops responding to the commands of the user it is said to freeze. When a computer freezes nothing on the screen moves. A computer freeze is different from a computer crash. A computer is said to crash when the "blue screen of death" appears.
It is very easy to detect if the computer is frozen. The major indicator is that the courser does not move even though the user is moving the mouse. The program that is running stops responding to the users command. This is the first sign that indicates the computer has been frozen. If the program has been minimized to the task bar will not pop up if the user tries to maximize or restore the program window. The OS may also pop up an error window stating that the program is no longer responding or has performed an illegal operation. These error windows give the user the option to either to let the computer fix and restore the program or to end the program.
There are other reasons that cause a computer freeze on a regular basis. There could be a particular program that is causing the computer to freeze. There could be too many applications running at the same time. Defective or mismatched hardware could also lead to a freeze. The software applications or even some versions of the Windows OS cause a computer to freeze. Down level drivers or improper CMOS settings would cause a freeze. Low disk space is another main reason for a computer to freeze. A combination of the above mentioned problems would also cause a freeze.
The user should not make haste to turn the computer off. The user can check if the computer is really frozen by hitting the Num Lock key and checking if the LED is responding accordingly. The user should wait for a couple of minutes before restarting the computer. Most of the time rebooting the computer will solve the problem. But rebooting will cause loss of all unsaved data. To avoid this there is another alternative method. If the LED is responding on hitting the "Num Lock" key, one can press Ctrl + Alt + Del at the same time. This will open the "Windows Task Manager" window. Under the tab applications the programs that are running are shown with their status. The program that is not responding shows the status "Not Responding". Selecting the non-responding program and clicking on "End Task" will end the program. Defragmenting the computer regularly would reduce the number of freeze.
A freeze is bound to happen with every computer. So necessary precautions should be taken all the time. One must also have a backup of the files. Save data regularly. One can have a backup of the files on a floppy disc or CD. During a freeze mostly small files like text and image files are lost. So be prepared for a freeze because it could happen anytime to anyone. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
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