Let’s face the facts, when a laptop freezes up, it’s not fun. Your laptop computer is almost like an extension of yourself. All that computing power available at your fingertips. Anywhere, anytime. Like any computer, however, there is always the chance that problems will get in the way of your otherwise blissful computing experience. This can cost time, productivity, and money, especially if your laptop is critical to your business. Now, your laptop keeps freezing up, and always at the most inopportune time. Perhaps you were just about to project a presentation onto the big board at a conference. Or squeezing out that last edit before your freelance deadline. Your laptop freezing up can really be a problem. Before you throw down your cards and head off to the nearest repair service, consider some steps you can take on your own to stop your laptop freezing up without the hefty repair bill.
The first thing to consider is malware. Malware is a combination of the words malicious and software, which makes it a perfect description for what it does to your system. Malware runs the gamut of computer problems; it could be a virus, worm, key recorder, or just an annoyance that bombards your system with pop-ups whenever you access the nearest Wi-Fi connection. The symptoms may be obvious or completely hidden from view. If your laptop is freezing up frequently, malware is something to consider. Use a good program like Norton’s or McAfee’s software to check for hidden viruses. If you are trying to save a buck, there are programs available on the Internet that can check your system. HouseCall is one such program. It is free to scan, but if it finds something suspicious, it will require a paid upgrade to fix the problem. The cost of a good virus protection program can be considerably less than paying a repair service who knows how many dollars an hour. And the virus protection typically continues on for a contractual amount of time, where a repair service will charge you to rid you of the pest without any further coverage.
Malware is the first step toward discovering the reasons why your laptop is freezing up. If it turns out there is no malicious software on your system, then you must consider problems in the hardware itself. Hardware problems mean that it is a physical problem in your computer and not just a simple software fix. Your hard drive could be the culprit. If your laptop freezes up, it could be because of a hard drive that is simply overburdened. Use built-in software with Windows to defragment your hard drive. This basically reorganizes your hard drive so that the computer can find necessary files quicker. If this has no effect, your hard drive may be permanently damaged. Conduct a ScanDisk check through Windows to check the surface of the hard drive for errors.
If your hard drive turns up okay, it’s time to look at the innards of your operating system. Perhaps too many programs are running at one time. Check into what programs start automatically when the laptop boots. Too many things running in the background can be the reason your laptop keeps freezing up. Make sure that the programs booting up are necessary to your normal operations. Get a registry checker to find out if any of the operating system’s core files are corrupted. All of these things can contribute to your laptop freezing up.
It is possible that your laptop keeps freezing up because it simply does not have enough air. Investigate vents to make sure nothing is clogging the openings. A lack of ventilation can easily cause your laptop to heat up and be unable to perform at its optimal capability. Clean out vents and make sure enough air is getting to the computer. Graphic cards sometimes are programmed to shut down at certain levels of heat. If your laptop is freezing up during graphics-intensive applications, you should seriously consider that it isn’t getting enough ventilation.
If your laptop freezes up still, after trying all of these solutions, then consider that you may have a case of bad RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM is a critical element of your laptop’s performance. Data is constantly being stored in RAM for easy access, and if the RAM is not functioning correctly, it could definitely be a reason that your laptop freezes up. Replacing RAM is not easy in a compact device like a laptop. Consider your cost analysis here. It may or may not be beneficial to contact a professional.
