Are you currently bogged down with problems on your computer? Is your computer constantly crashing? There are a couple of reasons why computers crash, and knowing these causes puts you in a better position to not only tackle them, but prevent them from occurring altogether.
Below you will find eight of the most common and crucial reasons why your system may be crashing. It’s recommended that you try tackling this issue by yourself, before consulting a professional, as the price can be quite hefty. All in all, if your system is constantly crashing, you may want to look at some of these solutions while in safe mode.
1. Computer Is Too Hot
One of the most important aspects of any computer system is its running temperature. When computers run, naturally they generate a great deal of heat, which must be vented if your system is to continue running smoothly. If you have your system in a room that gets really hot during the summer time, you may have noticed your system performance become sluggish during the summer, this is because your system tries to limit heat build-up. Most systems have some form of protection, which means they will shut down if they get too hot. You want to ensure your system is in a well ventilated room. You also want to ensure the computer case is also well ventilated with intake and outtake fans installed. Dust is another thing for you to consider, any build-up of dust should be cleaned out.
2. Power Supply Issues
Depending on the country you live in, and the stability of the power grid, this may or may not have an effect on your system. Power spikes or surges are capable of causing your system to crash.
If you want to protect yourself from such issues, then buy an uninterrupted power supply (UPS). This will ensure your system receives a steady stream of electricity, and will also protect the computer against power cuts, giving you several minutes to perform a proper shutdown.
A UPS is an excellent investment if you work on the system you purchased it for. This is because a power cut will cause you to lose any unsaved data you may have been working on at the time.
3. Malware
Malware or malicious files are also capable of causing your system to crash. If you don’t have antimalware or antivirus software running on your computer, then you could have viruses replicating all over your system. These viruses are designed to alter system settings, which can lead to system freezing and crashing. To ensure your system is safe, you will need to download the appropriate software and run a full scan of your system. There are many security tools around, so this is simply a matter of choosing the right one for you.
4. Software
Another common cause of system crashing is a corrupted software installation. In most cases you can fix this problem simply by reinstalling the culprit program. You can use the Uninstall Shield to do this.
When you use the uninstaller to remove the program, it will not only remove the program files, but also remove references to the program within the Windows registry. This ensures any new install will be completely fresh. The Windows registry can become corrupted as a result of old references to missing and/or deleted programs and files. This is why it’s important you spring clean the registry as well.
5. Insufficient or Failing Memory
Another cause of system crashing is memory problems. Such problems are caused by two things. The first, which is something I touched on earlier is overheating (or age). It’s not uncommon for memory modules to fail, with time, resulting in less overall RAM for your system. The other potential cause is insufficient space. The memory modules may be just fine, but they could simply lack free space to run the programs you are attempting to use on it. To determine which it is, you will need to use Windows Task Manager and check under Memory, to see if all your RAM is being used up. If so, then you know the problem is as a result of insufficient RAM. In which case you should consider buying more.
6. BIOS Settings
Motherboards come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with different chipsets, each with their own capabilities. One way you can access the features of your motherboard is through the BIOS. To access the BIOS, simply click on the Del key or F2 during the first boot up screen.
Once you enter the BIOS, you want to take the utmost care. It’s best practice to keep note of all the settings, that way, if you make any changes that has undesirable results, you can very easily put the setting back. Alternatively, you could simply click on the Default Settings button, which is usually an option in the BIOS.
7. Hard Drive Is Failing
Another common reason for system crashing is a failing hard drive. Mechanical hard drives, which are still the most commonly used, due to pricing, use magnetic plates, which over time can begin to wear out. As the areas of the plate (referred to as sectors) start to die out, it will cause programs to start to behave erratically. A failing hard drive usually makes unusual clicking sounds when in use. So if you hear such sounds when using your computer, that’s an indication it’s time to replace your hard drive – at least before it’s too late.
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8. Incorrect Device Drivers
One very important aspect of computing, which many people tend to ignore is their drivers. If you install the wrong drivers for one of your devices. It could cause your system to crash randomly. An incorrect device driver is typically accompanied by a blue screen of death error. In most cases, when you encounter blue screen errors, it’s usually as a result of a driver conflict.
To fix this issue, simply ensure you have the most up-to-date drivers for all the most crucial devices attached to your system. Such as your graphics card, keyboard, mouse, monitor and the motherboard itself. You can usually find the drivers on the official website of the manufacturers of your various components.
–AUTHOR INFO—
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is a former IT Manager who now runs his own computer support website https://www.compuchenna.co.uk/
