There can be many reasons why you keep asking yourself this question. Why does my computer keep freezing? I received a request on a website where I earn supplemental income answering computer and technology related questions.
“It has froze up on me.”
This individual had a Dell desktop computer with Microsoft Windows 10 operating system. The first thing I check for on a computer that freezes up is for adware, spyware, malware, and viruses. I use my preferred spyware scan tool.
When it comes to servicing customer computers, I also just use any tools that are already installed. This person had another malware scan tool, that I no longer mention. However, since it was already installed I went ahead and ran a malware scan with this tool.
Each tool found the exact same 90 objects. Sometimes these adware, malware, and spyware tools will find different objects. Also, I run a PC optimization tool with my preferred PC optimization software.
When it comes to antivirus scans, I normally just run a virus scan with whatever the individual has installed on their computer. I always make sure that the virus database has been updated, before starting a scan. Also, I make sure that there is only ONE virus software installed.
You NEVER want to install more than one antivirus software. They will conflict with each other and slow your computer down to potentially a crawl. I usually check in device manager for any problematic driver issues.
Also, I check Microsoft windows updates to see if any of them are failing. Another tactic you can use is learn how to read Microsoft windows logs with event viewer. A freezing computer could be hardware related.
However, since I helped this individual remotely, then obviously I could not perform any physical hardware tests. Finally, I always run two major operating system scans. Number one I run a system file check scan with the following command:
sfc /scannow
Depending on how long each scan takes, I prefer to run this scan three times. It could be corrupt system files that is causing your computer to freeze up. Finally, I schedule a chkdsk scan to begin the next time the individual restarts their computer with this command:
chkdsk c: /f /r
You will need to type in Y for yes after hitting enter. This is a comprehensive scan that will check for corrupt system files as well as bad sectors. It could be bad hard or soft sectors that is causing your computer to freeze up.
You will then need to restart your computer. Leave the computer keyboard alone and the chkdsk scan should begin in 10 seconds. This Microsoft system scan can take hours to complete.
This particular individual did NOT contact me after I performed all the a fore mentioned troubleshooting steps. Usually, this means that I fixed their problem. If this individual had contacted me again complaining of a frozen computer then, I would have performed some hardware scans.
I would have tested the computer’s random access memory even with Microsoft’s memory diagnostic test. Also, I would have tested the hard drive. Faulty and or failing memory or hard drive can definitely cause a freezing computer.
Believe it or not a faulty memory slot will cause your computer to freeze up. However, that is more of a rare occurrence outside of the memory sticks or hard drive themselves beginning to fail. Hopefully, I helped answer that age old question of yours.
Why does my computer keep freezing?