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FROZEN COMPUTER
Most times when a computer locks up, it means there
was a conflict between two programs or between a program and a 'peripheral device' like a
printer or a CD-ROM. What this means is the computer is thinking about things.
How long it takes to think is a matter of question, though. At times, the
computer will think forever. This is called a loop. Other times, the computer
will stop thinking and ask for direction or pop up a warning or informational message
explaining what the problem is.
There are generally two kinds of 'lock-ups' and
they're each handled differently. If a program stops responding (won't respond to
mouse clicks or the keyboard) and it rarely slows down at that point, the first thing to
do is wait a minute. It could just be waiting for a file to finish writing or
reading or processing. If after a minute, there is no disk activity (the lights
aren't flashing and there is no noise from the hard drive) then it's probably locked in a
loop.
Hold down both the Ctrl key and the Alt key and tap
the Del (Delete) key ONCE. Then wait a minute. A dialog window will appear
showing you the 'active programs'. Click on the one you want to end, then click 'end
task'. (Windows XP, 2000 will have to click the Task Manager button and the
Applications tab to get to the place where you can do this).
If the program doesn't immediately end wait another
minute. Eventually another window saying that the program is busy will appear.
Click End Task again. The program should then end normally. You can try
restarting the program again. If it freezes up again, repeat the above instructions
again, save all data in any open programs and shut down your computer, wait ten seconds
and restart your computer. This should clear any conflicts.
The other problem is a complete system freeze.
No mouse or - worse - the infamous and dreaded 'blue screen of death'.
Basically, this means you have to shut off your computer and restart. If you can't
use the Start button to shut down normally, you can use the Shut Down option from the
Ctrl+Alt+Delete key command. If that doesn't work, then use the Ctrl+Alt+Delete key
command three times in a row. If that fails to restart the computer, hold in the
power button (the one you press to start the computer) for at least ten seconds - or until
the computer shuts off. Wait at least ten seconds and restart the computer by the
usual means. It's always best to try to get the computer to the point where you can
shut it down normally. Cutting off the power to the computer to shut down is a
last-resort option. If the computer will NOT shut off, then you can disconnect the
power cable as an ultimate power-down measure. On very rare occasions, this becomes
necessary. If you have a power surge protector, turn it off instead of pulling out
the power cord. But only do this if ALL other methods fail and you have to restart
the computer. If your computer does not restart normally (if it goes into standby
instead of shutting down entirely) then you will have to pull the plug on it, so to speak,
to get it back. It should then boot up normally after giving you the 'Blue screen of
admonishment', or the notice telling you that Windows was shut down improperly.
It should be noted that Windows XP and Windows 2000
almost never freeze up the way the Windows 9x versions do (including Windows Me).
They have a much more stable platform on which to run programs. Each has advantages
and disadvantages but the reason this is mentioned is that if you are running Windows XP
or 2000 and having operating system problems, you might consider the possibility that you
have a virus or other serious problem. Freezing in Windows XP and 2000 to the point
that you have to turn off the computer manually by pulling the power cord or pressing the
power button is extremely unusual and should be considered serious enough to have an
expert go over your computer if it continues to happen more often than once or twice a
year. For Windows XP and 2000, the Ctrl+Alt+Delete key command is always sufficient
to shut down a frozen program as described above without killing the operating system,
too.
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