What do I do when my computer crashes?

Published: July 4, 2022

One of the worst-case scenarios for any computer user, whether they use a PC or a Mac, is when their computer suddenly crashes or freezes. And it always seems to happen when they are working on something for school or work. That is why it's always important to save every so often to avoid losing any work.

There are many reasons why a computer suddenly crashes, and they include:

• Power or battery issues
• Multiple applications running
• Software issues
• Outdated operating system(Os or iOS)
• Viruses and Malware
• Overheating
• Hardware issues

Sometimes fixing a crashed computer can be simple. Some common fixes can include.

Restarting your computer: It may not seem like much, but often your computer just needs time to reset. You can rest your computer or laptop by holding the power button for five to ten seconds. 

Before you turn it back on, unplug any headphones or other devices. These things can cause the computer to glitch when restarting. 

If your computer still crashes or freezes on startup, you can move on to the next step.

Close all running programs: Too many programs running at once can cause the system to crash. Shutting down these programs may solve the problem.

To close applications on a PC, you can use the Task Manager. For Mac users, it's the Activity monitor. 

Accessing Windows Task Manager:

1. At the same time, press CTRL + ALT+ Delete
2. Select Task Manager
3. In the bottom left corner, click more details
4. In the Processes column, choose Applications
5. Under applications, close any programs that are using the most memory by clicking End Task. 

Force quitting programs with Mac:

1. Press the Space Bar and Command at the same time
2. In the Search Bar, type Activity Monitor
3. Once the Activity Monitor has launched, it will show all running applications. Unresponsive Apps are labeled "unresponsive."
4. Quit the unresponsive Apps by selecting the "Stop" button icon. Once you do this, a pop-up window will appear.
5. Choose either Quit or Force Quit. 

Your Mac will only quit the program if it's safe. Force Quit is only needed if the program doesn't respond at all. However, force quitting an application may result in data loss. 

Update your OS or iOS

To update the operating system in Windows, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Windows Icon 
2. Click Settings
3. Select Update and Security
4. Click Windows Update
5. Select Check for updates: The system will show if you need an update or not. If any updates are available, Windows will automatically download and install them.

Updating the iOS on all Macs:

1. Click on the Apple Icon
2. Select System Preferences
3. Select System Software
4. Click Software Update
5. If there are any updates, click on Update Now to install the new iOS

One of the other ways to fix a crashed computer is by scanning for any viruses or malware using an antivirus program. Whatever one you choose is up to you.

If any viruses or malware programs are detected, the software will remove them. However, not all viruses and malware can be removed by the program. If that is the case, you may need to take your computer to a computer expert.

What happens if you've tried all these steps and your computer is still crashing? The Computer Geek is here to save the day. We are the computer and website experts. So, when something goes wrong with your computer. We can help get it running again. 

For more information on our services, visit our website or call (905)426-1784.