 When Your Computer Crashes
One of the many joys of owning a computer is that queasy feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you realize your mouse pointer isn't going anywhere. You try to save what you were working on, so you can close the application, but nothing is moving. This is lovingly referred to as a Lockup, and the first time it happens can be quite a frightening experience.
Actually, there isn't much you can do when everything freezes like that, except turn the power off and hope for the best when you restart your computer. Yes, you have been drilled on the proper way to shut down your computer, never just turn it off, close Windows first, etc. But what is the drill for a Lockup??
First, don't panic. It won't do any good to keep pointing and clicking all over the screen. Your computer is pretty confused at this stage and every move you make can add to the problem. Quite often, lockups can be caused by trying to do something when your computer hasn't completed giving you what you wanted in the first place. If things don't happen quickly enough (we get so spoiled by speed), it only seems natural to click the button again, or go on to something else entirely. A computer, by design, will try to complete tasks in the order they were requested. When you start clicking other things trying to get out, you can compound the problem by confusing the computer. It doesn't know what you want the most, so its answer is to give you NOTHING!
(A)bort, (R)etry, (I)nfluence with large hammer
While you certainly don't want to get into the habit of giving Windows a "rude" shutdown, a lockup is one of the times it is necessary. Just turn the thing off. Press and hold the main power button about 5 seconds, until it is obviously off. Wait about 5 minutes. Walk outside and take a whiff of fresh air. When you turn your computer back on, chances are it will be back to normal. Windows, from XP to Vista, is pretty good about healing itself in most instances. Shutting it down can sometimes help your system refresh itself and free up resources that were being overworked before the lockup. If it comes back up and all is normal again, count your blessings and go your merry way.
Who to call
Who you call for help, when you need it, can make a difference in how much time you spend getting the problem resolved. It's pretty easy to tell the difference between a hardware and a software problem. If your screen flickers, jumps, or your monitor makes a screeching noise when you turn the power on, it's a pretty good bet that you have a hardware problem. If something smokes, it's hardware. If banging on the keyboard doesn't produce any results on your screen, it could be hardware (your keyboard). If something like your mouse or keyboard quits functioning, always check your connections first. Sometimes, turning the computer off, then disconnecting and reconnecting the non-functioning device, can work wonders. If none of this works, it's time to call the people you purchased your system from. They can sometimes help you pinpoint the problem, and direct you to the right place to get it fixed.
If they suggest a hammer...you bought your computer from the wrong place!
If your computer freezes and you see "nasty" messages warning you of "illegal" acts and other horrible things you haven't even dreamed of, chances are it's something you have installed. New software can wreak havoc with existing applications on your PC. Sometimes restarting your computer can "fix" these, but if it is a regular occurrence, one of the best places to go for answers is google. Make a note of the exact error message and do a google search on it. Odds are, someone out there in cyberspace has had the same problem, and the answer has been posted on someone's website. You may have hundreds of solutions to choose from. If you don't, try defining your problem a bit better. Different search words will give you different results.
You can try to get in touch with the people who made the last software application you installed. In your manuals, or on their website, there may be a support phone number or forum you can visit to talk to their tech support folks or other users. I can guarantee someone has heard your exact problem before and they can either talk you through a fix over the phone, or point you in the right direction to get the problem resolved. If they can (or won't), you know who not to buy from in the future. Customer Service is the key to the success or failure of many software and hardware manufacturers.
Never settle for less than the best!
Got questions?
Search mrswizard.com and compuquicktips.com
with Google!
|
