Top 10 Reasons for Computer Freezing

There are so many reasons why our systems slow down, but in most cases, the main culprit tends to be the user. As you introduce new programs to your system, surf the internet, create new documents, fill your hard drive up with music and videos, it’s inevitably that all of this behavior will have negative ramifications for system performance. So if you find yourself in a position where your system appears to be running slower than usual, maybe it’s time you did a little spring cleaning.

Below is a list of the most common reasons why your system isn’t running as fast as it used to.

1. Too Many Programs Running

Every application that you have opened, running on your system, takes system resources in order to operate. If you have multiple applications running at the same time, it’ll need equally as much resources and memory to keep these programs operational. In order to avoid this situation, it’s always best to open, no more than one or two applications at a time, and make a habit of closing programs after you’ve finished using them.

2. Not Enough RAM

If you’re pushing your computer system to its limit, then you shouldn’t be surprised if it starts to falter. What you want to ensure, is that your computer system has enough RAM to carry out all the activities you intend to do on it. 8GB of RAM is probably the recommended minimum nowadays.

Upgrading is also a viable option, if your systems lacks the required amount of RAM, then go out and purchase bigger memory modules.

3. Malware

Malware is capable of causing a great many problems for your system, with freezing being but one symptom. Preventing malware from infiltrating and damaging your system requires you install a trustworthy antivirus tool, and carry out regularly system scans.

4. Browser Has Too Many Add-Ons

Browser extensions are designed to enhance your overall web experience, but they are equally as capable of slowing your system down, by consuming system resources and memory. You also need to consider the fact that not all add-ons do what they advertise. There are add-ons that claim to be popup blockers, but are in fact adware, which ends up slowing your system down, by downloading and presenting numerous ads on your desktop screen, every single time you start up your web browser.

5. Driver Problems

A corrupted or out-dated driver is also capable of adversely effecting system performance. If you don’t update your video drivers, for example, your computer could freeze or crash when you attempt to run certain games. You’ll want to use Device Manager to examine all the components inside your computer, and check for any yellow exclamation marks, which indicates there are no drivers installed for that specific component.

6. Buggy Applications

It’s not uncommon for you to download and install an application or browser add-on that wasn’t well coded. Can you remember the last program or extension you installed on your system? If so, consider removing it, and then examine your systems performance. If you can’t remember what you last installed, then I suggest you take a look at all your installed applications and remove the ones that are no longer of any use to you.

7. System Heating Up

If your system’s processor is running much hotter than it usually is, then it can lead to your system freezing. There are many symptoms that, if you’re aware of, you can use to determine whether or not the computer is running hot, such as unusual squealing sounds during boot-up. When turning your system on, you want to ensure your fans are still working, so listen closely for that. You should also monitoryour hard drive and graphics card, to ensure that they are not running hotter than usual.

8. Antivirus Scanner Consuming Resources

Having an antivirus scanner on your system is an integral component for the overall health and security of your system, but there’s also the drawback of your scanner running system scans at the most awkward times. If your antivirus scanner is running in the background, it can slow your system down quite considerably. Some antivirus scanners are automatically configured to run at specific times, such as every Mondays, so during these scans, you can expect things to feel a little sluggish.