[SOLVED] Laptop Keeps Freezing and Crashing

"I have a pc that runs on windows 10. It has been working great for a long time now but then suddently it just began freezing at random times. Even when i watch youtube it freezes. I have a virus detector and i dont have any virusses or malware. It just happened suddenly. I was playing and it began freezing. i dont know what to do, pls help."

This is a problem described by a user on Reddit. And laptop keeps freezing and crashing has become a hot topic that many Windows 10 laptop users care about. So, in this article, we'll give you some insights about the causes of the laptop keeps freezing and crashing as well as some practical solutions to fix it.

Causes for Laptop Keeps Freezing and Crashing

You must be wondering what factor causes your laptop keeps freezing and crashing. There are various reasons accounting for this annoying issue.

• 1. Overheating

One of the most common causes of a laptop keeps freezing and crashing is overheating. Laptops tend to heat up when they run for a long time or perform processor-intensive tasks. The hot air inside the laptop cannot escape quickly enough, which will slow down the laptop and even cause it to freeze or crash.

• 2. Too many programs running on the laptop simultaneously

If too many programs are running on your computer simultaneously, your processor can't deal with so many tasks, which will lead to the laptop running slowly and eventually freezing or crashing.

• 3. Outdated laptop drivers

If some of the drivers on your laptop are outdated, they can cause compatibility issues and lead to laptop freezing and crashing issues as well.

• 4. Corrupted or damaged system files

Damaged or corrupted files can also cause the laptop freezing error. These files are essential for the normal operation of your laptop, so any damage to them can cause serious problems.

• 5. Virus or malware infection

A virus or malware infection will bring unpredictable damage to your laptop. So, if you suspect that your laptop is infected with a virus or malware, you should scan it with a reliable antivirus program and remove the threat as soon as possible.

• 6. Hardware failure

If there is something wrong with the hardware on your laptop, such as a failing hard drive, it can also cause laptop freezing and crashing issue.

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How to Fix Laptop Keeps Freezing and Crashing

Now that you know the leading causes of the laptop keeps freezing and crashing, it's time to learn how to fix it. 

After finishing the backup, let's move on to the fixes:

• Fix 1. Check for overheating issues
• Fix 2. Close all background programs
• Fix 3. Run SFC (System File Checker)
• Fix 4. Update all drivers
• Fix 5. Boot PC from Safe Mode
• Fix 6. Reinstall Windows OS

Fix 1. Check for overheating issues

As we mentioned above, overheating is one of the most common causes of laptop freezing and crashing. So, if you find that your laptop is running very hot, you can try the following solutions to fix it:

1) Clean the laptop fan

You can use a can of compressed air to clean the laptop fan's dust and ensure nothing is blocking the air vents.

2) Improve laptop ventilation

Make sure the laptop air vents are not blocked. If you're using a laptop on your lap, consider using a laptop cooling pad to improve airflow.

3) Update the laptop BIOS

If the BIOS on your laptop is outdated, it can also cause overheating issues. You can go to the official website to check for updates and install the latest BIOS.

4) Reduce processor load

If your laptop is overheating when running specific programs, reduce the processor load by closing some unnecessary programs or tabs.

Fix 2. Close all background programs

Too many programs running on the laptop can also lead to laptop sluggish problem. You can close some unnecessary programs or tabs to fix the issue.

Here are the detailed steps:

1) On your keyboard, press the "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" keys simultaneously to open Task Manager.

2) Under Processes, check the CPU and Memory usage.

3) If the usage is too high, click End task to close the corresponding program.

4) Repeat this step until all unnecessary programs are closed.

Fix 3. Run SFC (System File Checker)

The corrupted or damaged system files on your laptop can also cause the laptop to freeze and crash. So, you can try running an SFC (System File Checker) scan to fix the issue.

Here's how:

1) Press the Windows logo key, and then type cmd. Then, cli ck Command Prompt.

2) Enter "sfc /scannow" in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.

3) Wait for the scanning process to finish. If any corrupted system files are found, they will be repaired automatically.

Fix 4. Update all drivers

Outdated drivers are also one of the leading causes of laptop freezing error. So, it would be best if you kept all drivers on your laptop up-to-date. You can use the Computer Management tool to update drivers.

Here's how:

1) Press the Windows logo key and type control panel, then click Control Panel.

2) Click Device Manager.

3) Double-click the outdated driver to update it. 

4) If you don't see any outdated drivers, try updating them from the manufacturer's website.

Fix 5. Boot laptop from Safe Mode

According to some users' feedback, booting the laptop from Safe Mode is also an effective method to solve the problem. Here are the steps:

1) On your laptop, press the Power button to restart it.

2) When you see the Power options screen, press and hold the Shift key, then click Restart.

3) After your laptop restarts, you will see the Choose an option screen. Click Troubleshoot.

4) Click Advanced options.

5) Click Startup Settings.

6) Click Restart.

7) Press 4 or F4 on your keyboard to enter Safe Mode, or press 5 or F5 to enter Safe Mode with Networking.

8) Once you're in Safe Mode, try running the program that was causing the issue and see if it still crashes. If not, then the problem is most likely caused by a third-party program or driver.

Fix 6. Reinstall Windows OS

If all the fixes above can't solve the issue effectively, you can try to reinstall the Windows operating system, which can fix almost Windows laptop errors. 

Before you reinstall Windows, you'd better back up your important files and data to avoid any data loss.

Here are the detailed steps:

1) Insert the Windows installation disc into your laptop's CD/DVD drive.

2) Restart your laptop and press any key to boot from the disc when prompted.

3) Select your language, time and currency formats, and keyboard or input method on the Install Windows screen, then click Next.

4) On the next screen, click Repair your computer.

5) On the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.

6) Click Advanced options.

7) Click Command Prompt.

8) Type the following commands into the Command Prompt window and press Enter after each one:

        bootrec.exe /fixmbr

        bootrec.exe /fixboot

        bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd

9) Close the Command Prompt window and click Restart on the Choose an option screen to restart your laptop.

[Practical Tips] Prevent Laptop from Freezing and Crashing

It's annoying to deal with laptop freezing and crashing issues. To prevent them from happening again, here are some practical tips for you:

• Keep your laptop clean, both inside and out. Use compressed air to remove dust from vents and keyboards regularly.
• Don't use too many programs at the same time. Close the ones you're not using to free up memory and processing power.
• Don't overload your laptop's battery. Avoid running programs that use a lot of battery power when your laptop is not plugged in.
• Keep all drivers on your laptop up-to-date, especially the ones for your video card and wireless adapter.
• Run a virus scan with your antivirus program at least once a week.
• Only install a few programs that are useful on your laptop. Uninstall the ones you don't use to free up space.

These are all about why and how to fix a laptop keeps freezing and crashing. Hope the above suggestions can help you get rid of this vexing problem. Remember to back up before troubleshooting.

FAQ on Laptop Keeps Freezing and Crashing

1. Why does my laptop keep freezing and crashing?

As discussed in the article, many possible reasons can cause laptops to freeze and crash, such as outdated drivers, too many programs, malware & virus, overheating, corrupted files, etc.

2. How do I fix Windows 10 from freezing and crashing?

Based on the causing factors, you can try different solutions to fix the laptop freezing and crashing. For example, if an outdated driver causes the laptop freezing, you can update the driver to solve it. If too many programs are running at the same time, you can close some of them to free up resources. If a virus or malware is causing the issue, you can run a virus scan to remove it, and so on.