1. Check System Logs and Event Viewer
If your computer is freezing, the first step should be to check the system logs and event viewer for any errors or warnings that can indicate what is causing the issue. To access the system logs, press the Windows key + R, type in ‘eventvwr.msc’ and press enter. This will open the Event Viewer which shows the system, application and security logs.
2. Check for Known Issues
If there are no errors or warnings in the system logs, then it is a good idea to do a quick search online for known issues related to the model of computer you are using. Many computers come with known defects (such as fan or battery faults) that can cause the computer to freeze up. Looking at the manufacturer’s website or support forums might help to identify any known issues with your model.
3. Monitor Performance
Once you have checked for any known issues with your computer model, the next step is to monitor the performance of the computer to check for any abnormal activity. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager and monitor the CPU, Memory, Disk and Network usage. If any of these values jump suddenly or stay high over time, it can indicate that a specific process or program is causing the problem.
4. Identify Problematic Programs
To identify which program is causing the issue, look at the list of currently running processes in Task Manager. If one of them is taking up an unusually large amount of resources, then it may be the culprit. To confirm this, click on the “Details” tab and sort the list by memory usage or CPU usage. If there are still multiple programs at the top of the list, try disabling each one in turn and see if the freezing continues.
5. Monitor Operating System and Software Updates
If you are unable to identify a specific program as the cause of the freezing, then it is a good idea to check for any pending updates for the operating system or any installed software. Out of date applications can cause conflicts or incompatibilities which can lead to problems like freezing. Updating the operating system and software is a good way to ensure your computer is running optimally and reduce the risk of further freezing issues.
6. Run System Diagnostics
Finally, you should also consider running system diagnostics to check for any hardware problems. Such tests can include hard drive scans, RAM tests, CPU benchmarking and more. To run system diagnostics, you can either use a dedicated tool such as Windows Memory Diagnostic or a third-party utility such as PC Wizard. These tools will help to identify any underlying hardware or memory issues that could be causing the freezing.
Hopefully, the above steps will help you to identify what programs are causing your computer to freeze. If none of these methods reveal the root cause of the issue, then you may need to seek professional help from a computer repair specialist or contact the computer’s manufacturer.