Laptop freezes on restart
July 27th, 2021 Show
What to do when your Mac or PC computer starts crashing or freezingOne moment you're happily going about your daychecking emails or listening to musicwhen, suddenly, everything stops. Your computer is frozen. You frantically drag and click your mouse desperate for signs of movement, but nothing happens. Don't panic. At Asurion, our experts help millions of customers get the most out of their tech and resolve their most frustrating device problems. Here's our guide to why your computer is freezing or crashing and how to get it back up and running. Why do computers start freezing or crashing?Your Mac® or PC computer may be crashing for a variety of reasons, including:
The good news is there are simple workarounds that will save you time as you try to figure out why your computer keeps crashing. What should I do when my computer starts freezing or crashing?Is your Mac freezing? Is your PC crashing? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here are some common troubleshooting steps for both. Restart your computerTypically, the most effective way to fix a frozen computer is to restart it. Doing so gives your system a chance to reset and start fresh. The best way to restart a frozen computer is to hold the power button down for five to 10 seconds. This will allow your computer to restart safely without the disruption of a total power loss. Make sure to disconnect any headphones or extra cords as these items can cause glitches as your computer restarts. If your computer freezes againduring the start-up process, however, it's time to explore other options for solving the problem. Quit programs that might be causing your computer to freezeWhen too many software programs are running on your computer at the same time, your operating system can get overwhelmed. This causes websites and applications to drag, freeze, or even crash. The Task Manager on Windows and its Apple® equivalent, Activity Monitor, are great tools you can use to force quit applications that are hoarding resources, making sure your device runs smoothly. How to force quit programs using Task Manager on Windows 10:
How to force quit programs using Activity Monitor on a Mac:
If your Mac or PC repeatedly crashes after force quitting certain applications, you may need to uninstall them. They're likely incompatible with your hard drive. Start your PC or Mac in Safe ModeAnother way to keep your computer safe from freezing or crashing is called, well, Safe Mode. Unlike force quitting, this feature automatically strips your computer of unnecessary apps during the startup process. The downside, however, is that your computer will disable videos, games, and high-resolution graphics, among other applications. So it's best to use this option only when you're troubleshooting critical issues. How to run Safe Mode on Windows 10:
After your device restarts, a list of options will appear. Select option5or press theF5key for Safe Mode with Networking. This will allow you to connect to the internet. Your PC will now restart in Safe Mode. To exit Safe Mode, simply restart your device normally. How to run Safe Mode on your Mac:To run safe mode on a Mac, you'll first need to figure out if your Mac is using an Apple Silicon processor or an Intel processor.
How to start up your Mac in Safe Mode with an Intel processor chip:
How to start up your Mac in Safe Mode with a Silicon processor chip:
To exit Safe Mode on a Mac, restart your computer normally without pressing or holding any keys during startup. Hassle-free tech repair, right around the corner Head to the closest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store for fast, affordable help for all your tech. Schedule a repair Update your device driversDevice drivers are an essential part of your operating system. They send instructions to other parts of your machine, telling them how to do their jobs. But when drivers are out of date or not working properly, they can cause problems for your machine, locking it up. While drivers are typically updated automatically, they occasionally need to be updated manuallyespecially if you've recently installed a new mouse or an external hard drive, which can sometimes cause your computer to crash. If you have a Mac, you'll need to update your whole operating system (see the next section for more details). In the meantime, here's how to update your device drivers for Windows. How to update your Windows' device drivers:
Update your operating systemYour operating system is responsible for managing programs on your device and making sure they all work together properly. So, if you want to prevent computer crashes, it's important to check and see if your operating system is updated regularly. This is also important because operating system updates contain key security patches your device needs to protect itself from viruses and cyberattacks. Here's how to update your operating system for Mac and PC. How to update your Windows operating system:
How to update your Mac operating system:
Restore your system to a previous stateSometimes, a bad piece of software or a faulty device driver can cause your computer to crash. But both Mac and Windows operating systems give you the option to restore the most recent settings on your device before the problem occurred. On a Mac, it's called Time Machine, and on Windows, it's called System Restore. Here's how they work. How to run a System Restore on Windows 10:
How to run a Time Machine backup on a Mac:Unfortunately, a Time Machine backup only works if you have an external hard drive connected to your Mac and have already set up this option in advance. If you've done so, follow these steps.
Scan your computer for viruses and other forms of malicious softwareViruses can also cause your computer to keep freezing or crashing, wreaking havoc on your machine over time. For step-by-step instructions on how to remove a virus from your Mac or PC, check out ourcomprehensive guide. If you've tried these steps and still need a little help, we're right around the corner. Schedule a repair at the nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion or Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions store and our certified experts can get your device back up and running as soon as the same day. Make sure your computer is coveredProtect the devices your family loves and relies on with one simple plan that covers all your favorite home tech. WithAsurion Home+, we cover your computers, TVs, tablets, premium headphones, smart devices, and so much moreplus, 24/7 assistance for your whole family with any tech care needfor less than $1/day. Learn more aboutAsurion Home+ coverageand how you can get peace-of-mind device protection. *The Asurion® trademarks and logos are the property of Asurion, LLC. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Asurion is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the respective owners of the other trademarks appearing herein.* SHARE THIS ARTICLE |