Computer Freezes - Don't turn off the power!

In this how-to tutorial for computer beginners today we will work with computer freezes.

What is a computer freeze?

You're working on something on the computer and suddenly it stops responding ("freezes") .

Today we will learn about computer freeze ups!

I will try to cover the older operating systems first, and then move to newer ones (Windows XP, Vista, Seven).

Computer beginners will instantly shut the power source off on their computer, and then restart the computer. In this lesson we will ask you to NOT do that if your computer freezes, and show you things you can try to do instead.

WELL hopefully!

Keep in mind if your computer is freezing on a continuous basis?  You may need to fire a professional to find out the reason.

What to try if your computer freezes

I will list a couple of options to try if your computer freezes up.  The first one?  Most of the time if your computer freezes?  It won’t respond at all.  In other words, it may work or it won’t.  If not?  Try step two!
Option One Below is an image that would apply to Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and some Windows XP as well for shut down if you can after a computer freeze! You push that start button, and click the shut down option.   If the computer ‘allows’ you this option?  Shut it down completely.



In Windows XP you will see this image



In the older versions of windows you will see this image



For Windows Vista Here is the shut down procedure:


You want to power down your computer completely, click the arrow next to the Lock button (Red finger) and then click Shut Down or Restart (blue finger). This option closes any open programs (you'll have the opportunity to save your work), shuts down Windows, and powers down your computer for a computer freeze issue.


At this point you would select shut down, and allow the computer to go completely silent after a computer freeze. If your computer is acting funny, and you just want to restart it use that option instead! Personally?  I think it is better to shut it down completely first, and then restart the computer.

A Second method to try if your computer freezes




is pushing the control button (Ctrl), Alt Button, and Delete button down together if my computer freezes up.  Push and hold down these in the order I mentioned. 

With some luck your Task manager will come up.  I have pictures of the task below. 

If your computer is being VERY stubborn, and still frozen?  Hit the control, alt, delete two times in a row.  This at times restarts the system.  If no task manager comes up, and hitting the ctrl, alt, delete buttons a couple of times does nothing?  Move on to option three.
 
Below are some images of the task manager.  I started with older operating systems first and graduating to newer ones.


Older operating system task manager
Computers can freeze for a number of reasons.  I noticed with older operating systems when I had to many programs open at once?  The memory just couldn’t handle the load. 

You will need to highlight one program  at a time, and click ‘end task’ to shut the program down (look at buttons on bottom).  If your computer comes back alive?  Save everything you are working on, and then shut the computer down.  If you still have work to do?  Give it minute, and then restart it.




Newer operating system task manager.

The computer freezing up could happen due to a NEW program acting funny!

At times the program just HATES your operating system! You will know this because the computer freezes up when you run program each time.  Uninstall the program when you can, and find something else.

Lets try to close down the program in task manager to see if your computer comes back alive.  Click on the applications button I pointed to below.  Just as I noted above with the older operating systems click one program at a time (that you can identify), and click end process.


If nothing helps try hitting your control (ctrl) button, alt button and delete button a two times in a row while your computer system is frozen. It should restart your computer for you.

For Windows XP and Windows Vista I will leave you with one last video to try to shut off your computer if you computer freezes up! It also gives you some shut off tips for other exiting times as well!



If all else fails?  Hit your power button once.  See what happens.  Hit it a couple times, and if nothing is responding?  Pull the power cord.

When your computer locks up and your hard drive is not running (hard drive light is not blinking), and Ctrl, Alt, Delete combination failed you would in this situation turn the power off completely. Cutting the power can also result in lost data or Windows files try to only do this when you have to.

Following this rule will prevent permanent hard drive defects caused by the hard drive heads contacting the surface of the drive disc, and it will prevent a host of Windows problems.

Whenever possible, recover from crashes by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys at the same time. Press them again to reboot your computer.

Learning to shut off your computer the right way will help the computer work for you longer, and you won't have to worry about damage to it as well! I hope in this computer beginner lesson I have shown you some alternatives to try if you computer freezes!

Before you know it you will be a computer expert, and this will be second nature! Good computer maintenance helps you avoid the computer freezes. I have a  maintenance section of this blog over the left, and I will be adding additional beginner computer users how-to tutorials in the future! Don't forget to use the comment section if you have any questions!

That's it for NOW on computer crashes........bye from the HOW-TO Guide for the Computer Beginner!

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How do I defragment my computer?

In today's how-to guide for the computer beginner we are going to talk about a computer maintenance task.

How do I defrag? How to Defragment

What is Defrag?  What is defragmenting?

Today's tutorial is about the Defragment process of your computer system. Learning computer basics will keep you machine running smoothly, and you won't have what I call COMPUTER FRUSTRATION!

Computer Frustration

Just like a car or household you must learn to do the maintenance of the machine. In this computer lesson we will break things down, and I will attempt to answer most questions I have been asked in the past about defragmenting.   I’m sure you have guessed by now it can also be referred to as, ‘how do you defrag?” for short!


So what the heck is defragging, defragment....DEFRAG???

The files on your computer become fragmented, and you are basically placing them back where they belong! You are running a defragment program on your computer to place everything back where it belongs...if you will!

The best visual I can come up with is a book to explain what is meant by fragmented computer!

Files Flying Before Defrag of the computer

A book as we all know is a collection of pages.

With a computer you have a file instead of a page in a book.

In our world pages in a book are placed in order and bound together.

On the computer your files are NOT always stored next to each other, or even CLOSE to each other! Can you imagine reading a book with pages all over the place? Learning how to defrag or how to do a defragment would collecting all those pages, putting them order, and binding them up again.

Imagine running all over the place collecting those pages together so you read them! That is how the computer handles the pages in your book! Your files on the computer are all over the place, and it can take forever for a computer to run around - gather all the files - and then place them in order before you are reading to USE your computer.  In other words, learning how to defrag keeps your computer running efficiently.

This is one of the reasons computer run slow at times.  They are busy running around trying to grab all those files for you.   Defragmenting your computer?  Keeps keep it running faster as well.

Defragmenting your computer places all the files neatly together so your computer is NOT having to run all over the place to find the information for you!

After you defrag your computer or completed defragmenting your computer all your books (in our case files) are placed away neatly together for more efficient use of your computer!



Doesn't he look happier now?

How-to know how often to defragment your computer

It really depends on how much you use your computer as to how often you need to defrag your computer! People that use their computer all the time will defrag it more often than someone that gets on it once a month!

For most people I recommend trying to do the defragmenting of your computer once a month! If your computer doesn't need it that much it won't take that long to run!  With the newer computers the program itself may tell you if its time to defrag the computer or not.

Lesson on how to Defragment your computer for the computer beginner!

How do you do it? AHHHH! The next part! Let us help you place your library of files back together, and have your computer happy with its NICE NEW organized LIBRARY!

I’ll will start with older operating systems, and then move to newer ones!

With any operating system its smart to empty your recycle bin before starting the defragment process!

With the older operating systems (Windows 95/98/ME/2000) you MUST turn off all programs as well!

No internet, No virus protection, No open documents, No music programs, no screensavers....everything you know how to turn off!

Those are what the computer will call processes, and will slow down or even HALT your computer if running them at the same time as your defragmenting program! That is my first computer beginner HINT that I learned the hard way! The second 'how-to' or computer lesson hint I have give you when you start this defragment process make use you won't be needing to use the computer for while! Defragging your computer will go so much smoother, and run faster with nothing else running!


I used to start it about an hour before my appointment with my pillow!

Sidenote: If you have never done defragging of your computer before, or its been a long time since it was defragged it will take while to complete! Relax! This first time it has alot of work to do!

From what I remember of Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows 2000 about defragging your computer the directions were pretty simple. There was a couple of ways, and none of them did the operating system seem to like!




The traditional way to defrag your computer is using the pictures above!

Start Button, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter

With the older operating systems you will have the 'C' drive as the harddrive that your information is on, and that is the drive we well be defragging today.

I'm going to show you a couple of different versions of defragmentation, and you should see your computer system in the following steps! I'm going to start with the older operating systems first for this computer lesson!

Right Hand Side Settings

You might want to click 'settings' first! Look to the bottom right of picture.















Make sure these options are checked on your computer as well! Then click OK!


You will start to see one of the following screens during the defragment process on your computer.


You can a pretty graphic is you click the 'show details' button on the defragment menu screen! I never really bothered! It was pretty boring to watch after a while! Below is what you may see if you click the 'show details' button during the defragment process.



THEN off the defragmenting process RUNS! Ahem...You hope!

The only thing is computers with these older operating systems (Windows 95, Windows 98, ME) really seems to hate this defragging program, and it will slow down or even crash the computer when running defrag. For me (at least) it didn't matter if I was or wasn't running anything extra processes like screensaver, etc! There were times it ran fine, and other times it didn't! Older operating systems HATE the defragment program!

Alot of times I had people recommend to me to run this defragment program in safe mode!

To boot Windows 98 in safe mode for defrag:

Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.
On the Tools menu, click System Configuration Utility.
Click the Advanced button, and then click to select the Enable Startup Menu check box.
Click OK, click OK, and then restart your computer when you are prompted to do so.
Select the Safe Mode menu option from the Startup menu, and then press ENTER

Do the above defragment directions ALL Over again, but in safe mode this time! Your screen will look funny, and it will have 'safe mode' messages on it! Either shut down or restart your computer to get your screen back to normal when the defragment process is complete!

Windows ME can be tough to get into safe mode. Here's an alternative method to get ME into a selective startup mode similar to safe mode, in which Defragmenter should run without problems. You can use this method in Windows 98 as well, with the noted variations.

We will need to use the System Configurations or 'MSCONFIG' to do this next step!

To access MSCONFIG, click on "START" type=""




Launch System Configuration Utility (MSCONFIG) as above.
Select the radio button for Selective startup, and then uncheck the following:
Autoexec.bat (in Windows 98)
System.ini
Win.ini
Startup group items (in Windows 98: "Load startup group items")
Click OK and restart when prompted.
Run Defragmenter.
Run System Configuration Utility again, set it back to Normal startup, click OK and restart when prompted.

You can also do this (above) in safe mode!

Restart your computer and when it starts to reboot..
hold down the control key. (Ctrl = control key)

Windows will start with options for you to choose from.

Choose "SAFE MODE"

When computer is finished booting up...Start then go to accessories, system tools and choose defragment.

Oh don't forget to right click your desktop where no icon is..choose properties...then screen saver..then select none before starting the defrag process.

Another way:

Click Start
Click Run and type 'defrag' (no quotes) in the run box
Click ok
Within the defrag window, select the drive that you wish to be checked and click ok. In most cases it will be the C drive for defragment.



You can also try:

Right click on My Computer
Right click on your C drive.and select Properties
Click on the Tools tab.
In the Defragmentation Status section click on the Defragment Now button



YEP doing defragging this on those operating systems are a royal pain the rear! It needs to be done to keep the system working well!

From what I have read, and from what I remember the safe mode option was the easiest! If you haven't done this at all, or even don't remember the last time it will take you a while to get this task complete! If you do this on a regular basis you will speed up the process!



How to Defrag a computer on Windows XP



Defrag on Vista



Hit start button (circle), then computer, click on your hard drive (normally is C), and then right click on it. Your mouse has two button on it normally, and HIT the right one! Slide down to properties, and click it! Look at the top for the word 'tools' and click that! Hit the button that says defragment!

If this Computer Beginner Lesson on Defragmenting your computer was confusing in some way make sure to comment to me, and I will try to help you out! Once you defrag your computer a couple of times this tutorial or lesson will be a breeze! PROMISE!

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Welcome to Learning Computer Basics!

Hello my name is Hannah, and this is my blog called, “How-To Guide for the Computer Beginner”

My degree in college was Information Systems (computers), but that was a while ago! I have to giggle about it because once I left college 'Windows' came out!

It made computers so much easier in a lot of ways, and I can't believe the changes that computer world has made! The internet at times still WOW's me!

I have say first and foremost I deal with windows based machines, and haven't done much with Mac's. I have worked on Windows 95 , Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Vista and Windows 7. YEP I skipped the XP generation, but I have worked on computers with that operating system.

 

I want to help take your fear and intimation away!  Computers can be FUN!

Computers Aren’t Scary!

 

Part of the reason I started this blog is because friends and family members were calling me to help walk them through something they wanted to do on the computer.  

 

I would say people from my generation, and older can be very intimidated by computers.  Technology today has come a LONG way from - what 5 television stations of the past?  Computers were something NASA had, or maybe the government!

 

Computers can be VERY user friendly once you get over your initial scare of them.  I was always been fascinated by them, and once the FIRST home computer came on the market I remember my parents getting me one.  I sat for hours programing, and trying my hardest to master them.  What we call WINDOWS today was unheard of at the time, and we didn’t even have a computer mouse!

 

Today – unlike the past – computers are very easy to use once you know the basics.  I try very hard to write articles that are VERY basic, but if you find something TO advanced?  I would love to hear about it.  You will be helping ME and others in the future as well.

 

I try to use a lot of pictures, and you might notice some tutorials are more complete compared to others.  THAT will change, because I used some of these to walk my friends and family over lessons on the phone.  The ‘more detail’ was me explaining things verbally to them.  I noticed I was getting traffic from the internet, and decided I had better re write some of the lessons so that others could understand as well with NO phone call!

You will NOT harm the Machine!

If you are here you at least have some computer basics. I mean you turned on the machine, and got here right? SO Pat yourself on the back! Computers aren't as scarey as most would think. You can't mess them up that quick either!

 

Granted at times you will learn like my father did things like – don’t put TWO different virus protection programs on your computer so you get DOUBLE the protection.  Dad learned that the two programs fight each other, and crashed his machine.  I do have to giggle, because it would sound logical to most (double the protection).  It happens to the best of us, so don’t get discouraged!  (Yes, I went over and removed one of his programs and his computer was fine!)

 

Notice some tools I use!

 

READ more!

On most of our article here you get a summary of the article that has been written.  Once you click on the READ MORE the entire article opens up for you.

 

 

Links to older articles

I try to break each lesson down as simple as possible.  I have also tried to link old articles into the newer ones. 

For example if I say, “Click your start button”.  You notice the words ‘start button’ looks different?  I wrote an article to show readers what the start button is, and where you will find it.  If you click on the words START button above?  It will send you to that article.  I wanted to make sure I didn’t have to repeat myself to often.

 

Print Articles

 

At the end of the tutorials you may see the above button.  I was asked by some to find a way they could print off certain tutorials for reference.

 

The articles show up in .pdf format so you can print them.  Adobe reader is something you may already have on your machine.  This a very common FREE program distributed on the internet for computers.

 

Keep in mind with ALL free programs there is always ‘paid’ version of it as well.  I found with computer beginners most of the time the free version is completely fine.  Once you begin to get more advanced if you decide you want more features?  Then you have the option of purchasing it. 

 

Lastly, I have noticed a trend that they place BIGGER PRESENTATIONS  for the paid version, and then place tiny letters next to paid version that state:  free versions.  They are on the same screen so keep you eye out for the difference.  I’m sure it’s a marketing trick to get more sales, and who can blame them I guess.  Don’t be surprised if they try this MORE than once during your installation of the program either!  Just keep selecting the FREE version. 

 

Most computer users don’t need the paid versions of a lot of the programs offered.  I wanted to give you a HEADS up on that!

 

Confused?  Question?  Comment?

At the top of page you will find our ‘contact us’ page, and also an article on how to comment on blogs (or websites) like this one.  Its very easy!

 

I encourage you to keep in mind at times no matter how hard I try the lesson may not be as ‘beginner’ as you need it.  Let me know, and I will revise it.    That way you can help me help others, and of course you can get the answers that you need!

 

Also if you have a SUGGESTION on a topic that you need covered?  Let me KNOW!  You can use the contact us or just comment on one of the articles!

 

HOPEFULLY it will be a  win-win situation!

 

Get Lessons sent you to as I write them!

There are spots on our site in which you will see a message similar to what I have pictured here.

 

The white box you would enter your email address, and you will get a message asking to confirm your subscription.  If you check your email box you may also get a message asking you to confirm the subscription. 

 

Its basically to make sure it was YOU that made the request, and not someone else.  There is a link that you click on, and you will start receiving the lessons.

 

Keep in mind you will have the option to STOP receiving the lessons as well.    At the bottom of each lesson there is a message that gives you the option to do so. 

 

If you click on the article title in the email that is sent to you?  It sends you directly to our How-To Guide for the Computer Beginner site.  You can do this if you have questions, comments, etc.  I also change the home site up a bit from time to time.

 

Related Articles

You may notice at the bottom of each blog post there is a related article section.  Just click on a title that interests you.

 

 

You may also notice the label section like pictured here.  You can click on one of these labels, and a list of different articles will appear for you to chose from.

 

The Table of Content spot at the top also lists all the article written so far.

 

 

Share my Articles with Your Friends!

 

 

 

 

 

 

You may notice these options on our site as well.  If you hover over them they will show you what site you might share the current article with.  For example, most of the time “F” is for Facebook!

 

I would love for you to help me get the word out about my site, or just individual articles that have helped you with others.  Just click one of the logos, and simple directions appear.

 

I guess that is all for now, and OH by the way……

 

 

WELCOME to our How-To Guide for Computer Beginners!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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