The Mouse

• There are two examples of a computer freezing up. One is when a single program on the computer is frozen, while the other is when the entire system freezes up. To determine which type of problem a computer is experiencing, attempt to move the mouse on the screen. If the mouse pointer is visible and moves, the issue is with a single program. To determine which program is frozen, bring up the Windows Task Manager. This can be done by right clicking a blank area of the taskbar and selecting "Task Manager," or by pressing the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl+Alt+Delete" and selecting "Task Manager". The program or programs that are frozen will show as "Not Responding" on the Applications tab of the Task Manager. Click the frozen program and click "End Task" to close it. Visit the program's website for specific troubleshooting tips if the program continues to freeze. If the mouse pointer is stationary on the computer screen, the entire system is frozen.
  
  

Unfreezing a Frozen Computer

• If the entire system freezes up, it will need to be rebooted. To do so, hold down the "Ctrl" and "Alt" keys. While holding both keys down, press the "Delete" key twice. This should shut down the system and automatically restart it. If the computer does not respond, try the keyboard shortcut once more. If it remains frozen and does not reboot, you will need to perform a hard shut down. This simply means pressing and holding down the power button until the computer completely shuts down. Once it has shut down, leave it off for a few minutes and then turn the power on once more.
  
  

Continuous Freezing

• A frozen computer might be a one-time occurrence, or it could be the sign of a more serious problem. If the computer continues to freeze up, there are several items that should be checked out. The first step to take is looking at any recently installed software. Programs such as freeware or shareware often contain malware that can damage the system. Even reputable software can contain a damaged file. Uninstall recently added programs and determine if that was the cause of the computer freezing up. To uninstall a program, go to the Control Panel from the Start Menu. Select "Add/Remove Programs" in Windows XP or earlier, or "Programs and Features" in Windows Vista. In the list of installed programs, select the one to be removed and click "Uninstall." Follow any prompts and restart the computer when the process is complete. Next, update and run both the antivirus program and spyware removal program installed on the computer, or use the link provided in resources. Check the Windows website and download any updates.
  
  

System Tools

• Finally, you will want to check the available space on the computer's hard drive and use the built-in error checking and cleaning tools. Go to "My Computer," right click "Local Disk (C:)" and click "Properties." On the "General" tab, make sure there is sufficient free space. The "Disk Cleanup" tool will free more space by deleting unnecessary files. Click the "Disk Cleanup" button to run the tool. On the "Tools" tab there are more tools that can solve the problems causing a computer to freeze up. The Error Checking Tool finds and corrects hard disk errors and the Defragmentation tool will reorganize system files, helping the computer run better.