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Mar 27, 2020 · So far I have tried the following to fix the problem to no avail: Update Windows fully (now Windows 10 Home, version 1909, OS build 18363.752) Update Graphics drivers via device manager. Run CHKDSK. Run system file checker, SFC. System Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 1800X @ 3.6GHz w/ Corsair water cooler. ASUS ROG STRIX X370F-GAMING mobo.
- Overview
- If Your PC is Frozen Right Now
- Disconnect Devices at Startup & Shutdown
- Run a Malware & Virus Scan
- Check for Software and Driver Updates
- Try a Simplified Startup
- Scan the File System
- Check Your Hard Drive
- Run a RAM Test
- Disable Link State Power Management
Does your Windows PC keep freezing or locking up? Whether your computer is frozen right now, hangs at startup or shutdown, or freezes at random, there are easy ways to narrow down the cause and fix the problem permanently. This wikiHow article will cover several simple troubleshooting tricks that are sure to help you resolve issues with freezing and hanging on Windows 10, 11, and 8.1.
If a particular app has locked up Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, select the app, and then click End Task.
Malware and viruses can cause your PC to freeze, so make sure to run a full or offline scan with Windows Defender.
You can check your RAM, scan your hard drive (s) for errors, and repair corrupted system files using simple built-in tools.
Wait a few moments for your system to catch up.
If your PC hangs while doing something processor- or RAM-intensive, it might unfreeze on its own if you give it some time. Instead of clicking around or trying to close programs, try waiting to see if the problem resolves on its own.
If the screen went black when your computer froze, try pressing
to reset your video card drivers.
End hung tasks in the Task Manger.
If your PC won't unfreeze on its own, press
Start and shut down your PC without any devices or peripherals plugged in.
If your PC hangs when booting into Windows, when shutting down, or while restarting, a connected device might be interfering with the startup process.
Open the Windows Security panel.
If Windows keeps freezing, it's a good idea to check for a
This is super easy to do with Windows Defender, which comes preinstalled on your PC. To open Windows Security:
This is the tile with a blue shield. Information about your last virus scan will appear.
to quickly detect obvious threats, this option won't check all the files on your PC.
Choose from one of these two scan types:
Open the Windows Update panel.
If there's a problem with a
or your PC's firmware, there may be an update available that resolves the issue. Driver and firmware updates are typically bundled with
, but you can also check for updates on your PC manufacturer's website. To get started:
Click the Windows Start menu and select
On Windows 11, just click
Open the System Configuration panel.
If a certain app that launches automatically is causing your system to freeze, you can disable it in your startup options. But first, try running Windows with a Selective Startup so you can see if your PC continues to freeze without your startup items. To open System Configuration:
This displays three options for starting your PC.
Remove the checkmark from "Load startup items."
Leave the other items checked.
When your PC reboots, see if you can recreate the problem that cause Windows to hang or freeze. If Windows no longer freezes, the issue is likely being caused by one of the apps set to launch automatically.
This opens the Power User menu, where you'll find a quick link to run the command prompt or Windows PowerShell as an administrator. You can use this tool to scan for and repair correct Windows system files, which can help fix issues with freezing and hanging.
You can run the system file checker from either of these locations.
If you're using Windows 11, you may see Windows Terminal (Admin). This will work, too.
Type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press
If you're using Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11, run this command before scanning the file system.
If you're using Windows 7, skip this step.
Open the Windows File Explorer.
You can do this by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting
or by clicking the folder icon on your taskbar. If your hard drive is not performing properly, it could cause your PC to freeze. Fortunately, you can easily check your hard drive from File Explorer.
If you have multiple hard drives, remember to check them all.
You'll see this in the left panel. A list of all connected drives will appear in the right panel.
Right-click your hard drive and select
Open the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.
If your RAM is bad, your PC will seemingly freeze at random, often leaving you no other option than to do a hard reboot. Fortunately, Windows comes with a free RAM checking tool. To open it:
First, save any work you have open, as your PC will reboot to use the tool.
Restart now and check for problems (recommended)
This option will instantly reboot your PC and run a memory scan outside of Windows.
The scan may take a while, so feel free to get up and come back later.
If your PC freezes while your PC is idle, goes to sleep, or wakes from sleep mode, you may be able to fix the freezing issue in your power settings. When you type power, several search results will appear.
This displays information about your current power plan.
This appears below the general settings for the plan.
Now you'll see options for configuring your power settings for this item.
If you're using a laptop, you'll want to choose
Disabling this feature often resolves issues of freezing caused by power and sleep settings. If this doesn't resolve your issue, you can return to your power options to reenable Link State Power Management.
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- Perform Clean Boot. Lastly, to fix Windows 10 automatic locking, you can try to clean boot your device to check if an installed program is forcing your device to enter sleep mode.
- Run Power Troubleshooter. The easiest solution to try when it comes to automatic locking is to run the built-in power troubleshooter on your system to rule out the possibility of issues with your power system itself.
- Remove Sign-In Requirement After Sleep. PC locking randomly can also be resolved easily by removing the sign-in requirement after sleep. This method is applicable for users who have set a password which is required on turning the system or waking it up after sleep.
- Disable Auto-Lock under Power & Sleep Settings. As you know already, a Windows PC requires a sign-in after it goes into sleep mode, you can change this auto-lock under power & sleep settings to avoid Windows 10 locking itself.
Aug 25, 2021 · Run the System File Checker. Update Drivers and Windows. Clean Up and Check the System Drive. Disable Power Saving Features. Check the RAM. System Restore. Clean Windows 10 Installation. Last Resort: Changing Hardware. That said, you can prevent the majority of Windows 10 freezes through regular maintenance. You don’t need any technical know-how.
Sep 5, 2021 · There are several ways to fix a locked Windows 10 account. Methods vary depending on how you set up your account, but one of the following fixes should work. Reset your Microsoft account's password. Windows 10 heavily encourages users to sign in with a Microsoft account instead of a local account.
Close any applications causing the issue. Restart a locked computer. Check and clean air vents to prevent overheating. Run Windows Update. Update the PC with HP Support Assistant. Run the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics Windows Extensive Test (2 hours or more) Restore your computer when Windows cannot start normally. Perform a Windows system reset.
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May 20, 2020 · If Windows 10 is working — or even if it’s mostly working — it’s simple to do a reset. Go to the search field in your task bar and type “reset,” which will bring up “Reset this PC” as...
