One of the most typical reasons your computer will crash randomly is due to overheating. Your computer has hardware, some of which is mechanical (it moves at high speeds).
When there is poor airflow to your computer, the hardware will overheat and malfunction, causing it to crash. After some use, the hardware generates heat; every computer comes with a fitted fan to counter the heat. If your hardware doesn’t get sufficient airflow, it will become too hot and malfunction.
Additionally, the fan can collect dust, pet hair, or other debris over time which will clog it. To ensure that your computer receives sufficient airflow, you should keep the fan clean and avoid blocking the air vents.
If you notice your fan making odd sounds or constantly on, your issue may be overheating. However, there are other reasons why your computer keeps crashing, and these can be difficult for an average user to diagnose. The hard to detect issues are usually software-related. Most users know how to use software, but they are not knowledgeable about how it works, making diagnosing and fixing software issues difficult.
Top Reasons Your Computer Might Crash
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Beyond overheating, other culprits of computer crashing include:
Malicious Software
The software on your computer is there to keep your computer operating; not only does it come with a beneficial purpose, but it’s there with your consent. Sometimes, a software program may get into your computer without your permission, and it will ruin your experience.
Criminals design malicious software to steal, corrupt, delete or alter your data and disrupt your computer operations. Malicious software can access your computer in several ways.
For example, it could be a virus that finds its way into your computer via suspicious email or through unsecure online downloads. Malicious software can spread through devices or corrupt links and their purpose is to spread to as many devices as possible.
They can alter your data into an unreadable format, delete files, transfer data to hackers or encrypt your data such that you won’t be able to use it unless you pay a ransom.
Removing Malicious Software
To get rid of malicious software, you will need to buy trusted scanning programs to identify and remove it. After that, you will need to adopt tactics to protect your computer, like avoiding suspicious links, using strong passwords, making backups of important data, and using firewalls. You will also need to keep your software, antivirus, and operating systems updated at all times.
If you continue to have trouble with malicious software, you can contact a computer repair services company. They will be able to conduct a forensic scan of your files and devices to find the malware and delete it. They will also restore any hardware or software that the attack may have substantially damaged.
Muddled Files
Computers that use Windows have a Windows registry. The Windows registry is a collection of files that are vital to the performance and operation of the computer. After some time, those files can be corrupted, misplaced, or lost. The system registry is compromised when that occurs, and your computer may frequently crash.
Your best chance of diagnosing and fixing this issue is to run a Windows registry cleaning program. The program will scan your Windows registry for any problems and automatically repair any damage. If your computer continues to crash after running the program, your issue might be elsewhere.
Sometimes, the Windows operating system breaks files up and fits them in gaps in the computer’s memory. That isn’t an intuitive way to handle files, so disorganized files can cause crashes after some time. A solution to the problem is to use the disk defragmentation utility once every few months.
Low Computer Memory
New computer users often feel like their computers can gulp down endless files and programs. But over time, you may have to clean up unnecessary files or risk your computer crashing. While using your computer, you download temporary files, periphery software, and other file debris that will be taking up space on your computer.
Memory space is what gives your computer the ability to process data. The more RAM it has, the bigger the tasks it can handle, including running multiple programs simultaneously. If the unnecessary programs in the background reduce the memory, you will hamper your ability to run some programs and potentially crash them.
Your Computer Shouldn’t Be Crashing
Your computer is supposed to operate at optimum levels for its lifetime. If you notice that it is often crashing, ensure that it isn’t overheating.
Crashing due to overheating is a tactic by the computer to preserve the hardware, so pay attention when it happens. Other times, the issue may be a software issue; run some maintenance on your computer, including an antivirus scan.