How to Get the Computer Running Properly After it Stops Responding

If the computer stops responding, the normal procedure to get it working properly is to try to close the offending program. To do this, hold down the CTRL and ALT keys, and then press DELETE (CTRL+ALT+DELETE).

• If the computer is in a soft lockup, CTRL+ALT+DELETE should bring up the Close Program dialog box. Sometimes it takes several seconds for the Close Program dialog box to appear.
• If the computer is in a hard lockup, CTRL+ALT+DELETE may not have an affect. The power button must be pressed and held down until the computer turns off.

  

If the Close Program dialog box appears, look through the list and find an item that says Not responding after it.

• If there is not an item that states Not responding after it, click Cancel and then try the CTRL+ALT+DELETE again. Sometimes items do not immediately report that they are Not responding.
• If there is an item like this, select it, and then click End Task. After several seconds, an End Task dialog box may appear. Click End Task to finish closing the problematic application. This process may need to be repeated several times and sometimes it is better to restart the computer than trying to end task multiple items.

  

Common Causes for Lockups

When the computer stops responding, it does not mean that it is broken. The issue could have occurred after an unusual key sequence or just an unfortunate circumstance. In these situations, the issue should not occur very often, if ever again. Another possibility, and a more likely scenario, is that the physical hardware in the computer works properly but there is something wrong with the software installed on the computer. The software could be an application or even the operating system itself. In the situations where the software causes the issue, they are most likely soft lockups rather than hard lockups. Often, but not always, a hard lockup is caused by hardware failure or a corrupt device driver.

Some reasons why a computer may stop responding:

• Too many programs running at the same time.
• Not enough memory to support the running programs.
• A virus has infected the computer.
• Information is "too scattered" on the hard drive
• Corrupt or misconfigured software
• Corrupt or failing hardware device driver file
• Power management or a screensaver if it has been idle for a period of time
• Improper operating temperatures and humidity levels

Trying to Fix a Lockup

It is difficult to determine when, where, or how often a lockup may occur. The first step to try to fix a lockup is to know more about it. Ask yourself these questions:

• When did the problem start?
• Does it happen only in one application or in any application?
• What application does it occur in?
• Does it only occur when performing a certain function within the application?
• How often does it occur?
• Are there any error messages that are displayed before the computer locks up?

When you know more about the issue, you can try to narrow it down. Here are some things that you can try:

• For troubleshooting purposes only, Disable Power Management.
  
  Windows 9xWindows Me
  
• Disable screensavers
• Remove all newly added hardware or software
• If the lockup only occurs in one application, reinstall the application
• Check the vendor website for any issues regarding the lockup in the application
• Contact the vendor of the application
• If the issue recently began, runGateway GoBack, System Restore, or Scanreg /restore to revert the hard drive to a time when it was previously working.

  Note: This may erase new files, programs, or data. Backup important data before performing this step.

Maintenance

Once the issue has been better identified and actions have been taken to try to resolve it, the computer should be tested for the lockup again. Save your work frequently to reduce the amount of loss that will occur if it stops responding. It is also good to try to do some maintenance on the computer. Your car needs an oil change and a regular checkup to maintain it. This helps keep your car running good and prolongs its life. Just like your car, your computer needs maintenance to help keep it running good and to prolong its life.

Here are some things to help maintain your computer:

• Check Windows system resources to make sure they have some available. If low, disable all programs running the background.
• Check hard disk free space.
• Clean the temporary files from the hard disk drive:
  
  1. For Windows 95: Check for and delete all .tmp files, and then empty the Recycle Bin.
     
  2. For Windows 98/SE or Me: Run Disk Cleanup.
     
• Run Scandisk and Disk Defragmenter.
• If you have Norton Antivirus, run LiveUpdate.
• If available, perform a Virus Scan
• Run Windows Update
• Update Drivers with Gateway Update

Definitions

Soft lockup - The computer stops responding and the mouse or the keyboard will probably function properly. After pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete, the Close Program dialog box appears and a specific application or process that is not responding can be End Tasked. Once the application or process has been End Tasked, the computer functions normally.

Hard lockup - The computer stops responding and the mouse or the keyboard will probably not function properly. Pressing the Num Lock, Caps Lock, or Scroll Lock keys does not light up the indicator LED's on the keyboard. After pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete, nothing happens. Pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete repeatedly may cause the system to restart but if it doesn't, the system must be powered off by pressing and holding down the power button. Once the computer is turned back on, it functions normally.

End Task - Option found in the Close Program dialog box and used to stop applications or processes from running.

There is a table available to use for tracking lockups and to make it easier for the technicians to correct the the issue: