How to Fix a Crashed Computer

Computers are imperfect machines. Documents close, programs fail and systems crash. Fixing a crashed computer is often not too difficult, unless a serious problem exists. The good news is that the prevalence of computers has lead to a prevalence of computer-repair stores, so if the problem is serious, you can call on one of them for help.

      

 If your computer will reboot, use the event viewer to check all files or applications that were being used in the period before the crash. Simply click "Start," go to the Control Panel, click on "System" and then on "Administrative Tools." From there, double-click on "Event Viewer," go to "Windows Logs" and click "System Tab." Check for error symbols, which can include red exclamation points. This will indicate what programs may have caused the crash.
      
If a program is not to blame, open your computer's tower (if it is a desktop) to clean the fan. Follow the instruction manual for your computer to figure out how to open up the tower. Once you locate the fan, clean it off with a rag. Dust is a major problem, and can cause overheating at times.
     

 Make sure you have a large enough power supply for your computer, as that supply can die due to overuse. Your hard drive can be the first victim of a lack of power, so be careful.
       
Check your drivers for any and all errors. Click "Start," then "Control Panel." Click "System" and then the "Hardware" tab. Click "Device Manager" to bring up a full list of your drivers; right-click and pick "Properties" to troubleshoot your drivers. Errors will show up via either a yellow "X" or an exclamation point. These can help pinpoint the cause of the crash.
     

 If you still can't pinpoint the problem and your computer is running fine, the crash may have been a one-time occurrence. But back up any and all files, just to be on the safe side. If it happens again, contact a computer-repair technician.

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