What is the solution for a computer that freezes often ?. Thanks folks .

what do you mean by 'freezes', how much ram memory does it have, how fast is it, how much free disk space is available?

have you removed all programs you no longer use?

which antivirus are you running?

which firewall are you running?

does the pc freeze when doing specific things or does it seem random?

how many running process are there?

which operating system are you running?

let me know and we can make it stop,

Sail

keep it in a warmer environment!

$.02

Use a slightly older, stable variation of a linux-based OS. I've had the window manager freeze, but in 10 years on dozens of linux distributions, I've never had the whole system freeze up so badly that dropping to a command line wouldn't fix it.

Could be for a hundred different reasons. We would need a lot more information to try & diagnose it for you here. I say, have someone who knows a lot about computers come and take a look at it, or take it in for service.

Love it when people give this answer. It's like saying whats the solution to a car that needs new brakes: Buy a Bicycle.

Do you have a trillion of things running at once? (look to the right ot the clock, click the arrow and count the number of programs running)

When was the last time you defragmanted your disk?

What operating system do you use?

How much disk space do you have free?

When was the last time you upgraded your hardware drivers?

What did you install the last time?

Did you virus scan your PC?

Are there any adwares, spywares on your PC? When did you scan it the last time?

I can just keep going with these questions...we need more info of what freezes, when, what computer do you have and so on.... The doctor can't tell you what's wrong with you in an email, we need details.

My car isn't running quite right, what's wrong?

There are so many variables involved and you've not
provided *ANY* information about your system or
the particular instance when the system freezes.

If you're running a M$ OS, it may behoove you to
back up everything and do a reinstall. After you
do this and re-install all the software, execute a
partition backup ... then in the future, when your
system is sluggish again, simply back up the data
and then restore the partition image.

Obviously you didn't understand what I said. Why don't you take the time to read first before offering nonsensical comparisons?

The point here is that many linux based system never truly lock up. If your window manager or other software locks up, you drop to a command line and kill the offending program and you are up and running again in seconds, without a restart.

The corresponding action in windows might be to launch the task manager - but sometimes the windows system is 'locked up' in such a way that you cannot launch the task manager (nor launch cmd.exe). You are absolutely screwed, and reboot is your only escape, and you've lost all your data. Thanks, microsoft!

So tell me how having a additional means of recovering from a failure (which is not available in windows with the same reliability) without shutting down your whole system is like riding a bicycle???

The OP asked how to fix there existing os (IE. there existing vehicle) you told them to scrap it and get a totally different os (IE a totally different vehicle). The metaphor is not too difficult to understand. It may even be extend even further to say that a Bicycle (linux) is far superior to a Car (windows) because you never have to buy gas for it (linux never locks up). If you get over your fanboy devotion to Linux you may see that what I said makes perfect sense.

You will notice I never said that you were wrong in anyway. Linux does indeed have those advantages, but it is still a totally different OS.

mine starting freezing up alot..................right before it died!!!!!!!!!!
Power supply went out.............

They didn't ask how to fix their existing OS, they asked how to fix a computer that freezes often. They said nothing to indicate their degree of allegiance or investment to a particular OS.

Historically, Windows has really sucked at stability. I have known many people who were astounded at the reliability and stability of linux compared to windows when they switched. For many people who simply browse the web, consume media, and do occasional word processing, simply switching to a not-prone-to-freezing operating system on the same hardware is an excellent and permanent solution to the freezing problem.

Unless they tell me some specific reason they need windows, I see this as a very practical and easy solution to 'their computer freezing'.




It seems to me that the metaphor only seems to apply if you assume that they have allegiance and investment in their current OS. For many, a non-freezing OS is as simple as burning a CD and rebooting. (For others, a change in BIOS is needed). This is often actually faster and easier than diagnosing windows problems. You say "scraping" as if something significant has been abandoned or lost.




Really? You weren't following the dominant cultural bias that cars are just inherently superior to bicycles when you made your analogy?? Honest?

Be honest now, is the average user going to go through the ordeal of first obtaining a new OS. Then installing it, which can be far more complicated than the average user is comfortable with. Finally learning all of the new commands and command line interface necessary to do what you propose.

The answer for 95% of the computer users out there is no, most people will not do that. The point I was trying to make is that running a new OS is not fixing the problem with there existing OS it is replacing it. Now I don't pray at the glorified altar that is Linux, so my view may be a bit skewed away from switching to Linux.



It seems to me the Metaphor works fine, as long as you have allegiance to your car and prefer it over a bicycle. The significant thing that would be abandoned is all the previous computer experience and knowledge the user has acquired. Linux may be more powerful and give you more control, but easier to use it is not.



Both cars and bicycles have there uses, much like both windows and linux have there uses.

As others mentioned the simple fact of a computer freezing up can be various symptoms, one would ultimately have to test each scenario hardware, software environments, etc, this can be tedius and time consuming, and for someone who has a basic computer background, a good way to screw your computer up temporarily. Major reason for computer lockups that I have come across are.

1. Low memory, or bad memory chip.
2. Software interactions that cause errors or hang the machine.
3. Overheating computer
4. Defective hardware

and many many more!

I see it all the time, mostly within the corporate world. 100's-1000's of
PCs having their M$ OS replaced with corporate editions of a Linux distro.

And I continually asked by individuals about the merits of a Linux distro
and what the expected learning curve to be.

Your argument that the user must learn "command line interface and commands"
is nonsensical - 95% of Windows users have probably never seen a CLI. Besides,
the Desktop Environments (i.e. KDE and GNOME, etc ) and Window Mangers
(i.e. IceWM, Enlightenment, WindowMaker, Blackbox, etc) are all sophisticated
enough to keep the user from a CLI. Some, I would say, surpass the Windows UI.

This also speaks to another advantage of using a Linux distro: choice. Heck, take
a look at http://xwinman.org/ ... lot's of choices for a GUI. Some would argue
that too many choices can be confusing - fooy!

Your argument about "difficulty in installing" is easily disputable. I've installed
some Linux distros in as little as 5 "clicks" ... I've watched as pre-teens have
installed a Linux distro with no coaching.

I see Linux running (I've been involved in transitioning schools to Linux) at
elementary, middle (Jr) and High (Senior) schools. I've seen Linux running
at local libraries.



Actually, it is fixing the problem. It will also enhance their computing experience,
because of the switch. No more worrying about which virus detector is the best
or having to ensure it's up to date, no more worrying about having to do a hard
disk defrag (to increase disk performance), no more blue screens, no more worries
about registry errors, no more "automatic updates" without your permission, no
more browser vulnerabilities, no more annoying "Are You Sure.." pop ups, no more
reboots after installing software (never understood that one), NO MORE PRODUCT
ACTIVATION, no more *spending money* on upgrades ... the list goes on and on.

The best part is that it's freedom in software.

I know this is a bit off topic, but since the thread already deviated somewhat, are Windows based software programs compatible with the Linux OS?

If you're talking about a "native" Windows app,
many can, run under WINE.

http://www.winehq.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software)

Here's the "app list": http://appdb.winehq.org/

Also, you can install a Virtual Machine, such as
http://www.virtualbox.org/ (what I use on Linux
and OSx) to "install" a Windows OS and run it in
a window under Linux (or OSx).

Thanks. I'll check out those sites.

Thats pretty funny........