How-To Guide: Unfreezing a Computer

Q.  How Do I Unfreeze My Computer?

A. Use the Task Manager to end programs that are not responding.

• Hold down both the Ctrl key and the Alt key at the same time.  Now press the Delete key one time.  A Windows Security dialog box will open. 
• Click on the Task Manager button. A Windows Task Manager dialog box will open.
• Make certain that the Applications tab is open. You will see a list of active programs or Tasks, most of which will have a Status of Running.

• If you see anything other than Running as a Status, click on that task to highlight it.
• Click on the End Task button.

• If all Tasks have a Status of Running, highlight the most recent program that you were using and click End Task.
• If the computer is still frozen, try ending another program the same way.  Repeat until the computer is no longer frozen.
• If at any point in the previous two steps the computer is no longer frozen, save your work in the other open programs and close them.
• If the computer is still frozen after you’ve closed all programs, press the Ctrl, Alt and Delete keys again.
•  In the Windows Security dialog box, click the Shut Down… button. 
• Wait 1-2 minutes and restart the computer. 

 

Email your questions to jvass@csc.csiu.org and include the topic in the subject line.

 

[Posted on February 28, 2007]