Windows Programs Stop Responding

A computer, operating system, software program or driver may stop responding or cause other programs to stop responding because of several possible reasons, such as a confliction of software or hardware resources between two programs, lack of system resources, or a bug (A term used to describe Errors with hardware or software.) in the software or drivers. Computer software bugs are often resolved by running a software patches and resolvable hardware bugs are fixed with firmware updates and/or replacement of hardware components.

To recover from a program that has stopped responding, a user can generally press the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys on his or her keyboards to open the "Close Program" window or open the "Task Manager" window and click the "End Task" button to terminate by selecting the program. If another window opens, click the "End Task" button again to confirm stopping that program.

It is important to realize that when a program stops responding any work that has not been saved will more than likely be lost when end tasking a program.

Related:

Windows Freezes or Stops Responding All times

The problem could be caused by any of the below possibilities.

Software
Drivers
Operating System Error caused by viruses
Heat
Hardware Failure
Serious issue with Windows

If the computer frequently freezes or completely halts. An easy way to determine if your computer is in this situation is by pressing the Num Lock button on the keyboard and watching the Num Lock led to see if it turns off and/or on.

If you're able to get the light to turn off an on, press CTRL + ALT + DEL and attempt to end task the program.

Software Error

A computer locking up or freezing is often is caused by a software error. If you're encountering lockups when the computer is opening a particular program, make sure you have all the latest updates for that program. Find the latest updates for your software through the software developer or publisher or from their Websites.

Drivers Error

A computer lock up can also be caused by drivers. For example, if there is an error that exists with your video drivers a computer could lock up while playing a game or displaying any other type of video. Make sure you have the latest drivers for all major devices in your computer (video, sound, modem, and network). A listing of driver related pages as well as driver related help can be found on drivers homepage.

Operating System Errors

Make sure your operating system has all of the latest updates installed on it.

Heating Failure

If the computer processor is getting too hot it can cause the computer to freeze. If you have heard any abnormal noises coming from your computer recently such as a high squealing, this could indicate a fan may be failing in your computer.

You can first start by verifying the fan on the power supply is working by examining the back of the computer and seeing if the fan is moving and moving smoothly. For all other fans in the computer you will need to either open the computer and make sure the fan are working (processor fan and case fan) and/or if your BIOS monitors the RPM of the fans, enter BIOS and make sure the BIOS does not report any errors.

Users may also be able to determine how hot their computer is by onboard thermal sensors. If your computer comes equipped with these sensors, make sure your CPU is not running too hot.

Hardware Failure

In addition to software, hardware can also cause a pc to lock. If you have recently added any new hardware into the computer, try temporarily removing it to make sure it is not the cause of your issue.

Before attempting to remove any hardware, make sure you are not encountering this error because of hardware conflicts by viewing Device Manager for errors.

If you have not recently installed any new hardware into the computer, the next best solution to determining if this is a hardware failure would be remove any hardware on the computer that is not needed. For example, remove your modem, network card, sound card, and any other expansion cards that are not needed for the computer to operate. Run the computer without these cards to see if they are the cause of failure.

Note: When opening the computer, make sure you are aware of Electro Static Discharge and its potential dangers.

Serious Error with Windows

If you have tried all the above recommendations and the computer continues to frequently lock up, its possible that Windows may be seriously corrupted. Try running through the basic troubleshooting steps for your version of Windows by repair the windows. If this step do not resolve your error, I suggest you to backup all information that you need (from C:\ or from windows drive, ie windows installed drive, C:,D:)and erase and re-install Windows on your PC.

Hardware Failure

If after reinstalling your operating system, or during the installation of your operating system, your computer turns off abnormally, it is very likely that other hardware is failing in the computer. Often this is RAM, CPU, Motherboard, and/or Power Supply (in that order).

If you have extra available parts or have a friend or co-worker with a similar configuration that is willing to allow you to test their hardware in your computer, try swapping these parts to determine if they are at fault. Otherwise, you will need to have the computer serviced.

Related: How to Repair Windows Xp? An 5 minute easy way

My PC is running slow What steps can I do to fix it?

Cause:
This issue can be caused by any of the below possibilities.
1. Hard disk drive is short on available disk space.
2. Several software programs have been installed/uninstalled leaving behind bad files and/or confusing the software.
3. Data Corruption.
4. Computer is overheating.
5. Bad Hardware.

PC Solution:

Below are steps for Microsoft Windows that should help speed up the computer or determine why the computer is running slow.

Not enough hard disk drive space

If you have a hard disk drive that is 2GB or smaller, ensure that there is at least 200MB of hard disk drive space free. If you have a hard drive larger than this size, verify that there is at least 500MB of free hard disk space. This available space allows the computer to have room for the swap file to increase in size as well as room for temporary files. A temporary file is a file created to hold information temporarily while a file is being created. After the program has original file has been close the temporary file should be deleted. Temporary files are used to help recover lost data if the program or computer is abnormally halted.A specific directory on a storage medium, such as on a hard disk drive, used as a location to store temporary files. Commonly, this directory is named "TEMP". Commonly In WindowsXp, Drive(x):\Documents and Settings\Username\application data\temp. Files and Folders in the Temp folder can Delete.

Hard drive corrupted or fragmented

Run Scandisk or something equivalent to help ensure that there is nothing physically wrong with the computer hard disk drive.

Run Defrag to help ensure that data is arranged in the best possible order.

Background programs

Remove or disable any TSRs or Startup programs that automatically start each time the computer boots. Press and hold ALT + CTRL + DEL and click the Task Manager button or if you're running Windows XP it should immediately open the Windows Task Manager window. Within Task Manger, click the Applications Tab, select the program that you wish to End Task, Select the program and click the End Task button.

Hardware conflicts

Verify that the Device Manager has no conflicts, but if conflicts are present, resolve them.

Issues with Windows XP prefetch

If you have Windows XP try deleting all files in the prefetch directory. These are prefetch files and can lower system resources if loading programs no longer being used. See our prefetch definition for additional information about prefetch.

Issues in Windows 95 / 98 autoexec.bat / config.sys

If you are using Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98 and do not plan on running any MS-DOS programs from MS-DOS follow the below steps.
Click Start, Run and type command and press enter.
In the MS-DOS window type cd\ to get to C:\> and then type ren autoexec.bat autoexec.ch and ren config.sys config.ch

This will rename your autoexec.bat and config.sys and help make sure memory is being optimized through Windows.

Computer or processor is overheating

Make sure your computer and processor is not overheating, excessive heat can cause a significant decrease in computer performance some processors will even lower the speed of the processor automatically to help compensate for the heat related issues.

Specific operating system basic troubleshooting

Try running through the basic troubleshooting steps for your operating system.

Erase computer and start over

Finally, if none of the above solutions resolve your issues, it is recommended that you either reinstall Windows and/or erase everything and then start over.

Hardware issues

If your computer continues to be slow after going over each of the above recommendations it's possible that your computer is experiencing a more serious hardware related issue such as a failing component in the computer. This could be a failing or bad CPU, RAM, Motherboard, or other component.

Remove Hidden Devices, Drivers, using Device Manager

How to display the hidden devices in system Device Manger?

Normally windows device manager displays the information about the hardware that ever been recognized by windows, whether it is currently present in the computer or not connected to the computer (for example USB or any other removable devices). The "Show hidden devices" option on View menu would not display the all hidden information, so you can force your system to display the detail of all hidden drives.

First you should log onto your computer with administrative rights.

Then Click Start button and type CMD in Run option then press Enter for next.

At the command prompt, type the following command and press Enter button.

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

Then again type the following command at command prompt and then press Enter button.

start devmgmt.msc

Now in the Device Manager Console go to View menu and select the "Show hidden devices" option.

Then You are able to view the hidden Devices..

Now expand the different devices and drivers option in devices manger and you will find the devices which have been loaded in the past.

When you finish troubleshooting, close Device Manager and also exit from command prompt to clear the opened sessions.

Hopes This will help Some Body..

Increase the list of recently opened documents history

In windows XP, you can increase the list of recently used documents in the start menu. By default windows XP display the shortcuts of last fifteen programs on recent documents list in start menu but you can increase this value with your required input value. However this tip is very useful for all new computer users because they can easily access their required documents from last visited documents history. This trick will work in nearly all of the windows versions like windows 2000, XP and 2003.

First, We Need to Edit the Windows Registry,

To edit the computer registry, first you should log onto your computer with administrative rights.

then Click Start button and type regedit in Run option then press Enter for next.

Then Windows Registry Editor will Open, Then Navigate to below Address

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

Now in left side panel, click right to create a new Key value with the name Explorer under "Policies" area.

Now explore the full path like:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Now in right side panel, click right to create a new DWORD value with the name MaxRecentDocs and then set values with your required input value.

There the Default Value is 0 we need to change as we like, so set input value to 30 and press Ok button.

If you want to disable this functionality then simply change the value of data box to 15 or delete the MaxRecentDocs DWORD item.

Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.