A crashing
computer usually occurs when the hard disk drive fails to function properly and
information stored on your computer can no longer be accessed. This can be
fatal, especially if the information that needs to be accessed is from the
operating system. Hard disk failures that lead to crashes for a number of
reasons can range from hardware life expectancy to human error.
Not
using a proper UPS
Electricity is
not a steady and uninterruptible supply because it can be disrupted by power
surges, power fluctuations, electrical storms, and power outages. A sudden shut
down due to a power cut can damage the hard disks and later cause the computer
to crash. Consider investing in an UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) as this
will give you a few minutes to properly shut down should electrical power be
suddenly cut.
Allowing
for Overheating
Central
processing units (CPUs) are usually equipped with fans to keep them cool. If
the fan fails or if the CPU gets old, it may start to overheat and generate a
particular kind of error called a kernel error. Another cause of overheating
through human error is by not allowing enough air flow around the CPU,
particularly at the back portion where air is sucked in to cool the CPU and the
hot air is blown out. One remedy is to get a bigger better fan and install it
on top of the CPU.
Software
A common cause
of a computer crash is faulty or badly-installed software. Often the problem
can be cured by uninstalling the software and then reinstalling it. To avoid
this problem, properly install any software by strictly following its
installation instructions.
Printers
Not many people
are aware that human error caused by printers can cause a computer to crash. The
action of sending a document to print creates a bigger file. This is called a
postscript file. Printers have only a small amount of memory, called a buffer,
which can be easily overloaded. Printing a document also uses a considerable amount
of CPU power. This will also slow down the computer’s performance. If the
printer is trying to print unusual characters, these might not be recognized,
and can crash the computer. Sometimes printers will not recover from a crash
because of confusion in the buffer. A good way to clear the buffer is to unplug
the printer for ten seconds. Booting up using a cold boot will restore the
printer's default settings.
Viruses
Often the first
sign of a virus infection is instability. Some viruses erase the boot sector of
a hard drive, making it impossible to start. The human error here is when the
user doesn’t install an anti-virus or anti-malware software, or if the software
isn't updated regularly.
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