Why Does My Computer Keep Crashing?

It’s annoying when you are in the final stage or the middle of an exciting game, and you are just about to win, but suddenly the game halts. And not only that, your computer crashes as well.

This scenario is expected not only for gamers but also for people using heavy applications. That blue screen of death (BSOD) is bothersome.

Does My Computer Keep Crashing Due To Faulty Drivers?

Let us first understand drivers to understand better why they are the main culprit behind the “my PC keeps crashing” issue.

Drivers are integral pieces of software that access the hardware and act as an interface between the operating system and hardware.

For example, for your PC to play sound properly or display its best graphic quality, the sound and graphics card drivers need to interact and control the sound and graphic hardware units integrated with your PC.

But sometimes, these drivers become incompatible with the PC due to outdated versions or corrupted software. This is so common because hardware manufacturers develop their drivers.

Most of the time, when there is a computer crash, a faulty driver is behind it and not the Windows or the game you were playing. Thus, it is essential that you keep the drivers updated, either manually or using third-party driver updater software.

Reasons for Computer Keeps Crashing

There could be numerous as for why the computer keeps crashing. It could be either a software issue or a hardware issue.

You can examine the error report to identify the culprit behind the computer crash, which most likely will be a malfunctioning application or hardware component.

Malfunctioning Driver

More often than not, the “computer keeps crashing” errors are caused due to outdated drivers that need to be updated. Drivers have access to a computer’s hardware and the Windows OS, and hence a malfunctioning driver is fatal for our computer.

To keep the drivers updated, you can use third-party driver updaters such as Driver Easy, DriverFix, Avast Driver Updater, etc.

Overheating

High heating temperatures can cause your PC permanent damage, and to protect itself from that, it shuts down to regulate the heat.

You can protect against these high temperatures by keeping the fans free of dust, ensuring that they are working correctly, etc.

Operating System Problems

Sometimes when the OS isn’t updated to its newest version with the latest security patches, it malfunctions and results in a computer crash.

Updating your Windows OS, macOS, or other OS can help you protect against security vulnerabilities, hackers, and malware.

RAM Issues

All the current tasks executing on your computer at an instant are handled by the Random-Access Memory (RAM). For example, when playing games or using any software, they are loaded into the Random Access Memory.

Thus, a computer crash can occur when the computer doesn’t have enough memory to support your operations. You can increase the memory in your PC to prevent computer crashes.

Overclocking

Overclocked GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or overclocked CPU (Central Processing Unit) can raise the internal temperatures that lead to overheating problems. Most gamers remove the protection from the GPU to get a better gaming experience that puts their computer in danger.

Fixes for Computer Keeps Crashing

Now that you know the various reasons for your Windows 10 PC crashing problem, you can fix them using the methods provided in this article.

1. Reboot your computer
2. Make sure your CPU works properly
3. Boot in Safe Mode
4. Update your drivers
5. Run System File Checker

Method 1: Reboot Your Computer

Rebooting or restarting your computer can be the easiest fix for recovering from the crash. Restarting your laptop allows BIOS to load everything again and start the PC properly and fix any problems if possible.

Before going ahead to fix the issue, make sure that whatever you were currently working on your PC is saved.

If your mouse or keyboard is working, you can reboot your Windows 10 PC using either of these. If not then you will have to hard reset your PC to reboot.

To hard reset the computer, continually press the Power button on your PC or laptop until it shuts down. Wait for some time and then press the power button again to boot the PC.

Using Mouse

Step 1. Left-click on the start button icon given on the bottom-left corner of your screen.

Step 2. Left-click on the Power button icon and select the Shut Down option.

Step 3. Allow the computer to shut down properly and wait for a minute.

Step 4. Press the power button on the laptop or computer to boot your computer normally.

Using Keyboard

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon and D key on your keyboard.

Step 2. Press Alt + F4 keys together.

Step 3. Ensure that the Shut Down option is visible in the What do you want the computer to do? dropdown. If not, navigate to the dropdown using the Tab key and press the down key until the Shut Down option is visible.

Step 4. Hit Enter once you select Shut Down.

Step 5. Please wait a moment and press the power button to turn the computer back on.

Method 2: Make Sure Your Cpu Works Properly

Windows OS 10 can keep crashing if it gets overheated to protect the system from further damage. There are a few defenses you can take to ensure that it doesn’t happen.

1. Clean Your Computer’s Cover

Dust can prevent the cooling fan present in your PC and laptop from functioning. Thus, it is essential that the case or cover you use for your computer is clean to allow adequate airflow through the fan.

2. Ensure Fan Work Properly

If you are not sure why your computer is heating so much, you can take it to a repair shop to get the fans tested or check the fan yourself by opening up the CPU or laptop.

3. Proper Ventilation Is A Must

You must position your CPU in a way that its air vents aren’t blocked. It should not be covered by any cloth or pushed up against the wall. In the case of laptops, make sure that you keep them on a wooden surface instead of metal to prevent overheating.

Method 3: Boot in Safe Mode

If you think your computer crashes due to a program or an application, you can uninstall it by using your computer in safe mode.

You can do this in two steps:

Step 1. Please boot your computer or laptop in safe mode

Step 2. Configure the system to allow application uninstallation

Boot Your PC In Safe Mode

There are two methods in which you can boot your computer in safe mode:

1. Normal Boot

If you can access the login display on your Windows 10 computer, you can perform the below steps to boot normally.

Step 1. Go to the login or sign-in page on your laptop.

Step 2. Keep holding the shift key continually and click on the power button on the login screen, and select Restart.

Step 3. You will be able to see the Windows Recovery Environment (RE) screen.

Step 4. Choose the Troubleshoot menu.

Step 5. In the troubleshooting options, click on the Advanced options menu.

Step 6. Select the Startup settings option.

Step 7. Select the Restart button to restart the computer and enter the start-up settings screen.

Step 8. Once the computer restarts and the start-up settings screen is displayed, click on the 4 number key on your keyboard to select the Enable Safe Mode option. You can click the 5-number key to select Enable Safe Mode with Networking to access the internet in safe mode.

2. Automatic repair screen boot

If you cannot access the login or are unable to boot Windows normally, you can follow these steps.

Step 1. Switch off your PC in case it’s not.

Step 2. Please press the power button to start the computer. As soon as the Windows logo appears, press the Power button and shut down the PC.

Step 3.  Repeat step 2 until you can see the Automatic Repair screen.

Step 4. Wait for Windows to diagnose your PC and show a Startup Repair screen. Click on the Advanced options button given on the screen to enter Windows Recovery Environment (RE) screen.

Step 5. Choose the Troubleshoot menu.

Step 6. In the troubleshooting options, click on the Advanced options menu.

Step 7. Select the Startup settings option.

Step 8. Select the Restart button to restart the computer and enter the startup settings screen.

Step 9. Once the PC restarts and the startup settings screen is displayed, click on the 4 number key on your keyboard to select the Enable Safe Mode option. You can click the 5-number key to select Enable Safe Mode with Networking to access the internet in safe mode.

Uninstall The Application

Once the PC boots in safe mode, you can configure it to allow application uninstallation in a safe mode which is generally not allowed.

Step 1. Please open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows icon and R keys simultaneously.

Step 2. In the Open: text box, please enter Regedit and click OK or hit enter.

Step 3. In the Registry Editor, navigate the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal

Alternatively, if you are using safe mode with networking, navigate the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Network

Step 4. Right-click on the Minimal folder in safe mode or right-click on the Network folder in Safe Mode with Networking.

Step 5. Navigate to New -> Key option.

Step 6. Enter the key name as MSIServer and the default data value as Service.

Step 7. On the right side of your computer screen, you can see all this information. Close the Registry editor window.

Step 8. Go to the problematic application or program and uninstall it.

Step 9. Reboot your computer to normal mode.

Method 4: Update Your Drivers

Incompatible or outdated drivers are one of the most common causes of frequent computer crashes. Fortunately, they are straightforward to update.

You can update the drivers using two methods: automatically and manually.

Manually – You can update the drivers individually by downloading each driver’s latest version from the manufacturer’s website and installing it.

Step 1. The manual update requires you to download drivers from the driver manufacturer’s website.

Step 2. After that, you need to open the Device Manager and right-click on the driver you want to update.

Step 3. Once you click on the Update Driver option, click on Search for a driver on your computer and then browse to the location to where you downloaded the driver and select it.

Automatically – You can automatically use third-party software such as DriverFix, Driver Easy, etc., to update the drivers.

Step 1. Go to the Driver Easy website and download the software.

Step 2. Install and run the software and click on the Scan Now button to scan your PC for possible driver problems.

Step 3. Please click on the update button next to the drivers individually or click on Update All. Wait for the update process to complete.

Step 4. After the update completes, restart your PC.

Method 5: Run System File Checker

Microsoft Windows offers you a System File Checker (SFC) utility tool to check any corrupted system files responsible for crashes.

Step 1. Switch off your PC in case it’s not.

Step 2. Please press the power button to start the computer. As soon as the Windows logo appears, press the Power button and shut down the PC.

Step 3.  Repeat step 2 until you can see the Automatic Repairing screen.

Step 4. Wait for Windows to diagnose your PC and show a Startup Repair screen. Click on the Advanced options button given on the screen to enter Windows Recovery Environment (RE) screen.

Step 5. Choose the Troubleshoot menu.

Step 6. In the troubleshooting options, click on the Advanced options menu.

Step 7. Select the Startup settings option.

Step 8. Select the Restart button to restart the computer and enter the start-up settings screen.

Step 9. Once the PC restarts and the start-up settings screen is displayed, click on the 6 number key on your keyboard and select the Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt option.

Step 10. Open the command prompt in safe mode and type sfc /scannow in the command line.

Step 11. Allow the computer to complete the scan and boot windows usually.

On the other hand, if you can boot your Windows normally and can access the command prompt, you can follow the below steps:

Step 1. Click the Windows icon key and type cmd in the search box.

Step 2. Please right-click on the command prompt option and click on Run as administrator. Click Yes in the Windows prompt.

Step 3. In the command line, please type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

Step 4. Allow the system to scan for corrupted files and fix them. Once the process is completed, close the command prompt and restart the system.

Recover Missing Data Due to Computer Crashing

Frequent computer crashes can result in data loss which can sometimes be recovered. If you haven’t already backed up your data, there is software such as MiniTool Partition Wizard, Recuva, etc., that can help you restore data.

MiniTool Partition Wizard comes with partition recovery and data recovery features in its Ultimate and Pro edition that allow users to recover lost data from the system. However, you must have the Ultimate edition of MiniTool Partition Wizard to save the recovered data and not the Pro edition.

Step 1. Run the MiniTool Partition Wizard application and wait for the application to start.

Step 2. Please navigate to the Data Recovery icon in the top bar and select it.

Step 3. Select the driver you wish to recover data from and then click the Scan button. Allow the program to scan the drive for lost data.

Step 4. A list of found data will be displayed after the scan completes. Select the ones you want to recover and click Save.

Step 5. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish recovering the required data.

This will help you with any recoverable data from your system. Although, it is recommended that you set up System Restore and then restore all data to prevent any additional data loss in the future.

FAQs