Windows Vista system stops responding solution

This article can help you find and fix software failures in the Windows Vista operating system where the computer stops responding and crashes.

Note: If the computer stops responding during startup and/or daily operation, there may be firmware or hardware issues (memory, processor, hard drive, or motherboard). Click “Start” , click “Help & Support”, “Troubleshooting” Tools, then click the option to help diagnose hardware issues.

Symptoms in Windows Vista include:

No cursor moves or flashes on the computer display.

The computer does not respond to the mouse or keyboard.

An error message is displayed and cannot be erased.

Step 1: Close unresponsive programs and locate the software in question

If the computer locks or stops responding when using the software, close the unresponsive software and continue using Windows. Also, when closing the program, note the names of other software programs that were opened when the lock occurred.

Unplug all connected network cables.

Remove the disc from the CD/DVD drive. If Windows recovers, it means you need to repair, clean, or replace the disc.

Try closing the software program that stopped responding to determine if the software locking issue still exists. Close the open software application window in one of the following ways:

Click the X in the upper right corner of the program window.

Click “File” in the menu bar and select “Close” or “Exit” .

While holding down the Alt key on your keyboard, press the F4 key.

If the computer lockout disappears after closing the software program, proceed to step 2.

If the lockout persists, press CTRL + ALT + DELETE and select “Start Task Manager” Open “Task Manager”.

Figure 1: Windows Vista Task Manager

record lock occurs, the names of all open software programs under. The problem may be caused by other software processes running at the same time.

Close the software program one by one to see if the lockup still exists. To close the program:

Click the “Applications” tab.

Select the program listed as “Not Responding" in the "Status"

Click “End Task” .

Note: If the lockout still occurs after you close all the software in the "Applications" list, the problematic software may be a background task (starting with Windows, but not at the front desk) To the software). To determine which task is causing the problem, select the “process” tab to end each process in the list (keep Explorer and Systray). If you find a task that caused the lock, find the name of the software that opened the task and note the software name.

Once you find the software program that is causing the locking problem, write down the name of the software and go to the next step.

Step 2: Uninstall and reinstall the software in question

Once you have found the software that is causing the locking problem, do the following to prevent the locking from happening again:

Uninstall the software.

If you wish to continue using the software, reinstall the software.

In some cases, the software will lock when using a feature of the software. If this is the case, avoid using this feature and visit the software manufacturer's website for help and updates.

Sometimes locking occurs when two different software programs are opened at the same time. If this happens, avoid using both software at the same time, or uninstall one of them.

Follow these steps to uninstall or reinstall the software program that caused the lock:

Click “Start”, then click “Control Panel” .

Under “Program", click “Uninstall a program” .

Select the software program that caused the lock, click “Uninstall" or click “Fix" (if it exists).

Note: Uninstall all versions of the same software. Sometimes, the upgrade program may not remove older versions of the software until the new version is installed. This will leave multiple versions of the same software on your computer.

Click “Yes  and click “Complete” .

Restart your computer.

If you do not want to use the software program, the operation is complete. At this point, there should be no more locking.

If you still need to use the software program, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to reinstall the software. For the program that came with your computer, use Recovery Manager to reinstall the program; click “Start”,“All Programs, “Computer Help & Tools” , and then click “Recovery Manager” and follow the instructions on the screen Reinstall the program or driver.

If the computer still locks after reinstalling the software program, continue to the next step.

Step 3: Find out more about the software issue

If you want to use the software for lockup issues in succession, visit the software manufacturer's website for assistance. Someone may have encountered and reported the same problem, and the manufacturer may have provided a solution to the problem.

Connect the previously unplugged network cable.

Note: After opening the anti-virus software, connect to the Internet.

Follow the instructions provided by the software manufacturer on the website. If you still have problems, please refer to the “related support” section below.

If the solution is not available on the software manufacturer's website, you can also search the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

Step 4: Recover your computer

If the other steps described in this article do not resolve the issue, please use “System Recovery  to restore all software from your computer to its original configuration.