PC Freezes Randomly? Here’s What’s Causing It & How to Fix It

Your PC Locks Up and Won’t Respond?

You're working, gaming, or just browsing, and suddenly—your PC completely freezes. The mouse won’t move, the keyboard doesn’t respond, and you’re forced to restart.

This issue is frustrating, but before you assume your PC is dying, let’s go through the most common reasons PCs freeze—and how to fix them.

Step 1: Is Your PC Overheating?

Overheating is a major cause of random freezes, especially under load (gaming, video editing, streaming). When your CPU or GPU gets too hot, the system can freeze to prevent damage.

💡 How to Check Your Temperatures:

  • Download HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner.
  • Check CPU and GPU temperatures while using your PC.
  • If the CPU goes over 85°C or GPU over 90°C, overheating is likely the cause.

🔥 How to Fix It:
✔ Clean dust from your fans and heatsinks.
✔ Reapply thermal paste on CPU/GPU (if older than 2 years).
✔ Improve airflow with more case fans or better cooling.

Step 2: Check for RAM Issues

Faulty RAM can cause random freezes, crashes, or even Blue Screens (BSODs).

💡 How to Test Your RAM:

  • Press Windows + R, type mdsched.exe, and run Windows Memory Diagnostic.
  • Use MemTest86 for a deeper RAM test.
  • If errors appear, try removing one RAM stick at a time to isolate the faulty module.

🛠 Fix: If you find RAM errors, replacing the faulty RAM will solve the problem.

Step 3: Corrupt System Files or Failing SSD/HDD

If your PC freezes randomly, especially when opening programs, your Windows installation or storage drive could be the issue.

💡 How to Check Your Drive:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Admin.
  2. Type:
    chkdsk /f /r
  3. Let Windows check and repair any bad sectors.

🚨 Signs of a Failing Drive:

  • Freezing when opening files or programs.
  • Clicking noises from an HDD.
  • Boot errors or “Windows Needs Repair” messages.

🛠 Fix: If your SSD/HDD is failing, back up your data and replace it ASAP!

Step 4: Driver Issues & Software Conflicts

Bad drivers can cause freezing, crashes, and even slowdowns.

💡 How to Check for Driver Problems:

  • Open Device Manager (Windows + X > Device Manager).
  • Look for any yellow exclamation marks—these indicate faulty drivers.
  • Update GPU, chipset, and network drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

🛠 Fix:
✔ Roll back any recently updated drivers if the issue started after an update.
✔ Uninstall unnecessary software that might conflict (RGB software, game overlays, etc.).

Step 5: Power Supply (PSU) Problems

If your PC freezes and then restarts, your power supply might be failing.

🚨 Signs of a Failing PSU:

  • Random freezes followed by sudden shutdowns or restarts.
  • PC turns off when under load (gaming, rendering).
  • Other components not getting enough power.

🛠 Fix: If your PSU is several years old or underpowered for your system, replacing it might solve the problem.

Final Step: When to Seek Professional Help

If your PC still freezes randomly after these fixes, it could be a deeper motherboard or hardware issue.

At TechPlay, I specialize in diagnosing and fixing freezing issues, whether it’s bad RAM, overheating, or a failing drive.

📩 Need help? Contact me today for a full system checkup!

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