Was your computer working fine last week but seems to be crashing a lot this week? When this happens, you may notice that your computer has stopped responding and you need to restart it before you can resume working again. There are many potential causes for this problem—here are a few of the most common, along with possible solutions.
Use Error Reporting
The Error Reporting feature gives you the ability to notify Microsoft when an error occurs. Microsoft then uses this information to provide you with troubleshooting information, workarounds, or updates for your specific problem. When enabled, Error Reporting monitors your computer for faults that affect Windows and the various programs you are running.
To turn on Error Reporting:
1.Click Start, click Control Panel (and in Category View, click Performance and Maintenance), then click System.
2.Click the Advanced tab, then click Error Reporting.
3.In the Error Reporting dialog box, select Enable error reporting, and make sure the Windows operating system and Programs check boxes are selected.
4.Click OK.
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When an error occurs, Error Reporting does two things:
·You will see a message stating that Windows XP Professional detected a problem. You can click Report this Problem or Don't Report, or you can click the words “click here” to see the information that will be sent to Microsoft. Error reporting does not gather or send your personal information; only information relating to the specific error is sent to Microsoft.
·If you click Report this Problem, Error Reporting sends the error report anonymously to Microsoft using an encrypted, secure Internet connection. You might be prompted to provide additional information to complete your error report. When the process is complete, you can click More Information, which may direct you to updated drivers, patches, or Microsoft Knowledge Base articles.
Have you done anything new?
Try removing any newly installed hardware (such as a printer) or uninstalling any newly installed applications (such as a computer game) to see if that resolves the problem. Also make sure that your computer meets the minimum requirements recommended by the hardware manufacturer or software publisher before installing anything new. You can remove newly added software with Add/Remove Programs Wizard.
To remove programs:
1.Click Start, then click Control Panel.
2.In Category View, click Add or Remove Programs, then click Remove a program.
3.Select the program you want to remove, click Change/Remove, and then follow the prompts to uninstall it.
Use System Restore to roll your system back to a good state
System Restore, a feature available in Windows XP and Windows ME, monitors changes to your PC and automatically creates restore points. If a problem occurs, you can use System Restore to roll back your computer to a previous state (one in which you know everything was working fine) without losing your personal data files, such as Microsoft Word documents, Internet Explorer Favorites, or e-mail.
System Restore creates restore points daily and at the time of significant system events (such as when an application or driver is installed). You can also create and name your own restore points at any time.
The System Restore Wizard guides you through the steps of each task in System Restore. To access the System Restore Wizard, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore.
Here’s a brief look at what to expect when you run the wizard:
This screen gives you the option to restore your computer to an earlier time or state.
This screen allows you to pick a date on the calendar and then select a restore point to restore your computer to an earlier state.
This screen lets you change your mind about the selected restore point (or the whole restoration), and it allows you to save all files and close all programs before starting the restoration. After you confirm your selection, the system restoration process starts. Your system will restart and you will have to log on again.
This screen indicates that your restoration has been successful. If the restoration fails, you will see a Restoration was unsuccessful screen instead, and no changes will have been made to your computer.
