MAGSAYSAY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

New Lucban,Baguio City

SLOW OR FREEZING

10-RESPONSIBILITY

Submitted To:
Mr. Reynil P. Delizo

Submitted By:
GROUP 1
Wyler S. Coga-ay
Franzes Cyma B. Dalang
Adrian Leon R. Dela Pena
John Jervi R. Dizon

February 21, 2024

I. DESCRIPTION

SLOW OR FREEZING COMPUTER

A computer that starts to slow down can be overloaded with temporary data or
programs using up its memory. Freezing can also be caused by malware or errors on your
hard disk. These issues can be rectified by performing basic maintenance and error
checking, though if the causes of the problems are not clear, you may need to attempt a
few different methods before you see results.

II. POSSIBLE CAUSES

1. Too Many Apps Running
Each application open on your system takes some internal and hardware resources to
keep running. If multiple apps and programs are running, your PC may run low on resources as
memory is used by a number of applications. To avoid this, it is advisable to run one program at
a time to make sure that computer freeze is not caused due to running multiple apps at a same
instance of time.
2. Driver Issues
Outdated or damaged drivers can also be the reason behind frequent computer freezes. If
video drivers being installed on your system are not updated, the computer might hang up while
you attempt to play a video or a game. Analyze Windows Device Manager to ensure no ‘Other
Devices’ are connected. Also, examine the list of devices to check that no exclamation mark
exists corresponding to a device driver or if there is any red X marked next to the device.
3. Excess Heating Up
If the temperature of your system processor is higher than usual, the chances are that the
computer may freeze. The symptoms through which you can detect the higher temperature of
your processor are abnormal noise on startup and high squealing.Analyze the system when you
turn it on and listen carefully to the sound generated by the fan. Also, monitor the RPM, enter
CMOS setup and ensure that no error message is reported by the BIOS.
4. Insufficient RAM
If the system freezes at regular intervals of time, the reason could be an insufficient RAM.
It is mandatory to have considerable RAM to keep the system running smoothly. Sometimes,
there could be applications and 3D games installed on device that makes it bulky and hence
causes system hang issues.In addition, it is quite probable that the motherboard, CPU or Power
Supply may not be working appropriately. In such cases, upgrading RAM or reinstalling
Windows OS may help resolve the issue.

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 5. Power Issues
Your computer power supply unit must be efficient enough to deliver sufficient voltage
to the system. Even if you have a powerful computer with the latest processor, sufficient RAM,
GPU and advanced motherboard, inadequate power supply or sudden power surge can cause
computer freeze on next startup.You can prevent this by installing an uninterrupted power supply
unit that can handle low voltage issues and keep the system running for some time even if there
is no power.
6. External Devices
Faulty USB or external devices connected to the system can cause frequent or random
reboots. Devices such as a mouse, keyboard, USB camera or gaming consoles connected to the
computer externally can be the actual cause of issues such as system shut down, followed by a
freeze.Remove all the connected devices to check if the system works normally. Also, update the
USB device drivers to prevent such issues.
7. Hard Drive Malfunction
That clicking sound coming out of the CPU of your system is nothing, but a symptom
alerting you that something is wrong with the hard drive. To resolve this issue, go to the
manufacturer’s website and check for troubleshooting method.Alternatively, run a diagnostic
check to examine the hard drive and execute appropriate workaround thereafter. Due to hard
drive malfunction, if any of the data gets deleted accidentally, it can be recovered efficiently
using hard disk recovery tool.

III. SOLUTION AND PROCEDURE

Fixable Causes :

1. Software Issues:

Symptoms: Slow performance, application crashes, unexpected pop-ups.

 Run a full system scan with reputable antivirus/anti-malware: Free (options

like Kaspersky Free, Avast Free Antivirus).

Kapersky Avast

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  Update software (OS, applications, drivers): Free (Microsoft Update, Apple
Software Update).

 Microsoft Update Procedure(Windows 10)

Step-by-Step Procedure:

a. Click the Start button. It’s usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen.

 Windows periodically checks for updates and installs them automatically. You can still use
this method to check for updates that have been released since the last update check ran as
well as check for any optional new features.[1]
 After Windows installs an automatic update, it may prompt you to reboot your computer. If
you see a message asking you to reboot (or schedule a reboot), follow the on-screen
instructions to do so.

b. Click Settings .It's next to an icon that resembles a gear. It’s toward the bottom of the
Start menu in the panel to the left.

c. Click Update & security. It’s the option that has an icon that resembles two curved arrows.

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d. Click Check for updates. It’s the button at the top of the page. Windows will check for
updates. If an update is available, it will start downloading automatically. If no updates are
available, you’ll see a message that says ″Windows is up to date.″

 Leave this window open as the update installs so you’ll know whether you need to restart
your computer.

e. Click Download and install (optional). Occasionally, Windows will have optional features
you can update too. To install these features, click Download and install below "Feature
update to Windows 10".

 If your PC is able to run Windows 11, it will appear as an optional update as soon as it is
available for your PC by early 2022.[2]

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f. Click Restart Now. It will appear below the header that says "Restart required" when the
update is finished downloading. This will restart your computer and complete the update.

 Be sure to save anything you are working on before restarting your computer.
 To schedule a reboot for later, click Schedule the restart (on the Windows Update
window), slide the switch to the On (blue) position, and then select a time you won’t be
busy on the computer.

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 Close unnecessary background programs: Free (Task Manager/Activity Monitor).

a. Manually Kill Processes Using Task Manager

 You can free up your system resources by force-closing any running

applications that consume a lot of memory. Before using this method, ensure you’re
not actively using the running application. In addition, remember not to end
Microsoft processes.

 To begin, open the Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc or Win
+ X. Then, navigate to the Processes tab, right-click on it, and ensure that
the Memory section is checked. This would sort the applications in the order of
their memory consumption.

 Select the application you want to close and click the End Task button at the bottom-right
of the menu. You can also right-click on the application and select End Task in the context
menu that appears.

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  The best kind of processes to disable using this method is system tray apps and
services, such as Discord, Slack, and antivirus programs. These programs always
run in the background and never close, even if you quit their main application
window. Consequently, they contribute to the numerous background processes you
often see in Task Manager.

 Disable unnecessary startup programs: Free (Task Manager/Activity Monitor).

a. Disable Startup Processes

 As the name implies, startup processes begin running as soon as you boot your Windows PC.
These programs are often responsible for your computer’s long startup times and run in the
background even when unused.
 To reduce the number of startup processes, open the Task Manager and click on
the Startup tab to open its menu. You will find a list of all startup processes and their
enabled status here. Right-click on any process you want to disable and select
the Disable option in the context menu.

 Alternatively, you can use the Disable button on the bottom-right of the menu. All Microsoft
processes in this menu are safe to disable because they are non-critical for your PC.
Furthermore, you can use Autoruns to manage your startup programs.

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 Optimize hard drive (HDD only): Free (built-in tools like Defragment and Optimize
Drives in Windows).

a. Select the search bar on the taskbar and enter defrag.Select Defragment and
Optimize Drives.

b. Select the disk drive you want to optimize.

c. Select the Optimize button.

Costs: ₱0-500 (antivirus software subscription optional).

2. Hardware Issues:

Symptoms: Overheating, loud fan noise, slow boot times, random shutdowns.

Fixes:

 Clean dust from vents and fans: Free (tools needed).

a. Turn off your computer.

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b. Unplug your computer from the electrical outlet and the surge protector

c. Open the computer case.

d. Use compressed air to dust the internal parts of the computer, but try to remain a few inches
away from the motherboard, memory, expansion cards, and processors.

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e. Clean the build-up of dust on your PC fans by using compressed air or an electric vacuum,
but be careful of breaking the delicate blades. Hold the blade of the fan with your finger
while using the compressed air. To make sure you remove all the dust, use a cotton swab
with rubbing alcohol to wipe the blades clean.

 Improve airflow around the computer: Free (repositioning).

a. Make sure the side panels are not obstructed by cable,power supplies,or other objects.
b. Create a fresh air intake.You can do this by getting a few fans placing them near the front of
the cabinet which will let cold air in.

c. Clean out any old dust from inside your PC with a vacuum cleaner and compressed air.

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d. Make sure you have enough fans inside your PC - not too many but not too few either.

e. Make sure that all of your fans are pointed in the right direction so they can move air
throughout your entire system property.

 Upgrade thermal paste: Moderate DIY difficulty,

 ₱200-500 for paste; professional: ₱1,000-2,000.

a. Step 1: Gain Access to CPU Cooler

 Refer to the service manual supplied with your desktop or laptop computer to disassemble
the chassis enough to expose the CPU cooler. Be sure to wear an anti-static wrist strap while
ensuring that it has been electrically grounded. Before you proceed, don’t forget to switch
off your computer and disconnect all power cables.

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b. Step 2: Remove the CPU Cooler

 Desktop CPU coolers, either of the liquid or air-cooled variety, are usually fastened on to the
CPU IHS with four screws. Some CPU coolers may involve non-captive motherboard
brackets that might need special handling instructions. We recommend referring to your
CPU cooler’s assembly guide to figure out the appropriate removal method.

c. Step 3: Wipe Off Existing Thermal Paste

 This is your cue to wear powder-free nitrile rubber gloves to protect your skin from the toxic
thermal paste. The gloves also shield the IHS and CPU block from finger oils, which can
potentially impair thermal conductivity.
 Dab some isopropyl alcohol (IPA) onto either ESD cleanroom wipes or coffee filter paper
and proceed to wipe the residual thermal paste off both the CPU IHS and the copper block.

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d. Step 4: Apply Fresh Thermal Paste

 The appropriate amount of thermal paste to be applied is a source of contention for the PC
hardware community. But here’s a simple rule of thumb worth following: avoid inadequate
coverage of the CPU IHS. An overly lean thermal paste application creates hotspots on the
IHS, which consequently leads to suboptimal cooling.
 Excess thermal paste, however, gets automatically squished out when the CPU cooler is
mounted. That isn’t a problem if you are using the non-conductive kind, so you are better off
erring on the side of caution and applying two cross-shaped beads of paste, with small dots
in between the quadrants, as shown in the illustration below.

e. Step 5: Mount the CPU Cooler

 Follow the instructions provided in the manual to mount the CPU cooler onto the IHS. In
most cases, this involves tightening four screws. However, it’s important to tighten them in
the right order.

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 Start off by positioning the copper block flat on the CPU IHS and rotating each screw with
your fingers to remove all slack. Do not fully tighten the screws at this juncture.

 Instead, tighten screw number one by a quarter of a turn before moving onto doing the same
to the subsequent screws in a crisscross pattern illustrated in the image below. Repeat the
process until all screws have been tightened to the correct torque.

 Following this procedure is critical to ensuring that a uniform mounting pressure is applied
to the CPU IHS. Failure to do so leads to uneven mounting pressure, which can create
thermal hotspots detrimental to cooling performance.

f. Step 6: Assembly Is the Reverse of Disassembly

 Trace back the steps taken to disassemble your device and make sure all screws are replaced
and tightened to the correct torque. And, that’s it: you are done.

 Upgrade RAM: Easy-moderate DIY difficulty, ₱1,500-5,000+ depending on capacity.

a. Locate the RAM slot on your motherboard.

b. Push down the locking tab(s) at the end of each slot.
c. Line up the RAM stick with the slot, ensuring that the notch of the RAM stick matches that
of the slots. Be sure that it’s centered between the latch locks.
d. Push down the RAM stick straight down until it makes a clicking sound. It may take a little
bit of force, but don’t worry! This is normal.
e. Once you hear the click, the RAM should be fully seated. Frequently, the latches will pop up,
locking the RAM stick into place.

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 Costs: ₱0-5,000+ (depending on chosen fix and DIY vs. professional service).

3. Driver Issues:

Symptoms: Hardware malfunction, lagging performance, compatibility issues.

Fixes:

 Update device drivers: Free (manufacturer websites/driver update tools like Driver Booster
Free).

a. Click the Start , then go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
You can also access it via the shortcut button below:

Windows Update

b. Click Check for updates.

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c. Now, click View optional updates.

d. Click Driver updates, then select the drivers you want to update.

e. Click Download and install.

 Costs: ₱0 (unless specialized driver tools needed).

Potentially Unfix-able Causes (Consider professional help or replacement):

1. Failing Hardware:
Symptoms: Frequent crashes, data loss, hardware component failure (e.g., hard
drive, motherboard).
Fixes:
 Data recovery (if possible): ₱1,000-5,000+ (depending on data volume and complexity).

a. Open the Start menu.

b. Type "cmd", right-click on the top match, and select "Run as administrator" to run the
Command Prompt with an administrator privilege.

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c. Type "chkdsk X: /f" and hit Enter on your keyboard. Replace "X" with the letter of your
hard drive.

d. Type "ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D X:*.*" and hit Enter. Again, replace "X" with the letter of
your hard drive.

 Hardware replacement: Varies greatly depending on the component (₱2,000-10,000+ for

HDD/SSD, ₱5,000-20,000+ for motherboard).
Costs: ₱1,000+ (replacement likely required).

2. Physical Damage:
Symptoms: May vary depending on damage (e.g., liquid spill, impact damage).

Fixes:
 Professional repair (if possible):
 ₱1,000+ (cost depends on damage severity)
 Computer replacement:
 ₱10,000+ (depending on desired specs).

3. Overheating:

Symptoms: Frequent shutdowns, loud fan noise.

Fix:

 Clean dust from vents, improve airflow. Consider professional cleaning or thermal paste
replacement

 (₱1,000-2,000).

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a. Remove the side panel of your case and locate your fans and filters

b. Detach the fans and filters from the case (or leave them in place if not possible)
c. Use the can of compressed air to blow away dust from the fans and filters

d. Use the soft brush to wipe away any remaining dust

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e. Use the microfiber cloth and isopropyl alcohol to wipe the fan blades and filter frames

f. Let the fans and filters dry completely before reattaching them to the case. Make sure you
align them correctly, reconnect any wires or connectors, and do not over-tighten screws or
clips.

IV. PREVENTION AND PROPER MAINTENANCE

1. Start Windows in safe mode

 Starting your Windows in safe mode will help to narrow down the possible root cause of
the issue. In the safe mode, Windows will boot in a basic state, with limited files and
drivers. If the PC freeze doesn’t occur in safe mode, then the default Windows settings
and basic device drivers aren’t causing the problem.

 If you encounter a blank screen, you need to enter winRE (Windows Recovery
Environment) before starting the safe mode. Here’s how:

Press the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your PC


 Press the power button again to turn your PC on
 On the first sign that Windows has started, press the power button for 10 seconds
again to turn off your PC
 Hold the power button again to turn on your PC
 When Windows restarts, press the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your PC
 Press the power button to turn your PC on
 Let Windows fully restart; You’ll enter winRE
 After entering winRE, here’s the step by step on starting Windows in safe mode:

 In the “Choose an option” screen, select Troubleshoot

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 A new screen will appear, select “Advanced options”

 In the new screen, select “Startup settings” > Restart

 After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Choose option 5 from the list or
press F5 button for Safe Mode with Networking.

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2. Check Windows Task Manager

It may just be a simple program that has crashed and not your Operating System. In that case,
you can force quit the program that freezes from Windows Task Manager.

Here is the step by step instructions that you can follow:

 Open your task manager by typing “Task Manager” on the search box or holding down
the Ctrl + Alt + Delete

 Select ‘Processes’ tab

 Choose the program that keeps freezing > Right click and select “End Task”

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V. CONCLUSION

Therefore,slow or freezing of a computer is the overload of temporary data or programs

causing the memory to be full.Freezing can also be a cause by malware or errors on the
computers hard disk.The main causes of this problems are we usually opened to many
programs,software issue,hardware issue,drive issues and etc.With this cause there are possible to
be solve by ourselves and some are needed of professional help.The cost may vary on how the
procedure is done and needed on the procedure.

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VI. QUIZ
Instruction: Bring out 1/4 piece of paper and read the question properly that will be flashed on
the TV before answering write the letter of your correct answer CAPITAL LETTERS ONLY.

1.-2. All of the causes were fixable causes EXEPT two.

A. Software Issues
B. Driver Issues
C. Failing Hardware
D. Hardware Issues
E. Physical Damage

3.-4.Three symptoms of Software Issues EXEPT two.

A. Application crashes
B. Lagging Performance
C. Hardware Malfunction
D. Unexpected pop-ups
E. Slow Performance

5.- 6.Three symptoms of Driver Issues EXEPT two.

A. Overheating
B. Hardware malfunction
C. Random Shutdowns
D. Compatibility issues
E. Lagging Performance

7.- 8.Three symptoms of Failing Hardware EXEPT two.

A. Frequent Crashes
B. Lagging Performance
C. Hardware Malfunction
D. Hardware Component Failure
E. Data Loss

9. A computer that starts to slow down can be ___________ with temporary data or
programs using up its memory.
A. Overloaded
B. Overheating
C. Overdose
D. Overdrive

10. If you want to upgrade your RAM.How much will it cost?

A. 1500-2500
B. 2500-3000
C. 1000-1500
D. 1500-5000

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11. How many steps does the Microsoft Update Procedure (Windows 10)?
A. 5
B. 8
C. 7
D. 6
E. 4

12.What is the first step to clean dust from vents and fans from the second fixable cause?
A. Unplug your computer from the electric outlet
B. Open the computer case
C. Remove the side panel of the chassis
D. Turn off your computer

13. How many given causes does Slow or Freezing Desktop we presented?
A. 6
B. 8
C. 7
D. 9

14.-15. What is our topic?(2pts)

A. Slow and freezing
B. Slowing or freezing
C. Slow or freezing
D. Slowing and freezing

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 REFERENCE

Wate.(2023,January).How to Disable Startup Programs in Windows11.TechPP.

https://techpp.com/2023/01/01/disable-startup-programs-in-windows-11-guide/

Tibbetts.(2023,January).How to Defragment Your Hard drive.Major Geeks.

https://m.majorgeeks.com/content/page/defragment_your_hard_drive.html

Homer.(2021,July).Does Adding More RAM to Your Computer Make it Faster.howstuffworks.

https://computer.howstuffworks.com/question175.htm

Boylls.(2022,October).How to Update Windows.wikiHow.

https://www.wikihow.com/Update-Windows

Prakash.(2023,December).Top 10 Reasons for Computer Freezing.Stellar.

https://www.stellarinfo.com/blog/top-10-reasons-computer-freezing/#top

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