Computer freezes and shuts down

imo use Win7 and not Win8. (If you have to buy Win7, then buy it. But get the more affordable OEM version of Win7. And be aware that an OEM OS is only going to work for 1 PC. And would not work on a newer PC in the future.)

Now, if you had all the expertise required to truly backup; meaning, you know how to make "Image" backups... they are like Recovery disks; then you could go ahead and use Win8.

And, for the time being, if you opt to stick with Win8 (and regardless of OS), create a Contingency Plan for what to do if your PC ever becomes unstable. Yes, it is a little late, because it IS already unstable. But simply come up with a Contingency Plan for an unstable PC anyways. And simply implement it.

Here's and example of a Contingency Plan for when a PC becomes unstable:

1. Backup Personal Data/ Files.
2. Use (learn how to use) "Windows Easy Transfer" to backup settings.
3. Format C drive.
4. Reinstall OS (Win8) from scratch.
5. Test stability.
6. If stable, Run "Windows Easy Transfer" and restore settings from backup in Step 2.
7. Test stability.
8. Restore Personal Data/ Files.
9. Test stability.

If it is stable after doing the above, realize that the old Operating System over time, lost its' stability. And that that is a very good thing. Because it means the Hardware is fine.

And if it is stable, then run "Windows Easy Transfer" to backup settings. Or simply rely on the one that worked in Step 2. And every month, consider making an additional "Windows Easy Transfer" backup. But try and hold on to the original one you made in Step 2. And you could continue to rely on it for a Contingency Plan. But eventually move on to making a backup "Image" to restore your PC if it ever becomes unstable. They are the best and quickest to implement, Contingency, for when a PC becomes unstable.

Now, you may need a 2nd Hard Drive, before doing any of the above. And I'd suggest having at least 3 total Hard Drives. For one of many possible examples, if say you maybe play Video games; they can be installed on a separate Hard Drive that is dedicated to be used exclusively for Video games. And the other drive can be used exclusively for backups.

Now, with all the above being said, it is important to understand that trying to find a single cure for the current unstable Win8, is not recommended until you learn to implement a Contingency Plan like or similar to the above one. Without a proven plan, you're simply gambling too much. You could get lucky and fix it with trouble-shooting/ problem-solving. But it's better to first, have a proven Contingency Plan. And then after that, you can experiment/ learn the craft of finding and solving why a PC is unstable, to you heart's content. Or, don't waste time chasing the problem, and/ or when you give up finding a solution, simply use your Contingency Plan for an unstable PC.

GL

Here are the steps to How to Stop a Windows Computer from Freezing -


1Run a virus scan. Viruses are usually the culprits behind random errors, freezing, and crashing. How to run a virus scan depends on what anti-virus software you have, but basically you select drive C: and/or other disks (especially hard disks) that you suspect to have a virus, and click a button to activate the scan.
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2Uninstall programs you no longer need. Unnecessary programs may not seem like much, but some of them do run idly in the background, and this takes up memory. To uninstall a program, enter the control panel and click "Add/Remove Programs," select the program you want to uninstall, and click "Change/Remove". You can also insert the installation CD and select uninstall, or look for a file something like "uninstall.exe" in the program files.

3Close some applications. Do you always minimize programs rather than close them? Don't worry about that picture you have open, it won't go away after you close it. That web browser, just bookmark the page or save the process (saving if you have FireFox). Save what you want to save, and close the windows quickly before you decide you want them open (you should know that to close a program you click the little "x" in the upper right corner of the window, there is a more efficient way of doing this without using the mouse... press ALT+F4 to close the window, ALT+TAB to navigate through open windows).

4Delete any files you no longer need. This helps if you do it before defragmenting your disk, since there are fewer files for the defragmenter to move. Select the file(s) you want to delete, and press the "delete" key, or right click and click "delete".

5Use the scheduled maintenance tool. Under the "accessories" folder in the start menu there is a folder called system tools. Depending on your version of Windows, there is a program with a name along the lines of "Maintenance Schedule Wizard." This program will help schedule disk cleanups, disk defragmentations, and more. They all help with keeping your computer's performance at the optimum. Note that in Windows XP it is called "Task Scheduler".

6Clean up your registry. Find a registry cleaner or clean it manually. Don't clean it manually if you aren't comfortable changing important system settings. Also try using disk cleanup from the start menu under system tools. This folder can be found in accessories.

7Defragment your hard disk. Click START>PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES>SYSTEM TOOLS>DISK DEFRAGMENTER. Follow the onscreen instructions and choose the C: drive. If you're wondering what this does, think if it this way: When you use your computer, files must be opened on your computer, then closed. When files are moved or deleted, they jump around on the part of the disk physically. Eventually the files are scattered everywhere, and it takes your computer longer to find them. By defragmenting your hard drive, you put all of the files close together again, and it's easier for the computer to find them. Defragmenting your drive may take anywhere from ten minutes to several hours depending on the size of the disk and the number of files.

8Open up your computer case and dust it out. Dust can make even the best computers run slowly. Unscrew the screws on the side of the case, remove large pieces of hardware and tie down cables, and start vacuuming out dust. Be careful not to suck in any jumpers, pins, wires, etc. You may find it necessary to start removing hardware to access other hardware. Be sure to dust out the heat sync and other fans. If you don't feel comfortable doing so, contact a tech-savvy friend or simply use an air-can. Don't worry too much, it's large amounts of dust that will cause real problems.
While you're in the computer, check the heat sync to see if it is faulty. This can cause any operating system to freeze, especially the higher NT versions of Windows.
Although the above suggests a vacuum cleaner to dust out a computer, there is a risk of static discharge. It isn't recommended that you do this if you are uncomfortable. Instead, try using an air duster. For removable fans, take them out and CAREFULLY clean them.

9Format your disk and reinstall your operating system. Be sure to back up your data, for everything on your hard disk will be deleted.

10Downgrade to a lower operating system (e.g.: From Windows XP to Windows 2000). Your computer's specs may be too low to run the operating system at a satisfying level. The minimum requirements are MINIMUM, meaning that if you just meet them, you will just be able to run the operating system. For optimal performance, be sure to have at least the suggested specifications, not the minimum.

11Consider running a small Linux distro. Use a search engine to find a distribution of Linux that you think you would feel comfortable. Linux is another operating system, and is open source, meaning it's legally free. If you want an interface similar to the Windows interface, go with a KDE version. Try looking on Linux informative sites such as distrowatch for the most recent versions of Linux and reviews on the downloads.

12Buy or build another computer. Maybe not the solution you were looking for, but this is probably the best alternative if your computer fails to function properly after so much work. Remember that computers aren't designed to last a long time, most last about 2 to 5 years before hardware issues start showing up (this is not related to the Windows installation, which will usually last you about six months to a year on low maintenance).





YOU CAN EVEN SEE THIS VIDEO IF THE ABOVE DOESN'T HELP -

The video is available at wikihow