Computer Tips for ‘Regular People’ — My Programs Keep Crashing!
You have a 5:00 deadline and it’s 4:15. Your fingers fly across the keyboard as you add the final touches to your report …
… and then …
… your program crashes.
There’s nothing more frustrating than having a software program crash in the middle of a project. For some reason, it seems like the crash tends to happen right in the middle of a deadline.
Here are a few tips on what you can do to make sure that your favorite software programs work optimally.
Tip #1 - Check for Updates Regularly
Most of the more reputable software programs have an update feature. Some of these are automatic and will install patches or software upgrades as soon as you open your software program. Not all programs have this feature, or if they do, you might need to change your firewall permissions to allow them to install upgrades automatically.
If your software is not upgrading automatically (after you have changed any necessary permissions in your firewall program), you can generally find a “check for updates” type of link In the “help” section of most software programs. If it is not in the “help” section, the update link might be in your “file,” “tools” or other section of your program. When you click the update link, your software will either (1) automatically connect to the developer’s website and download any patches or updates that you may need or (2) take you to a download page on the developer’s website.
I usually check for updates when I open a program that I know does not have an automatic upgrade function. If you think this is a bit much, you might want to check for updates whenever your Windows operating system automatically updates. The Windows patches and fixes sometimes create conflicts with your software programs or hardware drivers, so if you do not regularly check for updates, at a minimum, check for them when you know that your operating system has been upgraded.
Tip #2 - Visit The Developer’s Website for Patches or Driver Fixes
If you are using a program that you’ve noticed is crashing quite a bit, check the developer or manufacturer’s website for patches or fixes.
Update Your Hardware Drivers - Sometimes there is a hardware driver issue that is creating a conflict. You should check the manufacturer’s website for your printer, your scanner, your web cam or any other peripheral component of your computer and download and install any updated drivers that the manufacturer recommends. Generally, the drivers for the “internal” hardware items in your computer are automatically updated with Windows updates, but that might not always be the case. If you purchased a name brand computer, like Dell or Gateway for instance, they usually download patches automatically. However, you still might need to visit their websites to see if there are patches that you might need for your computer.
Installing Software Patches –If you cannot find a software update link in your program’s “help menu” as discussed in Tip #1 above, visit the software developer’s site to see if there are announcements about patches or updates.
Tip #3 - Regularly Defrag Your Computer’s Hard Drive
It’s important to keep your software programs and hardware drivers up to date if you expect your computer to work correctly. I have also found that “defragging” makes my system work much better. I defrag my hard drive once a week; you might not need to do so quite as often. If you are not sure what defragging is or how to do it, here’s a step-by-step defrag guide.
Helpful Resources
I tend to be nervous about downloading patches from sites that do not belong to the developer, but sometimes the appropriate patch is hard to locate. A good and safe source for bug fixes is a site called “The Software Patch,” which includes patches for operating systems, software programs, and games.
When it comes to hardware drivers, especially for devices that are a few years old, I’ve used Driver Patch and have been very pleased with what they offer. The downloads available from the Driver Patch have, in my experience, been safe and virus free.
An excellent guide on keep your computer up to date and running efficiently is the Slow Computer Emergency Repair Kit ebook. Since 2005, thousands of PC users have found the tips in the guide to be effective, helping them save a lot of money on computer repairs. The guide is updated every few months, so the information you receive is not stale and outdated. Written in “plain English” with plenty of images that show you exactly what to do, the ebook will not only help you repair your computer, but it will show you how to avoid future crashes. As a bonus, you get a step-by-step guide on how to add memory to your computer. Learn more about the “Emergency Kit” by visiting this link.
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