What Should I Do If My Computer Locks Up?

Uh oh. It's happened. It starts with a program slowing down and becoming unresponsive. Maybe it spreads to other programs, but maybe you're lucky and it's isolated. If the program doesn't respond, how can you tell it to quit?

When your computer becomes unresponsive, it's called being "locked up" and it's a source of stress for countless computer owners. I'll give the short answers for two of the most common types of operating systems. (Click here if you don't know what an operating system is.)

Windows (aka PC):
Hold down the control (ctrl) and alt keys, then tap the delete key. (NOT back space!) This should bring up a small window called the Task Manager. It'll show you all the programs you have running, and their status. Look for the one that says "Not Responding", click on the program's name, and then click the "End Task" button at the bottom of the window. That should force the errant program to close, and unlock your computer. If this doesn't work, hold down the power button on your computer for ten seconds, or until it turns off. (The power button looks like a circle with a line through the top, like a clock that's struck 12.) Wait 15 seconds, then press the power button again (you don't need to hold it down), and your computer should be good as new. If it isn't, you may want to contact your local computer repair center.

Mac:
Similar process, except the key command is command, option (opt), escape (esc). I tell new Mac users this mnemonic to help them remember. "When you're in trouble, just tell your computer that you COMMAND it to give you the OPTION to ESCAPE." It'll bring up a window similar to the Windows'
Task Manager. Follow the same steps for trouble shooting.

Practical Tip of the Day:
There are worse things than just locking up. If your Windows computer ever goes to a blue screen with techno-babble on it, or your Mac screen goes grey with a message about rebooting, that means something has gone pretty wrong. Just follow the steps on the screen, but don't worry about it unless it begins to happen regularly. These error screens are called a Blue Screen and Kernel Panic respectively. If your computer does begin to lock up or give the above error screen regularly, take your computer to your local computer repair center for a check up.