There’s a very good chance you do. Windows 10 and earlier versions, like Windows 7, are running on hundreds of millions of computers. Windows is the OS that allows you to download software such as Microsoft Word, Excel and countless other programs. The great thing about Windows is that it makes our lives easier in so many ways. Just think about creating spreadsheets if there was no Excel or typing a document in the days before Word. You can spend hours writing, erasing and rewriting documents that, today, take you just minutes. Of course, many people also love to hate Windows, often with good reason. While Windows 10 is a vastly improved OS, compared to previous versions of Windows, there are lingering frustrations. Just think about all the times that Windows inexplicably stops working. For example, you may get the “blue screen of death,” where your screen turns blue seemingly for no reason. You’ll see an unhelpful message saying that you can restart your computer. Or, you might see an unexplained, endlessly spinning blue circle next to the cursor on your screen. Who knows what’s going on? It’s extremely frustrating. The same can be said for your laptop or PC crashing after Microsoft updates security patches. This isn’t merely an inconvenience. Some people have lost everything on their computer. Just think about the precious photos and important documents you have on your computer. Don’t let this happen to you. At Komando.com, we’re always thinking about ways to help you. Keep reading and we’ll give you a few tips to prevent Windows from crashing your computer.

Backup data

Do not skip this step, even if your computer isn’t crashing all the time. However, if you have experienced Windows crashing after an automatic security patch or Windows update, you must do this. Backing up your computer simply means that you’re making a copy of everything on there. You can do that by copying folders and files from your C drive, for example, to a DVD or flash drive. If your computer crashes for any reason, including right after a Windows update, you can retrieve your backed up files. You can also save documents to the cloud. Our sponsor IDrive isn’t your everyday backup service. You can use it to back up all your private information and data to every internet-connected device that you own. That’s every device with just one account! You can back up data on your smartphone, tablet, laptop and desktop computer. Plus, this is really valuable. You can back up your social media accounts, including Facebook. Just think about how many photos, videos, posts and happy memories you’d lose if anything happened to your social media accounts. Go to IDrive.com and use promo code KIM to receive an exclusive offer. Click here to receive the special discount.

System restore

If your Windows crashes and you lose data, you’ll want to restore your computer to an earlier version. Have you run a System Restore before? It’s pretty simple to do. However, it’s not an ideal situation to find yourself in. If you need to restore your computer to a day or week earlier, when it was working, just think of all the documents you’ve created in the past few days that will be gone. Still, if your computer crashes and System Restore is the only way to get it back, it can be a lifesaver. Here’s how to do it: Start » type “control panel” and choose it » search for Recovery and select it » Open System Restore » Next » choose a restore point » Next » Finish. Note: To make sure you have restore points, from Control Panel, search for Recovery and select it » Configure System Restore » Configure » Turn on system protection.

Restart your computer

If you’re using Windows 10, many processes that you used to do manually occur automatically. That includes installing Windows updates and security patches. To ensure this is happening, try restarting your computer.  A simple restart can refresh your Windows and get things working properly again. Just make sure to correctly restart: Start (Windows icon in lower left corner of the screen) » Power » Restart. Here’s how to check if your Windows is up-to-date. Start » Settings » Update & Security. Make sure Windows Update is highlighted on the left. Then, you should see a note that your system is up to date. If not, click on Check for Updates.

Turn off real-time protection

We highly recommend that you have a reputable anti-malware system installed on all your devices. These days, most internet security apps are set to continually protect your computer. Unfortunately, if your laptop or PC is crashing, it may be due to your security program’s real-time protection. It may be blocking updates, so it’s messing up your system. Try temporarily turning off real-time protection (but keep other protections turned on). That may work.

Plug in your computer

Do not skip this step. Make sure your laptop or PC is plugged in when Microsoft is automatically installing updates or security patches. You could run into problems, including corrupted files, if your battery dies while updates are being installed.

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