Constant Freezes? Disable Non-Essential Services

Many freezes under various versions of Windows are the result of problematic third-party system services. Forget registry cleaners and other paid tools for “cleaning out” your system; a simple procedure can get you back to the basics and, likely, freeze-free. From that point, you can add back the services you desire and check for continued system stability.

Follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button and type MSCONFIG then press enter in Windows Vista and Windows 7 (in Windows XP, click the Start button, then click “Run” and type MSCONFIG then press enter)
2. Go to the startup tab
3. Uncheck any third-party and nonessential startup items. Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, then click Disable All, and then click OK. Apply the changes and press OK, then restart the system if it does not happen automatically.
4. If the problem not occur, go back to MSCONFIG and start re-enabling items in groups. Enable a few items, then restart and check to see if the problem. If it does disable some of those items then restart again. Keep enabling items until you find the culprit, then leave that service turned off permanently or uninstall it.