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my laptop keeps freezing, trying to work on a word doc and it freezes

Mike Shimmon 0 Reputation points
2026-01-21T10:21:35.3866667+00:00

Various programs freeze when I am working on them, I have to hard reboot just to get out and restart. The same is happening now when I cannot add a new printer as it has frozen again

Moderator note: thread moved from Office to Windows

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Apps

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  1. Ivan B 109K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-21T11:28:11.95+00:00

    Hi,

    If any program besides Office is causing the problem, please try the following procedure initially:

    Open the command prompt (admin) and run the commands: sfc /scannow and dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth. Wait for the process to finish and restart the computer.

    Then perform a clean boot and uninstall any applications you don't use.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

    What happens when it freezes and the screen goes black or a BSOD occurs?

    Thanks

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-01-21T10:21:47.27+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    If your laptop keeps freezing while working on a Word document and other programs, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to identify and resolve the issue:

    1. Check for Software Updates: Ensure that your operating system and Microsoft Office applications are up to date. Sometimes, updates can fix bugs that cause freezing.
    2. Disable Add-ins: If you have any add-ins installed in Word, they might be causing the issue. You can disable them by going to the Options menu in Word and navigating to the Add-ins section.
    3. Change Default Printer: Sometimes, issues with the printer can cause Word to freeze. Set the Microsoft XPS Document Writer as your default printer and see if that resolves the problem.
    4. Repair Office: You can try repairing your Office installation. Go to "Apps & Features" in your Windows settings, find Microsoft Office, and select the repair option.
    5. Check for Hardware Issues: If the freezing persists across multiple applications, it could be a hardware issue. Check your RAM and hard drive for errors. You can use tools like Windows Memory Diagnostic for RAM checks.
    6. Collect Data for Troubleshooting: If the freezing continues, you can collect data to help diagnose the problem. You might want to generate a memory dump file when the freeze occurs, which can provide insights into what is causing the issue.
    7. System Diagnostics: Running a system diagnostics report can help identify underlying problems. You can do this by running perfmon /report in the command prompt.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider seeking further assistance from a professional or Microsoft support.

    References:

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