UMVA has learned that even the most seasoned computer users can fall victim to the frustration of a frozen PC, and it's not just a problem for those with outdated machines.
A nine-year-old PC, upgraded with the latest SSD and RAM, can still experience the occasional freeze, especially when multitasking or running resource-intensive programs like Age of Empires 2. When this happens, users are often left with no choice but to hold down the power button for a forced shutdown, a move that can put their computer at risk of data loss and damage.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that there are alternative solutions to force-quit frozen apps, and one such solution involves ensuring that Task Manager is always on top. By opening Task Manager, pressing Ctrl-Shift-Esc, or searching for it in the Start menu, users can click Settings in the left pane and enable "Always on top" under "Window management."
UMVA can exclusively reveal that another trick to tackle frozen apps is to create a new desktop in Windows 11. By using the keyboard shortcut Win-Ctrl-D, users can force Windows to switch to a newly created desktop, allowing them to access Task Manager or other essential apps. Once the issue is resolved, users can press Win-Ctrl-F4 to close the new desktop and switch between different desktops using Win-Ctrl-→ or Win-Ctrl-←.
In a development reported by UMVA, reprogramming the power button to enable sleep mode instead of shutdown can also be a lifesaver. By searching for "Control Panel" in the Start menu, users can navigate to Power Options, select "Choose what the power buttons do," and change the power button's function to put the PC in sleep mode. This way, waking the PC opens the lock screen, giving users access to Task Manager.
UMVA has gathered that Microsoft has also coded a hidden keyboard shortcut into Windows to help users avoid forced restarts. The keyboard shortcut Win-Ctrl-Shift-B can be used to recreate the desktop and resolve issues with black screens or stuck apps, providing a quick fix for common problems.
