Industrial computers play a critical role in industrial production, but crashes often occur, causing various inconveniences in production. Below is a comprehensive guide and solutions for troubleshooting industrial computer crashes.
- Check Hardware Connections: First, ensure that all hardware connections of the industrial computer are secure. Check if the power cable is plugged in tightly, and whether the internal connections of the hard drive, memory, graphics card, and other hardware are loose. For example, if a Advantech industrial computer fails to start, it is necessary to check if these hardware connections are normal.
- Check Hardware Status: Inspect whether the hardware is damaged or aged. Failures in hardware components such as the motherboard, memory, and hard drive can lead to crashes. You can observe the hardware for any signs of burning, deformation, or other abnormalities, or use professional testing tools to check the hardware’s status. For instance, if the computer frequently crashes accompanied by unusual noises, it may indicate a problem with the hard drive.
- Check Cooling System: Industrial computers often run for long periods; poor cooling can easily lead to crashes. Clean the dust inside the computer, especially in the areas of the cooler and fan, to ensure that the cooling pathways are unobstructed. Also, check if the fan is operating normally; if damaged, it should be replaced promptly.
- Check Operating System: Anomalies, vulnerabilities, or file corruption in the operating system can also lead to crashes. Check for any uninstalled system updates and install patches promptly to fix system vulnerabilities. If system files are corrupted, you can use the built-in file checking tool or reinstall the operating system to resolve the issue.
- Troubleshoot Software Conflicts: Avoid installing multiple conflicting software. If a crash occurs after installing new software, try uninstalling it to see if normal operation resumes. Additionally, close unnecessary background programs and allocate system resources reasonably to prevent crashes due to excessive resource usage by software.
- Scan for Viruses and Malware: Infection by viruses or malware can seriously affect the system, leading to crashes. Install reliable antivirus software and perform regular comprehensive system scans to eliminate viruses and malware.
- Check Power Supply: Unstable power supply may also trigger crashes. Check if the power supply is functioning normally, if the voltage is stable, and if there is sufficient power to support the operation of the computer. For some high-spec industrial computers, a high-power supply may be required.
- Check Crash Logs: When the computer crashes, the system generates relevant log information. By reviewing the crash logs, you can understand the system’s operating status before the crash and any error messages that appeared, which helps analyze the cause of the crash for quick resolution.
- Hardware Maintenance: Regular maintenance includes cleaning components to remove dust and debris, checking for damaged connections, and replacing worn parts when necessary. Frequently check the fans of industrial computers and replace damaged fans promptly. Upgrade the CPU, memory, and other hardware configurations as needed to improve processing efficiency.
- Software Optimization: Ensure that all software on the industrial computer is up to date to avoid crashes caused by software errors. Regularly use antivirus software to perform full scans on the industrial computer to ensure system security. Avoid running different versions of software simultaneously, especially mixing 32-bit and 64-bit software.
- Cooling Management: Use fans or air conditioning to cool the industrial computer and its working environment. When designing or selecting an industrial computer, consider its cooling performance and choose products with good cooling effects.
- Work Environment Management: Regularly clear dust from inside the industrial computer and maintain good ventilation. Reduce the frequency at which the industrial computer processes and identifies on-site signals to avoid signal collisions.
- System Repair: Use system recovery tools or reinstall the system to repair missing system files. Use registry repair tools or manually modify the registry to fix registry errors. Ensure that the hard drive has enough free space for virtual memory usage.
- Question 1: What keys can I press to restart an industrial computer after a crash?
Answer: You can simultaneously press the three keys 【alt+ctrl+delete】, select 【Lock】, click the 【Power Button】 on the lock screen, and choose 【Restart】; you can also long press the power button for more than 10 seconds until the computer completely shuts down, then press the power button again to restart. - Question 2: How to enter the safe mode of an industrial computer?
Answer: Taking Windows 7 as an example, continuously press the “f8” key on the keyboard after turning on the computer to enter the “Advanced Boot Menu” and select “Safe Mode.” For Windows 11 (the same for Windows 10), if the startup fails twice, on the third startup, the system will guide you to Windows RE (repair mode screen). If it does not automatically enter Windows RE, you can long press the power button to restart. When the computer brand logo appears on the screen, continue to hold the power button until the computer completely shuts down. Repeat this step three times, and the computer will enter Windows RE. After entering Windows RE, select 【Troubleshoot】—【Advanced Options】—【Uninstall Updates】 in sequence. - Question 3: Why does the industrial computer suddenly crash after running for a while?
Answer: It may be due to overheating caused by long-term operation of the hardware, leading to crashes; it could also be due to errors or conflicts during software operation, or excessive resource usage by the system. - Question 4: If an industrial computer frequently crashes, does it need hardware replacement?
Answer: Not necessarily. First, check for software-related issues, such as system, software conflicts, or viruses. If there are no software issues, then consider hardware failure. You can use testing tools or consult professionals to check if the hardware is damaged, and decide whether to replace the hardware based on the results. - Question 5: How to prevent industrial computers from crashing?
Answer: Regularly maintain and service hardware, clean dust, and check hardware connections; timely update the operating system and software, install antivirus software and perform regular virus scans; allocate system resources reasonably to avoid running too many programs simultaneously; pay attention to the computer’s working environment to maintain appropriate temperature. - Question 6: Will data be lost if the industrial computer crashes?
Answer: Generally, if it is just a simple crash, data will not be lost. However, if the crash leads to system failure or hard drive issues, it may result in partial data loss. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly back up important data. - Question 7: Why does the industrial computer still crash after cleaning dust?
Answer: Although cleaning dust helps improve cooling, crashes may have other causes, such as hardware failure, software issues, or power problems. Further investigation is needed to check for other causes, such as checking if the hardware is damaged, if there are software conflicts, or if the power supply is stable. - Question 8: What to do if the mouse and keyboard are unresponsive during an industrial computer crash?
Answer: In this case, try long-pressing the power button to force shutdown, then restart the computer. If the problem persists, you can enter safe mode for troubleshooting and repair. - Question 9: How to determine if the crash is caused by hardware or software failure?
Answer: If there were abnormal sounds, smoke, or odors before the crash, it may indicate hardware failure; if the crash occurred after installing new software or updating the system or drivers, it may indicate software failure. Additionally, you can further determine by reviewing crash logs or entering safe mode. - Question 10: What to do if the industrial computer cannot start after crashing?
Answer: First, check if the power cable and socket are functioning normally, then check if the internal hardware connections are loose. If the hardware connections are normal, try entering safe mode or using system repair tools. If none of these methods work, it is recommended to contact professional technicians for repair.