• Your computer was just working but now the cursor has disappeared, you can not click on any menus/buttons, or the keyboard only beeps when you type.
• You have given your computer at least five minutes of just sitting hoping it would clear itself up but it hasn't.
• Try one of the following

Solution #1: <Ctrl + Alt + Del> End Task

Note: You may lose any work not saved.

Press the Control (Ctrl), Alternate (Alt), and Delete (Del) keys at the same time. This is called a "soft" or "warm" reboot of your computer.

This will bring up a "Task Menu" which shows you all the programs running on your computer. If one of the programs indicates it is "Not Responding", select it with the mouse and then click the "End Task" button. Select "End Task" again after being prompted with "To close this program immediately...".

If no programs are shown as "Not Responding" you will have to select the Shutdown button. Go to Solution 2.

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Solution #2: <Control + Alt + Del> Shut Down

If, after selecting "End Task" from the Close Program panel, the computer does not begin responding or no programs were shown as "Not Responding" press <Ctrl + Alt + Del> again. This time select Shutdown.

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Solution #3: Turn the Computer Off

After trying solution #1 & #2 and the computer still does not respond, you may have to shut the computer down completely. To do this hold the power button in for 10 seconds. The computer will shutdown. You will lose any work not saved. Restart the computer by pressing the power button.

After a turning a PC off you will be prompted that Windows has detected problems and will scan the disk for errors. Just click OK. The computer will scan your hard drive for lost clusters and continue to boot.

About 90% (a guess) of all PC problems are cured by the three solutions above.

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Review:

• The cursor no longer appears
• You can't click any buttons or menus
• The computer only beeps when typing.
• Give the computer 5 minutes to clear itself up
• If that doens't work use <Ctrl+Alt+Del> End Task
• If that doesn't work use <Ctrl+Alt+Del> Shut Down
• If that doesn't work, power off and restart the computer

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