Anyone use Ubunto?

[Gromit]

Hiya all, I got myself a new to me computer from the recycling place at York University. After upgrading its software to the new version of Ubunto, it keeps freezing after a short period of time when not in use.

I have just started my soil science essay on it so it was no way in Idle mode, with a few websites open, it just froze. I can move the mouse around, but I'm unable to scroll or click on any links.

If I switch it off and on again like you do with windows it wont boot up. If you leave it for a few hours it then boots up.

We have disabled the screen saver and changed the memory settings, thinking that it would help. We also added new memory to it a few weeks ago to improve its speed.

Would be grateful to anyone who could give me some advice on this. I need to fix it before my assignment deadline.


Thank you

Debz

 

[2Loose]

Are you saying that it worked fine before you upgraded the RAM, or it worked fine before you upgraded Ubuntu? Either of those COULD be to blame.

Personally, I had issues with the Ubuntu upgrade that screwed over my video options but a full clean reinstall sorted those out.

IIRC, the Ubuntu boot menu includes the option of a diagnostic memory check, so try this to see if your memory is not quite right.

 

[Gromit]

Are you saying that it worked fine before you upgraded the RAM, or it worked fine before you upgraded Ubuntu? Either of those COULD be to blame.

Personally, I had issues with the Ubuntu upgrade that screwed over my video options but a full clean reinstall sorted those out.

IIRC, the Ubuntu boot menu includes the option of a diagnostic memory check, so try this to see if your memory is not quite right.

We upgrade Ubuntu first and the RAM a few days later. Had no problems after the Ubuntu upgrade, however I didn't use it properly until we got the memory a few day later.

We did a diagnostic memory check last week when it froze. It said there was nothing wrong with it. Its a bit of a puzzle...

Big problem now is getting my work off there before doing a reinstall.

 

[MrGrumpy]

boot from a live CD and browse to the home folder and save your stuff to a USB drive. Job done

 

[rh100]

Take the ram upgrade out and see if it clears up - diagnostics might show all ok but may still be a problem

 

[Gromit]

We have taken all my files off the computer, I'm thinking of changing the machine to windows. I can't afford to wast time messing around with a new operating system, especially with deadlines coming up. I think its a case of sticking with the devil you know.

I had a look at the Ubuntu trouble shooting page, it said that it only freezes when its on the random screen saver mode. The problem is with the 3D mode. We disabled the screen saver last week however it still presents with the same problem.

 

[2Loose]

3D? It wouldn't be CompizBeryl or whatever's special theme eye candy enhancements doing this by anychance?

I run an ATI video card and historically have turned off all visual enhancements to the desktop for reliability and speed due to issues I had a few years ago. Not sure if those issues still exist, but try turning off the desktop effects, rather than just the screen saver.

 

[Dan B]

If I switch it off and on again like you do with windows it wont boot up. If you leave it for a few hours it then boots up.

Sounds like its overheating. Take the covers off, check the fans are all going round properly (when it's turned on), maybe use a compressed air can or a hoover (when it's turned off) to blow/suck the dust away if there's much dust inside the box

Someone with better Ubuntu experience than me will be able to say if there's now an "approved" way to add temperature monitoring to the system, but I'd say have a look at http://www.techthrob.com/2009/03/02/enabling-hardware-sensors-in-linux/ and see if it works for you

Note that the power-on memory test on most PCs is rubbish, and you should use the "memtest86" boot option instead to run a proper test which will give the chips a good workout.

 

[bikepete]

Gromit's other half here. We did run memtest86 from the boot menu and left it going for several hours - it did four full passes IIRC with no errors.

Will have another go at it tonight - thanks for all the advice.

Good news is managed to recover Gromit's half-written essay from an OpenOffice temp file :-)

 

[Dan B]

My main PC was for a while in the habit of hanging when idle (so not the same circumstances exactly) but has now lasted almost two weeks since I reflashed (upgraded) the motherboard BIOS. It might help you, it might not - have a look at the manufacturer web site and see if they have any newer bios versions available. If you don't know the moterboard model you might find it's listed in the "lshw" output. e.g.

:; sudo lshw
[sudo] password for dan: 
lsip.4a.telent.net        
description: Desktop Computer
product: P5Q-EM
vendor: System manufacturer
version: System Version
serial: System Serial Number
width: 64 bits
capabilities: smbios-2.5 dmi-2.5 vsyscall64 vsyscall32
configuration: boot=normal chassis=desktop uuid=[removed]
*-core
description: Motherboard
product: P5Q-EM
vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.

... und so weiter