Ubuntu

Meerkat randomly freezes

Asked by Adam Smith

My 64-bit system randomly freezes--usually once or twice a day. The mouse cursor still moves, but otherwise it's totally nonresponsive and needs to be hard-restarted. I know the computer's not *totally* frozen, since it's happened when I'm copying large files to a server, and had a couple minutes to go. When I left it alone for 5 minutes, and then restarted, the file had finished copying. Also, if I'm playing an MP3 when it happens, the song will finish playing--but a new one won't load up. It's done this since I first got the machine and was using Lucid Lynx last autumn.

I'd love to give you more info than that, but I don't know where to begin diagnosing this. I'd be grateful for any help. This has been truly frustrating me--Linux systems are supposed to be stable!

Thanks,
Adam

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Answered
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Ubfan (ubfan1) said : 		#1

At boot time, select the first "memory test" option (not the one with output to the serial port).
Can you still switch to a virtual terminal (Ctrl-Alt-F1) and see a login prompt? If so, you can login there and do a regular shutdown:
sudo shutdown -h -t0 now
That will be easier on you machine than the hard reset.
If you can log in, do you have any errors in log files?
dmesg | tail
tail /var/log/Xorg.0.log

Revision history for this message
Adam Smith (aasmith) said : 		#2

Could you tell me how to do the memory test?

I can tell you though that Ctrl-Alt-F1 does *not* work, once it's frozen.

Thanks,
Adam

Revision history for this message
Ubfan (ubfan1) said : 		#3

"Memory test" should be a line in the grub boot screen. Just select it with the arrow keys, and type <enter>.

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Adam Smith for more information if necessary.

To post a message you must log in.