Ubuntu

Ubuntu freezes

Asked by Ruth

Hi all,
I installed Ubuntu 7.10 yesterday. I've always used Windows until now, so have no previous knowledge of any Linux system.
I am experiencing many problems with Ubuntu, mainly because I am not familiar with it, and I am trying to find out about and work my way around each one. However, I am at the end of my tether with this one, and hope someone can help:
Three times today I have had to turn off my PC at the main switch as Ubuntu has frozen and wouldn't do anything. This has happened if I have two or three different windows/programs open eg. internet, my music, add/remove. What happens is my hard drive goes mad - whirring constantly as though there are hundreds of processes going on at once, my screen goes lighter and darker, windows become all skewed and the mouse either freezes or doesn't respond and sticks. No programs will close or open.
I can't find anything in Ubuntu that's similar to task manager in Windows, so I can't see what might be causing this and attempt to stop it. So I've had no alternative to switch off at the main switch.
Not sure if it's just a coincidence, but I can't recall this happening before I installed Emerald theme manager this afternoon. Although I can't even get that to work - but that's another story.
Anyway, can anyone shed any light on what might be happening? I'm so frustrated and finding Linux really difficult. I even thought of going back to Windows - and I would have if I still had XP, but I've got a new PC with Vista installed and I hate it! That's why I've come to Ubuntu.
Any help would be great.
Thanks
Ruth

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Revision history for this message
Ruth (jandrha) said : 		#1

I think I've put this question in the wrong place. I can't even work this website! Sorry.
Ruth

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Allen Chemist (alchemist) said : 		#2

Hi Ruth,

A few things here, if you suspect it is emerald, would you be willing to uninstall it? I can help you with this, if you like

The next time it happens, try doing a ctrl+alt+backspace ... this is the 'restart' command for the graphical display (you will lose all your unsaved data as if you have restarted the entire computer)

For the ctrl+alt+delete menu, there is a system monitor. It can be found under "System -> Administration -> System Monitor", or if you want a small icon on your screen with a graph, you can right click on the top task bar (in a blank space), and choose "add to panel", under "System and Hardware", you will find a "System Monitor". This will allow you to watch what your system normally does (and clicking on it brings up the full monitor).

-Allen

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hugh f (hfegan) said : 		#3

  Hi Ruth,

  I had a problem something like this with a computer once which has lead me to ubuntu although not just for that reason alone, back to the problem, have you a optical mouse of so does the light go out on it at the same time if so try a new mouse as this ended up causing my computer to act something similar to what you have described above, this may not be the reason but it was for me

  -Hugh

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Ruth (jandrha) said : 		#4

Hi Hugh, and thanks for helping.
Yes, I do have an optical mouse but I don't know if the light went out when all the other stuff has been going on. I honestly didn't notice with all the other stuff! I will check next time it happens, and if so, you are obviously right and I will come back and mark this question as solved.
Thank you.
Ruth

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Ruth (jandrha) said : 		#5

Thank you all for your help.
I have tried for a week now to get my head around Linux - I've tried both Ubuntu and Freespire - having always used Windows previously, because my new PC came with Vista installed and I hated it.
However, I just cannot get to grips with Linux - I can't get most of my Windows-based programs to work and in general just find Linux so difficult on many levels. So with reluctance I have decided to go back to Vista, because as much as I hate it, at least I can use it.
Therefore, I no longer need assistance from this site.I will mark this and my other questions as solved, and once again, thank you for your help. For me it's simply a case of 'Better the devil you know...'
Regards,
Ruth