Ubuntu 9.10 hangs / freezes

[the grey side]

Hi grey side,

How exactly do I revert back to an old kernel? How do I determine which driver I am using from Ubuntu? Sure, I can look from Windows but I would like to know how to from Ubuntu

Thanks!

The kernels I suggested are not old, they are newer than those you can install through the update manager. You can install them following this guide:

http://www.ramoonus.nl/2009/12/03/li...-ubuntu-linux/

Those instructions are for the kernel 2.6.32, if you want kernel 2.6.32.3 instead you have to download the .deb files from here:

http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.32.3/

(you need linux-headers-2.6.32-02063203_2.6.32-02063203_all.deb and the two packages for your architecture. You don't need linux-source-2.6.32_2.6.32-02063203_all.deb.)
Just be sure that you download the files for your architecture -- i386 if you have a 32-bit processor, AMD64 if it's a 64-bit processor (works both with AMD and Intel CPUs). If you don't know your CPU's architecture, look it up (on your manual, or the manufacturer's site, or Wikipedia, etc.)
If you have an Nvidia graphics card and an installed and working Nvidia driver in Ubuntu, you should find a "NVIDIA X Server Settings" link under applications/system tools or system/preferences in the menu. That should tell you driver version and other useful info, such as the GPU's temperature.
If not, you'll have to download and install it. Note that you can't see which driver you have on Windows if you have installed it on Ubuntu, because drivers are dependent on the OS in which they are installed.
Installing NVIDIA drivers in Ubuntu is slightly more difficult than in Windows, I suggest you don't and try the kernel without drivers first. See if it works well, then try the drivers. There are installation guides for drivers around, or you can ask here and I'll (eventually) answer.

As for problems with Ubuntu, I've been using it since 8.10 and only 9.10 has given me so much trouble. I guess that such things happen now and then. 9.04 was more stable for me, if you can't solve your problems use that instead, if you want, or wait for 10.04.

[juky]

Hi,

I've just did the kernel update according to the above instructions. I will post here, if I notice changes, either good or bad.

Cheers,
juky

[earonesty]

Have you all tried dropping to a "recovery terminal" (1. boot to recovery mode/2. click resume) and then running "startx" from the terminal.

For me, that fixes it. Except that various gdm services don't work. Looks like it's gdm's fault.

[nevdelap]

I have a problem with the same symptoms, but while others are using Opera as a workaround I think Opera is causing my problem. When it happens it is always when Opera is minimized and I bring it up by clicking on it's icon in the system tray. It comes up, with the address bar drop down open and empty. At this point the mouse is movable, but clicks are ignored, any keyboard activity is ignored, and I have to go to my other laptop and reboot via ssh.

Nev

I am running 9.10 with Opera 10.10 4742. It started happening maybe two or three weeks ago for me.

I tried to attach a dpkg -l but the limit on txt files is a poor 19.5KB!

I've removed the Opera system tray icon, hopefully will workaround the problem.

[archish]

I tried updating to 2.6.32.7 but still facing the same problems :/
I am actually pretty sick of this now. The Launchpad bug is here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ux/+bug/498495

[the grey side]

If you have time, you could try the earlier kernel 2.6.32.3, just in case the bug resurfaced in the kernels after that one.
Personally, since 2.6.32.3 solved my problem, I'm too afraid to try any later release. I really hope that 10.04 will squish this bug for good and we'll remember 9.10 as Krashing Koala with a mix of relief and nostalgia for those afternoons lost in front of a frozen monitor.

[archish]

If you have time, you could try the earlier kernel 2.6.32.3, just in case the bug resurfaced in the kernels after that one.
Personally, since 2.6.32.3 solved my problem, I'm too afraid to try any later release. I really hope that 10.04 will squish this bug for good and we'll remember 9.10 as Krashing Koala with a mix of relief and nostalgia for those afternoons lost in front of a frozen monitor.

Lucid will use the latest kernel version + ubuntu specifi patches so if the issues was not there for one particular version of kernel then Lucid too may have the same hanging issue

I had installed the kernel 2.6.32.5 initially which was stable for a week before upgrading to 2.6.32.6 which started hanging. Now I am not sure where to track this bug as there is no error or anything logged anywhere :@

The closest bug I found to this issue was this: http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=14922
My system is based on MCP79/MCP7A chipset whose related bug is here: http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=14817
Both the bug is not there for users in 2.6.31 :/ so its not related
Will monitor both these bugs and test the new kernel when they are patched. Have loaded Jaunty with 2.6.30 kernel as of now.

[Rehdon]

I have this problem too: tried almost everything that was suggested in this and other threads, to no avail ...

BTW, I have a Sony laptop with an ATI card (HD3400), what happens if I upgrade to the new kernel? how do I install the corresponding fglrx driver?

Rehdon

[juky]

Hi,

I've just did the kernel update according to the above instructions. I will post here, if I notice changes, either good or bad.

Cheers,
juky

So, after upgrading to 2.6.32 no freezing anymore. Will keep you posted.

Cheers,
juky

[the grey side]

Glad to hear that it worked for you!
For anyone who still experiences freezes, read this post if you haven't already, it might help you:

http://ubuntu-ky.ubuntuforums.org/sh...&postcount=148