Xubuntu Minimal 24.04 desktop freeze on closing laptop lid

[delanthear]

I think I have the same issue as listed on this closed thread: https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2482457

Xubuntu 24.04 Minimal installed on a Toshiba Chromebook. When I close the laptop lid, it's likely that when I come back to opening the lid, the window manager will be frozen. Mouse pointer will still move, but I can't select anything and no keys do anything beyond a long press on power to reset the machine.

Any clues on how to debug? I'm a noob

[TheFu]

I installed a few different versions of 24.04 when it was first released, just to see the GUI. The Xubuntu 24.04 installs were never stable for me. The desktop would freeze within about 10 minutes of use. I did 3 installs and it didn't get any better. I didn't plan to use XFCE, so these installs weren't very important to me, but a fresh install, with mostly default choices, should run, right?

My solution was not to use Xubuntu 24.04, but there were other core reasons why I didn't want any 24.04 at all (no LVM support in their desktops!). Guess, I'm only saying - me too. To me, "New" is the enemy of "Stable" and stable is what I seek from a desktop.

I'm curious. You signed up here in 2006, are using a chromebook and you are still a noob?

[delanthear]

Yeah, basically, every few years I attempt to start using Linux as a desktop, install it and get derailed by something important not working and being unable to fix it. Complete failures on install. Audio not working. WiFi not working. Basically, it's never works enough for me to just use it, and I can never get the issues fixed, so I never actually get anywhere with learning how it works. I suspect it's because I'm always installing on old weird laptops...

[TheFu]

I ran Ubuntu server with a lite-GUI on a Toshiba Chromebook CB-35 for about 3 yrs. Besides the sucky keyboard, it was the best laptop for travel I've ever owned or used. I was cautious to pick a chromebook with a replaceable BIOS and SSD. I wish it had more RAM, but the CPU and iGPU were fine for my needs. I did have to initially install a non-LTS version of Ubuntu to get the hardware supported, but when the LTS was release, the install was pretty easy. Sadly, the keyboard started losing keys after about 2 yrs (crappy hardware) and replacement parts, without installation, was about 1/3rd to cost of the entire CB when new! Installation would probably have cost $100, so now it would 2/3rd the price of new, so I decided to move on. Sometimes I still regret that.

Anyway, try a different GUI/flavor. Lubuntu 24.04 worked great. I bet Linux Mint would work well too (and avoid some of the Canonical-forced new things).

I never had issues with my CB wifi or wired ethernet (USB3-to-GigE adapter). The touchpad and screen all worked, as did the sound. I don't remember if it had a webcam built-in or not. I never used it (it was pre-COVID).

Give Lubuntu 24.04 a try. I know it sounds crazy, but that "just worked" in my testing here. No problems at all.

[delanthear]

This is a CB30-B-13. So far I attempted to install Elementary OS 7 which claimed to fail on install, then when I rebooted it seemed to work fine. I fell into the trap of clicking Yes when it asked if I wanted to install updates and that killed it completely, so moved to the next distro I saw where people seemed to have some joy with Swanky. Xubuntu was the next one to try and I chose Minimal as I expected it to need to be as light as possible. On the surface it's working ok, but it seems like there is something screwed with App Armor which means a lot of snaps just don't work. (Cheese and Mousam just fail to work at all wtih lots of errors, other apps are hammering the logs), then we've got this lid issue and sometimes the audio just crashes and beeps constantly till I kill whatever was making the sound initially.

I'll persevere for a little while longer, but will make a jump to try one of those suggestions soon if I don't get further with the AppArmor issues.

[TheFu]

Snaps aren't good for Chromebooks with limited storage and limited RAM. Best to avoid them completely.

[delanthear]

I bet Linux Mint would work well too (and avoid some of the Canonical-forced new things).

Thought I'd give it a go, but takes up too much space. Needs a minimum of 16GB, but the Chromebook only has a 15GB SSD. Doh!

[halogen2]

Give Lubuntu 24.04 a try.

+1. I used to run into an issue similar to this with xfwm4 in older Xubuntu versions, and my solution at the time was to switch window manager to Openbox, which Lubuntu uses by default.

[delanthear]

Giving it a try now. Installer has crashed on me though so far... (Just about typical....)

[TheFu]

Thought I'd give it a go, but takes up too much space. Needs a minimum of 16GB, but the Chromebook only has a 15GB SSD. Doh!

I have bad news for you. 16G will be tight for every popular Linux made today.

Option 1: swap out the SSD in your chromebook. It isn't hard, if you have a model that allows it. You don't need to spend much at all. $20, of course, $30 will get you 3x more storage than the $20 version.

Option 2: use an ISO USB3 setup like Ventoy provides with separate data areas for your files and updates. You can boot chromebooks from USB or microSD storage, though you really want USB3 or better storage for this. Anyway, a 120G USB3 storage devices - it can even be an external SSD - will completely removed the storage limitation.

As for freezing when you close the lid. Your available swap needs to be a little larger than your RAM in the system for hibernation to work. You can disable hibernation and use "standby" mode, but that does drain the battery. I used "standby" mode nightly for years with my Toshiba Chromebook without any issues, after I created a clean USB-disconnect for the USB3-to-GigE adapter. Before that, it would never work and it crashed coming out of standby.