Ubuntu 9.10 locking up regularly after upgrade (Was Re: I am using Ubuntu 9.10 version - facing problem with my system)

[Andrew Farris]

On Tue, 2009-12-01 at 00:41 +0100, Amedee Van Gasse (ub) wrote:
[snip]
> Sorry for jumping in, but my other computer also locks up a couple of
> times per week (or even per day). X freezes, no response from Ctrl+Alt+Fn,
> Ctrl+Alt+Backspace (yes I enabled it), Ctrl+Alt+Del, SysRq combo's,...
> Pinging the machine doesn't work either, and all ssh sessions that were
> open get cut off.
> 
> Could such a thing be caused by a hardware problem? I already eliminated
> power supply, cooling, memory and hard disk as possible causes.

It's definitely possible... though considering the volume of complaints
I've seen about this issue in karmic, i'd think it's more likely a
driver issue of some sort (due to other 'popular' driver issues with
karmic *cough* nVidia! *cough*)

unfortunately a hardware-fail-induced lockup is a little hard to
diagnose most times... it could literally be just about anything...just
a sample that come to mind (I've seen all of these before at least
once):
      * Failing RAM (check with a memtest86+ test)
      * Failing hard drive (mostly proven/disproven with
        palimpsest/vendor tools)
      * Bad hard-drive cables (check with a cable swap)
      * cables not fully plugged in (check by pressing them all in)
      * Other generic hardware failure (i.e. dying floppy drive/CD
        drive, PCI cards etc... fix by removing everything, then 1 by 1
        add back)
      * failing CPU (diagnose with POST card... other symptoms also
        present)
      * Corrupted BIOS/CMOS (reset by pulling the battery or with
        onboard jumper)
      * general power issues
              * Failing Computer Power supply (check with a swap or a
                PSU tester)
              * Inadequate power supply (check with a swap, or by
                calculating your power requirements)
              * failing power cable (check by swap)
              * Failing power strip (check by plugging into the wall)
              * faulty power socket (try a different socket)
              * general building wiring issues (take to a different
                building)
              * building power supply issues, (i.e. grid issues...
                usually for people very near to power
                plants/distribution stations)

But, like i said earlier...its likely a driver issue. I know these
things are probably in the system log, or kernel log, someplace, but i
have yet to determine where, as I have no freezing computer to test on.


-- 
Andrew
_____________________________
Registered Linux User: 473690
Registered Ubuntu User: 22747