Ubuntu 9.10 Hangs Frequently

[Tom H]

>>>>> Log in normally. Ensure that you have a network connection. Open a
>>>>> terminal and issue the following commands:

>>>>> $ sudo apt-get update
>>>>> $ sudo apt-get upgrade
>>>>> $ sudo apt-get install -f
>>>>> $ sudo dpkg --configure -a

>>>>> repeat. Let us know what, if any, errors you got from the last two

>> Why do they need to be repeated?

> Habit I guess. But primarily because he has " 18 not upgraded". I've
> found in the past that you may upgrade multiple packages, then run
> update & upgrade again, and still may not have all the bits sorted out
> on a borked system. So, I run the above until I get no further "x not
> upgraded msgs". If after repeating the above he still has packages stuck
> (not upgraded) then he can dig deeper, but the above 'normally' will
> sort things out.

Same experience.