Input freezing and/or crashing

[azwli]

Thanks Teunis, I actually only have 4 gigs of ram. The system says that it can't handle more that two 2 gig cards. I have run an overnight memory test from grub and no errors came up.

[Teunis]

Hi azwli, good you came through this check, interesting is the system did not crash during this test.
Regardless, in case that memory is over two sticks you can still test to see if one of them is the culprit...

Another test you could do to cancel out hardware is to run the computer for several hours from a live CD or USB flash drive.

If you have space on the hard disk you could contemplate making two more partitions, a root and a home, and do a separate and fresh install on them to see if the problem is still there.

[GreyGeek]

.... In my case, I can reliably crash my machine -- total hard lock -- when using my USB headset with my VoIP application. ...

What VoIP app are you using?

I asked because I was having an occasional lockup that blew me back to the login screen. Even though I hadn't used Skype in months I purged Skype and haven't had a lockup since.

[Teunis]

About Skype, they just came out with a new version and no longer allow a connection with the older one.

[verndog]

I recently fresh installed kubuntu 14.04 on my pavilion AMD64 with new 1TB HDD. I am using the stock PS2 keyboard and a logitec wireless USB mouse.

...Sometimes the input freezes and after a couple seconds the screen goes black and it goes to the login screen as if it just rebooted. Sometimes it just stays frozen. Sometimes (rarely)it just goes directly to the login screen without freezing. Sometimes the keyboard remains active long enough for me to test if it is working like hitting the caps lock and seeing the light come on.I....

I also have an AMD64 dual-core, and wireless keyboard/mouse, and 12.04 was the last release I could use without installing the nvidia video drivers.
I'm unsure what video you have, but that was my issue.

[azwli]

I just noticed something interesting in the last crash that might be a clue. This one was one of the screen freeze crashes, not kick right to the login screen crashes. The cursor froze and I looked down at the CPU monitor widget and it was still clocking, but it had flat lined at the top. It kept running for a couple minutes and then stopped. I tried all the ctl and alt key combinations and nothing worked and then did the magic keys thing.

I wonder if this means there is a CPU issue or if it is just that the monitor just stopped recording correctly?

Verndog, are the nvidia drivers something I have to get from their site? I have a GeForce GT 220.

[Teunis]

For additional drivers you have to check Driver Manager in System Settings.

[azwli]

OK, sadly, I have tried every driver option listed in the driver manager and none of them changed the crashing behavior.

[SteveRiley]

What VoIP app are you using?

I've installed both SFLphone and Yate, configured to register with my employer's Avaya SIP server. The crash happens only when I'm on a call with the USB headset. If I use the laptop's built-in speakers and microphone, or a USB headset, there's no problem. So I don't place blame on the phone software. Something's fishy with USB audio.

[marco07]

I am also experincing the issue of random freezing of the mouse pointer in my
new Thinkpad t540p laptop. It happens randomly for no apparent reason that I can think
of. When this happens, the only option for me is to power off and on again. No other
key combination takes me out of it.

I googled and got the following search listing.The indications are that this might be
a bug with no clear sign of what causes it.
https://www.google.com/search?q=++ra...er+in+thinkpad

And in particular This:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...r/+bug/1184451

It is annoying and make the system unreliable to work with. I am in Kubuntu 14.04 -64bit

[SteveRiley]

@marco07 -- are you running any software from a PPA or other non-standard Canonical repository?

[marco07]

@marco07 -- are you running any software from a PPA or other non-standard Canonical repository?

No. My repository sources in muon shows only canonical partner checked. Nothing else is there.

[Snowhog]

Have you eliminated the possibility that the batteries in the keyboard and mouse might be 'weak' and need replacing?

[marco07]

Have you eliminated the possibility that the batteries in the keyboard and mouse might be 'weak' and need replacing?

This is a new laptop with no batteries for keyboard and mouse.
Thanks!

[verndog]

This is a new laptop with no batteries for keyboard and mouse.
Thanks!

I've never seen a wireless mouse without s battery inside.