[Hardware] My laptop spotaniusly reboots!

[steve7233]

I thought Windows did this. I didn't expect my Linux OS to start doing this. It didn't do this with previous versions of Kubuntu. Why is it doing this. I was just looking at the updates via Dolphin. It usually only does this when I run Firefox, but now it does it with Dolphin when looking at the updates. Does anyone have an idea why? Maybe a bug in Kubuntu 25.04, or core Ubuntu 25.04? I am not sure the prefix is correct for this, but it seemed to be the closest one. The manufacture date is 2009, so maybe a driver problem? All Intel hardware.

[Qqmike]

Usually ... heat issue (fans, vents, dust?), bad RAM (= unexpected re-boots)? power supply good (laptop: your external power adapter, wires & plugs)? problem with a driver ...

[steve7233]

Usually ... heat issue (fans, vents, dust?), bad RAM (= unexpected re-boots)? power supply good (laptop: your external power adapter, wires & plugs)? problem with a driver ...

As I said above, I suspect a driver problem. I used it in 2014 with Kubuntu, and it mostly worked. I suppose over the years, the VAAPI driver has lost support that this machine requires, as well as other issues with MESA, and maybe other issues. It used to have proper 3d acceleration, and now I get problems. It doesn't seem to be a windows manager problem as NO version of Ubuntu works, whether it's Lubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Mint Linux, Debian, or any other GNU Linux. Hopefully, there is a way I can restore compatibility without having to use an old Linux disk from years ago that I have lying around someplace, as that would mean I can't go on the internet, as using an EOL on the internet is asking for big trouble!

[claydoh]

The manufacture date is 2009,

Sudden reboots clearly indicate hardware and age related issues as the first things to look at. A driver is much less likely to be a cause, but overall system resource needs can push things over the limit. Linux isn't so light as it was circa 2014, and even pushing to 2024.
Plasma 6 also is not so light on top of this. So overall, 25.04 is just too heavy for this machine.

Dust, age, dust, old capacitors, dust, dried out thermal paste, old ram. Power connectors damaged after 16 years of faithful use.

[jlittle]

Sudden reboots clearly indicate hardware and age related issues...

I agree. If the RAM plugs in you might try reseating the RAM, after cleaning the contacts with a pencil eraser. That worked for me on an old system once.

[Snowhog]

IS this a laptop? If it is, HAVE you cleaned it out; gotten all the dust out of it?

[steve7233]

IS this a laptop? If it is, HAVE you cleaned it out; gotten all the dust out of it?

Yes. I used a can of air and its straw to dust every nook and cranny that I could reach, and the CMOS program indicates that the CPU temperature is 65 °C. Running a Lighter version of any Linux and any active version doesn't work, but I can't run an EOL on the internet, obviously. It also doesn't have proper 3d acceleration. I checked the system logs, and it tries to run 3d acceleration, but there are some errors, which is why I think the VAPPI driver and some other drivers, like maybe MESA, are not working properly. Some needed support seems to be missing. It could be that some of my laptop's hardware is no longer supported in VAPPI and MESA. Maybe my Internet interface lacks something, too.

Vulkan Instance Version: 1.4.304



If you want more information just ask. If logs then tell me where and I will upload them to my pastbin account and put a link link in this thread.

[Snowhog]

This laptop doesn't meet the all the minimum system requirements anymore; understandable as it's 16 years old. See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...emRequirements

IF you are able; if the laptop can accommodate it; increasing the amount of RAM would help with performance. 3.8 GiB (likely actually 4 GiB) is very marginal.

[TheSupremeVizier]

About four or five years ago I had a new laptop that started spontaneously rebooting at around 1 week old.
Root cause turned out to be a defective motherboard.

[steve7233]

It doesn't do this anymore, but 3d acceleration is still not very good. According to system logs, some hardware is only working partway way so probably driver support was lost over the years. I had tried to remove the ram sticks because I was hoping to try the eraser trick to clean the contacts but could not work my fingers in the right position so was unable to remove them so I blasted them with a can of air and when I used the laptop again the spontanious reeboots and occasional loss of IP address seemed to stop but firefox still locks up my system every few minutes. Maybe I fixed a loose contact by manipulating the RAM sticks. I think the engineers who designed this laptop must have been thinking like they were designing an old Japanese car because getting to the RAM is extremely difficult!

[Snowhog]

What make and model is your laptop?

[steve7233]

What make and model is your laptop?

HP Pavilion dv6us. That's from the first Pavilions, not the recent versions.

[Snowhog]

I had tried to remove the ram sticks because I was hoping to try the eraser trick to clean the contacts but could not work my fingers in the right position so was unable to remove them

Shouldn't be difficult. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qv59nqphjE

[jlittle]

HP Pavilion dv6us. That's from the first Pavilions, not the recent versions.

And it's still running? Most of those dv6 Pavilions were awful. There was a class action lawsuit. At least, mine and another forum member's were. Mine cooked itself to death. I suspect yours is later than the very first.