No proper prefix, but again I need help.

[Shabakthanai]

Is there a command-line instruction that will analyze my motherboard and indicate any failing functions?

Is there a command-line instruction that will analyze my GPU to show any problems with the hardware?

Is there a command-line instruction that will analyze my CPU 8-core to show evidence of a problem?

Thanks! Shab

[Rod J]

Stress testing I guess is what you are wanting. So I typed the word "stress" in Muon and found a number of installable apps that would probably do what you want.

stress-ng sounds like a good one. I haven't used any of those stress testing apps so I can't say what would be best to try.

Bear in mind that this sort of testing *could* cause damage if you push things too far (overheating, etc), so you would want to keep an eye on temps, etc.

[Shabakthanai]

Thanks for the try, Rod, I am stuck, as bad as a few days ago. The system started lagging in all things. This time, it was either the same or similar in both OS's, so I am pretty sure my problem is hardware.

I apologize for being so depressed, but when I restart the desktop, I get a new Login Background, Purple, Blue & I believe Gray. I am so distressed by my situation, that I can't even remember that for sure. Fortunately I still have my laptop, so I can do my financial business, but I just can't bother Don for this.

When it appeared like software might be the problem, I was willing to accept his help; he is so smart, and the possibility of a cure was pretty good, but this is different. Since both OS's are affected similarly, it has to be hardware.

My dejection is reasonable. Even if I could download and try the application you are kind enough to suggest, every time I restart and the Login Screen appears, my password is rejected. Each time I attempt to enter the BIOS, the system opens in the boot selection screen.

One thing I have yet to mention is the fact that before the last update/upgrade, the boot selection screen was always Black with White letters. Now it has changed to a bright blue with white letters. I do not understand the implication of this, but it is new.

Also, my fancy motherboard, Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 BIOS usually has a functioning mouse. Although I can no longer enter the BIOS, prior to being locked out of my BIOS the mouse function had stopped working when in the BIOS.

Unfortunately I can not afford to take my computer to a computer repair company; I had terrible experiences with that in the past. Lots of money and almost total replacement of the hardware before a solution was found. I just can't afford to do that anymore.

Prior to your stress recommendation, I could have tried that, but I can no longer get the system to boot to repair or to the normal system or enter the BIOS to see if a possible choice can be found there.

I am thinking that I must reserve my laptop for online purchases, banking and email; I do not see another solution. I cannot use the computer like I have, because I can no longer afford the consequence of losing all Internet related uses. I no longer drive, so I have to rely on Taxis, and that is too expensive for many trips each month. Thanks for the many helps you have provided. You have been a most appreciated friend.

For those who think I probably screwed up the system playing around in areas I am not qualified, if I had to reserve my computer time to areas I was qualified, I would never boot up. Other than installing 2 OS's fresh, a very stable K14.04 LTS 64bit and the rather understandable lesser stable K16.04 64 bit, I have only updated/dist-upgraded both OS's on a daily basis and installed a few widgets including their configurations. Nothing I have done should have broken my system, I don't believe.

As far as continuing the battle, at this time I am taking a respite. I am too old to maintain such a high level of stress and pressure. Thanks for trying to help! Shab

Stress testing I guess is what you are wanting. So I typed the word "stress" in Muon and found a number of installable apps that would probably do what you want.

stress-ng sounds a good one. I haven't used any of those stress testing apps so I can't say what would be best to try.

Bear in mind that this sort of testing *could* cause damage if you push things too far (overheating, etc), so you would want to keep an eye on temps, etc.

[Rod J]

Hi Shab,

Oh, sorry you are having so many problems with your PC. I think you are correct in your assumption that it is a hardware fault because both OS's are displaying similar issues. That's one of the advantages of running more than one OS in that makes it easier to diagnose between hardware and software faults. Of course, booting up a live CD could also help differentiate there.

Reading your symptoms makes me wonder if it is graphics related. Do you have a separate graphic card? I wonder if the card is playing up? When my old nVidia card was dying it started to display all sorts of weird artifacts on the screen. When you mentioned the changes of the colours it made me think of that. If there is a separate graphic card maybe you could remove it temporarily and revert back to the motherboard/cpu integrated graphics to see if that makes a difference.

Are you sure you are pressing the right key to get into the BIOS? It's usually F2 or DEL and the boot screen usually tells you what key to press. Odd that it's automatically going into the boot options dialog when you actually want to enter the BIOS. As far as your log on password being rejected, I know it's a basic thing to check, but make sure the caps lock is off. I can't think why the password would be rejected, it's almost like your keyboard might be faulty (another possibility).

Thinking more now about the possibility of a keyboard/mouse problem; what type of keyboard/mouse are you using? Wireless or cabled? If wireless are you sure the batteries are good? I had a problem with an old Logitech wireless mouse/keyboard combo a few years ago. It kept resetting the PC every time I pressed a key to get into the BIOS (about 75% of the boots) ... it even did it sometimes when in the Grub menu. I never did figure out why it did that.

One thing I have yet to mention is the fact that before the last update/upgrade, the boot selection screen was always Black with White letters. Now it has changed to a bright blue with white letters. I do not understand the implication of this, but it is new.

Which boot selection screen are you talking about here? The BIOS boot selection or the Grub menu? If it's the Grub menu it is possible to change the colours, maybe that's happened at some stage when trying to fix the problems you were having previously.

[Qqmike]

A mouse or a keyboard that is sticking or not registering or otherwise malfunctioning surely can cause all sorts of puzzling behavior.

[Shabakthanai]

I am unsure of semantics, but when I restart my computer a screen appears with the option to enter the BIOS by pressing F2 or Del. If I don't enter the BIOS, a screen appears giving me the choice of Operating Systems or recover mode or memory test.

In the past, that screen has been black with white print. Since this problem, it is a bright blue with white print. I only mention it because it has never happened before. I rarely understand the why or when developers make changes like that, so I don't know if it is a response to an internal problem or an actual change made by the developers.

Before it looked like a normal shell, then changed the background to bright blue. I have long configured my konsoles to have a different from normal color. Currently they are a changing of pastel colors with black print. I am an artist and there has never been a reason for not doing so. Why would the feature be available at all if not appropriate? It is one of my favorite things with Kubuntu.

Thanks! Shab

[Rod J]

OK, the second screen must be the Grub boot menu. The title at the top should have "GNU Grub" followed by the version number.

My guess is that when you installed K16.04 it updated Grub to its version and may have changed the colours, I can't confirm that because I haven't yet installed that version. Has anyone else noticed if Grub colours have been changed after installing K16.04?

If it's really bothering you, you can edit the '/etc/default/grub' file to change the Grub 2 boot options including colours then execute a sudo update-grub command to update Grub with the new settings.

You can read more about Grub menu colour settings here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...nu_Font_Colors It's a bit technical and you could easily mess it up so maybe you might want to leave that for now.

Or, the change in colours could possibly be a graphics problem I mentioned earlier.

[Qqmike]

I can't recall specifics, but in the past, probably upon some GRUB update, I have noticed the GRUB screen change appearance and color. If that GRUB menu works (i.e., when you click an entry it does what the entry says it should do), then I would leave it alone! If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it I'm not an artist (well, yes I am -- a stone cutter), but I do have a lot of German perfectionism in me, but there comes a time when, well, you know, ...

[Snowhog]

In the past, that screen has been black with white print. Since this problem, it is a bright blue with white print.

That's the Plasma 5.6 Grub Screen. Nothing else changed, specifically, the underlying Grub boot options remain as they were before this change.

[vinnywright]

I'm not an artist (well, yes I am -- a stone cutter),

Stone cutter hay ,,,,,my brother is apprenticing with one of the stone carvers that worked on the National cathedral in DC and did some of those faces/gargoyles

his first project/assignment was to ,,,,,,,,,,square a block ,,,,,,, to a tolerance of not being able to see light under a straight edge laid/dragged across the face in different directions/orientations ,,,,,,,,the last one I saw was a rosette of a single rose coming up from a squared off sunken area around it in a square block ,,,,,,

That's the Plasma 5.6 Grub Screen. Nothing else changed, specifically, the underlying Grub boot options remain as they were before this change.

Sure ,,,,,,but is dose look wonky ,,,,,,and have you tryed to edit a boot line ,,,,,, @hear moving the cursor to lets say "quiet slpash" results in everything getting underscored with a soled white line ,,,,,, making it kinda hard to tell where you are .

VINNY

[Shabakthanai]

I don't mind any color change, I just thought it might be an indication of the problem manifested another way, my stupidity. I just want to give you all differences so if you understand something that I don't it gets considered. Thanks

OK, the second screen must be the Grub boot menu. The title at the top should have "GNU Grub" followed by the version number.

My guess is that when you installed K16.04 it updated Grub to its version and may have changed the colours, I can't confirm that because I haven't yet installed that version. Has anyone else noticed if Grub colours have been changed after installing K16.04?

If it's really bothering you, you can edit the '/etc/default/grub' file to change the Grub 2 boot options including colours then execute a sudo update-grub command to update Grub with the new settings.

You can read more about Grub menu colour settings here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...nu_Font_Colors It's a bit technical and you could easily mess it up so maybe you might want to leave that for now.

Or, the change in colours could possibly be a graphics problem I mentioned earlier.

[Qqmike]

hoping Shab doesn't report us for frivolity to the Admins ... although, he IS an artist, so this is kinda on-topic to the poster ...


@Vinny: That's neat work your brother is learning. Precision, technical-artistic skill. I have a brother who did similar in metals, worked in San Francisco on million-dollar penthouses, repairing polished brass trim and such in elevators. My stone cutting is not that. Picture some American Indian jewelry (like a ring or pendant or earrings) that contain turquoise stone(s). I cut the stones--the cabochons or "cabs." Sell wholesale to manufacturers, artists, Native American Indians. There are hundred thousand(s) women (and men) around the world who unknowingly are wearing jewelry made with my turquoise stones. I know how to cut a technical, perfect showpiece for the front cover of a glossy Lapidary Journal issue. But I don't. Instead, to make money, I do a nice, acceptable "commercial" cut that real-life artists can afford and incorporate into their jewelry designs. I cut "spec"--on speculation; I work for myself, buy my own turquoise and cut what and how I want, and offer it for sale to artists-designers. IOW, a street cutter.

[Snowhog]

To 'disable' the change to the grub menu in Plasma 5.6, edit (as root) /etc/default/grub and comment (add a # in front of) GRUB_THEME=/boot/grub/themes/breeze/theme.txt so the line looks like this:

#GRUB_THEME=/boot/grub/themes/breeze/theme.txt

Save the file and then run (in a konsole):

sudo update-grub2

Logout and reboot. Your familiar grub menu will be there again.

[Shabakthanai]

What neat input. I don't mind the interruption at all. I never get to talk or even listen to art chat anymore. I am not even as skilled as either of you. I started at age about 5 doing a realism drawing of Rumple Stiltskin that I cannot improve on this day. I wish I had it back, but my mother passed and I don't know what happened to it. It was entered in a South Dakota Poppy Day contest and won the competition.

It was the start of a lifetime of making art of one kind or another. I haven't done anything else. I never was drawn by money and never painted to match the curtains. Only showed a couple of times to people where it might count a little. Was offered an option to show my bowls at some kind of craft show at the Smithsonian, but did not take advantage of the opportunity. I think it was a result of something of mine that got placed in a Russian museum at a contemporary art show of American ??craftsman?? Hah, during Peristroika (sp.).

My art is untrained, except you can't make art for 65+ years and not learn something. I am envious of your skills and impressed too. I never cut stone, except small pieces of sandstone, but I did sculpt in wood and clay and vegetables for fun. Mostly I painted, made pottery, and copper enamels. I did make ID stamps in sand stone for a while; there is a story attached to that one. Another story about copper enamels I made. Equally interesting to most who hear and are interested in art. For a while, I made some jewlery for the cash, sold in craft shows.

I wonder how many indians used your starts.

hoping Shab doesn't report us for frivolity to the Admins ... although, he IS an artist, so this is kinda on-topic to the poster ...


@Vinny: That's neat work your brother is learning. Precision, technical-artistic skill. I have a brother who did similar in metals, worked in San Francisco on million-dollar penthouses, repairing polished brass trim and such in elevators. My stone cutting is not that. Picture some American Indian jewelry (like a ring or pendant or earrings) that contain turquoise stone(s). I cut the stones--the cabochons or "cabs." Sell wholesale to manufacturers, artists, Native American Indians. There are hundred thousand(s) women (and men) around the world who unknowingly are wearing jewelry made with my turquoise stones. I know how to cut a technical, perfect showpiece for the front cover of a glossy Lapidary Journal issue. But I don't. Instead, to make money, I do a nice, acceptable "commercial" cut that real-life artists can afford and incorporate into their jewelry designs. I cut "spec"--on speculation; I work for myself, buy my own turquoise and cut what and how I want, and offer it for sale to artists-designers. IOW, a street cutter.

[Shabakthanai]

I think I'll hold off on that one. It sounds like I could screw things up again. I don't mind the change in color, if that is what happened. Sometimes I don't understand some of the changes that happen, or why some configuration possibilities are removed without warning. Especially, the removing of already in use capabilities.

To 'disable' the change to the grub menu in Plasma 5.6, edit (as root) /etc/default/grub and comment (add a # in front of) GRUB_THEME=/boot/grub/themes/breeze/theme.txt so the line looks like this:

#GRUB_THEME=/boot/grub/themes/breeze/theme.txt

Save the file and then run (in a konsole):

sudo update-grub2

Logout and reboot. Your familiar grub menu will be there again.

I