I posted long ago to try solve a problem with my display freezing during normal operation (the mouse pointer moves, but I cannot click anything and it will not shutdown except by holding down the power button). I was help by some very nice folks, but never got to the bottom of the problem.
On the same machine (some specs below) I recently tried to install Ubuntu 9.10 and the exact same thing same thing happened during the installation! As I clicked through the steps it froze again in precisely the same manner (twice!). I decided I should take another crack at opensuse, since I could not get through the install of Ubuntu.
Any ideas on what could be causing this? Please free me from Windows! :’(
Specs-just a few:
Dell Dimension 2400
RAM 2G - memory test: passed
Chipset: Intel i845
CPU: Celeron 2.40GHz
So let me say the ace number one problem with older laptops is your hard drive AND bad spots can appear in some partitions and not others. Next most common problem is memory and unfortunately, I have not seen a good test for very intermittent memory. So you did not say, but does this problem effect Windows? How old is this laptop? You know that the problem you have described does point to a hardware problem, but being absolute in any determination is hard to do. If you want to know my approach, I would go buy a new hard drive, install it and load openSUSE and see if it works OK. You could also buy one stick of memory and see if it helps, but you would need to remove the old one(s) to get rid of a memory problem should it exist. The real question is to how to get out of this impasse? I say, a new hared drive is the place to start if you intend on keeping this computer a while. Of course, don’t spend money you do not have and always make reasonable choices is such cases and good luck.
Thanks for the quick reply. First let me offer a correction it is a desktop machine. It is pretty old, though. However, the hard drive and memory are both about 1 year old. I upgraded both. Now, I realize that a new-ish devices don’t mean error free. I just wish there was some low-cost way to test the problem since I do want to keep the machine for as long as it will last, since it has been so great, but I shouldn’t spend too much money on it.
Windows XP works perfectly, I never have an issue with crashes or hangs with Windows.
Thanks for the quick reply. First let me offer a correction it is a desktop machine. It is pretty old, though. However, the hard drive and memory are both about 1 year old. I upgraded both. Now, I realize that a new-ish devices don't mean error free. I just wish there was some low-cost way to test the problem since I do want to keep the machine for as long as it will last, since it has been so great, but I shouldn't spend too much money on it.
Windows XP works perfectly, I never have an issue with crashes or hangs with Windows.
So new does not mean trouble free that is for sure. How is your dust problem? Have you cleaned out the computer since you put in this new memory and hard disk? Make sure all of your cables are plugged in tight? Even reseating memory modules and PC cards can be helpful. Linux does tend to use all of memory and often can show up problems Windows XP does not show. On desktops, my number one issue these days has been power supplies, but they tend to not discriminate between Operating Systems, which can then point back to memory as a possible culprit. If you can run with a single memory module, I might try that to see if one works better than another. Even swapping modules around can be helpful. Make sure you are NOT changing them in very low humidity (like when it is cold and you are doing lots of heating) as static electricity is no friend of memory.
Hmm, and after you’ve messed around inside the box, pushed and pulled everything that can be moved, please don’t be surprised when even Windows XP fails to work.
On 02/15/2011 04:06 PM, apriest wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I posted long ago to try solve a problem with my display freezing
> during normal operation (the mouse pointer moves, but I cannot click
> anything and it will not shutdown except by holding down the power
> button). I was help by some very nice folks, but never got to the bottom
> of the problem.
>
> On the same machine (some specs below) I recently tried to install
> Ubuntu 9.10 and the exact same thing same thing happened during the
> installation! As I clicked through the steps it froze again in precisely
> the same manner (twice!). I decided I should take another crack at
> opensuse, since I could not get through the install of Ubuntu.
>
> Any ideas on what could be causing this? Please free me from Windows!
> :’(
>
> Specs-just a few:
> Dell Dimension 2400
> RAM 2G - memory test: passed
> Chipset: Intel i845
> CPU: Celeron 2.40GHz
You don’t say if you’re running KDE or Gnome. You might see if there
isn’t a widget that shows CPU usage that could sit down in the corner.
There have been times I’ve seen similar behavior and it wasn’t really
hung - the CPU was just pegged.
Try hitting Ctrl-Alt-F1 and logging in at the console (if it will
switch) then run top to see what the load is.
Try using a different desktop - if you’re using Gnome, try KDE. And
vice versa. Or one of the other desktop environments that comes with
openSUSE.
If you boot to the CD you can run memtest (overnight) and give the RAM a
good workout.
