Debian Squeeze locks hard

gosper2 · 08-10-2012, 09:47 PM

I'm having an issue with a new install of Debian Squeeze locking hard. This seems to occur at random times for no obvious or apparent reason. I am using a hp 2000-369WM laptop with the stable 32-bit version of Squeeze. I am using the stock kernel and have only removed or installed minor applications such as web browsers. However, I experienced this issue once prior to removing or installing any applications so I don't believe that has anything to do with the problem.

Perhaps entirely unrelated, I am also having a strange problem where apt-get is telling me that a number of packages are no longer necessary and to remove them with auto-remove. However, this list of apparently unnecessary packages includes things I know are necessary to the OS. I tried installing squeeze on this machine before and had some strange problems at that time.

Using the same CD I created I have installed Squeeze previously on another personal laptop and recently on my girlfriend's laptop, and have encountered no issues. I've never experience any linux distribution locking like this before, and don't even know how to go about diagnosing the problem. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

Randicus Draco Albus · 08-10-2012, 10:35 PM

Quote:

have only removed or installed minor applications

That can result in this.

Quote:

apt-get is telling me that a number of packages are no longer necessary and to remove them with auto-remove.

If that includes

Quote:

things I know are necessary to the OS,

then you have probably removed a package that is part of a meta-package. My guess is

Quote:

removed or installed minor applications such as web browsers

may have something to do with it. I am not an expert on removing meta-packages, while keeping individual packages, but there are several threads regarding the procedure both here and on Debian's forum.

As for

Quote:

Debian Squeeze locking hard ... at random times for no obvious or apparent reason.

Quote:

Using the same CD I created I have installed Squeeze previously on another personal laptop and recently on my girlfriend's laptop, and have encountered no issues.

The problem with the computer in question will be either related to hardware or to something you have done post-installation. Perhaps one of the applications you removed was not so minor? Are the freezes truly random or do they occur when unplugging a device, opening an application or after any other seemingly benign action?

cynwulf · 08-11-2012, 09:39 AM

Post some outputs:

Code:

$ lspci | grep -i vga

If the above shows intel graphics do:

Code:

# zgrep i915 /var/log/dmesg*

If the lspci shows nvidia graphics do:

Code:

# zgrep -i 'nouveau\|nvidia' /var/log/dmesg*

If the lspci shows amd/ati graphics do:

Code:

# zgrep -i 'radeon\|fglrx' /var/log/dmesg*

gosper2 · 08-11-2012, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randicus Draco Albus

That can result in this.
If that includes
then you have probably removed a package that is part of a meta-package. My guess is
may have something to do with it. I am not an expert on removing meta-packages, while keeping individual packages, but there are several threads regarding the procedure both here and on Debian's forum.

As for

The problem with the computer in question will be either related to hardware or to something you have done post-installation. Perhaps one of the applications you removed was not so minor? Are the freezes truly random or do they occur when unplugging a device, opening an application or after any other seemingly benign action?

The only packages I removed were openoffice, which I replaced with libreoffice, abiword, iceweasel, and gnumeric. I reinstalled gnumeric and abiword and that seemed to resolve my metapackage problem. I haven't found any particular action that seems to be triggering the crash. It does not occur after running any specific command or set of commands. I have recently noticed (as in just a few minutes ago) that both of my web browsers seem to be having some issues though. The more I use Chrome it seems the more likely the crash is to occur, and ephiany seems to be crashing like crazy now (the application, not my computer). I had to install a non-free wifi network driver (rt5390) for my wireless card. I know this driver was installed when the crashes started occuring and I'm beginning to suspect that. I'll investigate that, but until then other ideas/support is appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by caravel

Post some outputs:

Code:

$ lspci | grep -i vga

If the above shows intel graphics do:

Code:

# zgrep i915 /var/log/dmesg*

If the lspci shows nvidia graphics do:

Code:

# zgrep -i 'nouveau\|nvidia' /var/log/dmesg*

If the lspci shows amd/ati graphics do:

Code:

# zgrep -i 'radeon\|fglrx' /var/log/dmesg*

I have an ATI card. The output of the second command is:

Code:

/var/log/dmesg:[    0.084433] CPU0: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg:[    0.172040] CPU1: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg.0:[    0.086406] CPU0: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg.0:[    0.172130] CPU1: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg.1.gz:[    0.083690] CPU0: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg.1.gz:[    0.168108] CPU1: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg.2.gz:[    0.083926] CPU0: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg.2.gz:[    0.168086] CPU1: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg.3.gz:[    0.084411] CPU0: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg.3.gz:[    0.172067] CPU1: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg.4.gz:[    0.085070] CPU0: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00
/var/log/dmesg.4.gz:[    0.172044] CPU1: AMD E-450 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics stepping 00

cynwulf · 08-12-2012, 04:38 AM

There is a known problem with certain older intel GPUs, well it's not that anyway.

I would guess hardware failure at this stage - for whatever reason.

Post the output of the first lspci command. As it's a laptop with a newer radeon APU, overheating could be the cause, so installing the proprietary fglrx driver should be your next step.

https://wiki.debian.org/ATIProprietary

fglrx in squeeze may not be new enough for that chip, so you may need to grab it from backports.

http://backports-master.debian.org/Instructions/

rubankumars · 09-09-2012, 10:56 AM

In Debian,when packages(say pkg1) are installed some other packages required for the working of the package are also installed.But these extra(called dependencies) are marked as auto.So if you remove pkg1 the dependencies are also removed if autoremove or aptitude remove is used.So you have to mark the packages as manually installed using suitable command.
I use aptitude and hence don't know how to use apt-get.If you want to do it by aptitude,read aptitude manual from debian manuals.