antiX-21 Freezing

[Member donovan]

Hello, I installed antix and am enjoying it very much.
Some issue im having recently is that while working, my screen freezes and I have to restart my computer using the power button.
When the freeze happens, my mouse is still active (can move it around, but cant click) – everything else is frozen.
The last two freezes, I was using libre office and had just copied some text and previously before that it froze once while using opera browser and once while using virtualbox.

$ uname -r
5.10.57-antix.1-amd64-smp

$ cat /etc/*release
NAME=”antiX”
VERSION=”21 (Grup Yorum)”
ID=”antix”
VERSION_ID=”21″
PRETTY_NAME=”antiX 21 (Grup Yorum)”
ANSI_COLOR=”0;34″
HOME_URL=”https://antixlinux.com/”
BUG_REPORT_URL=”https://www.antixforum.com/”
PRETTY_NAME=”antiX-21 Grup Yorum”
DISTRIB_ID=antiX
DISTRIB_RELEASE=21
DISTRIB_CODENAME=bullseye
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION=”antiX 21″
PRETTY_NAME=”Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)”
NAME=”Debian GNU/Linux”
VERSION_ID=”11″
VERSION=”11 (bullseye)”
VERSION_CODENAME=bullseye
ID=debian
HOME_URL=”https://www.debian.org/”
SUPPORT_URL=”https://www.debian.org/support”
BUG_REPORT_URL=”https://bugs.debian.org/”

$ hwinfo –cpu
01: None 00.0: 10103 CPU
[Created at cpu.465]
Unique ID: rdCR.j8NaKXDZtZ6
Hardware Class: cpu
Arch: X86-64
Vendor: “GenuineIntel”
Model: 6.58.9 “Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3240 CPU @ 3.40GHz”
Features: fpu,vme,de,pse,tsc,msr,pae,mce,cx8,apic,sep,mtrr,pge,mca,cmov,pat,pse36,clflush,dts,acpi,mmx,fxsr,sse,sse2,ss,ht,tm,pbe,syscall,nx,rdtscp,lm,constant_tsc,arch_perfmon,pebs,bts,rep_good,nopl,xtopology,nonstop_tsc,cpuid,aperfmperf,pni,pclmulqdq,dtes64,monitor,ds_cpl,vmx,est,tm2,ssse3,cx16,xtpr,pdcm,pcid,sse4_1,sse4_2,popcnt,tsc_deadline_timer,xsave,avx,f16c,lahf_lm,cpuid_fault,epb,pti,ssbd,ibrs,ibpb,stibp,tpr_shadow,vnmi,flexpriority,ept,vpid,fsgsbase,smep,erms,xsaveopt,dtherm,arat,pln,pts,md_clear,flush_l1d
Clock: 3156 MHz
BogoMips: 6784.27
Cache: 3072 kb
Units/Processor: 16
Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown`

[Member sybok]

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Hi, I am not an expert on this but freeze is often related to graphic drivers (or in case of some AMD CPUs, it was related to BIOS/kernel).
Please post output of ‘inxi -G’ (or more detailed ‘inxi –gpu’) as well for more experienced antiX-ers.
BTW, some of the information may already be contained at:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/65690/intel-core-i33240-processor-3m-cache-3-40-ghz/specifications.html

Also, you may try to search the internet using debian freeze Intel Core “i3-3240”.
There are some results for other systems such as Mint (solved after some updates) and Ubuntu-bug (triggered by a specific program/utility and somehow not solved).

[Moderator caprea]

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I’ve seen freezes on antiX21 like you described (for the first time ever I saw a freeze since I started with antiX many years ago btw), when I used the default antiX kernel(5.xxx) together with the modesetting driver on intel graphic (intel i5-4300M )
So I would recommend these things you can try
– update the kernel to the newest 5.xxx kernel
– use another kernel, on antiX-full installation the 4.9 kernel is avalaible in the “advanced options” on the bootscreen
– change from the modesetting driver to the intel driver, explained here
https://mxlinux.org/wiki/hardware/intel-video-driver/

In my case I’m now using the 5.10.104 kernel together with intel driver and didn’t see any freeze since month.

[Member ModdIt]

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May help in your usage case.
Reading libreoffice and chrome based browser plus desktop frozen but mouse cursor visible and moving but no input possible.
On ICEWM. Since doing below I have not experienced any more freezes.

Need java to have LO and language Tool working correctly.
I had freezes with LO set to use open java 11. Now added and use latest Oracle java which works fine.
Debian java is not in recommended by LO Org list. See java Vendors XML in the LO program installation directory for detail.

Freezing while using chrome based browsers was cured by moving the often huge chromium cache to temp.
Depending on your browser you might need to modify the code.

Add to your home .desktop-session/startup file

#Moves chromium cache to temp, thanks to xecure 
#First line only needed if chromium cache exists in home
[ -d "$HOME/.cache/chromium" ] && rm -rf $HOME/.cache/chromium
mkdir -p /tmp/your_username/.cache/chromium && ln -sf /tmp/herold/.cache/chromium /home/your_username/.cache/chromium
mkdir -p /tmp/your_username/.cache/chromium/Default && ln -sf /tmp/your_username/.cache/chromium/Default /home/your_username/.cache/chromium/Default

• This reply was modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by ModdIt.

[Member donovan]

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@ sybok I was preceding all my searches with “antix problemhere”, never considered “debian problemhere”

$ inxi -G
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd Gen Core processor Graphics
    driver: i915 v: kernel
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.20.11 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    unloaded: fbdev,vesa gpu: i915 resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 2500 (IVB GT1)
    v: 4.2 Mesa 20.3.5<code></code>

@ caprea I did try to upgrade my kernal using :
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Nothing changes, then checking for new kernal image doesnt yield anything greater. Please let me know if theres another way of upgrading to newer version.

$ apt-cache search linux-image | tail -10f
linux-image-5.10.0-12-rt-686-pae – Linux 5.10 for modern PCs, PREEMPT_RT (signed)
linux-image-5.10.0-14-686 – Linux 5.10 for older PCs (signed)
linux-image-5.10.0-14-686-pae – Linux 5.10 for modern PCs (signed)
linux-image-5.10.0-14-rt-686-pae – Linux 5.10 for modern PCs, PREEMPT_RT (signed)
linux-image-5.10.0-15-686 – Linux 5.10 for older PCs (signed)
linux-image-5.10.0-15-686-pae – Linux 5.10 for modern PCs (signed)
linux-image-5.10.0-15-rt-686-pae – Linux 5.10 for modern PCs, PREEMPT_RT (signed)
linux-image-5.10.0-8-686 – Linux 5.10 for older PCs (signed)
linux-image-5.10.0-8-686-pae – Linux 5.10 for modern PCs (signed)
linux-image-5.10.0-8-rt-686-pae – Linux 5.10 for modern PCs, PREEMPT_RT (signed)`

I remember a situation last week where I recreated the freeze unintentionally. (This will enable me to try the solutions you provided). I had set up a mail account in thunderbird, and it was working fine. Then I changed “A” record for that working email account to point to another server which had no email capabilities. Thunderbird then starting “timing out” when I clicked on “Get messages” for that account, and I could force the freeze when clicking “write message” using the faulty account.
So I have done this again today, currently waiting for the dns records to update then I can try force freeze my system, and try each solution individually.

@ ModdIt Thank mate for providing this answer, Ive stored your answer in a file and if the freeze occurs on opera I will implement it.

Please excuse lack of formatting, !@#*() wordpress software is not allowingme to reply…

• This reply was modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by rokytnji.

[Moderator caprea]

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Kernels are not automatically upgraded during a dist-upgrade on antiX. A kernel change must always be performed manually by the user.
For updating go to
control-centre > software > PackageInstaller
In Package Installer go to Kernels and install the 5.10.104
This kernel will get automatically used on next boot, because it is the highest version.

If this is a antiX-full installation it should also be easy to try the 4.9 kernel.On the boot screen you can go to the “advanced options” with the up/down arrows.Press enter and the 4.9 should be available

If a kernel change doesn’t help I would recommend to try the intel driver.How to do this is described in the link in my first post.

[Member donovan]

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@caprea I have performed both the changes using your instructions, all is well.

zar@antix1:~
$ uname -r
5.10.104-antix.1-amd64-smp
zar@antix1:~
$ cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Section "Device"   
   Identifier  "Intel Graphics"
   Driver      "intel"
#  Option      "AccelMethod" "uxa"  #could also use the default "sna"
   Option      "TearFree"     "true"
EndSectionzar@antix1:~

Unfortunately, I was not able to recreate the freeze situation on my side. If my system does freeze again, I will revert to the 4.9 kernel which I was reluctant to do because it messed up two of virtualbox images but I will try both kernels before reposting here. Thanks for your help mate.

[Member sybok]

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I will revert to the 4.9 kernel which I was reluctant to do because it messed up two of virtualbox images

Messed up in which way?
My guess is that reinstalling some of the (both) VirtualBox (and kernel) related packages such as ‘virtualbox-dkms’ or ‘virtualbox-guest-dkms’ could help.

[Forum Admin anticapitalista]

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Unfortunately, I was not able to recreate the freeze situation on my side.

I would call that ‘fortunately’ after applying a fix.

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

antiX with runit - leaner and meaner.

[Member roland]

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I have had these freezes for quite some time now, using chromium browser, invariably after enlarging a photograph that has been posted on Facebook, then right-click to save it to a file. The file save proceeds as expected, but after this while the mouse cursor can still be moved, the left click no longer does anything, except for one action, I can select another workspace from the toolbar, load another instance of the same browser, return to where I was and what I was doing, and carry on. This freeze only happens the one time, in the second workspace I can enlarge and select another photograph, save it, and carry on, there is no further freeze. However the first workspace continues to be frozen. The only way of getting rid of it is to select app-killer and move the X to the top right hand corner, and left click. This not only kills the browser application in the first workspace, but kills every instance of the same browser, in all workspaces. I always use chromium, not ungoogled-chromium. I have not posted this fault despite being plagued with it for quite some time, because I suspected it was something to do with chromium and not antiX. I had it on at least 3 PCs, still have it on one of them, running 19.4 I think. I can reproduce the fault at will. I always use the latest kernels, 5.10.nn I think at present.

5 minutes after posting this response I had the freeze I referred to exactly as described. I cannot take a screenshot because the entire workspace is frozen except for the toolbar. Maybe if I had screenshot added to the toolbar menu I could have done, I shall try that. I attach the inxi of this pc, for information.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by roland.
• This reply was modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by roland.
• This reply was modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by roland.

Attachments:

1. 

   inxi-zv8-1.pdf
   

2. 

   inxi-zv8-2.pdf
   

[Forum Admin anticapitalista]

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@roland – does what you describe happen with default firefox-esr?

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

antiX with runit - leaner and meaner.

[Member donovan]

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I would call that ‘fortunately’ after applying a fix.

@anticapitalista Yes sir, through the eyes of an optimist.
@sybok Virtualbox gives the error “kernel driver not installed” when I used the 4.9 kernel. Like my shared folder is working for both win/linux guest images and have internet connection on both for the 5.10 kernel. Dont even want to touch it everything working great now.

[Member roland]

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After all I have said I now cannot make it freeze under the described circumstances, neither under release 21 nor 19.3 !! I have 2 similar PCs and up until yesterday I have been experiencing this freeze on both, One has 21 and 19.3 installed, the other just 19.3. Maybe my policy of running apt update frequently and applying the available updates has cleared it? I am now very suspicious. I have had this freezing for over a year, but some releases seem to have been totally free of it, however I never took the trouble to get proper diagnostics as I discovered the easy way round it – after the first freeze open a new workspace and carry on. Next time it happens (I’m sure there will be more) I’ll get a screenshot, an htop screenshot in another workspace, then try exactly the same in firefox-esl, and post it.

[Member roland]

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I had a freeze a couple of hours ago saving a jpg file to gmail, so while it was under chromium it was not in facebook. I was unable to get diagnostics but am now on the lookout for it and will do so next time it occurs.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by roland.

[Member roland]

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The freeze in Chromium has taken place again and this time I have (limited) diagnostics. 2 other instances of Chromium were running in workspace 1 and workspace 3, and are still fully working. The toolbar in workspace 2 is available, I used it to select screenshot and take the shot I attach, the mouse cursor can be moved anywhere on the screen boundaries but pressing buttons has no effect unless it is on the taskbar. The only way to remove this process is to select app killer from the toolbar menu and place it top right, then left click. This removes all instances of chromium, from all workspaces where it occurs.

Unfortunately the htop screen print is of little use as the 32 cpu activity reports take up most of the window, leaving almost nothing for processes. I have never discovered a way to suppress this cpu display in htop.

I hope this enables one of you experts to diagnose this problem. It was endemic in release 19, I have had it on 19.3, 19.4 and 19.5, and now on 21, and not always using the same kernel. I now believe it is not a solid fault, when I tried to make it happen the other day I was unable to do so.

I was unable to try this using firefox-esr, but it would not surprise me that it would not freeze, as the environment could hardly be identical, maybe not even similar. But next time it occurs I will have firefox up and running, to repeat exactly what I did in chromium leading up to the freeze.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by roland.

Attachments:

1. 

   ilkley_brook_street_freeze.jpg
   

2. 

   leeds_bus_saved_unfrozen.jpg
   

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   htop_workspace_3.jpg
   

4. 

   inxi-zv8-21.pdf
   

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