[xubuntu-users] XUbuntu Crashes

[Rob Ward]

On 11/06/14 23:57, Victor Forberger wrote:
>
>> Le 11/06/2014 05:49, Rob Ward a écrit :
>>> Hi Folks,
>>>
>>> My swap from XP to XUbuntu is going well, but every couple of days I
>>> get a lock-up from which I have no way out but to press the reset and
>>> reboot.  I am wondering if there is a way I can gather some evidence
>>> as to what might be going on, so I can either correct it myself, or
>>> seek help from you folk with more information than "It crashed! Help!".
>>>
>>> Sometimes it locks up on the screen saver (3-D Ant (mentioned in many
>>> older www posts)) and other times just in the Desktop, but usually
>>> after some time of operator absence.
>>>
>>> Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> *Rob Ward*
>>> Lake Tyers Beach, 3909
>>> Lake Tyers Beach Website <http://www.laketyersbeach.net.au>
>>> XP to XUbuntu - The journey, join me!
>>> <http://www.laketyersbeach.net.au/XP2XU.html>
>>>
>> On 06/11/2014 01:17 AM, Patrice ARNAL wrote:> I got a similar problem some times ago...
>>
>> I had 2 possibles hints :
>> 1- no more space on disk (old machine, small (very small) disk
>>      This has been corrected by keeping only 2 logs files instead of 5 or
>> 7 by default...
>>      By this way I no more had "disk full" messages at start-up and I was
>> able to check the logs
>>
>> 2- The screensaver was mis-configured. ( I tried to have a diaporama,
>> but it did not work well)
>>      Setting it to "blank screen" only was the right solution : No more
>> lock up.
>>
>> When the screen is "locked-up" , do you have a big disk activity?
>> I had the disk light continuously "ON" (hence my check of disk space)
>>
>> When it is locked up, can you get a tty login with <ctrl><alt><Fn>?
>> Be patient....
>> If you can't get a tty login, the desktop manager is no more running....
>> If yo can get it, a "top" will show you what are the most cpu consuming
>> task.
>>
>> Good luck
>>
> My guess is a conflict between xscreensaver and xfce power manager.  I
> had similar problems with previous versions of xubuntu.  Some did better
> with power management (i.e., no crashes and ability to return to the
> desktop after absence/sleep) via xscreensaver and some did better with
> xfce-power-manager.
>
> Note that in 14.04, xscreensaver has been replaced with light-locker.
> See http://xubuntu.org/news/screen-locking-in-xubuntu-14-04/ for the
> details.
>
> Like me, your upgrade probably kept xscreensaver (I like the matrixGL to
> remind me that I need to take the red(?) pill when offered the chance).
>
> With recent xubuntu versions including 14.04, the preference seems to be
> with xfce-power-manager for power management. So, in Settings, click on
> Screensaver and make sure that the "power management enabled" option is
> NOT checked. You may also need to restart the daemon, a command
> available under the File menu.
>
> In Power Manager under Settings, under General make sure that "monitor
> power management control" IS checked. Adjust sleep settings so that
> display is set to sleep after so many minutes (usually more minutes than
> what triggers the screen saver). Also, make sure that the monitor is NOT
> switched to be turned off (I think a bug with xfce power manager still
> exists on this issue). And, make sure to select suspend and not
> hibernate as the preferred sleep option.
>
> You can see what is going on when the computer/monitor wakes from sleep
> by looking at the most recently modified log files in /var/log/ for
> Xorg, pm-powersave, and pm-suspend. Look for any errors relating to your
> display, particularly with Xorg.
>
> Good luck,
> Victor Forberger
>
>
Thank you Patrice, James and Victor,

I am getting a feel now for what I can do.  I have 'removed' 
xscreensaver (I have to confess I did like the "glowing ant" wandering 
around to show off my new direction in IT, oh well).  I did go from 
13.10 to 14.04 so the possibility of conflicts is a good point.

Now I only have Light Locker and Power Manager active.   I have followed 
the advice of setting the screen to blank (20mins) and not turned off. 
(Similar in operation to xscreensaver set to just blank?) Reassuringly 
now when I change settings in Light Locker, the changes are reflected in 
Power Management and vice versa.

I will try this simpler (plain) arrangement and see if lock-ups stop 
occurring.  I don't like testing things by waiting for things to not 
happen, it may take a while to report back (how long is enough and I may 
forget!).  It will be better to have an operating computer when I need 
it, than having a fancy screen saver when I don't need it :-)

*Rob Ward*
Lake Tyers Beach, 3909
Lake Tyers Beach Website <http://www.laketyersbeach.net.au>
XP to XUbuntu - The journey, join me! 
<http://www.laketyersbeach.net.au/XP2XU.html>
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