Linux Mint 18.3 Freezing for a second

[Zem12]

I don't know or this is the right topic, but here's the problem.

I'm a noob with Linux, I always used Windows and I'm using Linux for a day now. The problem is that my computer is freezing for a second every minut or so. I can't use my mouse, keyboard, music on Youtube keeps playing, but the timer is stuck for that second. Very annoying. I'm happy that I made the step from Windows to Linux, but I hope this can be fixed.

Thank you all.

[thx-1138]

Hi Zem12,
right-click, open a terminal, and run:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz

Then copy / paste the results here. That is for people around here to have a basic idea of your hardware setup & configuration.

Then, in that very same terminal, run:

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journalctl -f

You''ll see some diagnostic messages: let it run for a while (ie. don't close the terminal), say until that 1-sec freeze that you described happens. Then copy / paste the results here...

[Zem12]

System: Host: PC Kernel: 4.10.0-42-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.6 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine: Mobo: SAMSUNG model: R530/R730
Bios: Phoenix v: 06JD.M021.20100628.KSJ date: 06/28/2010
CPU: Dual core Pentium T4500 (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3) bmips: 9176
clock speeds: max: 2300 MHz 1: 2300 MHz 2: 2300 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel Mobile 4 Series Integrated Graphics Controller
bus-ID: 00:02.0
Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express
GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-42-generic
Network: Card-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
driver: ath9k bus-ID: 02:00.0
IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Card-2: Marvell 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller
driver: sky2 v: 1.30 port: 3000 bus-ID: 04:00.0
IF: enp4s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 320.1GB (10.0% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: SAMSUNG_HM321HI size: 320.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 291G used: 27G (10%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
ID-2: swap-1 size: 3.18GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 62.0C mobo: 62.0C
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 200 Uptime: 3:18 Memory: 3039.1/5899.0MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

-- Logs begin at wo 2017-12-13 13:30:19 CET. --
dec 13 17:04:18 PC nm-dispatcher[25003]: req:1 'dhcp4-change' [enp4s0]: start running ordered scripts...
dec 13 17:04:18 PC dhclient[1179]: bound to 192.168.0.108 -- renewal in 2887 seconds.
dec 13 17:17:01 PC CRON[25160]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
dec 13 17:17:01 PC CRON[25161]: (root) CMD ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly)
dec 13 17:17:01 PC CRON[25160]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
dec 13 17:20:46 PC cinnamon-screensaver-pam-helper[25211]: pam_ecryptfs: seteuid error
dec 13 17:20:46 PC cinnamon-screensaver-pam-helper[25211]: gkr-pam: unlocked login keyring
dec 13 17:27:35 PC org.gnome.Terminal[2545]: (gnome-terminal-server:25357): GLib-GIO-WARNING **: Failed to parse translated string '‘Naamloos’' for key 'visible-name' in schema 'org.gnome.Terminal.Legacy.Profile': 0:expected value
dec 13 17:27:35 PC org.gnome.Terminal[2545]: (gnome-terminal-server:25357): GLib-GIO-WARNING **: Using untranslated default instead.
dec 13 17:27:46 PC sudo[25738]: pc : a password is required ; TTY=pts/0 ; PWD=/home/pc ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/sbin/hddtemp -nq -u C /dev/sda

But it's freezing constantly, every minute I have everything is freezing. For a second and I can go further. Sometimes a little laggy.

[thx-1138]

...i don't really see anything unusual in journalctl -f's output, i am however somewhat perplexed with the fact that no driver is mentioned under inxi:

Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)

Theoritically, it should at least state either intel or modesetting.

Can you try Control Center - Driver Manager to see if any graphics' drivers are missing?
Did you by any chance removed xserver-xorg-video-intel after installing mint?

[Zem12]

...i don't really see anything unusual in journalctl -f's output, i am however somewhat perplexed with the fact that no driver is mentioned under inxi:

Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)

Theoritically, it should at least state either intel or modesetting.

Can you try Control Center - Driver Manager to see if any graphics' drivers are missing?
Did you by any chance removed xserver-xorg-video-intel after installing mint?

I didn't removed anything. The only thing I see in Driver Manager is intel-microcode.

[thx-1138]

Just in case, run:

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dmesg > '/home/your-account-name/Desktop/dmesg.txt'

Where your-account-name should be substituted with the name of the account that you are currently logged in: this will create a full report in a file called dmesg.txt in your desktop.
Post the results in some online service like Pastebin.

This might be Cinnamon-related (i'm on Mate personally), so let's see what others have to suggest as well...

[Zem12]

Update: I use my laptop as a desktop, I find out that when I only use my laptop, there's no lag. So the problem is my external screen. How to fix?

[Pjotr]

Weak graphics card, heavy desktop environment.

Try this:

1. Disable all visual effects in Cinnamon:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... n-Cinnamon
(item 7.1, right column)

2. Consider a driver switch:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... l-graphics
(item 6, left column)

[Zem12]

Doesn't work.

[Pjotr]

Too bad.

What kind of cable do you use for the external display? VGA, HDMI, ... ?

[Zem12]

HDMI

[Pjotr]

OK. Try the latest kernel of the 4.13 series:

Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels

After installing it, reboot.

[Zem12]

It looks like this problem is fixed. Dankje

[Pjotr]

Graag gedaan.

[Petermint]

What does 10.13 do?
There are other posts related to video problems. 10.13 might be applicable.

[Zem12]

Problem is back. Maybe it started again after I installed some updates. I'm using kernel 4.13.0-26, the latest. Should I go back to an older one? And how? Thanks!

[Pjotr]

Problem is back. Maybe it started again after I installed some updates. I'm using kernel 4.13.0-26, the latest. Should I go back to an older one? And how? Thanks!

You might try the latest kernel of the 4.4 series (4.4.0-109): like your current 4.13.0-26, this also contains bug fixes for Meltdown. So this won't decrease your security.

[Zem12]

Fixed! Thanks!