Cinnamon Keeps Crashing - Need Help To Locate log File

[Dando]

Hello guys,

I installed a fresh copy of Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon just 2 weeks ago. The experience has been fine for the most part except that Cinnamon keeps crashing in "fallback mode" whenever I try to login to the default desktop environment.

When I login in Cinnamon Software Rendering it doesn't crash at all.

I've checked the graphics card driver and everything seems fine. 2D, 3D and direct rendering are working as they should.

Where can I locate cinnamon logs to check for whatever error is stopping cinnamon to load properly?

I checked ~/.cinnamon and all the subfolders for a log file but couldn't find one. Please help.

[smurphos]

First thing to do it to give an overview of your system inxi -Fxz. Post the output back in 'code tags'

Useful log for a first look is ~/.xsession-errors, and any crash reports for Cinnamon in the System Reports settings module.

As a hunch I suspect you are running kernel 4.15.0.24 which is causing issues for some systems and it would be worth booting to an earlier kernel via the grub menu to see if that avoids the crash. If so you can remove kernel 4.15.0.24 via update manager and avoid updating to that particular kernel version (likely to be OK to update to kernels after 4.15.0.24 once released).

Normally shift is the key to mash prior to the splash screen being displayed to access grub. On some systems it may be esc.

[Hoser Rob]

... I've checked the graphics card driver and everything seems fine. 2D, 3D and direct rendering are working as they should.
...

How did you check the graphics? Many things people use as benchmarks/tests for this aren't actually meaningful. It may say you have direct rendering in your inxi output but that's not meaningful either ... it's always going to say yes unless your graphics is catastrophically broken.

The reason I ask is because if it only works in software rendering mode, that means you don't have 3D video hardware acceleration. If there's an exception for this someone please enlighten me.

So the best thing would be to follow the above instructions and post the text output of inxi -Fxz and x.session.errors, no screenshots please.

[Dando]

Here it is guys:

Note: There was an error that the xerrors.log file pointed to about gtk version not being specified. I managed to take care of it by including version 3.0 in the specific python script file. Moreover, I recently built and then installed the latest Mesa code on the same machine but it still shows the Mesa version to be, "Mesa 18.0.0-rc5"... weird?

Code: Select all

System:    Host: [redacted]-PC Kernel: 4.15.0-23-generic x86_64
           bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.0
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.7 (Gtk 3.22.30-1ubuntu1)
           Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine:   Device: portable System: Dell product: Inspiron 1501 serial: N/A
           Mobo: Dell model: 0UW744 serial: N/A
           BIOS: Dell v: 2.6.3 date: 12/07/2007
CPU:       Dual core AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile TL-50 (-MCP-) 
           arch: K8 rev.F+ cache: 512 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 svm) bmips: 6384
           clock speeds: max: 2033 MHz 1: 2033 MHz 2: 2033 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] RS482M [Mobility Radeon Xpress 200]
           bus-ID: 01:05.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 ) driver: radeon
           Resolution: 1280x800@60.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: ATI RS480
           version: 2.1 Mesa 18.0.0-rc5 Direct Render: Yes
Audio:     Card Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-23-generic
Network:   Card-1: Broadcom Limited BCM4311 802.11b/g WLAN
           driver: b43-pci-bridge bus-ID: 05:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Broadcom Limited BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX
           driver: b44 v: 2.0 bus-ID: 08:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 500.1GB (2.8% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: HGST_HTS545050A7 size: 500.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 20G used: 13G (70%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda4
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 63.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 172 Uptime: 8 min Memory: 981.9/3818.3MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.191) inxi: 2.3.56 

Code: Select all

dbus-update-activation-environment: setting DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS=unix:path=/run/user/1000/bus
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting DISPLAY=:0
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting XAUTHORITY=/home/[redacted]/.Xauthority
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting GTK_MODULES=gail:atk-bridge
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting QT_ACCESSIBILITY=1
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting LANG=en_IN
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting GDM_LANG=en_US
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting DISPLAY=:0
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting MANDATORY_PATH=/usr/share/gconf/cinnamon.mandatory.path
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting XDG_GREETER_DATA_DIR=/var/lib/lightdm-data/[redacted]
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting USER=[redacted]
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting DESKTOP_SESSION=cinnamon
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting DEFAULTS_PATH=/usr/share/gconf/cinnamon.default.path
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting PWD=/home/[redacted]
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting HOME=/home/[redacted]
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting QT_ACCESSIBILITY=1
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting XDG_SESSION_TYPE=x11
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting XDG_DATA_DIRS=/usr/share/cinnamon:/usr/share/gnome:/home/[redacted]/.local/share/flatpak/exports/share:/var/lib/flatpak/exports/share:/usr/local/share:/usr/share
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=cinnamon
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting GTK_MODULES=gail:atk-bridge
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting SHELL=/bin/bash
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting XDG_SEAT_PATH=/org/freedesktop/DisplayManager/Seat0
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting IM_CONFIG_PHASE=1
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting GPG_AGENT_INFO=/run/user/1000/gnupg/S.gpg-agent:0:1
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting SHLVL=1
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting LANGUAGE=en_IN:en
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting GDMSESSION=cinnamon
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting LOGNAME=[redacted]
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS=unix:path=/run/user/1000/bus
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/1000
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting XAUTHORITY=/home/[redacted]/.Xauthority
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting XDG_SESSION_PATH=/org/freedesktop/DisplayManager/Session0
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=/etc/xdg/xdg-cinnamon:/etc/xdg
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games
dbus-update-activation-environment: setting _=/usr/bin/dbus-update-activation-environment
** Message: 19:58:58.261: couldn't access control socket: /run/user/1000/keyring/control: No such file or directory
** Message: 19:58:58.263: couldn't access control socket: /run/user/1000/keyring/control: No such file or directory
** Message: 19:58:58.265: couldn't access control socket: /run/user/1000/keyring/control: No such file or directory
[cinnamon-settings-daemon-smartcard] Failed to start: no suitable smartcard driver could be found
[cinnamon-settings-daemon-smartcard] Failed to start: no suitable smartcard driver could be found
Cjs-Message: 19:59:08.576: JS LOG: About to start Cinnamon

(nm-applet:1220): Gtk-WARNING **: 19:59:08.977: Can't set a parent on widget which has a parent
Cjs-Message: 19:59:09.457: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Cinnamon.AppSystem.get_default() started in 872 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:09.478: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] loading default theme
** Message: 19:59:09.484: nemo-desktop: session is cinnamon, establishing proxy
Cjs-Message: 19:59:09.897: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] PlacesManager: Updating devices
St-Message: 19:59:09.913: cogl npot texture sizes SUPPORTED
Cjs-Message: 19:59:09.949: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] loaded at Tue Jul 10 2018 19:59:09 GMT+0530 (IST)
Cjs-Message: 19:59:09.949: JS LOG: Cinnamon started at Tue Jul 10 2018 19:59:09 GMT+0530 (IST)
Cjs-Message: 19:59:10.149: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] ExtensionSystem started in 2 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:10.151: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] DeskletManager started in 4 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:10.151: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] SearchProviderManager started in 2 ms
openGL version 2.1 Mesa 18 detected (GL Cogl Driver)
MetaSyncRing disabled: couldn't find required GL extensions, or the minimum safe openGL version was not met
Cjs-Message: 19:59:10.765: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet show-desktop@cinnamon.org in 160 ms
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/indicator-cpufreq", line 79, in <module>
    ind = MyIndicator(options.show_frequency)
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/indicator_cpufreq/indicator.py", line 103, in __init__
    self.update_ui()
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/indicator_cpufreq/indicator.py", line 114, in update_ui
    fmin, fmax, governor = cpufreq.get_policy(self.cpus[0])
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/indicator_cpufreq/cpufreq.py", line 143, in get_policy
    policy = (p.contents.min, p.contents.max, p.contents.governor.decode())
ValueError: NULL pointer access
Cjs-Message: 19:59:10.883: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet user@cinnamon.org in 116 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:10.922: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet removable-drives@cinnamon.org in 40 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:11.055: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet calendar@cinnamon.org in 132 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:11.084: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet systray@cinnamon.org in 28 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:11.210: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet keyboard@cinnamon.org in 126 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:11.240: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Role locked: notifications
Cjs-Message: 19:59:11.320: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet notifications@cinnamon.org in 110 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:11.514: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Role locked: panellauncher
Cjs-Message: 19:59:11.528: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet panel-launchers@cinnamon.org in 208 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:11.599: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet power@cinnamon.org in 70 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:11.670: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet window-list@cinnamon.org in 72 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:11.830: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet sound@cinnamon.org in 160 ms
failed to create drawable
Cjs-Message: 19:59:12.129: JS LOG: network applet: Cannot find connection for active (or connection cannot be read)
Cjs-Message: 19:59:12.129: JS WARNING: [/usr/share/cinnamon/js/misc/fileUtils.js line 210 > Function 2329]: reference to undefined property "_updateFrequencySeconds"
Cjs-Message: 19:59:12.141: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet network@cinnamon.org in 310 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:14.584: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Loaded applet menu@cinnamon.org in 2444 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:14.586: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] AppletManager started in 4634 ms
Cjs-Message: 19:59:14.597: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Cinnamon took 6020 ms to start
Cjs-Message: 19:59:14.636: JS LOG: Invalid network device type, is 14
Cjs-Message: 19:59:14.637: JS LOG: network applet: Found connection for active
Cjs-Message: 19:59:14.665: JS LOG: [LookingGlass/info] Hiding systray: network
Gtk-Message: 19:59:16.554: GtkDialog mapped without a transient parent. This is discouraged.

(nm-applet:1220): Gdk-CRITICAL **: 19:59:17.825: gdk_window_thaw_toplevel_updates: assertion 'window->update_and_descendants_freeze_count > 0' failed
Gtk-Message: 20:01:10.735: GtkDialog mapped without a transient parent. This is discouraged.
INFO: imwheel started (pid=1720)

(nm-applet:1220): Gtk-CRITICAL **: 20:03:28.276: gtk_widget_destroy: assertion 'GTK_IS_WIDGET (widget)' failed

(nm-applet:1220): Gtk-CRITICAL **: 20:03:28.277: gtk_widget_destroy: assertion 'GTK_IS_WIDGET (widget)' failed

(nm-applet:1220): Gtk-WARNING **: 20:03:28.285: Can't set a parent on widget which has a parent
Gtk-Message: 20:05:20.796: GtkDialog mapped without a transient parent. This is discouraged.

[smurphos]

1st observation is that's an old machine to be running Cinnamon on and it will probably struggle even without the crashing problem. You might get on better with Mate or XFCE.

It looks like your tweak to indicator-cpufreq has broken it. Were you having crashes before then? It runs OK for me with the GTK warning. I personally wouldn't want to use it to mess with the governor settings.

I don't know the implications of building mesa from source but my gut instinct is that it's a bad idea as such a core system component.....

[Dando]

"it will probably struggle even without the crashing problem" - I would like to fix this issue though, something seems broken.

"It looks like your tweak to indicator-cpufreq has broken it" - This error was always there even before I mentioned the gtk version in the script.

"Were you having crashes before then?" - Yes.

I have done a fresh install 2+ times now, so I don't think it's something I did that has caused this issue. However, I would like to know the root of this cause.