[SOLVED] Linux Mint Crashes randomly for no apparent reason

[caioflp]

Hello everyone, this is my first post.

I've recently (for 1 month) started using linux mint after using windows for all of my life and I'm enjoying it a lot. However, I have this problem (since the first day, I must say) where the screen completely freezes and I can't even access a terminal via ctrl + alt + F1. I am then forced to turn off the laptop via the power button.

This happens with a moderate frequency, ranging from 4 times a week to twice only yesterday. I use my laptop to watch classes via zoom and sometimes google meet.
I must say that those crashes happen more frequently when I am taking part in those meetings (specially google meet), but there have been times where it crashed right after startup. I tried to change my browser from google chrome to firefox but it didn't help.

I am getting very worried because I feel very bad turning off my computer via the power button and am scared I might damage a hardware component if I keep doing this. I hope you have some idea of what I could do.

Thanks

Code: Select all

System:    Kernel: 5.4.0-80-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Desktop: Qtile Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa
           base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: Dell product: G3 3590 v: N/A serial: <filter>
           Mobo: Dell model: 0GDFK2 v: A00 serial: <filter> UEFI: Dell v: 1.11.1 date: 08/19/2020
Battery:   ID-1: BAT0 charge: 33.7 Wh condition: 33.9/51.0 Wh (67%) model: LGC-LGC4.474 DELL 415CG99 status: Charging
CPU:       Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i5-9300H bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Kaby Lake rev: A L2 cache: 8192 KiB
           flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 38400
           Speed: 1964 MHz min/max: 800/4100 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1964 2: 1162 3: 1432 4: 985 5: 1169 6: 998 7: 1009
           8: 1133
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel UHD Graphics 630 vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0
           Device-2: NVIDIA TU117M [GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile / Max-Q] vendor: Dell driver: nvidia v: 470.57.02 bus ID: 01:00.0
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: modesetting,nvidia unloaded: fbdev,nouveau,vesa
           resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics 630 (CFL GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 20.2.6 direct render: Yes
Audio:     Device-1: Intel Cannon Lake PCH cAVS vendor: Dell driver: sof-audio-pci bus ID: 00:1f.3
           Device-2: NVIDIA vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.1
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-80-generic
Network:   Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Dell driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 3000
           bus ID: 03:00.0
           IF: enp3s0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Dell driver: ath10k_pci v: kernel
           port: 3000 bus ID: 04:00.0
           IF: wlp4s0 state: up mac: <filter>
           Device-3: Qualcomm Atheros type: USB driver: btusb bus ID: 1-14:4
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 1.03 TiB used: 186.95 GiB (17.8%)
           ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 model: PC SN520 NVMe WDC 128GB size: 119.24 GiB
           ID-2: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD10SPZX-75Z10T2 size: 931.51 GiB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 116.41 GiB used: 24.08 GiB (20.7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
           ID-2: /home size: 912.14 GiB used: 81.43 GiB (8.9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 3.81 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda1
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 55.0 C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:      Processes: 221 Uptime: 1h 20m Memory: 7.61 GiB used: 1.76 GiB (23.1%) Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers:
           gcc: 9.3.0 Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 inxi: 3.0.38

inxi -Fxz


EDIT 1: Fixed some grammar mistakes
EDIT 2: Moved command output to code environment for better readability

[Larry78723]

When you have a freeze, you can try this: pressing Alt + F2 , type r , and press Enter. This will restart Cinnamon without closing apps.

[caioflp]

When you have a freeze, you can try this: pressing Alt + F2 , type r , and press Enter. This will restart Cinnamon without closing apps.

Hello, thank you for your response. As you can see in the output of my inxi -Fxz command, I am using Qtile as my window manager.
The keybinding to restart Qtile is super + ctrl + r, and I'll try that the next time my laptop freezes.

However, even if that works, I'd like to know what could possibly be causing the freezes.

[Pjotr]

I am using Qtile as my window manager.

Semi-Frankenstein stuff like that, looks like a probable cause for all kinds of untold miseries.

Experimenting the hell out of Mint sure can be a lot of fun (I used to enjoy that myself, as well), but don't expect a smooth sailing. And also don't expect that there are people who can help you solve problems on weirdly constructed systems.

[caioflp]

I am using Qtile as my window manager.

Semi-Frankenstein stuff like that, looks like a probable cause for all kinds of untold miseries.

Haha yeah, I mean, I get that it's less common than your standard DE, but the freezes already happened before I moved to Qtile, and they didn't become any more frequent after I moved. My version came with Cinnamon.

[Pjotr]

OK.... Well, it won't hurt to try a kernel from a newer series. So try this:
Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels

Install the latest kernel of the 5.11 series. Then reboot.

But further than that I won't attempt to help you. Frankenstein systems are notorious timesinks for forum helpers.

[all41]

I feel very bad turning off my computer via the power button

Instead of using the power button try the reisub method to more gracefully restart your system.
Press and continue holding the alt key while entering the following:
prtscrn r e i s u b
pause for a couple seconds after each keypress.
the prtscrn key may also be labled sysrq

[caioflp]

I feel very bad turning off my computer via the power button

Instead of using the power button try the reisub method to more gracefully restart your system.
Press and continue holding the alt key while entering the following:
prtscrn r e i s u b
pause for a couple seconds after each keypress.
the prtscrn key may also be labled sysrq

Thank you for the response. I just saw this tip in another post but haven't had the chance to try it out, will do.

[caioflp]

OK.... Well, it won't hurt to try a kernel from a newer series. So try this:
Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels

Install the latest kernel of the 5.11 series. Then reboot.

But further than that I won't attempt to help you. Frankenstein systems are notorious timesinks for forum helpers.

Thank you for answering. I'll update the kernel and see if it stops.

[ralplpcr]

FWIW - I have also noticed this issue a few times myself in recent weeks. I've had it on 2 different computers - one running Cinnamon 19.1, and another running Cinnamon 20.2. The 20.2 version never had a problem until I updated it from 20.0; the 19.1 version just randomly started happening.

At present, I think the blame on my end is a faulty fiber line. My internet has been *very* unstable lately, and the sometimes constant up/down/up/down of the network connection doesn't make any of my computers happy. (or me, for that matter! ) I've got a tech coming tomorrow to replace the line.... so we'll see if the problem goes away after that? Fingers crossed!

[caioflp]

UPDATE

• I went back to cinnamon to see if the crashes would back down, they didn't. I was in a zoom meeting and my audio got weird, so I decided to reboot the computer. The screen froze while booting, at the linux mint logo. I tried to use alt + prtsc + r e i s u b, but it didn't work. I powered off my laptop through the power button and tried again. This time, it froze right after I logged in. Again, I tried to use alt + prtsc + r e i s u b, with no success. After abruptly powering off again, I had a successful startup, but my audio was still trash in the meeting, so I gave up and called the person elsewhere.
• After all that I installed the latest kernel of the 5.11 series. I'll keep using it with cinnamon to see if any more crashes occur. If they do, I'll post here.

[caioflp]

FWIW - I have also noticed this issue a few times myself in recent weeks. I've had it on 2 different computers - one running Cinnamon 19.1, and another running Cinnamon 20.2. The 20.2 version never had a problem until I updated it from 20.0; the 19.1 version just randomly started happening.

At present, I think the blame on my end is a faulty fiber line. My internet has been *very* unstable lately, and the sometimes constant up/down/up/down of the network connection doesn't make any of my computers happy. (or me, for that matter! ) I've got a tech coming tomorrow to replace the line.... so we'll see if the problem goes away after that? Fingers crossed!

This makes sense to me. My internet has never been really good, and the wifi signal is terrible from my room. Unfortunately, I seldom use my laptop closer to the modem to see if this makes any difference. It's something to try.

[ralplpcr]

FWIW - I have also noticed this issue a few times myself in recent weeks. I've had it on 2 different computers - one running Cinnamon 19.1, and another running Cinnamon 20.2. The 20.2 version never had a problem until I updated it from 20.0; the 19.1 version just randomly started happening.

At present, I think the blame on my end is a faulty fiber line. My internet has been *very* unstable lately, and the sometimes constant up/down/up/down of the network connection doesn't make any of my computers happy. (or me, for that matter! ) I've got a tech coming tomorrow to replace the line.... so we'll see if the problem goes away after that? Fingers crossed!

This makes sense to me. My internet has never been really good, and the wifi signal is terrible from my room. Unfortunately, I seldom use my laptop closer to the modem to see if this makes any difference. It's something to try.

Just to follow up - - my issue did turn out to be network-related. The tech had to replace the ONT that connects the fiber to my home network. I now have a stable connection, and thus far.... no more lock-ups. YMMV?

[caioflp]

UPDATE

After I upgraded the kernel to the latest version and went back to cinnamon, the freezes stopped occouring.
My internet is still trash, and still yesterday I took part in a google meets meeting with several other people and no freezing occurred.
I consider this to be a solved problem then. Thanks for the help.

[SMG]

Moderator note: Hunny Bunny's issue can now be found here: Linux Mint Crashes randomly for no apparent reason.