LMDE-6 Fallback mode CLOSED

[mogthe1st]

Hi All,
I recently installed LMDE-6 32bit on my Asus Eee 904HD, all went well but after running for a short while it drops into Fallback mode, (whatever that is!). Is there a fix for this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

mog

[spamegg]

Hello mogthe1st
Please share your system info by going to:
Menu/System Reports/System Information/click "Copy"
and pasting it here.
(You can use the command inxi -Fxxxmprz on the Terminal.)

This might be more appropriate in the LMDE subforum: viewforum.php?f=244

[SMG]

This might be more appropriate in the LMDE subforum: viewforum.php?f=244

I have moved it. If you click the ! button on posts in the wrong forum and select the last option and write a note saying it is in the incorrect forum, a moderator will move it. Users cannot move their posts.

[mogthe1st]

Hi spamegg,
I have to apologise, I put it in the beginners forum because I hoped the standard of response wouldn't exceed my level of knowledge! I'm afraid I didn't understand your message regarding clicking on the ! button?

Here is the result of the system information you requested.....

Code: Select all

 System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-18-686 arch: i686 bits: 32 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.0.4 tk: GTK v: 3.24.38 wm: muffin vt: 7 dm: LightDM
    v: 1.26.0 Distro: LMDE 6 Faye base: Debian 12.1 bookworm
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: ASUSTeK product: 904HD v: x.x
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: ASUSTek Computer INC. type: 10 v: x.x
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: ASUSTeK model: 904HD v: x.xx serial: <superuser required>
    BIOS: American Megatrends v: 1002 date: 09/22/2008
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 53.1 Wh (100.0%) condition: 53.1/55.3 Wh (96.0%)
    volts: 8.3 min: 8.4 model: ASUS 904HD type: Li-ion serial: N/A
    status: charging
Memory:
  RAM: total: 1.96 GiB used: 1.34 GiB (68.4%)
  RAM Report: permissions: Unable to run dmidecode. Root privileges
    required.
CPU:
  Info: single core model: Intel Celeron M bits: 32 arch: M Dothan rev: 8
    cache: 512 KiB note: check
  Speed (MHz): 898 min/max: N/A core: 1: 898 bogomips: 1795
  Flags: nx pae sse sse2
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-3 ports: active: LVDS-1
    empty: SVIDEO-1,VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:2592 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Pixart Imaging GE 1.3 MP MiniCam Pro type: USB driver: uvcvideo
    bus-ID: 1-8:4 chip-ID: 093a:2700 class-ID: 0e02
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 with: Xwayland v: 22.1.9 driver: X:
    loaded: intel unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa dri: i915 gpu: i915
    display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1024x600 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 270x158mm (10.63x6.22")
    s-diag: 313mm (12.32")
  Monitor-1: LVDS-1 mapped: LVDS1 model: AU Optronics 0x1020 res: 1024x600
    hz: 60 dpi: 137 size: 190x110mm (7.48x4.33") diag: 225mm (8.9")
    modes: 1024x600
  API: OpenGL v: 2.1 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: i915 (: 915GM) direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW High Definition Audio vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:2668
    class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-18-686 status: kernel-api
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 0.3.65 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
Network:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR242x / AR542x Wireless Network Adapter
    vendor: AzureWave AW-GE780 802.11bg driver: ath5k v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 168c:001c class-ID: 0200
  IF: wlp1s0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 Gigabit or Fast Ethernet
    vendor: ASUSTeK driver: ATL1E v: N/A pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1
    port: ec00 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 1969:1026 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp3s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 414.52 GiB used: 14.93 GiB (3.6%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD3200BEVT-75ZCT2
    size: 298.09 GiB speed: <unknown> type: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter>
    rev: 1A11 scheme: MBR
  ID-2: /dev/sdb type: USB model: Single Flash Reader size: 116.43 GiB
    type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 1.00 scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 196.11 GiB used: 8.7 GiB (4.4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
  ID-2: /media/mog/rootantiX23 size: 114.04 GiB used: 6.22 GiB (5.5%)
    fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb1
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: N/A mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 850
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 2139
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb https://mirrors.ukfast.co.uk/sites/linuxmint.com/packages faye main upstream import backport
    2: deb https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    3: deb https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    4: deb http://security.debian.org/ bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    5: deb https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
Info:
  Processes: 170 Uptime: 11m wakeups: 1 Init: systemd v: 252
  target: graphical (5) default: graphical Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Shell: Bash v: 5.2.15 running-in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.3.26
mog@mogs-little-box:~$

And here is the result of fdisk -l ....

Code: Select all

[sudo] password for mog:       
Disk /dev/sda: 298.09 GiB, 320072933376 bytes, 625142448 sectors
Disk model: WDC WD3200BEVT-7
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x80000000

Device     Boot     Start       End   Sectors   Size Id Type
/dev/sda1            2048 205047807 205045760  97.8G 83 Linux
/dev/sda2  *    205047808 625141759 420093952 200.3G 83 Linux


Disk /dev/sdb: 116.43 GiB, 125015425024 bytes, 244170752 sectors
Disk model: Flash Reader    
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0xb314ec38

Device     Boot Start       End   Sectors   Size Id Type
/dev/sdb1  *     2048 244168703 244166656 116.4G 83 Linux
mog@mogs-little-box:~$ 

Does this help?

mog

[SMG]

Hi spamegg,
I have to apologise, I put it in the beginners forum because I hoped the standard of response wouldn't exceed my level of knowledge! I'm afraid I didn't understand your message regarding clicking on the ! button?

You didn't post in the Debian-LMDE Beginner's forum. You posted in the Ubuntu-based Linux Mint Beginner's Forum. Because one is Debian-based and the other is Ubuntu-based, fixing problems can sometimes be different.

I moved your topic to the Debian-LMDE Beginner's forum so you don't have to click the ! button.

Your hardware uses the older intel display driver (that is the only option for it). There were some problems with that driver and certain Mesa versions, but I don't know the specifics of which versions might cause issues.

Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 with: Xwayland v: 22.1.9 driver: X:
loaded: intel unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa dri: i915 gpu: i915
display-ID: :0 screens: 1

Please open the System Reports app and check the Crash Reports tab to see if there is anything listed.

The below (no swap) is the default for LMDE, but considering how little RAM your system has, it may help to have swap.

Code: Select all

Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.

[mogthe1st]

Hi SMG,
Thanks for the explanation regarding the two different Beginners sub-forums.

I will have a look at the crash reports as you suggested, you say I might benefit from a swap partition, I know how to create one using GParted, but would it have to be in an extended partition with the /root partition? if so I don't know how to do that. By the same token, you can see that I have Lubuntu on the same HDD, would that also benefit from a swap partition?
I originally had Lubuntu alone on the HDD, but being 32bit it is no longer supported, ( I actually have very strong views about the support of old tech, vis a vis third world countries etc.) that is the reason I went for LMDE, it of course, is still supported even though it's 32bit.

My thanks for your continued support,
mog

[SMG]

I will have a look at the crash reports as you suggested, you say I might benefit from a swap partition, I know how to create one using GParted, but would it have to be in an extended partition with the /root partition? if so I don't know how to do that. By the same token, you can see that I have Lubuntu on the same HDD, would that also benefit from a swap partition?

I said you would benefit from having swap. I didn't say it had to be a swap partition.

Linux Mint-Ubuntu-based creates a swapfile by default (and has since version LM19/Ubuntu 18.04). I do not know if Lubuntu does that nor do I know what is normal with Debian-based distros. Perhaps someone else can help you with that.

[mogthe1st]

Ah, I think I understand, the swap in Ubuntu is an internal file, whereas the swap in Lubuntu and LMDE may well have to be an external partition. I have found that when you install LMDE using the automatic mode (64bit) it automatically creates an external swap partition, so possibly I need to do the same in my system (32bit)?
Anybody know? I confess i haven't the faintest idea how to produce an internal swap file!

mog

[axisofevil]

You can have a swap partition and/or a swap file.
Swap file:-
https://www.howtogeek.com/455981/how-to ... -swap-file

[SMG]

Ah, I think I understand, the swap in Ubuntu is an internal file, whereas the swap in Lubuntu and LMDE may well have to be an external partition. I have found that when you install LMDE using the automatic mode (64bit) it automatically creates an external swap partition, so possibly I need to do the same in my system (32bit)?

I've seen lots of system information from those running LMDE6 without swap so I don't know think the installer creates a separate swap partition unless you tell it to do so.

Anybody know? I confess i haven't the faintest idea how to produce an internal swap file!

Debian Wiki: Swap

[mogthe1st]

Hi again people,
Thank you for the links, I had a look at the crash reports, yeee--ees cant say I understood anything!
This seems to be a recurring line on the latest one..
warning: Can't open file anon_inode:i915.gem which was expanded to anon_inode:i915.gem during file-backed mapping note processing
There were a couple of other lines that seem to recur, I'm sure that you don't want me to duplicate all of it here. Do you? There was tons of it.

Regarding the swap partition auto creation, you're correct it wasn't LMDE it was LM 21.3.

I shall have a look at the links you both sent , on one of them they describe how to check if a swap file is present, I'll do that then I shall know if there is already one within the /root partition.

Once again many thanks for your patience and help.

mog

[mogthe1st]

I have tried to create a swap file using this link.... https://www.howtogeek.com/455981/how-to ... -swap-file, kindly supplied by axisofevil, my thanks for that, however I hit a problem, at the end of the installation process there is a requirement to add an entry to /etc/fstab using the gedit command, Terminal didn't recognize gedit and when I checked the etc file there was no fstab file, (hidden files were shown) without this entry apparantly the file will disappear when the laptop is rebooted, any ideas?

My thanks to all

mog

[axisofevil]

The file is actually /etc/fstab

You can use any plain text editor to make the modification.
For small files, I would recommend nano as a good choice; this should already be installed.

So enter sudo nano /etc/fstab to run the editor.

[SMG]

Hi again people,
Thank you for the links, I had a look at the crash reports, yeee--ees cant say I understood anything!

The top section (first 15-20 lines) is all that would have meaning for anyone. If you were looking beyond that then you went too far into the reports.

Regarding the swap partition auto creation, you're correct it wasn't LMDE it was LM 21.3.

LM21.3 automatically creates a swapfile. It does not create a swap partition.

[mogthe1st]

Hello again SMG,

I'm getting into a bit of a muddle, I followed your advice and used nano instead of gedit and that took me to what seemed to be the correct page to modify, /etc/fstab. I put in the parameters the guide said but couldn't find a way to save them! So I closed the Terminal and went into file manager and opened /etc as root, then I manually added the lines from the guide and saved it and then closed the file. I used sudo ls / to view the swapfile but it doesn't look like the one in the guide....

mog@mogs-little-box:~$ sudo ls /
[sudo] password for mog:
bin etc initrd.img.old media proc sbin sys var
boot home lib mnt root srv tmp vmlinuz
dev initrd.img lost+found opt run swapfile usr vmlinuz.old

Do you think because I shut down before carrying out the last step, adding the line to /etc/fstab the swapfile hasn't been created?

Regarding the swap partition on Linux 21.3, I followed a guide to install this OS on an external HDD, the guide I downloaded from this forum but I don't have the link anymore, the HDD never booted and when I looked at it in GParted it was set up thus, 1st a small 1GB unallocated partition, followed by a 2GB swap partition, the rest of the HDD was /root, that's where I got the idea that LM21.3 added an external swap partition from, obviously I bow to your greater knowledge, it was a project to run LM21.3 from an external 1TB HDD and set it up eventually to exchange it for the LM 20.3 HDD in my PC, I have now abandoned the idea.

Regarding the swap file should I try again anew, create another swapfile?

Thanks for your help

mog

[axisofevil]

You only need to update the /etc/fstab file with nano.
After entering the new swap line, you need to write the output to disk.

The two lines at the bottom of the screen are meant to be helpful.
^O Write Out is short for CTRL+O (the O can be upper or lower case)
^X Exit is short for CTRL+X

Check your file with cat /etc/fstab

You should then restart your PC.
On restart, check you have swap by entering the command free -h into a terminal.

[mogthe1st]

Hi again All,
Well something went horribly wrong there! I rebooted and I couldn't get into LMDE at all, so I threw a hissy fit and wiped it from the HDD, in all fairness I think it's a nice OS, the problem is I'm trying to get it to work on a very restricted base. The Asus Eee is a lovely little piece of kit but it is rather challenged in the RAM and GPU department, Lubuntu and Antix work pretty well on it, sadly Lubuntu is unsupported but there is still support for Antix 32bit as far as I know, I'll just have to get used to the peculiar way to operate it compared to Mint.
I suppose I should mark this thread as Stopped? as opposed to solved? Let me know please.

I'm grateful nonetheless for the time and trouble you have taken to help me.

mog

[SMG]

I suppose I should mark this thread as Stopped? as opposed to solved? Let me know please.

You can mark it as [CLOSED} if you want.