Cinnamon crashes during work session

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gliderv

Cinnamon crashes during work session

Post by gliderv »

Hi, I've installed Linux Mint 17 in all desktop computers in a small company.
Everything works fine except for the director's machine in which Cinnamon is causing some trouble.

The hardware is pretty recent and capable to run nicely in office environment.

Here's the output of command:

Code: Select all

inxi -v7

Code: Select all

System:    Host: olive Kernel: 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64 (64 bit, gcc: 4.8.2) Desktop: Gnome Distro: Linux Mint 17 Qiana
Machine:   Mobo: ASRock model: 960GM-VGS3 FX Bios: American Megatrends version: P1.20 date: 11/30/2012
CPU:       Hexa core AMD FX-6300 Six-Core (-MCP-) cache: 12288 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm) bmips: 45146.7 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 1400.00 MHz 2: 1400.00 MHz 3: 2000.00 MHz 4: 2000.00 MHz 5: 2000.00 MHz 6: 2000.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Cedar [Radeon HD 5000/6000/7350/8350 Series] bus-ID: 01:00.0 
           X.Org: 1.15.1 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1920x1080@60.0hz, 1920x1080@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD CEDAR GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 10.1.3 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2
           Card-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Cedar HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 5400/6300 Series] driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.13.0-24-generic
Network:   Card: Qualcomm Atheros AR8151 v2.0 Gigabit Ethernet driver: atl1c ver: 1.0.1.1-NAPI port: e800 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: bc:5f:f4:e1:d3:6c
           WAN IP: 83.46.74.140 IF: vboxnet0 ip: 192.168.56.1 ip-v6: fe80::800:27ff:fe00:0 
           IF: eth0 ip: 192.168.1.23 ip-v6: fe80::be5f:f4ff:fee1:d36c 
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 63.0GB (22.4% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: SanDisk_SDSSDP06 size: 63.0GB serial: 143543400816 
           Optical: No optical drives detected.
Partition: ID: / size: 20G used: 7.2G (37%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 
           label: root uuid: f4b5b3d7-76bb-4bc6-86c7-fe0f2a9eeb9a
           ID: /home size: 20G used: 4.3G (22%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2 
           label: home uuid: 7327746b-6973-412b-b736-4304c77017cf
           ID: /home/file_server size: 17G used: 1.8G (11%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda4 
           label: local uuid: 4ba93e09-0cfd-4df1-9a89-425cc4904cd0
           ID: /home/file_server/hr size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: nfs remote: 192.168.1.10:/home/file_server/hr 
           ID: /home/file_server/usb size: 19G used: 4.8G (28%) fs: nfs remote: 192.168.1.10:/media/usb 
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/finance size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/hr size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/managing size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/webmaster size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/sysadmin size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/sourcing size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/pics size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/private size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/mailserver size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/history size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/quality size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: /home/USER/encfs/virtualmachine size: 5.4T used: 3.8T (70%) fs: fuse.encfs dev: /dev/encfs 
           label: N/A uuid: N/A
           ID: swap-1 size: 2.15GB used: 0.01GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3 
           label: N/A uuid: 2dde762c-5c35-4384-a7c2-f9b783eb4c06
RAID:      System: supported: N/A
           No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
           Unused Devices: none
Unmounted: No unmounted partitions detected
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 29.5C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 320 Uptime: 2 days Memory: 6593.2/16032.8MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.2 Client: Shell inxi: 1.8.4

Now, the issue manifested firstly through the use of Chrome Web Browser. Suddenly it appeared a blue-screen-of-death on a load page request. We cleaning cookies, creating a new profile, but none of these worked.

Next we shifted to firefox, and after using it for a couple of days we found out that it was crashing at the same rate than Chrome.

In between, we also noticed that from time to time Cinammon was restarting itself and it kept the screen black for a couple of seconds.

So we started to think about the graphic card drivers. The machine had Nvidia card with privative drivers enabled (the recomended ones). Tried with a lower version and also with the open source driver. But crash still happened at the same rate. No result there.

Then installed a new graphic card using ATI drivers. Tried with both: privative and open source drivers. Again, no positive result.

Now I'm out of ideas. The next movement could be using a different desktop in that machine, like KDE or XDFE. But all machines in company use same configuration and desktop, so I'd like to stick to Cinnamon.

I'd appreciate any further ideas to fix the issue.
Thanks for your assistance!!
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
gliderv

Re: Cinnamon crashes during work session

Post by gliderv »

I've been testing with MATE desktop during today's session, and still getting crashes provoked by both web brosers: Firefox and Chrome.

I'll if they reproduce using XFCE and KDE desktops.
grano salis

Re: Cinnamon crashes during work session

Post by grano salis »

I have a similar problem with cinnamon over the last couple of weeks. (system info at bottom).

While using Firefox (haven't installed any other browser), desktop disappears and file manager will not function (only see "empty" <no icons>, blue desktop <I've set no image, color only as theme>, bottom tool bar, FF, any other app that is open seems to be functioning normally. Can click and start terminal, but clicking file manager or desktop does nothing. Did some searching for restarting the desktop (preferably without losing work). Have tried using Alt+F2 and typing r <enter>. See a flash that makes me think a reload takes place. But same "empty" desktop. (Haven't tried "startx" yet.) I have logged out and back in, but that works sometimes and not others. Even if that is successful, it usually is very short lived. A few times everything locked up (probably me trying something else?). Alt+Fx lets me force a shutdown and reboot which fixes things. I haven't supported unix since about '88 and new into linux. Appreciate any advice offered. Just remembered.... I've been in FFox a lot the last couple of days. When I minimize FF, the desktop is gone. However, it seems that earlier I minimized FF, and saw desktop. That is until I try to open file manager, when desktop just goes blank. It is a bit difficult to setup steady parameters for testing - I haven't identified any pattern yet that serves as indicator for when this problem strikes.

***** System Info *****
All hardware is new ( I ran memory tests, hard drive tests, etc before loading LM17-v2). Have installed a few common app's and tools, but trying to keep them to a minimum since this system will go out of state and I don't want a lot of support issues. I intentially installed 32bit LM 17v2 (various non-tech reasons), but think I'll go ahead and upgrade to the 64bit to see if that makes any difference.

sudo inxi -Fxz
System: Host: B-And-C Kernel: 3.13.0-24-generic i686 (32 bit, gcc: 4.8.2) Desktop: N/A Distro: Linux Mint 17 Qiana
Machine: Mobo: Gigabyte model: Z97-HD3 version: x.x Bios: American Megatrends version: F4 date: 05/07/2014
CPU: Quad core Intel Core i5-4690 CPU (-MCP-) cache: 6144 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 28001.4
Clock Speeds: 1: 800.00 MHz 2: 800.00 MHz 3: 800.00 MHz 4: 800.00 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
X.org: 1.15.1 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) tty size: 80x24 Advanced Data: N/A for root
Audio: Card-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:03.0
Card-2: Intel Device 8ca0 driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.13.0-24-generic
Network: Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
driver: r8169 ver: 2.3LK-NAPI port: e000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 2008.5GB (4.4% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_DT01ACA2 size: 2000.4GB temp: 35C
2: USB id: /dev/sdb model: TransMemory size: 8.1GB temp: 0C
Partition: ID: / size: 28G used: 4.2G (16%) fs: ext4 ID: /boot size: 453M used: 43M (11%) fs: ext4
ID: /home size: 1.8T used: 78G (5%) fs: ext4
RAID: No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8C mobo: 27.8C
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 165 Uptime: 34 min Memory: 520.1/7964.2MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.2 Client: Shell inxi: 1.8.4
grano salis

Re: Cinnamon crashes during work session

Post by grano salis »

Well, it wasn't that long till I could test again!

After fresh reboot, back in FireFox. Minimized it, and desktop is again "empty". Click Desktop, nothing. Click File System, and the folder icon "throbs" - that is "flashes several times" - but does nothing. <Alt+F2 startx> did nothing. Open terminal and <sudo startx> restarts, no open apps showing in bottom bar. Try starting FFox. Won't start - already running. I opened the various workspaces, but don't see the empty desktop with FFox running. Went to <Menu - Logout - Logout> This brought back the "empty desktop" with the open FFox. Which is where I am now. I'll have to reboot again in a minute...

Are there any logs to check? I'm too new to know where to go (so far ...).

Thanks for help with this.
grano salis

Re: Cinnamon crashes during work session

Post by grano salis »

I had installed LM17 32b distro. I did a fresh install with LM17 64b. I've been using the system for a couple days now and have had no more blank desktops or hangs. No idea why the problem started, but everything seems normal for me now.

gliderv, did you get any other results with any of your changes? Since this is your thread, I'm not going to take the liberty of marking it <SOLVED>.

Hope this helps someone else.
gliderv

Re: Cinnamon crashes during work session

Post by gliderv »

grano salis wrote:I had installed LM17 32b distro. I did a fresh install with LM17 64b. I've been using the system for a couple days now and have had no more blank desktops or hangs. No idea why the problem started, but everything seems normal for me now.

gliderv, did you get any other results with any of your changes? Since this is your thread, I'm not going to take the liberty of marking it <SOLVED>.

Hope this helps someone else.
I still experience those hangs and freezes on that machine.
I'll prepare a test installing Arch Linux distro with Cinnamon desktop, and check whether the issue reproduces or not.
grano salis

Re: Cinnamon crashes during work session

Post by grano salis »

I think I've traced my problems back to a faulty building ground rod. Was fixed Saturday afternoon & I'll be doing testing over the next couple of days. For more details, see my post "Nemo Crashs When Preference Changed from Default-Repeatable". (There probably is some way to create a link to this? Help appreciated.) I'll be updating that thread with my results. I started that thread after I began having similar - but different - problems.

I'll try and post something here as well. Let me rephrase that: Shy of totally losing track of reality, I'll at least post a note here as well.
grano salis

Re: Cinnamon crashes during work session

Post by grano salis »

gliderv, I've just reread the thread and have had a couple of thoughts/ questions.

All my hardware is new (power supply, motherboard, RAM, hard drive, DVD) and I ran a CPU/RAM test and some hard drive testing before installing linuxmint. Could the troublesome computer have some hardware issue? If only 1 out of ? systems have a problem, I'd look at hardware vs software at this point just because it seems more logical that there is a problem with the 1 computer than media that has successfully installed on multiple systems. It sounds like you are a professional and I don't mean to be presumptious, but for the benefit of less experienced users, I will list a few things that I routinely consider. Since this is just off the top of my head, don't hesitate to fill in the gaps as needed.

NOTE: I've grown quite fond of the partedmagic live cd for convenience of testing systems - just in case you're not familar with it. Of course, there are many other good testing distros out there as well and I'm sure if we ask, we will get many good suggestions from others. I have my favorite Non-Conductive contact cleaner products as well.

I like to start at the ground and work my way up. Otherwise I'm "treating symptoms" instead of "fixing causes". And until the "cause" is fixed, you'll never get rid of the symptoms.

1. Is the troublesome system hardware different than the others? From what I've seen playing around with mint the last month or so, the hardware recognition and driver loading is pretty reliable. I did have 1 problem with the new BIOS reliably reading the media if the DVD was set to the default AHCI. It worked fine when I changed it to ATA. I posted my info to the hardware group. A week or 2 later I downloaded the "v2" ISO and things worked just fine. (Not to take anything from the hardware group, but in view of the floating building ground, even that problem may not have been completely their's.) But if there is something significantly different, it may be worth checking into.

2. Power: Have you tested your power supply? Is it clean / dust free? Are the fans working well? Are the connectors clean and tight fitting? Is it on a quality UPS? Does the UPS pass it's own self tests? Are the AC outlets correctly wired? (hot wire to "small" plug, neutral to "large" plug, ground to ground?) It may be of interest to know that I did do all these tests on my system before suspecting mint problems. They don't identify a floating building ground. Is the troublesome computer on a different breaker from all the others? This is what causes ground loops and - time will verify or not - the root cause of my symptoms.

3. Motherboard & RAM: I like to run such as Prime95 to test the CPU and RAM. Works both of them (keep an eye on temp's) and is highly regarded for reliable results. Of course, I've used separate tests for motherboards to test such things as drive interfaces, etc. But personally, I wouldn't worry about such tests at this point. For instance, drive problems would manifiest themselves in hard drive tests anyway. If a drive fails, I stick in a known good lab drive & repeat the drive tests. If it also fails then I only have motherboard or cables to troubleshoot. And it's been a long time since I could economically remove & replace a bad IC...

4. Hard Drives & DVD: Are the hard drive data and power cables clean and tight fitting? Have you checked the hard drive's SMART status? Tested it for bad sectors? Performed some read/write tests? Does it help to clean the DVD heads?

I know how easy it is to miss the forest for the trees sometimes and only offer these comments as suggestions. As noted in my other, referenced post, my "Ah Ha!" moment came in the middle of the night. Slap my forhead and wonder how I forgot to address the underlying causes....

Let us know how things are progressing. I'm a troubleshooter from way back and enjoy a good puzzle. (Plus I find it an excellent way to increase my knowledge of linux!)
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