Ask Ubuntu General Room

3:34 PM

Hey people...I've kinda lost hope... my PC is screwed.

I've tried doing fsck using live session and there are no issues..

The system keeps freezing...

And then I decided to back up files using live session...

but...

even my live session is freezing now 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️

I've tried Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04, Xubuntu 18.04 and even LinuxMint 20 Xfce.

The PC freezes... and the mouse light turns off.. keyboard stops working.. the only thing I could do is force restart by clicking button on CPU.

Because of force restarts... even live USB is getting messed up... (when I check the live USB for errors, one error gets detected)..

I've even made installation media multiple times because of this..

But nothing worked out 😔

It would be great if someone could help me out.

Please.

4:08 PM

@technastic_tc I don't know how to fix your issue, but I would recommend you start with checking the content of /var/log/syslog and maybe try the dmesg command. Unforturnetly, I can't tell you what to look for but just check if you find anything suspicious or out of the ordinary

I would assume you may have a malfunctioning hardware based on your description

4:24 PM

@Dan Are you talking about the /var/log/syslog of my SSD or installation media?

@Dan When I can't access GUI, how can I check the files of my SSD? Also where to execute dmesg command when I can't open terminal?

@Dan oh :(

The PC was working ok until last week...

@Zanna If you can, please do help.

@technastic_tc Basically, whichever you have running.

ok... Can you guide me how to do so?

@technastic_tc I would check them as soon as the OS is booted, as from what I understood it runs for a while before it freezes

are you able to use the OS for a short while before it freezes?

@Dan I was able to use for few seconds..

but now it's stuck with the Ubuntu loading screen :(

4:45 PM

oh, it might be out of my league here then. I strongly recommend looking around the main site for "Ubuntu stuck at loading screen" as there are A LOT of those around. Hopefully, one of them can help solve your problem.
I usually prefere to search the site on Google instead of the site's main search bar, as I get more relevant results that way: https://goo.gl/search?Ubuntu+stuck+at+loading+screen+site%3Aaskubuntu.com

This seems like a good candidate to start with:
https://askubuntu.com/questions/1033463/ubuntu-18-04-is-stuck-at-loading-screen-after-new-installation

5:02 PM

@technastic_tc is the machine old? did you have this problem before or did it just start recently? If you have the same problem with a bunch of different kernels, that suggests a hardware problem I think. Are you saying you don't have this problem when you run a live USB?

@technastic_tc is the machine hot when you touch it? Could it just be overheating? how old is it? Have you ever changed the CPU's thermal paste? I would strongly urge you to post a question either here or on Super User though so you can explain all the details and more people can see it.

@Zanna The machine is probably 4-5 years old..

I used to have random freezes while using Ubuntu but it was mostly when I was multi-tasking. Now the situation has worsened. It freezed when I just open one application.

I don't have much idea about the kernel..

@Zanna Even the live USB is freezing :(

@terdon I'm using a desktop computer.. and it doesn't feel much hot when I touched the CPU case..

@terdon The machine is 4-5 years old..

5:17 PM

Ah, desktop? That's good. At least hardware is cheaper and easier to change for desktops.

I've never changed thermal paste. BTW, the processor is integrated with the motherboard..

But you will likely not feel it get hot if you touch the outside, no. You should check thermal logs, I don't remember where those are. You can also go into the BIOS, there's often a temperature monitor there.

@terdon ok..

@terdon :)

@terdon Will do..

@technastic_tc yes, they all are: the chip sits in a special slot on the motherboard. But between the chip and the motherboard you have thermal paste which helps conductivity. If you haven't changed that in 4-5 years, that might be causing the issue. But we can't be sure and I am afraid that some of the other symptoms don't immediately suggest overheating. :/

Does the machine make any beeping noises?

@technastic_tc :(

5:20 PM

@terdon nope..

A desktop would probably beep at you if it's overheating.

the processor name is intel celeron n3050 if I'm not wrong..

@terdon oh.. ok..

In any case, it's probably worth opening up the case and just cleaning the machine a little. Make sure the machine is off if you do it, and ideally completely unplugged. Then, just clean it. Carefully. There's probably loads of dust in there and cleaning might just help a bit.

@terdon will do it :)

Thanks a lot for all the help @dan @zanna @terdon

:) didn't do anything, but you're welcome and good luck

5:31 PM

@Zanna The willingness to help is itself applaudable :)

^_^