Arch Linux

boily

Member

From: Montréal

Registered: 2007-03-17

Posts: 75

Website

Random crashes with keyboard lights flashing

I now have a very annoying problem with my computer. It randomly crashes, more exactly it freezes, and the numlock and scroll lock lights on my keyboard start flashing.

If I move my mouse the cursor stays immobile. My comp does not respond to the keyboard, even ctrl-alt-delete and alt-sysrq-b are useless.

I suspected dust accumulation, so I cleaned it with the vacuum cleaner about a week ago. It ran fine until today, where I can use my computer for 20 minutes before it crashes.

Is my suspicion correct, or is the source of my problems something completely different?

Help would be much appreciated.

(And sorry for my English ...)

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A centipede is an inchworm that has switched to the metric system.

hightower

Member

Registered: 2006-04-02

Posts: 182

Re: Random crashes with keyboard lights flashing

Hi,

Have you tried too check your RAM with memtest?

hightower

iphitus

Forum Fellow

From: Melbourne, Australia

Registered: 2004-10-09

Posts: 4,927

Re: Random crashes with keyboard lights flashing

flashing keyboard lights means kernel panic.

try and run the computer at the command line and see if you can get a trace or some sort of information before it panics.

James

boily

Member

From: Montréal

Registered: 2007-03-17

Posts: 75

Website

Re: Random crashes with keyboard lights flashing

Thank you very much for the advice!

My computer really is overheating. I ran it yesterday with its case open, a room fan beside it. This solution worked for about 10 minutes... before the heatsink became scalding hot.

I think I will buy an air can and clean my computer thoroughfully...

BTW, can the heat cause a kernel panic? Or are the two phenomenons completely unrelated?

Last edited by boily (2007-04-08 14:02:51)

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A centipede is an inchworm that has switched to the metric system.

PeteMo

Member

From: H'Burg, VA

Registered: 2006-01-26

Posts: 191

Website

Re: Random crashes with keyboard lights flashing

I recently had a similar problem with overheating and a vacuum/air can wasn't enough.  I had to remove the heat sink and scrape the accumulated dust out.  I guess that's what you get for setting up a computer when you're renovating an adjacent room!

iphitus

Forum Fellow

From: Melbourne, Australia

Registered: 2004-10-09

Posts: 4,927

Re: Random crashes with keyboard lights flashing

Thank you very much for the advice!

My computer really is overheating. I ran it yesterday with its case open, a room fan beside it. This solution worked for about 10 minutes... before the heatsink became scalding hot.

I think I will buy an air can and clean my computer thoroughfully...

BTW, can the heat cause a kernel panic? Or are the two phenomenons completely unrelated?

I suppose it could.