Prone to random crashes

Renolc · 2007-01-02 20:09:59

Hey, I've been trolling around these forums for a while. Been using Arch on my desktop at college for about 2 months now, and now that I have a few weeks off for break, I decided to try and install it on my laptop (an HP Pavilion ze2308wm).

I've got the base system installed, my wireless configured with ndiswrapper, ati drivers installed and working, and added a few extra programs (mplayer, rhythmbox, inkscape, etc).

All is fine and dandy with the exception of random crashes. These crashes vary in degree and almost none of them are similar.

Sometimes X just never starts up and I am left at a blank screen during boot. Sometimes my keyboard stops working unexpectedly. Sometimes everything suddenly moves sluggishly until the whole system freezes.

I'm just really confused about why my system is so unstable.

Here are my rc.conf and xorg.conf (respectively). I don't know if they'll be of any help, but rather too much info than not enough

If any more info is needed, then let me know,
And FYI, I've already tried reinstalling from scratch. Same results.

rc.conf

#
# /etc/rc.conf - Main Configuration for Arch Linux
#

#
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# LOCALIZATION
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# LOCALE: available languages can be listed with the 'locale -a' command
# HARDWARECLOCK: set to "UTC" or "localtime"
# TIMEZONE: timezones are found in /usr/share/zoneinfo
# KEYMAP: keymaps are found in /usr/share/kbd/keymaps
# CONSOLEFONT: found in /usr/share/kbd/consolefonts (only needed for non-US)
# CONSOLEMAP: found in /usr/share/kbd/consoletrans
# USECOLOR: use ANSI color sequences in startup messages
#
LOCALE="en_US.utf8"
HARDWARECLOCK="UTC"
TIMEZONE="EST"
KEYMAP="us"
CONSOLEFONT=
CONSOLEMAP=
USECOLOR="yes"

#
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# HARDWARE
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# Scan hardware and load required modules at bootup
MOD_AUTOLOAD="yes"
# Module Blacklist - modules in this list will never be loaded by udev
MOD_BLACKLIST=(pcspkr)
#
# Modules to load at boot-up (in this order)
#   - prefix a module with a ! to blacklist it
#
MODULES=(ndiswrapper)
# Scan for LVM volume groups at startup, required if you use LVM
USELVM="no"

#
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# NETWORKING
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
HOSTNAME="renolc-laptop"
#
# Interfaces to start at boot-up (in this order)
# Declare each interface then list in INTERFACES
#   - prefix an entry in INTERFACES with a ! to disable it
#   - no hyphens in your interface names - Bash doesn't like it
#
# Note: to use DHCP, set your interface to be "dhcp" (eth0="dhcp")
#
lo="lo 127.0.0.1"
eth0="dhcp"
wlan0="dhcp"
INTERFACES=(lo eth0 wlan0)
#
# Routes to start at boot-up (in this order)
# Declare each route then list in ROUTES
#   - prefix an entry in ROUTES with a ! to disable it
#
gateway="default gw 192.168.0.1"
ROUTES=(!gateway)
#
# Enable these network profiles at boot-up.  These are only useful
# if you happen to need multiple network configurations (ie, laptop users)
#   - set to 'menu' to present a menu during boot-up (dialog package required)
#   - prefix an entry with a ! to disable it
#
# Network profiles are found in /etc/network-profiles
#
#NET_PROFILES=(main)

#
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# DAEMONS
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# Daemons to start at boot-up (in this order)
#   - prefix a daemon with a ! to disable it
#   - prefix a daemon with a @ to start it up in the background
#
DAEMONS=(crond portmap dbus hal @wifi-radar alsa gdm syslog-ng fam)


# End of file

xorg.conf

# Auto-generated by Archie mkxcfg
# Auto-generated by Archie mkxcfg

Section "ServerLayout"

# Serial Mouse not detected
# USB Mouse not detected
    Identifier     "Xorg Configured"
    Screen      0  "aticonfig-Screen[0]" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "PS/2 Mouse" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"

# Additional fonts: Locale, Gimp, TTF...
#    FontPath     "/usr/share/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/75dpi"
#    FontPath     "/usr/share/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/100dpi"
# True type and type1 fonts are also handled via xftlib, see /etc/X11/XftConfig!
    RgbPath      "/usr/share/X11/rgb"
    ModulePath   "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load  "ddc"  # ddc probing of monitor
    Load  "dbe"
    Load  "dri"
    Load  "extmod"
    Load  "glx"
    Load  "bitmap" # bitmap-fonts
    Load  "type1"
    Load  "freetype"
    Load  "record"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option        "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Keyboard0"
    Driver      "keyboard"
    Option        "CoreKeyboard"
    Option        "XkbRules" "xorg"
    Option        "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option        "XkbLayout" ""
    Option        "XkbVariant" ""
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Serial Mouse"
    Driver      "mouse"
    Option        "Protocol" "Microsoft"
    Option        "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"
    Option        "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
    Option        "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
    Option        "SendCoreEvents" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "PS/2 Mouse"
    Driver      "mouse"
    Option        "Protocol" "auto"
    Option        "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
    Option        "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option        "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
    Option        "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
    Option        "SendCoreEvents" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "USB Mouse"
    Driver      "mouse"
    Option        "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option        "SendCoreEvents" "true"
    Option        "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
    Option        "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
    Option        "Buttons" "5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 # Warning: This may fry old Monitors
 # Very conservative. May flicker.
#    VertRefresh  50.0 - 62.0 # Extreme conservative. Will flicker. TFT default.
    #  Default modes distilled from
    #      "VESA and Industry Standards and Guide for Computer Display Monitor
    #       Timing", version 1.0, revision 0.8, adopted September 17, 1998.
    #  $XFree86: xc/programs/Xserver/hw/xfree86/etc/vesamodes,v 1.4 1999/11/18 16:52:17 tsi Exp $
    # 640x350 @ 85Hz (VESA) hsync: 37.9kHz
    Identifier   "Monitor0"
    HorizSync    28.0 - 96.0
    VertRefresh  50.0 - 75.0
    ModeLine     "640x350" 31.5 640 672 736 832 350 382 385 445 +hsync -vsync
    ModeLine     "640x400" 31.5 640 672 736 832 400 401 404 445 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "720x400" 35.5 720 756 828 936 400 401 404 446 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "640x480" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine     "640x480" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine     "640x480" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine     "640x480" 36.0 640 696 752 832 480 481 484 509 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine     "800x600" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "800x600" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "800x600" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "800x600" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "800x600" 56.3 800 832 896 1048 600 601 604 631 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1024x768" 44.9 1024 1032 1208 1264 768 768 776 817 +hsync +vsync interlace
    ModeLine     "1024x768" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine     "1024x768" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine     "1024x768" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1024x768" 94.5 1024 1072 1168 1376 768 769 772 808 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1152x864" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1280x960" 108.0 1280 1376 1488 1800 960 961 964 1000 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1280x960" 148.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 960 961 964 1011 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1280x1024" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1280x1024" 135.0 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1280x1024" 157.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1072 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1600x1200" 162.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1600x1200" 175.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1600x1200" 189.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1600x1200" 202.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1600x1200" 229.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1792x1344" 204.8 1792 1920 2120 2448 1344 1345 1348 1394 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1792x1344" 261.0 1792 1888 2104 2456 1344 1345 1348 1417 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1856x1392" 218.3 1856 1952 2176 2528 1392 1393 1396 1439 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1856x1392" 288.0 1856 1984 2208 2560 1392 1393 1396 1500 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1920x1440" 234.0 1920 2048 2256 2600 1440 1441 1444 1500 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1920x1440" 297.0 1920 2064 2288 2640 1440 1441 1444 1500 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1800x1440" 230.0 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1800x1440" 250.0 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "640x480" 43.2 640 680 744 848 480 481 484 509 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "768x576" 35.0 768 792 872 976 576 577 580 597 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "768x576" 42.9 768 800 880 992 576 577 580 601 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "768x576" 45.5 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 602 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "768x576" 51.8 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 605 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "768x576" 62.6 768 816 896 1024 576 577 580 611 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "800x600" 68.2 800 848 936 1072 600 601 604 636 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1024x768" 113.3 1024 1096 1208 1392 768 769 772 814 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1152x864" 81.6 1152 1216 1336 1520 864 865 868 895 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1152x864" 119.7 1152 1224 1352 1552 864 865 868 907 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1152x864" 143.5 1152 1232 1360 1568 864 865 868 915 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1280x960" 124.5 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1001 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1280x960" 129.9 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1002 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1280x960" 179.0 1280 1376 1520 1760 960 961 964 1017 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1280x1024" 191.0 1280 1376 1520 1760 1024 1025 1028 1085 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1400x1050" 122.6 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1400x1050" 149.3 1400 1496 1648 1896 1050 1051 1054 1094 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1400x1050" 155.8 1400 1496 1648 1896 1050 1051 1054 1096 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1400x1050" 179.3 1400 1504 1656 1912 1050 1051 1054 1103 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1400x1050" 214.4 1400 1512 1664 1928 1050 1051 1054 1112 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine     "1600x1200" 280.6 1600 1728 1904 2208 1200 1201 1204 1271 -hsync +vsync
    Option        "DPMS" "true"
#    HorizSync    28.0 - 78.0 # Warning: This may fry very old Monitors
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier   "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
    Option        "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
    Option        "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
    Option        "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "Card0"
    Driver      "vesa"
    VendorName  "All"
    BoardName   "All"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "aticonfig-Device[0]"
    Driver      "fglrx"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Card0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth     16
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     1
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     4
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     8
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     15
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     16
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     24
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     32
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]"
    Device     "aticonfig-Device[0]"
    Monitor    "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
    DefaultDepth     24
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
    Mode         0666
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option  "AIGLX" "off"
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
    Option "Composite" "Disable"
EndSection

skale · 2007-01-03 01:59:08

I really cannot tell, and I don't think anyone else can. Next time that happens, post something in a separate thread.
Do you update frequently? You should, as fixes can be in the newer versions.

Renolc · 2007-01-03 03:00:47

It's actually happened about 15 or so times since my last post.

Most of the time during boot. Either X will not work at all and I have a blank screen with frozen keyboard/mouse inputs, or right after I login it will go blank with frozen inputs, or sometimes it works fine for 30mins or so and then suddenly keyboard stops working followed by a complete system freeze.

I'm completely clueless as to why this is happening. My only guess is that is has something to do with my ATI drivers. I followed the wiki to install it and my card (Radeon XPress 200M) was in the compatibility list, but my main problem is always with X so that's all I can think of.

I may just try a complete system reinstall again. Then I'll take it slow from there and (hopefully) nothing will screw up again.

skale · 2007-01-10 02:57:09

That is possible. Does it crash without installing the ATI drivers?

Chuck the drivers with a 'pacman -R ati-fglrx ati-fglrx-utils', followed by a 'hwd -xa'. Does it work now?

Of course, that was a week ago, and you probably already did something to fix it, or left, hopefully fixed.

Arch Linux

#1 2007-01-02 20:09:59

Prone to random crashes

#2 2007-01-03 01:59:08

Re: Prone to random crashes

#3 2007-01-03 03:00:47

Re: Prone to random crashes

#4 2007-01-10 02:57:09

Re: Prone to random crashes

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