Arch Linux

calint

Member

Registered: 2025-02-26

Posts: 8

Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

journalctl shows no output at moment of crash and the crashes started about 2 months ago.

I wonder if anyone with same hardware has experienced same problem.

Below is output from "inxi -v2"

p.s. It is not limited to Arch Linux. Other distro (read Ubuntu 24.04) exhibits same problem since an upgrade.

System:
  Host: c Kernel: 6.13.4-arch1-1 arch: x86_64 bits: 64
  Desktop: N/A Distro: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Acer product: Aspire AL14-51M v: V1.07
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Dalmore model: ADU v: V1.07 serial: <superuser required>
    UEFI: Insyde v: 1.07 date: 04/28/2024
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 58.1 Wh (100.0%) condition: 58.1/58.1 Wh (100.0%)
CPU:
  Info: 10-core (2-mt/8-st) 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U [MST AMCP]
    speed (MHz): avg: 400 min/max: 400/4400:3300
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Alder Lake-UP3 GT2 [UHD Graphics] driver: i915 v: kernel
  Device-2: Realtek Hy FHD5350 Camera driver: uvcvideo type: USB
  Display: unspecified server: X.org v: 1.21.1.16 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting dri: iris gpu: i915 resolution: 2240x1400~60Hz
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: intel mesa v: 24.3.4-arch1.1
    renderer: Mesa Intel Graphics (ADL GT2)
  Info: Tools: api: eglinfo,glxinfo x11: xprop,xrandr
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Alder Lake-P PCH CNVi WiFi driver: iwlwifi
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 163.63 GiB (34.3%)
Info:
  Memory: total: 16 GiB note: est. available: 15.35 GiB used: 3.43 GiB (22.4%)
  Processes: 262 Uptime: 30m Shell: Bash inxi: 3.3.37

Last edited by calint (2025-02-26 16:00:08)

seth

Member

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 62,070

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

Please use [code][/code] tags. Edit your post in this regard.
What's the nature of the "freeze"?
Symptoms?
Does the system "unfreeze" after a moment?
Can you still switch the VT (cltr+alt+f3)?
Can you reboot by frenetically pressing ctrl+alt+del or using the https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Keyboa … el_(SysRq) ?

same problem since an upgrade

What was "upgraded"? What kernel do you currently run on ubuntu?

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calint

Member

Registered: 2025-02-26

Posts: 8

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

Sorry about being vague but I am exhausted of trying just about anything

The freeze is total. Cannot switch to VT and only long press on power off button works. I don't have SysRq key on the laptop.

No log entries and machine not pingable.

Tried:
* running LTS kernel for a few dot releases
* using Xe graphics driver instead of i915
* kernel param

intel_idle.max_cstate=1

and

intel_idle.max_cstate=0

* installing mesa-git 25.0.0 and 24.2.8
* went through a few minor dot releases of main line kernel during this time
* tried zen kernel
* running brave without hardware acceleration
* and other attempts that I don't remember

As far as Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS (off-topic in this forum yet relevant) used to work fine until the kernel was updated to the current.

Kind regards

Last edited by calint (2025-02-26 16:13:40)

seth

Member

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 62,070

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

* running brave without hardware acceleration* running brave without hardware acceleration

Is brave the (exclusive) trigger of this?
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=303695 (unresolved)

fine until the kernel was updated to the current

Is ubuntu at 6.13, too?

I don't have SysRq key on the laptop.

It's gonna be the print key, even if you need to also press Fn to reach it.

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calint

Member

Registered: 2025-02-26

Posts: 8

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

Brave is always running in the background, however, I don't know if it is the trigger.

Regarding ubuntu kernel: I have to look it up but the important thing is that it is not a Arch only issue.

I don't have a a print key either on the keyboard.

Next try would be to let the laptop run idle after a fresh reboot to see if it hangs.

Any hint is appreciated but I have capitulated and consider buying a new laptop ...

Kind regards

seth

Member

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 62,070

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

What's the thing right of the right shift? Menu?

Try some older live distro and see whether the same thing happens there.
If not, it's more likely the kernel update - if it happens on a 2 year old kernel, rather not.

Also see whether you can live w/ firefox for a while, but "userspace process triggers complete system halt" is a kernel or hardware issue.
(It might only narrow down what triggers to look at, eg. vulkan or so)

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calint

Member

Registered: 2025-02-26

Posts: 8

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

Well ... memtest86+ failed on third pass. Previously I ran it 1 pass with success. I guess the computer is scrap then ...

Thanks for the effort.

Kind regards

eriefisher

Member

Registered: 2025-02-01

Posts: 24

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

Well ... memtest86+ failed on third pass. Previously I ran it 1 pass with success. I guess the computer is scrap then ...

Thanks for the effort.

Kind regards

This sounds like a hardware issue and my first guess would have been bad ram. Is it possible to switch out the ram for known good to test?

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calint

Member

Registered: 2025-02-26

Posts: 8

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

The odd thing is that there are 2 errors at 17.8GB and 17.3GB  on 3'rd pass although there are only 16GB of RAM.

URL to screenshot: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SxkI-L … sp=sharing

Does memtest test addresses out of range of actual physical memory?

Could I use kernel parameter memmap=15G or something similar?

(I am running a new memtest with the bottom of the laptop having good airflow in case it is some overheating problem)

Kind regards

Last edited by calint (2025-02-27 12:18:19)

calint

Member

Registered: 2025-02-26

Posts: 8

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

Memtest ended with the computer freezing. That is surely a bad sign ...

seth

Member

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 62,070

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

Yes, very bad.
Check the RAM frequencies/timings/profile in your UEFI settings and set the most conservative parameters.

Meaningful memtes86+ cycles are measured in *days* - passing once means almost nothing, but the immediate errors and freezes oc. show that there's a problem w/ the RAM configuration for sure.

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calint

Member

Registered: 2025-02-26

Posts: 8

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

Already ordered a new laptop. This time  Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 ...

Check the RAM frequencies/timings/profile in your UEFI settings and set the most conservative parameters.

I don't have access to such settings in the BIOS. Is this done somewhere else?

Again .. thanks for the effort of the burial of this laptop

Kind regards

Last edited by calint (2025-02-27 13:13:52)

seth

Member

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 62,070

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

Is this done somewhere else?

Some board vendors provide windows tools to configure the UEFI.
Sometimes there're super-special shortcuts to enter the extended BIOS settings.

The notebook seems to have switchable DIMMs, if it's just the RAM you can replace them (and then have two notebooks

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calint

Member

Registered: 2025-02-26

Posts: 8

Re: Plagued by freezes every few hours or so

Switching RAM is to advanced for me

I hope for better luck with the next one.

Thanks for the support!