[SOLVED] Dual boot: Win7/HD Ok, LXDE/SSD froze.

[joejac]

Hello,

Because I had an unstable host, I reinstalled it. Unfortunately after I reinstalled the LXDE Host from scratch last Sunday, today, 30 minutes ago the Host froze.  I do not know what to do, I reinstalled the host very carefully, in fact I formatted all the SSD and did a new installation and the only extra programs are VirtualBox and Skype. Everything from Synaptic, details are here. Skype was not running when froze today.

My son spent a week ago a complete weekend in the Win7 HD on same machine without rest, in his Battlefield 3 wars, and no froze for him.

Any help is very much appreciated, I hope none of my VMs get damaged in a possible freeze of the host.

Regards
joejac

[joejac]

Hello,

Can somebody interpret this error please?, I do not know if this is error is related or can help to find why my desktop freeze an average of one time per day.
In this opportunity the Desktop did not freeze, just Firefox aborted with the following error:

Add-ons: {972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd}:13.0
BuildID: 20120601045813
CrashTime: 1339717130
EMCheckCompatibility: true
FramePoisonBase: 00000000f0dea000
FramePoisonSize: 4096
InstallTime: 1339328862
Notes: OpenGL: NVIDIA Corporation -- GeForce GTX 570/PCIe/SSE2 -- 4.2.0 NVIDIA 302.07 -- texture_from_pixmap

OOMAllocationSize: 32768
ProductID: {ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}
ProductName: Firefox
ReleaseChannel: default
SecondsSinceLastCrash: 282776
StartupTime: 1339676928
Theme: classic/1.0
Throttleable: 1
URL: http://welcometosherwood.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/personalbrain-as-a-management-tool/
Vendor: Mozilla
Version: 13.0

This report also contains technical information about the state of the application when it crashed.

Thanks for any help.
Regards
joejac

[djohnston]

Add-ons: {972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd}:13.0

That error message looks like a Firefox addon causing problems. You can try running Firefox with addons disabled by starting it from a terminal: firefox -safe-mode. It will run with addons disabled until the next time you start Firefox. You can also restart Firefox in safe mode by clicking Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled in the menu.

Your system crashes are puzzling, though. Do you run any CPU monitors such as Gkrellm, or process monitors such as Htop or LXTaskManager? You might as well start running More Applications > Monitoring> LXTaskManager every time you start the host. That should give you an idea of what is hogging the CPU.

When you say the host crashes, can you get to a virtual terminal with Ctrl-Alt-F1? If you can, login as root and start htop to see what the running processes are. Can you restart the desktop with Ctrl-Alt-Backspace? Is it possible that an MSEC security check is running? Install the notify-osd package if it is not already installed. And which nVidia driver is running your video card? Which drivers do you have installed? You can run this as regular user.

rpm -qa | grep nvidia

[joejac]

Hello and thanks a lot djohnston,

My son was playing games during the weekend, so I can answer now.
1.- Gkrellm: While the Windows CPU Monitor (CoreTemp) on the Caviar HD fluctuates from 33 to 37 Celsius. Gkrellm is always measuring same temperature: 27.8C for temp1 and 29.8 for temp2 even if I have 3 VMs running. The GPU is the only value that changes from 37 to 40.

2.- LXTaskManager: One thing I do not understand is why it shows CPU usage among 25% and 27 % with 31 tasks running and all of them have 0% usage each one, including VBoxSVC and VBoxXPCOMIPCD, even with the VMs working and the host.

2.1 MSEC security check windows sometimes appears and then disappears after some seconds.

3.- I installed Htop, pretty ugly program but it works, It shows that has 95 tasks, 142 threads and 3 running, which are VirtualBox that consumes almost all the CPU Used time, Memory 7.4GB/16GB, Load average 2.67, Up time 4:25:22.

4.- I thought I should use Ctrl-Alt-Del, and did not worked, I did not know about Ctrl-Alt-F1 and Ctrl-Alt-Backspace, I will use them next time, thanks for the information. Yes, notify-osd was already installed.

5.- This is the output of rpm -qa | grep nvidia

$  rpm -qa | grep nvidia
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-302.07-1pclos2012
x11-driver-video-nvidia96xx-96.43.20-1pclos2011
dkms-nvidia-current-302.07-1pclos2012
x11-driver-video-nvidia173-173.14.31-1pclos2012
dkms-nvidia96xx-96.43.20-1pclos2011
$

6.- I saw a few days ago the Host upgrading Flash and nvidia drivers.

Best regards
joejac

[djohnston]

I asked about Gkrellm because if you have the CPU monitor plugins loaded, it is a good visual indicator of when your CPUs are overloaded. It can also be used to see if your desktop is actually frozen, or just not responding to keyboard and mouse. If the desktop is frozen, the visual indicators in Gkrellm won't change. I asked about LXTaskManager and Htop so you could open one of them when your desktop "freezes", if you are able to. If you can open one, you can identify what task is taking all the CPU cycles.

Open LXTaskManager, click View, and check every option to see all tasks running. When the host is acting up, probably the best thing to do, if possible, is to use the Ctrl-Alt-F1 key combination to get you to a virtual console. You will be at a login prompt. Login as root, enter root's password, then start htop. Use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select a running task. Use the functions keys to execute an action on the running task you have selected. For example, pressing F9 will kill the selected task. Once you have pressed F9, sveral signal options will come up. Generally, the default SIGTERM does the trick.

You should use htop or LXTaskManager to see if MSEC is running while you believe your desktop is frozen. In other words, you need to see if some task has bogged down the CPU(s) or whether the kernel has really crashed your entire machine. The latter is pretty rare and usually indicates a hardware condition that needs correcting or a kernel mismatch. Practice using this stuff beforehand so that you will know what to look for when the time comes.

5.- This is the output of rpm -qa | grep nvidia

$  rpm -qa | grep nvidia
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-302.07-1pclos2012
x11-driver-video-nvidia96xx-96.43.20-1pclos2011
dkms-nvidia-current-302.07-1pclos2012
x11-driver-video-nvidia173-173.14.31-1pclos2012
dkms-nvidia96xx-96.43.20-1pclos2011
$

That's strange. Yours is the second example I've seen in as many days that is missing the dkms-nvidia173-173.14.31-1pclos2012 package. Open Synaptic and install that package. If it doesn't install, open a terminal and post the output of the following:

su
apt-get clean
apt-get autoclean
apt-get check
apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade
apt-get install dkms-nvidia173
exit

If you are able to install the dkms-nvidia173 package, close all running programs and reboot the computer. When the message shows on the startup screen, press the Escape key to see a verbose listing of the boot process. Don't interrupt the first boot. It will take longer than usual because it will be building the nVidia kernel module.

[joejac]

Hello djohnston ,

1.-Thanks for all the valuable recommendations, I will do it if it gets freeze. The package dkms-nvidia was not installed so I installed it via Synaptic. Neither with Htop or LXTaskManager I see  "MSEC"  running, I should see MSEC under the Command caption, right?

2.- I rebooted, but it is too fast, after I selected PCLinux, I clicked "Esc" then I was able to see the verbose for a couple of seconds and then the login screen. I was able to see various green Ok, too fast.

3. I double checked and dkms-nvidia173-173.14.31-1pclos2012 was installed. But I am not able to get my second monitor working, even if I enable both via the NVIDIA X Server Settings, because in PCC I do not have any way to enable them.

3.1 In NVIDIA X Server Settings, when I enable them (Separate X Screen) I get the error: "Cannot Apply... The Location of an X screen has changed, The Location type of an X screen has changed, The color depth of an X screen has changed..." Probably I need root access, but I do not want to enter with the root user, I am not sure if this is going to be right, and I am not sure what to do, I do not want to make a mistake.

3.2 In Win 7 it immediately detects the 2 monitors after boot.

Regards
joejac

[joejac]

Hello,

I will post the dual monitor problem in the Desktop forum.

Best regards
joejac

[joejac]

Hello,

The LXDE Host of my Desktop was working fine for 6 days and then it froze last Saturday and today. I only did upgrades, no new software installation in the Host these days.

Today I left the computer on and when I returned 1,5 hours later it was froze. I have disabled the screen saver 2 weeks ago.
1.- The computer did not respond to the keys:

• Control Alt F1
• Control Alt Backspace
• Alt SysRq SUB

1.1 The time was  also froze, because when I saw the problem was 10:30am but the LXDE Host showed 8:50am fixed.

2.- So I pushed the Reset Button in the Desktop.
2.1 Entered the Bios Password

3.- I Clicked in the First GRUB option: to boot from LXDE, but this time I got the following error message over a black screen before the login screen:

"The proprietary driver for your graphic card can not be found, the system is now using the free software driver (nvidia)
Reason: The graphic card 'NVIDIA Corporation | GF 110 [GeForce GTX 570 HD]' is no more supported by the 'nvidia', driver."

4. I clicked the Ok button of the error message, and LXDE booted as usual, and I checked the Nvidia with the Configuration-NVIDIA Display Settings and everything was normal (54 Celsius low yellow zone), in fact I see everything normal with my 2 monitors, I do not understand.

5.- LXDE Host is updated. The output of command: rpm -qa | grep nvidia

Code: [Select]

$ rpm -qa | grep nvidia
dkms-nvidia173-173.14.31-1pclos2012
x11-driver-video-nvidia96xx-96.43.20-1pclos2011
dkms-nvidia-current-302.17-1pclos2012
x11-driver-video-nvidia173-173.14.31-1pclos2012
x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-302.17-1pclos2012
dkms-nvidia96xx-96.43.20-1pclos2011
$

6.- Is there a log file in LXDE Host where I can see something else. Any ideas please?

Thanks and regards
joejac

[djohnston]

Look through the /var/log/dmesg and /var/log/dmesg.old files for any errors. You can read those files as a regular user.

The proprietary binary blobs for your card are dkms-nvidia-current-302.17-1pclos2012 and x11-driver-video-nvidia-current-302.17-1pclos2012. But, nVidia's driver page says the version for that card should be 295.59. It does look like the video driver could be causing the problems.

Look at the driver version used for Windows. I don't mean the VM, I mean the part that your son uses. Make a note of exactly what the nVidia driver version for Windows is. Back in Linux, Open PCLinuxOS Control Center > Hardware > Browse and configure hardware. Select the videocard in the left pane. What is the Module: being used right now?

In a terminal, as regular user, what are the results of:

lsmod | grep nv
lsmod | grep vbox

[joejac]

Thanks a lot djohnston,

Sorry for my delay, I had a very difficult week, but I am back.

1.- In the Windows 7 boot, in Control Panel-Display-Screen Resolution-Advanced Settings in Adapter I have:
Chip Type: GeForce GTX 570
DAC Type:  Integrated RAMDAC
Adapter String: GeForce GTX 570
Bios Information: Version 70.10.38.0.70

1.1 In Adapter-Properties-Driver I have:
Driver Provider:     NVIDIA
Driver Date:          2/9/2012
Driver Version:  8.17.12.9573
Digital Signer:  Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher

1.2 In Adapter-Properties-Driver-Driver Details I have a long list of dll, exe, din, txt, sys and pb showing same driver number: 8.17.12.9573

2.- In the Host PCLinuxOS Control Center > Hardware > Browse and configure hardware > videocard

Identification
Vendor: ‎NVIDIA Corporation
Description: ‎GF110 [GeForce GTX 570 HD]
Media class: ‎VGA compatible controller

Connection
Bus: ‎PCI Express
PCI domain: ‎0
Bus PCI #: ‎1
PCI device #: ‎0
PCI function #: ‎0
PCI revision: ‎0xa1
Vendor ID: ‎0x10de
Device ID: ‎0x1086
Sub vendor ID: ‎0x3842
Sub device ID: ‎0x1579

Misc
Module: ‎Card:NVIDIA cards not working with nv

The terminal output:

Code: [Select]

$ lsmod | grep nv
nvidia               9823222  53
i2c_core               16526  3 i2c_i801,videodev,nvidia
$ lsmod | grep vbox
vboxpci                14991  0
vboxnetadp             19271  0
vboxnetflt             17101  0
vboxdrv               197201  4 vboxpci,vboxnetadp,vboxnetflt
$

That is the information I got.
Best regards
joejac

[djohnston]

1.1 In Adapter-Properties-Driver I have:
Driver Provider:     NVIDIA
Driver Date:          2/9/2012
Driver Version:  8.17.12.9573
Digital Signer:  Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher

1.2 In Adapter-Properties-Driver-Driver Details I have a long list of dll, exe, din, txt, sys and pb showing same driver number: 8.17.12.9573

Why did I hope Windows driver info would be helpful? Not even close to the versioning system nVidia uses. But, at least it shows the nVidia driver being used.

Misc
Module: ‎Card:NVIDIA cards not working with nv

I would think the proprietary module is the one with the best performance. Have you tried running the video driver installation in PCC? If so, which one does the Control Center choose by default?

Next question. Is the video coming from the motherboard, or do you have an addin card?

[macemm]

Why did I hope Windows driver info would be helpful? Not even close to the versioning system nVidia uses. But, at least it shows the nVidia driver being used.

The user was almost looking in the right place - he should look here:

Windows Control Panel>Nvidia Control Panel

Then when the Nvidia panel is open he should go to the Help menu and choose System Information. This will reveal the driver version as well as a whole pile of other nvidia stuff.

Hope this helps,

Hugh

[djohnston]

Why did I hope Windows driver info would be helpful? Not even close to the versioning system nVidia uses. But, at least it shows the nVidia driver being used.

The user was almost looking in the right place - he should look here:

Windows Control Panel>Nvidia Control Panel

Then when the Nvidia panel is open he should go to the Help menu and choose System Information. This will reveal the driver version as well as a whole pile of other nvidia stuff.

Hope this helps,

Hugh

Thanks. joejac needs all the help he can get. So do I. 

[joejac]

Hello and sorry for my delay.

1.- Hi macemm, I double checked in Win 7 booting from the WD Hard Drive and there is no Nvidia Control Panel at all inside the Windows Control Panel, or in any other place. I normally see those video card programs somewhere in the start menu, but nothing in this installation.

2.- Hi djohnston, in PCC - Hardware - Configure Video Card, in Graphic Card it shows Custom, I click there and in Choose an X server - Xorg - vesa is in blue, I guess selected. In one of those froze it lost the Nvidia custom selection. Sorry but I do not know how to run the video driver installation in PCC.

3.- My 2 monitors are connected via extended to DVI adapter cables to each of the 2 DVI video outputs connectors of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 HD

4.- In PC - More Applications - Configuration - NVIDIA Display Settings,  NVIDIA X Server Settings, under GPU 0, I have:
Graphiccs Processor:   GeForce GTX 570
CUDA Cores:              480
VBIOS Version:           70.10.38.00.70
Memory:                    2560 MB
Memory Interface:       320-bit
Bus Type:                  PCI Express x16 Gen2
BusID:                       PCI:1:0:0
PCI Device3 ID:           0x1086
PCI Vendor ID:            0x10de
IRQ:                          16
PCIe Generation:         Gen2
Maximum PCIe Link Width:   x16
Maximum PCIe Link Speed:  5.0 GT/s
X Screens:  Screen 0 (Xinerama)
Display devices:  AOC 2043 (CRT-1),
                       AOC 2343 (CRT-0)

Sorry, I do not know what else to do.

Regards
joejac

[macemm]

@jojac

1.- Hi macemm, I double checked in Win 7 booting from the WD Hard Drive and there is no Nvidia Control Panel at all inside the Windows Control Panel, or in any other place. I normally see those video card programs somewhere in the start menu, but nothing in this installation.

Sorry friend,

I think I downloaded the Nvidia update myself from Nvidia rather than through Windows Updater.
That may be why I see the control panel same as (almost) in Pclinuxos.

Best wishes,

Hugh