Re: [MLUG] [Help Needed] Issue in Linux – System Freezing After Update

[Tom P]

I forget that the keystroke is to get a text-mode console-- maybe Ctrl+Alt+Fx where x is 1, 2, 3, 4,or 5. Or is it Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Fx ? Some distros might use that.

There should be another virtual terminal available via each Fx key. 

Once the machine is locked up, try Ctrl+Alt+F2 and see if you get a text mode login prompt. If you can log in, then maybe the desktop or display manager is locking up. You could at least issue a clean reboot command: sudo reboot now

Actually, you can do this any time, even when the machine is working fine. Issue the key sequence and see what happens. One of the Fx keys-- probably F7 (Ctrl+Alt+F7 maybe) will return you to your current GUI session.

If it's just the desktop or display manager that's locked up and you can get a text mode login, there are other troubleshooting steps that I'm sure someone will mention. 

I recommend you try the Ctrl+Alt+F1 (or F2 or F3 or...) before it locks up. One you've logged in at the text command line, you can noodle around in BASH, then type exit or Ctrl+D to log out of that virtual TTY, then switch back to your GUI session with CTRL+ALT+F7 (which I think is CTRL+ALT+F6 on some distros.)

Another question: Does the lockup happen at a fixed timeout after your last keystroke or mouse move? Maybe the drivers for power management are buggy or the screen lock timeout has an issue. 

Anyone else?

-T

On Thu, Sep 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM Sarah Kim <sarahk...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello everyone,

I’m experiencing a problem with my Linux system and need some advice.

• Distribution & Version: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

• Hardware Details: Dell Inspiron laptop, Intel i5, 8GB RAM

• Problem Description: After a recent system update, my laptop keeps freezing randomly. Sometimes it happens while browsing the web, and other times even when the system is idle. I have to force restart every time.

• Steps Tried So Far:

  • Updated all packages using sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

  • Checked system logs with dmesg and journalctl, but I’m not sure how to interpret the errors

  • Tried booting with the older kernel from GRUB – the problem still occurs

• Error Messages (if any): Occasionally I see “GPU hang” errors in the logs.

If anyone has faced this issue or knows possible fixes (maybe graphics driver or kernel-related), please guide me.

Thank you for your help!

Best regards,

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[James Meyer]

On Thursday, September 11, 2025 2:15:25 PM CDT James Meyer wrote:
> What Tom said is a good start.
> Typically this is a graphics driver problem, and when it happens it can lock
> the keyboard,mouse up as well.
>
> If what Tom said doesn't work, then try using ssh from a different computer.
>
> What is the model of the Dell?

>
> On Thursday, September 11, 2025 10:10:13 AM CDT Tom P wrote:
> > I forget that the keystroke is to get a text-mode console-- maybe
> > Ctrl+Alt+Fx where x is 1, 2, 3, 4,or 5. Or is it Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Fx ? Some
> > distros might use that.
> >
> > There should be another virtual terminal available via each Fx key.
> >
> > Once the machine is locked up, try Ctrl+Alt+F2 and see if you get a text
> > mode login prompt. If you can log in, then maybe the desktop or display
> > manager is locking up. You could at least issue a clean reboot command:

> > *sudo reboot now*

> >
> > Actually, you can do this any time, even when the machine is working fine.
> > Issue the key sequence and see what happens. One of the Fx keys-- probably
> > F7 (Ctrl+Alt+F7 maybe) will return you to your current GUI session.
> >
> > If it's just the desktop or display manager that's locked up and you can
> > get a text mode login, there are other troubleshooting steps that I'm sure
> > someone will mention.
> >
> > I recommend you try the Ctrl+Alt+F1 (or F2 or F3 or...) before it locks
> > up.
> > One you've logged in at the text command line, you can noodle around in

> > BASH, then type *exit* or Ctrl+D to log out of that virtual TTY, then

> > switch back to your GUI session with CTRL+ALT+F7 (which I think is
> > CTRL+ALT+F6 on some distros.)
> >
> > Another question: Does the lockup happen at a fixed timeout after your
> > last
> > keystroke or mouse move? Maybe the drivers for power management are buggy
> > or the screen lock timeout has an issue.
> >
> > Anyone else?
> >
> > -T
> >
> > On Thu, Sep 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM Sarah Kim <sarahk...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Hello everyone,
> > >
> > > I’m experiencing a problem with my Linux system and need some advice.
> > >

> > > -
> > >
> > > *Distribution & Version:* Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
> > > -
> > >
> > > *Hardware Details:* Dell Inspiron laptop, Intel i5, 8GB RAM
> > > -
> > >
> > > *Problem Description:* After a recent system update, my laptop keeps

> > > freezing randomly. Sometimes it happens while browsing the web, and
> > > other
> > > times even when the system is idle. I have to force restart every
> > > time.

> > > -
> > >
> > > *Steps Tried So Far:*
> > > -

> > >
> > > Updated all packages using sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

> > > -

> > >
> > > Checked system logs with dmesg and journalctl, but I’m not sure
> > > how
> > > to interpret the errors

> > > -

> > >
> > > Tried booting with the older kernel from GRUB – the problem still
> > > occurs

> > > -
> > >
> > > *Error Messages (if any):* Occasionally I see “GPU hang” errors in

> > > the
> > > logs.
> > >
> > > If anyone has faced this issue or knows possible fixes (maybe graphics
> > > driver or kernel-related), please guide me.
> > >
> > > Thank you for your help!
> > >
> > > Best regards,
> > >
> > > --
> > > Homepage: http://www.milwaukeelug.org/home
> > > This forum online: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/MilwaukeeLUG
> > > ---
> > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> > > Groups
> > > "Milwaukee Linux User's Group" group.
> > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> > > an
> > > email to MilwaukeeLUG...@googlegroups.com.
> > > To view this discussion visit
> > > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/MilwaukeeLUG/d3875d27-e357-416c-b4a8-f
> > > 4c
> > > eb90f1dbdn%40googlegroups.com

> > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/MilwaukeeLUG/d3875d27-e357-416c-b4a8-> > > f
> > > 4ceb90f1dbdn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> .

[Sarah Kim]

Thank you all 

[Tom P]

Did you make any progress?

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/MilwaukeeLUG/771a475a-f595-4ff0-817b-eb0a30096b47n%40googlegroups.com.