Computer not switching off properly

[phontanka]

My problem is this: when I want to shut down my computer it starts the shutdown process but at the end of it it doesn't actually switch off. It stays under power and I see a black screen. At this time I usually hear a short sound from the computer as if it was trying to switch itself off, but it somehow can't.

I run Kubuntu and this issue has been permanent ever since the first edition of Kubuntu. Probably important: this doesn't happen with Windows on the same computer and neither happens on my old computer with Kubuntu.

[SheeEttin]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

When this happens, does the cursor stay and remain usable?

There's been a few threads on this, and the only fix that works for some people is to add the line "TermianteServer=true" to the [X-:*-Core] section of /etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc. This fix didn't work for me on Edgy, but I haven't tried it since upgrading.

[phontanka]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

No, unfortunately the cursor doesn't stay. After the short "switching sound" the monitor goes black. Then all I can do is push the power button and then the computer turns off.

[bugmenot]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

seems like it's hibernating instead of switching itself off.

[phontanka]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

Just tried again with Feisty. The blue Kubuntu word and the blue/black line showing how much of the system has been loaded/closed stayed on the screen but there was no cursor. And there was no "switching sound".

Edgy had a completely black screen without a cursor and a short "switching sound".

[SheeEttin]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

Hmm.

What happens if you run "sudo shutdown -h now" from a terminal? Does it shut down properly?

Try also going into the Grub menu (when booting). Find the entry for your usual boot, and hit E. Select the "kernel" line, and hit E again. Go to the very end of the line, and remove only the words "quiet" and "splash". Hit enter, then hit B. It will boot without the splash loader. When it's done, just shut down your usual way. Watch what happens, and post anything useful you see.

[phontanka]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

I'vejust tried both of these. "sudo shutdown -h now" does the same as hitting the power off button. Shutting down without the splash loader is the same, except that at the end it prints "Will now halt" and "Power down". But it stays on until I physically switch the computer off.

Is it possible that this is kind of a hardware issue that only fools Kubuntu? (I had many versions of Windows on this machine without such problem and also Suse 10 and 10.1.)

[SheeEttin]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

Actually, I think I just hit the same problem.
The solution is here. I don't feel like typing it all out again. :P

[phontanka]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

Thank you. I tried this too, but Kubuntu still ends with the splash screen...

[marshallbanana]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

Try this, its a thread on a similar theme for edgy:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php?topic=10455.0

[insmod]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

I had the same problem -- This may or may not be the fix for you but here is what worked for me.
after looking at my logs i noticed a bug in ndiswrapper. It reloads itself. Thus an infinite loop occurs. Looking like it is stalled.

solution

in your favorite editor - mine is mcedit

sudo mcedit /etc/init.d/halt

at the top add

rmmod ndiswrapper

that's it. Might I add this wouldn't be needed for ME if Atheros worked in the new kubuntu. But that's another issue, yours is ndiswrapper.

[phontanka]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

Thanks for your suggestions. This is the situation now:

- /etc/init.d/halt has got rmmod ndiswrapper at the top.
- TermianteServer=true has been uncommented in /etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc
- /boot/grub/menu.lst has got acpi=force and apm=power-off in the boot parameters in the kernel lines

And guess what: this thing still doesn't power off. Have you possibly got any other ideas?

[Delphi]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

I have much the same problem myself. When I use the shutdown option in the K-menu the computer halts at "sending Kill-signal" (or somthing in that part of the shutdown process), but never actually shuts down. I have made a post on these forums, but I didn't get any helpful replies. I ended up using "sudo init 0" to shut down my computer, since it it is the only command that worked, and I was to lazy to continue to try and figure out the solution. Maybe that command will work for you too.

- Delphi

[SheeEttin]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

Delphi: your problem is that a process isn't terminating (or isn't terminating correctly) and is stopping the shutdown. This might be the ndiswrapper problem mentioned above.

[insmod]

Re: Computer not switching off properly

look in /var/log/messages