Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

[Eippi]

Hi,

I'm running Kubuntu 7.10 on a Asus A6K laptop and the whole KDE environment is somehow unbelievably unstable. First I thought it would be mainly GTK problem, but the reason seems to be somewhere else. My software crash quite frequently. Usually it's: kwin, kicker, Amarok, Kopete, Inkscape, konqueror or GIMP, and today OpenOffice.org just as I had made a document ready. AND they leave no crashing messages (except for rarely konqueror, kopete, kwin and kicker, the usual crash message in the end) and cannor get e.g. the documents back in oo.o. In konsole it usually shows only "The program has lost it connection to the X-server on 0.0" or something like that.

I've checked my memories for 8h with memtest86+, ran 8 times, got 8 clean runs. My Temps Aren't awfully high (below 70C) and the software crash even when not using very much memory or got much stress.

With a few words: The system is unusable. And it's a pity 'cause I love mu Kubuntu and wouldn't like to back to Windows, just as I've learned to manage it well.

Has anyone got any ideas howto solve this ****, 'cause I'm getting sick and tired running the system this way, never knowing when You'll have to start it all over or when the RTS your playing next time crashes so that your buddies cannot play well...

Crash message from konq:

(no debugging symbols found)
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/tls/i686/cmov/libthread_db.so.1".
(no debugging symbols found)
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[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
[New Thread -1233233712 (LWP 11429)]
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
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[KCrash handler]
#6 0xb7143f30 in QPixmap::convertToImage () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#7 0xb77c944c in KWin::setIcons () from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#8 0xb6bec8ad in KMainWindow::setIcon () from /usr/lib/libkdeui.so.4
#9 0xb6601cf6 in KonqMainWindow::setIcon ()
from /usr/lib/libkdeinit_konqueror.so
#10 0xb65f59a8 in KonqMainWindow::setLocationBarURL ()
from /usr/lib/libkdeinit_konqueror.so
#11 0xb65f5a53 in KonqView::setLocationBarURL ()
from /usr/lib/libkdeinit_konqueror.so
#12 0xb662c9cb in KonqViewManager::setActivePart ()
from /usr/lib/libkdeinit_konqueror.so
#13 0xb662cc2f in KonqViewManager::clear ()
from /usr/lib/libkdeinit_konqueror.so
#14 0xb662ce6b in KonqMainWindow::stayPreloaded ()
from /usr/lib/libkdeinit_konqueror.so
#15 0xb662d2a6 in KonqMainWindow::queryExit ()
from /usr/lib/libkdeinit_konqueror.so
#16 0xb6bc4a00 in KMainWindow::shuttingDown () from /usr/lib/libkdeui.so.4
#17 0xb6d23c61 in KMainWindow::qt_invoke () from /usr/lib/libkdeui.so.4
#18 0xb7f14913 in KParts::MainWindow::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/libkparts.so.2
#19 0xb6644903 in KonqMainWindow::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/libkdeinit_konqueror.so
#20 0xb71f9893 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#21 0xb71fa338 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#22 0xb77aee3c in KApplication::shutDown () from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#23 0xb77aef0e in KApplication:ioErrhandler () from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#24 0xb77aef69 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#25 0xbfc62ec8 in ?? ()
#26 0x08089698 in ?? ()
#27 0xbfc61dd8 in ?? ()
#28 0xb6e1964f in _X11TransRead () from /usr/lib/libX11.so.6
#29 0xb6e0fd4d in _XIOError () from /usr/lib/libX11.so.6
#30 0xb6e10be6 in _XRead () from /usr/lib/libX11.so.6
#31 0xb6e11604 in _XReply () from /usr/lib/libX11.so.6
#32 0xb6e0cd04 in XTranslateCoordinates () from /usr/lib/libX11.so.6
#33 0xb715f14c in QWidget::mapFromGlobal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#34 0xb7345d88 in QTabBar:aint () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#35 0xb7345510 in QTabBar:aintEvent () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#36 0xb7230a79 in QWidget::event () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#37 0xb7343e39 in QTabBar::event () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#38 0xb7190af0 in QApplication::internalNotify () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#39 0xb71934ba in QApplication::notify () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#40 0xb7898ca2 in KApplication::notify () from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#41 0xb7123209 in QApplication::sendEvent () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#42 0xb715d4a5 in QWidget::repaint () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#43 0xb7237955 in QWidget::repaint () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#44 0xb7235a1c in QWidget::repaint () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#45 0xb7112695 in QETWidget::translateConfigEvent ()
from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#46 0xb71200a3 in QApplication:11ProcessEvent () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#47 0xb71371a4 in QEventLoop:rocessEvents () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#48 0xb71ab1ce in QEventLoop::enterLoop () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#49 0xb71aafde in QEventLoop::exec () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#50 0xb7192699 in QApplication::exec () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#51 0xb6642594 in kdemain () from /usr/lib/libkdeinit_konqueror.so
#52 0xb7f29454 in kdeinitmain () from /usr/lib/kde3/konqueror.so
#53 0x0804e67f in ?? ()
#54 0x00000002 in ?? ()
#55 0x080a3748 in ?? ()
#56 0x00000001 in ?? ()
#57 0x00000000 in ?? ()

and kopete:

(no debugging symbols found)
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/tls/i686/cmov/libthread_db.so.1".
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
...
...
(no debugging symbols found)
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
[New Thread -1241368080 (LWP 6233)]
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
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[KCrash handler]
#6 0xb5cc2a55 in DominoStyle::dominoDrawItem ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/plugins/styles/domino.so
#7 0xb5d070a2 in DominoStyle::drawControl ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/plugins/styles/domino.so
#8 0xb72a5cbe in KTabBar:aintLabel () from /usr/lib/libkdeui.so.4
#9 0xb6a10154 in QTabBar:aint () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#10 0xb6a0f510 in QTabBar:aintEvent () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#11 0xb68faa79 in QWidget::event () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#12 0xb6a0de39 in QTabBar::event () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#13 0xb685aaf0 in QApplication::internalNotify () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#14 0xb685d4ba in QApplication::notify () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#15 0xb7020ca2 in KApplication::notify () from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#16 0xb67ed209 in QApplication::sendEvent () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#17 0xb68274a5 in QWidget::repaint () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#18 0xb722e516 in KTabBar::setTabColor () from /usr/lib/libkdeui.so.4
#19 0xb722e594 in KTabWidget::setTabColor () from /usr/lib/libkdeui.so.4
#20 0xb5ab270c in KopeteChatWindow::updateChatState ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_chatwindow.so
#21 0xb5abf815 in KopeteChatWindow::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_chatwindow.so
#22 0xb68c3893 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#23 0xb5ab4240 in ChatView::updateChatState ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_chatwindow.so
#24 0xb5ab69a6 in ChatView::updateChatState ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_chatwindow.so
#25 0xb5ac07b2 in ChatView::setCaption ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_chatwindow.so
#26 0xb5ab611f in ChatView::slotChatDisplayNameChanged ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_chatwindow.so
#27 0xb5ac03ad in ChatView::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_chatwindow.so
#28 0xb68c39c0 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#29 0xb68c4338 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#30 0xb7e9be4c in Kopete::ChatSession::displayNameChanged ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#31 0xb7e9be9e in Kopete::ChatSession::setDisplayName ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#32 0xb56a6e62 in JabberChatSession::slotUpdateDisplayName ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#33 0xb56aad30 in JabberChatSession::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#34 0xb68c39c0 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#35 0xb7ea49ff in Kopete::ChatSession:nlineStatusChanged ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#36 0xb7ed4a7f in Kopete::ChatSession::slotOnlineStatusChanged ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#37 0xb7ef06ed in Kopete::ChatSession::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#38 0xb56aace3 in JabberChatSession::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#39 0xb68c39c0 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#40 0xb7e9c2dc in Kopete::Contact:nlineStatusChanged ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#41 0xb7ea24bf in Kopete::Contact::slotAccountIsConnectedChanged ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#42 0xb7ee5314 in Kopete::Contact::qt_invoke () from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#43 0xb56b0376 in JabberBaseContact::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#44 0xb56b06a3 in JabberContact::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#45 0xb68c39c0 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#46 0xb68c4338 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#47 0xb7e9babc in Kopete::Account::isConnectedChanged ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#48 0xb7ed1329 in Kopete::Account::slotOnlineStatusChanged ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#49 0xb7ed7392 in Kopete::Account::qt_invoke () from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#50 0xb7ed7456 in Kopete::PasswordedAccount::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#51 0xb56b2783 in JabberAccount::qt_invoke ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#52 0xb68c39c0 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#53 0xb7e9c2dc in Kopete::Contact:nlineStatusChanged ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#54 0xb7ed6fa7 in Kopete::Contact::setOnlineStatus ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#55 0xb56affd5 in JabberBaseContact::reevaluateStatus ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#56 0xb56b0a38 in JabberResourcePool::notifyRelevantContacts ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#57 0xb56b10c9 in JabberResourcePool::addResource ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#58 0xb56b1951 in JabberAccount::setPresence ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#59 0xb56b1b88 in JabberAccount::disconnect ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#60 0xb56b1f05 in JabberAccount::disconnect ()
from /usr/lib/kde3/kopete_jabber.so
#61 0xb7ec5d06 in Kopete::Protocol::aboutToUnload ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#62 0xb7ee3e7e in Kopete::PluginManager::shutdown ()
from /usr/lib/libkopete.so.1
#63 0x0807229f in ?? ()
#64 0x08256d10 in ?? ()
#65 0xb73c3f64 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libkdeui.so.4
#66 0xbf846368 in ?? ()
#67 0xb71f9a00 in KMainWindow::shuttingDown () from /usr/lib/libkdeui.so.4
Backtrace stopped: frame did not save the PC

[SheeEttin]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

Both seem to be caused by graphics problems...
What's your video hardware? Which driver are you using?

Also consider a reinstall. If you're going to do it anyway, might as well try it. Something might've gotten corrupted during the installation.

[Eippi]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

I have Nvidia 6200 GO (64mb inside, 192mb shared). I had nvidia-new, but I just chanced it to nvidia as I decided to try if the problem is there. So I'll check if this will solve it all.

Feel pretty stupid for not checking the driver earlier. =)

[cantab]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

Change the driver to nv, and for good measure uninstall the nvidia-glx package

If this fixes the problem, then unfortunately it's due to the proprietary drivers. Because it's a binary blob with a thin 'layer' to interface with the kernel, it's difficult to satisfactorily troubleshoot. Your only recourse might be to try different combinations of driver and kernel version.

[marshallbanana]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

Or given the list of apps you have had problems with just disable the proprietory drivers. If you don't do anything that needs 3d (ie. running compiz) then you don't need them.

PS. I have an ASUS A6 series laptop as well and kubuntu runs fine. So whatever the problem is it should be solvable.

[Eippi]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

Well I play TA-Spring and use Blender sometimes, so disabling them fully is no option, but I guess I'll have to test the nv option. (The changing the nvidia-glx-new to nvidia-glx didn't solve the problem, my kwin and amarok crashed today without any crash message and konqueror with the same traceback as usual.)

[marek_online]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

Is your Asus using an AMD64 processor?

I had all kinds of driver problems with the nvidia driver and my Turion-based HP laptop. Have just had to chuck the driver completely and fall back to the nv driver.

There are a whole rake of issues that are 64-bit related in the latest nvidia drivers. There was supposed to be an updated driver released about three weeks ago but no joy yet.

There's a couple of hints here that might be of some use:
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=58498

Keep an eye particularly for the "iommu=off" boot option hint.

[Eippi]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

I have an AMD mobile Sempron 32-bit.

I'm now testing the nv driver, and so far no crashes, but they usually come just I have reported that there are none. =)

I was just wondering, that could the problem be somehow realted with the fact that my graphics card uses (a bit) shared memory (192mb)?

[Eippi]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

I've been on my computer for about 6 hours now today (just surfing, chatting ang listening music) and the result is:
- 3 kopete crashes
- 1 kwin crash
- 1 kicker crash (after which it was able to start itself again)
- 1 kdesktop crash
- 2 amarok crashes
- almost 10 konqueror crashes (+ 2 or 3 netscape plugin crashes with Adobe flash 9)

All these while using the nv driver. Heats are now about 50C in the core.

[dibl]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

Have you tried running on the Live CD for any length of time? It's not very responsive, but it would be interesting to see if your hardware behaves the same when only the Live CD is running it.

Another interesting experiment would be to run a different (non-*buntu) OS on Live CD -- I think Fedora has one that you can download, and Elive has a nice one but it takes forever to download the development version and he wants money for the stable version.

[Cherax]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

This *really* sounds heat-related. Have you tried an inexpensive laptop cooler, the type with two little usb-powered fans? I had lockup problems with my IBM Thinkpad on warm days; the cooler eliminated the problem. Temperature sensors are useful, but may not reveal a hotspot somewhere inside the box.

[Eippi]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

Cherax, where can one find those? Can You suggest a model or a manufacturer? I have no idea, what one like that would look like =)

[Fintan]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

You could start here:
http://www.nextag.com/usb-powered-fan/search-html
brought to you by google

[Eippi]

Re: Whole Kubuntu 7.10 OS unbelievably unstable

Thank You. =) I managed to find some of antecs products from a finnish retailers website.

Now I have made myself a cheap mans version and put 2 sticks under my laptop to see if the heat really is the problem. The air flow seems to be quite good with only the sticks. I'm just wondering that why I didn't have any problems with my Windows installation... but anyhow I'm trying to solve this out now and my Fedora live CD got just burned so It's time to try it out.