Ubuntu freezes and cannot recover without a forced reboot

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Ubuntu Version:
24.04.3 LTS, 64 bit

Desktop Environment:
GNOME 46

Firmware Version:
Q78 Ver. 01.31.00

Kernel Version:
Linux 6.14.0-35-generic

Processor:
Intel Core i5-8350U × 8

Memory:
16GB

Hardware Model:
HP Elitebook 840 G5

Graphics:
Intel UHD Graphics 620 (KBL GT2)

Disk Capacity:
256.1 GB

Problem Description:
My laptop was working fine for a few months, till around 2 weeks ago. It started freezing randomly, with no apparent trigger, sometimes when using chrome, other times just after logging in, sometimes even when I’m not using it actively.

When it freezes, sometimes the screen glitches, like it’s broken. The mouse and keyboard do not work, though the keyboard back light is active and I can even turn it off and on in this state.

I cannot open a virtual console, or perform a safe boot. The only option I have to regain control is to do a hard reboot, which is bad.

Screenshots or Error Messages:
(Logs just after recovering from a freeze)
16:10:00 gdm3: Gdm: on_display_removed: assertion 'GDM_IS_REMOTE_DISPLAY (display)' failed 16:09:57 systemd: Failed to start app-gnome-spice\x2dvdagent-3718.scope - Application launched by gnome-session-binary. 16:09:54 gdm3: Gdm: on_display_added: assertion 'GDM_IS_REMOTE_DISPLAY (display)' failed 16:09:53 gdm-session-wor: gkr-pam: unable to locate daemon control file 16:07:07 canonical-livep: Task "refresh" returned an error: livepatch check failed: POST request to "https://livepatch.canonical.com/v1/client/899ef5e549db4592b52295fce9a340ec/updates" failed, retrying in 1m30s. 16:05:30 login: PAM adding faulty module: pam_lastlog.so 16:05:17 canonical-livep: Task "refresh" returned an error: livepatch check failed: POST request to "https://livepatch.canonical.com/v1/client/899ef5e549db4592b52295fce9a340ec/updates" failed, retrying in 30s. 16:05:14 kernel: snd_hda_codec_conexant hdaudioC0D0: vmaster hook already present before cdev! 16:05:13 (uetoothd): sap-server: Operation not permitted (1) 16:05:13 kernel: Bluetooth: hci0: Reading supported features failed (-16) 16:05:11 kernel: ACPI Error: Aborting method \_SB._OSC due to previous error (AE_AML_BUFFER_LIMIT) (20240827/psparse-529) 16:05:11 kernel: x86/cpu: SGX disabled or unsupported by BIOS.

(Output just before freezing, when switching to a virtual terminal)

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What I’ve Tried:
I have updated and upgraded all my packages. It did not solve the issue.
I have switched between Wayland and Xorg, and the same issue is persistent on both display servers.

1 Like
2

Any chance that you need to open the box and

  • do some dusting, or
  • re-seat some connectors and circuit boards?

Maybe, the internal ribbon-cable(s) are breaking down from “fatigue wear”, causing the loss off signals to/from the display, the keypad or the mousepad.

If you boot from a Live session of DVD/USB, do you still have an issue?

3

@gokumu Welcome to Ubuntu Discourse :slight_smile:

The error messages seem to indicate issues with either the GPU or ACPI (or possibly both).

When you start the computer at the GRUB menu choose the second entry Advanced Options, try and boot an older kernel.

Do the problems still persist?

1 Like
4

I have edited the /etc/default/grub file and I’ll be using Linux kernel version 6.14.0-33-generic. I’ll observe for a few days and give feedback.

2 Likes
5

So, after about a week’s use of Linux kernel version 6.14.0-33-generic, my laptop only hanged once but I suspect that was because of another reason (I disconnected the Ethernet cable) and that was on the 6th day. It’s stable so far.

I am not saying that switching to version 6.14.0-33-generic solved my issue, but I haven’t had any serious freezes so far.

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I recommend you test your RAM health as well.