12.04 freezing after update to 3.2.0-55/56

[Tim Crowther]

After the most recent kernel upgrade to 12.04 released on or about November 8th 2013 my machine started to freeze after a variable period of use but only a few minutes in each case. The only thing I could then do was to power down and reboot - file system errors were usually found on restart. fsck was able to fix those. I have never previously had any such problems.

Two full passes with Memcheck found no errors and disk utility reports no disk errors - read error rate is 0, reallocated sector count is 0.

I have enabled the Grub menu and am now using 3.2.0-54 with no problems at all.

The kernel and system logs do appear to show call stack dumps and 'BUG' messages.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.2.0-54-generic-pae 3.2.0-54.82
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-54.82-generic-pae 3.2.50
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-54-generic-pae i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu17.6
Architecture: i386
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: VT1708B 8-Ch Analog [VT1708B 8-Ch Analog]
   Subdevices: 2/2
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
   Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: tim 1653 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: tim 1653 F...m pulseaudio
CRDA:
 country GB:
  (2402 - 2482 @ 40), (N/A, 20)
  (5170 - 5250 @ 40), (N/A, 20)
  (5250 - 5330 @ 40), (N/A, 20), DFS
  (5490 - 5710 @ 40), (N/A, 27), DFS
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xf9ffc000 irq 44'
   Mixer name : 'VIA VT1708B 8-Ch'
   Components : 'HDA:1106e721,104382ea,00100100'
   Controls : 45
   Simple ctrls : 20
Date: Sun Nov 10 11:13:07 2013
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=0eec47a6-66e1-4ebf-9bbd-06f927a182f3
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release i386 (20120423)
MachineType: System manufacturer System Product Name
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB:

ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-54-generic-pae root=UUID=3750354b-b3b5-411f-ad7f-62fbedf289f4 ro quiet splash
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.2.0-54-generic-pae N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.2.0-54-generic-pae N/A
 linux-firmware 1.79.7
RfKill:
 0: phy0: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: no
  Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 04/10/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 0511
dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: P5KPL-AM
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
dmi.board.version: x.xx
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr0511:bd04/10/2009:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnP5KPL-AM:rvrx.xx:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: System Product Name
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream stable kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.2 stable kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.2.52-precise/

[Tim Crowther (ti4)]

I have not been able to test the upstream kernel - it seems to be unable to set my graphics card to produce any output.

However, I have been able to create a fresh install of 12.04 on a different hard disk - the other hardware exactly the same, just a different hard disk. I started with the original 12.04 CD and then took all the available updates including 3.2.0-56 so that the setup should have been as near as possible the same as the one that caused trouble.

The result is - it seems to run just fine. Hence at the moment my assumption is that the problem was due to some unidentified mishap during the update to 3.2.0-56.

I am intending to do an install of 13.10 to a different hard disk. When I have that established as a working environment I will try a surface scan of the disk with the problem setup and perhaps try to uninstall and reinstall 3.2.0-56 to see what happens.

I do have a copy of the relevant kernel log showing call stack dumps and 'BUG' messages that I could add if you think it would be of any help. Otherwise I will update this report if I can find anything that might be of interest when I am in a position to investigate further.

[Tim Crowther (ti4)]

Having put some effort into testing I am unable to make the problem recur.
I have to conclude that I had some transient hardware problem with this machine that just happened to occur a few hours after the upgrade to 3.2.0-56 was made. As of the next day nothing like it has happened again.
I have reseated the ram cards as a precautionary measure.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]