Computer is freezing 1-2 minutes after logged into Unity

[Britt Yazel]

Computer crashes while in Unity. The crash usually happens 1-2 minutes after initially booting into Unity. It usually happens when doing something graphical, such as opening the dash or using the launcher. The screen will imediately freeze, and will flash black and return to the frozen screen.

I do not know what is causing this issue, but I can verify that it does not happen while in Gnome-Shell, so I believe it is Unity or Compiz releated.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: unity 5.8.0-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-20.32-generic 3.2.12
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-20-generic x86_64
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 1.95-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,vpswitch,snap,mousepoll,resize,place,move,wall,grid,regex,imgpng,session,gnomecompat,animation,fade,unitymtgrabhandles,workarounds,scale,expo,ezoom,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: None
Date: Fri Mar 23 17:21:09 2012
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: precise
DistroVariant: ubuntu
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta amd64 (20120301)
MachineType: EVGA 132-YW-E179-FTW
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-20-generic root=UUID=e13ba62a-6ba1-43f1-8380-8c409080a450 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 09/11/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
dmi.bios.version: 6.00 PG
dmi.board.name: 132-YW-E179-FTW
dmi.board.vendor: EVGA
dmi.board.version: 1
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: EVGA
dmi.chassis.version: 132-YW-E179-FTW
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologies,LTD:bvr6.00PG:bd09/11/2009:svnEVGA:pn132-YW-E179-FTW:pvr1:rvnEVGA:rn132-YW-E179-FTW:rvr1:cvnEVGA:ct3:cvr132-YW-E179-FTW:
dmi.product.name: 132-YW-E179-FTW
dmi.product.version: 1
dmi.sys.vendor: EVGA
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.7.2-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.32-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 8.0.2-0ubuntu2
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 8.0.2-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu7
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.0-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.17.0-1ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20111201+b5534a1-1build2

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

I would like to note that this error does not always happen. It has happened twice how I stated above, but I have been using it stably for the past while without a crash. I do not know if it is a certain combination of things that promps the crash.

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

I have more information to update on this ticket.

This issue happens both with the fglrx drivers as well as the Radeon drivers. The computer will freeze when doing seemingly 'random' graphical things as stated above, but will consistantly freeze immediately when trying to rearrange the screens in the displays tab, as well as if you click the "revert to previous configuration" if you change any option in the displays tab.

This issue ONLY happens on my Cayman card (Radeon HD 6950), and not on my HD 4200 series in my laptop. I believe this issue with consistant desktop freezing and crashing to be attributed to the Cayman graphics card and potentially the xorg server.

[Britt Yazel (bwyazel)]

Any chance on this issue getting some attention before launch? Perhaps this issue is filed under the wrong section. I do not believe it is a Unity issue anymore, because the same issue happens while under Gnome. I believe it is an issue possibly with xorg used in this release and the multihead nature of my Radeon HD 6950.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Britt, sorry but it looks like there is insufficient information still for a developer to be able to look into this bug. Although part of the problem may be that it is assigned to "unity" still, but appears to be a graphics driver problem.

Please review this documentation, which might help:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting/Freeze

[Andrea Azzarone (azzar1)]

Can you still reproduce this?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for Unity because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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