mint 9 64-bit: mintupdate periodically hangs gnome-orca

[Kyle]

Running 64-bit Mint 9. I have installed gnome-orca because I am vision impaired and need speech output. But about every 10 minutes gnome-orca hangs for about 3 to 5 minutes, after which time it begins working again for about another 5 to 10 minutes, continuing this cycle indefinitely. Also, restarting gnome-orca several times, or even as many as 10 or more times, I can get things working again somewhat more quickly until the next hang. After discussion on gnome-orca's email list, it has been determined that mintupdate is somehow hanging either gnome-orca or at-spi. I include here a snapshot of memory and cpu usage of all processes while mintupdate is hanging gnome-orca or at-spi.

uptime

 16:42:18 up 23:36, 3 users, load average: 0.39, 0.28, 0.49

ps -e -o %cpu,cmd | sort -n

 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0 acpid -c /etc/acpi/events -s /var/run/acpid.socket
 0.0 [aio/0]
 0.0 [aio/1]
 0.0 [async/mgr]
 0.0 [ata/0]
 0.0 [ata/1]
 0.0 [ata_aux]
 0.0 atd
 0.0 avahi-daemon: chroot helper
 0.0 avahi-daemon: registering [mint.local]
 0.0 bash
 0.0 -bash
 0.0 [bdi-default]
 0.0 /bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print-pid 5 --print-address 9 --session
 0.0 /bin/login --
 0.0 /bin/sh -c gnome-terminal
 0.0 /bin/sh -c /home/kyle/reset
 0.0 /bin/sh -c /usr/bin/compiz-decorator
 0.0 /bin/sh /home/kyle/reset
 0.0 [bluetooth]
 0.0 bluetooth-applet
 0.0 [cpuset]
 0.0 cron
 0.0 [crypto/0]
 0.0 [crypto/1]
 0.0 dbus-daemon --system --fork
 0.0 [ecryptfs-kthrea]
 0.0 [edac-poller]
 0.0 [events/0]
 0.0 [events/1]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [flush-8:0]
 0.0 gdm-binary
 0.0 gnome-panel
 0.0 gnome-power-manager
 0.0 gnome-pty-helper
 0.0 gnome-session
 0.0 hald-addon-acpi: listening on acpid socket /var/run/acpid.socket
 0.0 hald-addon-input: Listening on /dev/input/event5 /dev/input/event4 /dev/input/event0 /dev/input/event1
 0.0 hald-addon-storage: polling /dev/sr0 (every 2 sec)
 0.0 hald-addon-storage: polling /dev/sr1 (every 2 sec)
 0.0 hald-runner
 0.0 [jbd2/sda1-8]
 0.0 [jbd2/sda2-8]
 0.0 [kacpid]
 0.0 [kacpi_hotplug]
 0.0 [kacpi_notify]
 0.0 [kblockd/0]
 0.0 [kblockd/1]
 0.0 [kconservative/0]
 0.0 [kconservative/1]
 0.0 [kgameportd]
 0.0 [khelper]
 0.0 [khpsbpkt]
 0.0 [khubd]
 0.0 [khungtaskd]
 0.0 [kintegrityd/0]
 0.0 [kintegrityd/1]
 0.0 [kmmcd]
 0.0 [kmpathd/0]
 0.0 [kmpathd/1]
 0.0 [kmpath_handlerd]
 0.0 [knodemgrd_0]
 0.0 [kondemand/0]
 0.0 [kondemand/1]
 0.0 [kpsmoused]
 0.0 [krfcommd]
 0.0 [kseriod]
 0.0 [ksmd]
 0.0 [ksnapd]
 0.0 [ksoftirqd/0]
 0.0 [ksoftirqd/1]
 0.0 [kstriped]
 0.0 [ksuspend_usbd]
 0.0 [kswapd0]
 0.0 [kthreadd]
 0.0 [migration/0]
 0.0 [migration/1]
 0.0 [netns]
 0.0 NetworkManager
 0.0 nm-applet --sm-disable
 0.0 nmbd -D
 0.0 [pm]
 0.0 ps -e -o %cpu,cmd
 0.0 python /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintUpdate/mintUpdate.py
 0.0 [radeon/0]
 0.0 [radeon/1]
 0.0 rsyslogd -c4
 0.0 /sbin/dhclient -d -sf /usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action -pf /var/run/dhclient-eth1.pid -lf /var/lib/dhcp3/dhclient-99177cef-4276-486d-8420-fccc550f56f7-eth1.lease -cf /var/run/nm-dhclient-eth1.conf eth1
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty2
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty3
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty4
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty5
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty6
 0.0 /sbin/init
 0.0 /sbin/wpa_supplicant -u -s
 0.0 [scsi_eh_0]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_1]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_2]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_4]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_5]
 0.0 smbd -F
 0.0 smbd -F
 0.0 sort -n
 0.0 speech-dispatcher
 0.0 [sync_supers]
 0.0 [ttm_swap]
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udisks-daemon: polling /dev/sr1 /dev/sr0
 0.0 upstart-udev-bridge --daemon
 0.0 [usbhid_resumer]
 0.0 /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session
 0.0 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --start --components=ssh
 0.0 /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver
 0.0 /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator
 0.0 /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session
 0.0 /usr/lib/bonobo-activation/bonobo-activation-server --ac-activate --ior-output-fd=17
 0.0 /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-session-worker
 0.0 /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-simple-slave --display-id /org/gnome/DisplayManager/Display1
 0.0 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/clock-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_ClockApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=27
 0.0 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/notification-area-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_NotificationAreaApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=39
 0.0 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/wnck-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_Wncklet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=21
 0.0 /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon/gnome-settings-daemon
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-afc-volume-monitor
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-burn --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/1
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-computer --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/3
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-http --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/2
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-metadata
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-trash --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/0
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs//gvfs-fuse-daemon /home/kyle/.gvfs
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gdu-volume-monitor
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gphoto2-volume-monitor
 0.0 /usr/lib/hal/hald-addon-cpufreq
 0.0 /usr/lib/hal/hald-addon-rfkill-killswitch
 0.0 /usr/lib/indicator-applet/indicator-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_IndicatorApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=33
 0.0 /usr/lib/indicator-application/indicator-application-service
 0.0 /usr/lib/indicator-sound/indicator-sound-service
 0.0 /usr/lib/libgconf2-4/gconfd-2
 0.0 /usr/lib/notify-osd/notify-osd
 0.0 /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1
 0.0 /usr/lib/policykit-1/polkitd
 0.0 /usr/lib/pulseaudio/pulse/gconf-helper
 0.0 /usr/lib/rtkit/rtkit-daemon
 0.0 /usr/lib/udisks/udisks-daemon
 0.0 /usr/lib/upower/upowerd
 0.0 /usr/sbin/bluetoothd --udev
 0.0 /usr/sbin/console-kit-daemon --no-daemon
 0.0 /usr/sbin/cupsd -C /etc/cups/cupsd.conf
 0.0 /usr/sbin/hald
 0.0 /usr/sbin/irqbalance
 0.0 /usr/sbin/modem-manager
 0.0 [watchdog/0]
 0.0 [watchdog/1]
%CPU CMD
 0.1 [scsi_eh_3]
 0.2 nautilus
 0.3 gnome-terminal
 0.4 /usr/bin/compiz
 0.4 /usr/lib/at-spi/at-spi-registryd
 0.5
 0.5 pidgin
 1.3 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --start --log-target=syslog
 1.5 /usr/bin/X :0 -nr -verbose -auth /var/run/gdm/auth-for-gdm-Y0s9LU/database -nolisten tcp vt7
 3.4 /usr/bin/python -c import orca.orca; orca.orca.main() --replace

ps -e -o %mem,cmd | sort -n

 0.0
 0.0
 0.0 acpid -c /etc/acpi/events -s /var/run/acpid.socket
 0.0 [aio/0]
 0.0 [aio/1]
 0.0 [async/mgr]
 0.0 [ata/0]
 0.0 [ata/1]
 0.0 [ata_aux]
 0.0 atd
 0.0 avahi-daemon: chroot helper
 0.0 avahi-daemon: registering [mint.local]
 0.0 [bdi-default]
 0.0 /bin/login --
 0.0 /bin/sh -c gnome-terminal
 0.0 /bin/sh -c /home/kyle/reset
 0.0 /bin/sh -c /usr/bin/compiz-decorator
 0.0 /bin/sh /home/kyle/reset
 0.0 [bluetooth]
 0.0 [cpuset]
 0.0 cron
 0.0 [crypto/0]
 0.0 [crypto/1]
 0.0 [ecryptfs-kthrea]
 0.0 [edac-poller]
 0.0 [events/0]
 0.0 [events/1]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [flush-8:0]
 0.0 gnome-pty-helper
 0.0 hald-addon-acpi: listening on acpid socket /var/run/acpid.socket
 0.0 hald-addon-input: Listening on /dev/input/event5 /dev/input/event4 /dev/input/event0 /dev/input/event1
 0.0 hald-addon-storage: polling /dev/sr0 (every 2 sec)
 0.0 hald-addon-storage: polling /dev/sr1 (every 2 sec)
 0.0 hald-runner
 0.0 [jbd2/sda1-8]
 0.0 [jbd2/sda2-8]
 0.0 [kacpid]
 0.0 [kacpi_hotplug]
 0.0 [kacpi_notify]
 0.0 [kblockd/0]
 0.0 [kblockd/1]
 0.0 [kconservative/0]
 0.0 [kconservative/1]
 0.0 [kgameportd]
 0.0 [khelper]
 0.0 [khpsbpkt]
 0.0 [khubd]
 0.0 [khungtaskd]
 0.0 [kintegrityd/0]
 0.0 [kintegrityd/1]
 0.0 [kmmcd]
 0.0 [kmpathd/0]
 0.0 [kmpathd/1]
 0.0 [kmpath_handlerd]
 0.0 [knodemgrd_0]
 0.0 [kondemand/0]
 0.0 [kondemand/1]
 0.0 [kpsmoused]
 0.0 [krfcommd]
 0.0 [kseriod]
 0.0 [ksmd]
 0.0 [ksnapd]
 0.0 [ksoftirqd/0]
 0.0 [ksoftirqd/1]
 0.0 [kstriped]
 0.0 [ksuspend_usbd]
 0.0 [kswapd0]
 0.0 [kthreadd]
 0.0 [migration/0]
 0.0 [migration/1]
 0.0 [netns]
 0.0 nmbd -D
 0.0 [pm]
 0.0 ps -e -o %mem,cmd
 0.0 [radeon/0]
 0.0 [radeon/1]
 0.0 rsyslogd -c4
 0.0 /sbin/dhclient -d -sf /usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action -pf /var/run/dhclient-eth1.pid -lf /var/lib/dhcp3/dhclient-99177cef-4276-486d-8420-fccc550f56f7-eth1.lease -cf /var/run/nm-dhclient-eth1.conf eth1
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty2
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty3
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty4
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty5
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty6
 0.0 /sbin/init
 0.0 /sbin/wpa_supplicant -u -s
 0.0 [scsi_eh_0]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_1]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_2]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_3]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_4]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_5]
 0.0 smbd -F
 0.0 smbd -F
 0.0 sort -n
 0.0 [sync_supers]
 0.0 [ttm_swap]
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udisks-daemon: polling /dev/sr1 /dev/sr0
 0.0 upstart-udev-bridge --daemon
 0.0 [usbhid_resumer]
 0.0 /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session
 0.0 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --start --components=ssh
 0.0 /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session
 0.0 /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-session-worker
 0.0 /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-simple-slave --display-id /org/gnome/DisplayManager/Display1
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-afc-volume-monitor
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-burn --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/1
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-computer --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/3
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-metadata
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-trash --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/0
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs//gvfs-fuse-daemon /home/kyle/.gvfs
 0.0 /usr/lib/hal/hald-addon-cpufreq
 0.0 /usr/lib/hal/hald-addon-rfkill-killswitch
 0.0 /usr/lib/pulseaudio/pulse/gconf-helper
 0.0 /usr/lib/rtkit/rtkit-daemon
 0.0 /usr/sbin/bluetoothd --udev
 0.0 /usr/sbin/cupsd -C /etc/cups/cupsd.conf
 0.0 /usr/sbin/irqbalance
 0.0 [watchdog/0]
 0.0 [watchdog/1]
%MEM CMD
 0.1 -bash
 0.1 /bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print-pid 5 --print-address 9 --session
 0.1 dbus-daemon --system --fork
 0.1 gdm-binary
 0.1 NetworkManager
 0.1 speech-dispatcher
 0.1 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd
 0.1 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-http --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/2
 0.1 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gdu-volume-monitor
 0.1 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gphoto2-volume-monitor
 0.1 /usr/lib/indicator-application/indicator-application-service
 0.1 /usr/lib/indicator-sound/indicator-sound-service
 0.1 /usr/lib/policykit-1/polkitd
 0.1 /usr/lib/udisks/udisks-daemon
 0.1 /usr/lib/upower/upowerd
 0.1 /usr/sbin/console-kit-daemon --no-daemon
 0.1 /usr/sbin/hald
 0.1 /usr/sbin/modem-manager
 0.2
 0.2 gnome-power-manager
 0.2 /usr/lib/bonobo-activation/bonobo-activation-server --ac-activate --ior-output-fd=17
 0.2 /usr/lib/libgconf2-4/gconfd-2
 0.2 /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1
 0.3 bash
 0.3 bluetooth-applet
 0.3 gnome-session
 0.3 nm-applet --sm-disable
 0.3 /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver
 0.3 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/notification-area-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_NotificationAreaApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=39
 0.4 /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon/gnome-settings-daemon
 0.4 /usr/lib/indicator-applet/indicator-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_IndicatorApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=33
 0.5
 0.5 /usr/bin/compiz
 0.5 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/clock-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_ClockApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=27
 0.6 /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator
 0.6 /usr/lib/at-spi/at-spi-registryd
 0.7 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --start --log-target=syslog
 0.7 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/wnck-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_Wncklet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=21
 0.7 /usr/lib/notify-osd/notify-osd
 0.9 gnome-panel
 1.2 gnome-terminal
 1.2 python /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintUpdate/mintUpdate.py
 1.2 /usr/bin/X :0 -nr -verbose -auth /var/run/gdm/auth-for-gdm-Y0s9LU/database -nolisten tcp vt7
 2.4 pidgin
 3.1 /usr/bin/python -c import orca.orca; orca.orca.main() --replace
10.3 nautilus

Also, if mintupdate puts an icon in my notification panel recommending that I install updates and I open it, gnome-orca will stop completely and only a reboot can bring it back. If I manually kill mintupdate or remove it using apt, my periodic hang problem is solved, so it does look as though either mintupdate or something it calls is causing this proglem.

[Ikey Doherty (ikey)]

Hi, thank you for reporting this issue!

I will have to do a multitude of tests
to get to the bottom of this issue. I'll
get back to you as soon as I have anything.

Thanks!