X continuously freezing with /usr/share/apport/apport-gpu-error-intel.py error afterward

[Ubu4u]

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS rendered completely unusable on my Lenovo T520. After only 5-10 minutes of use, X freezes. To reproduce it, all I need to do is browse the web or open random programs and files. About 75% of the time after a reboot, I will be asked for file a bug report for the "/usr/share/apport/apport-gpu-error-intel.py" executable.

The problem appears to have started a few days ago during one of the latest kernel updates. I have searched around the Internet and found numerous people reporting the same problem, which appeared around the same time, e.g.,

http://askubuntu.com/questions/270839/usr-share-apport-apport-gpu-error-intel-py-error

^--- this is only one of many posts about the same problem, around the same time frame. There are others on Ubuntu Answers and there are also some recent, similar bug reports.

I am running a Lenovo T520 with an "Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)" video chipset

When I look in /var/crash at the crash reports themselves, I see information like the following:

Date: Mon Mar 25 16:44:33 2013
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
DuplicateSignature: [sandybridge-m-gt2+] GPU lockup render.IPEHR: 0x86161616 Ubuntu 12.04
ExecutablePath: /usr/share/apport/apport-gpu-error-intel.py
ExecutableTimestamp: 1334349122

apport-gpu-error-intel.py

[Ubu4u (bj7u6139zdyf2a6nz2ly74oec10f2lnela24rsgd389d0elot5a7jz6hawymvsdk8c4sd6srfzh4i-info-jjcftv6wldnzq84cskygyvhqqb9qwjfcq0yfnwzcca0ux8ircw2a3om624q2ycdp941uw5474gcdb)]

I've attached the files requested from this page

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting/Freeze

Based on the symptoms, this is definitely an X freeze and not a crash.

[Ubu4u (bj7u6139zdyf2a6nz2ly74oec10f2lnela24rsgd389d0elot5a7jz6hawymvsdk8c4sd6srfzh4i-info-jjcftv6wldnzq84cskygyvhqqb9qwjfcq0yfnwzcca0ux8ircw2a3om624q2ycdp941uw5474gcdb)]

Related bugs (Lenovo's using the same/similar Intel chipsets):

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1159317
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1158108

Please let me know if there's any other information I can provide.

[Ubu4u (bj7u6139zdyf2a6nz2ly74oec10f2lnela24rsgd389d0elot5a7jz6hawymvsdk8c4sd6srfzh4i-info-jjcftv6wldnzq84cskygyvhqqb9qwjfcq0yfnwzcca0ux8ircw2a3om624q2ycdp941uw5474gcdb)]

I did some further testing and found that the X GPU freeze most often occurs when the Docky app is being scrolled over. I remember seeing a similar post mentioning that they were experiencing a GPU lockup/freeze during transparency rendering (this would make sense with Docky).

The affected computer is a work computer, and if I'm not able to resolve the issue within the next couple of days, my plan is to try to revert to a previous kernel, and if that is not possible, uninstall Ubuntu all together and install Fedora or Mint to see if their repos are less buggy.

[Ubu4u (bj7u6139zdyf2a6nz2ly74oec10f2lnela24rsgd389d0elot5a7jz6hawymvsdk8c4sd6srfzh4i-info-jjcftv6wldnzq84cskygyvhqqb9qwjfcq0yfnwzcca0ux8ircw2a3om624q2ycdp941uw5474gcdb)]

Found another (possibly) related bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/1159255

[Ubu4u (bj7u6139zdyf2a6nz2ly74oec10f2lnela24rsgd389d0elot5a7jz6hawymvsdk8c4sd6srfzh4i-info-jjcftv6wldnzq84cskygyvhqqb9qwjfcq0yfnwzcca0ux8ircw2a3om624q2ycdp941uw5474gcdb)]

I've also just installed the 3.5.0-25 kernel with "sudo apt-get install linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic linux-headers-3.5.0-25-generic". I've just tested a bit with the 3.5.0-25 kernel and the GPU crashes seem to have stopped!!!!!!!!

I have so many questions at this point, e.g.:

1) Was the 3.2.0-40 kernel version on my Ubuntu 12.04 LTS machine there because all the software for that version of Ubuntu has not been deemed compatible with it? Why was a newer version not used?

2) Now that I've changed my kernel, will I be receiving automatic software updates OK?

3) What is the best way to keep up to date on the fix for this issue? This is all very cool, I want to help out as much as possible.

[phobos (b3phobos)]

Hi guys.
Ubuntu 12.10 x86. I installed the 3.5.0-27-generic and the problem is still present. I went down to the kernel 3.5.0-25, errors appear, but I can work.

[phobos (b3phobos)]

Here is my /var/crash

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Domenico (domenico-somma)]

I have the same problem after last upgrade (on precise).
[code]
domenico@studenti-System-Product-Name:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller (rev 09)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200/2nd Generation Core Processor Family PCI Express Root Port (rev 09)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 (rev 05)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 05)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev b5)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev b5)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 3 (rev b5)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev b5)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev b5)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 6 (rev b5)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 (rev 05)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation H61 Express Chipset Family LPC Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 4 port SATA IDE Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.5 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 2 port SATA IDE Controller (rev 05)
04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 06)
06:00.0 PCI bridge: ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1083/1085 PCIe to PCI Bridge (rev 01)
domenico@studenti-System-Product-Name:~$
[/code]