[HP ZBook 15 Mobile Workstation] Ubuntu 14.10 random freeze and lock up with NVIDIA

[ALU]

Ubuntu 14.10 has random freezes and lock ups while using NVIDIA 331.113.

WORKAROUND: Use nouveau.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10
Package: linux-image-3.16.0-28-generic 3.16.0-28.38
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-28.38-generic 3.16.7-ckt1
Uname: Linux 3.16.0-28-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: afan 9511 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: afan 9511 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: KDE
Date: Wed Dec 24 16:49:50 2014
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-12-23 (1 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" - Release amd64 (20141022.1)
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP ZBook 15
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-28-generic root=UUID=31ffafeb-d84a-4173-81a4-99a3bde628f3 ro quiet splash rcutree.rcu_idle_gp_delay=1
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.16.0-28-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.16.0-28-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.138
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 08/13/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.bios.version: L70 Ver. 01.21
dmi.board.name: 1909
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: KBC Version 94.53
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: USH446L1YV
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvrL70Ver.01.21:bd08/13/2014:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPZBook15:pvrA3009DD10203:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn1909:rvrKBCVersion94.53:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.name: HP ZBook 15
dmi.product.version: A3009DD10203
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[ALU (c-launchpadmail)]

I have updated the BIOS.

(
  Asside:
  For any other ZBook users note that the directions at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BIOSUpdate are
  incorrect as there is no README in the download from HP.
  Instead, on Boot press "ESC" to get into the BIOS setup and follow the instructions in the "BIOS Upgrade" section.
)

After having upgraded the BIOS I changed NVIDIA back to the "NVIDIA - Power mode"

$ cat /proc/acpi/bbswitch
0000:01:00.0 ON

And now can confirm that this issue still occurs.

Changing to confirmed as per instructions and posting updated BIOS data.

$ sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date
L70 Ver. 01.30
12/08/2014

[ALU (c-launchpadmail)]

As per comment #4

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Anonymous Linux User, thank you for the information. The article has been revamped, and among those changes, to include what you have advised.

Despite this, a few follow up questions:
+ Did this not occur with a prior version of the NVIDIA proprietary drivers?
+ Does this happen with nouveau?
+ Did this happen in a prior release?

[ALU (c-launchpadmail)]

+ Did this not occur with a prior version of the NVIDIA proprietary drivers?

Unknown. This is a fresh install.

+ Does this happen with nouveau?

It did not.

+ Did this happen in a prior release?

Unknown. This is a fresh install on a new machine but there is a bug opened for Ubuntu 14.04 on the same laptop model by someone else at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1310762?comments=all

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for nvidia-graphics-drivers-331 (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Anonymous Linux User, could you please test the latest version of the nvidia driver (346.47) and advise to the results?

If it's reproducible, could you please test a prior version of the nvidia driver as outlined in https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia and advise to the results?

[ALU (c-launchpadmail)]

Christopher,

I tried. Running the program from http://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/82252/en-us

as "sudo ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-346.47.run"

results in the following:
----------------------------
nvidia-installer log file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log'
creation time: Wed Mar 4 14:44:37 2015
installer version: 346.47

PATH: /usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

nvidia-installer command line:
    ./nvidia-installer

Using: nvidia-installer ncurses user interface
-> Detected 8 CPUs online; setting concurrency level to 8.
WARNING: You do not appear to have an NVIDIA GPU supported by the 346.47 NVIDIA Linux graphics driver installed in this system. For further details, please see the appendix SUPPORTED NVIDIA GRAPHICS CHIPS in the README available on the Linux driver download page at www.nvidia.com.

-------------------------

I find the statement odd as my card is listed by lspci as

$ lspci | grep -i nvid
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GK107GLM [Quadro K1100M] (rev ff)
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GK107 HDMI Audio Controller (rev ff)

which is on the list. It then asks me if I want to continue with the installation.

Continue?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for nvidia-graphics-drivers-331 (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[ALU (c-launchpadmail)]

Upgraded to Kubuntu 15.04 and with that came nvidia 346.59

 ( 346.59-0ubuntu1 )

$ uname -a
Linux redacted 3.19.0-16-generic #16-Ubuntu SMP Thu Apr 30 16:09:58 UTC 2015 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

$ dpkg --list | grep 346.59
ii libcuda1-346 346.59-0ubuntu1 amd64 NVIDIA CUDA runtime library
ii libxnvctrl0 346.59-0ubuntu1 amd64 NV-CONTROL X extension (runtime library)
ii nvidia-346 346.59-0ubuntu1 amd64 NVIDIA binary driver - version 346.59
ii nvidia-opencl-icd-346 346.59-0ubuntu1 amd64 NVIDIA OpenCL ICD
ii nvidia-settings 346.59-0ubuntu1 amd64 Tool for configuring the NVIDIA graphics driver

You can specify which GPU to use with the program nvidia-settings.
Using: the GPU "PRIME Profiles" set for "Intel (Power Saving Mode)" which sets:
$cat /proc/acpi/bbswitch
0000:01:00.0 OFF

After a few days of this setting I can report that the issue of the dimming screen and random lock-ups seems to have disappeared.

----

I've just now run nvidia-settings to change back to use the GPU that's labeled "NVIDIA (Performance Mode)" and will update in later if this also no-longer has the issue.

Tentatively reporting as fixed pending further testing .