12.04 Screen freezes, keyboard stops responding, mouse poitner continues to work

[AC]

Description: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Release: 12.04

xorg:
  Installed: 1:7.6+12ubuntu1
  Candidate: 1:7.6+12ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 1:7.6+12ubuntu1 0
        500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Issue
Under 12.04 screen freezes intermittently not evidently related to a specific application or user action.

Symptom
- screen freezes
- keyboard stops responding (caps lock, num lock lights stop working)
- mouse pointer continues to work

Frequently PC locks after entering suspend and will not resume at all, this may be unrelated.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: xorg 1:7.6+12ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.39-generic 3.2.16
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
.proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0'
.proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
.proc.driver.nvidia.version:
 NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86_64 Kernel Module 295.40 Thu Apr 5 21:37:00 PDT 2012
 GCC version: gcc version 4.6.3 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.6.3-1ubuntu5)
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,mousepoll,regex,wall,grid,vpswitch,gnomecompat,move,snap,resize,place,imgpng,unitymtgrabhandles,animation,session,expo,workarounds,fade,scale,ezoom,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: None
Date: Wed Jun 13 22:36:42 2012
DistUpgraded: 2012-04-28 12:25:38,519 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
DistroCodename: precise
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 nvidia-current, 295.40, 3.2.0-24-generic, x86_64: installed
 nvidia-current-updates, 295.49, 3.2.0-24-generic, x86_64: installed
 virtualbox, 4.1.12, 3.2.0-24-generic, x86_64: installed
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, whatever it takes to get this fixed in Ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
 NVIDIA Corporation GT218 [GeForce 210] [10de:0a65] (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. Device [1462:8094]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
JockeyStatus:
 xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use)
 xorg:nvidia_current_updates - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (post-release updates) (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=adf9dbb9-1b42-4e4c-a394-3914e19c654a ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-04-28 (46 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 04/06/2006
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
dmi.bios.version: 6.00 PG
dmi.board.name: LP NF4 Series
dmi.board.vendor: DFI Corp,LTD
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologies,LTD:bvr6.00PG:bd04/06/2006:svn:pn:pvr:rvnDFICorp,LTD:rnLPNF4Series:rvr1.0:cvn:ct3:cvr:
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.7.8-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.32-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 8.0.2-0ubuntu3.1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 8.0.2-0ubuntu3.1
version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers N/A
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu10.2
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

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[ChriS (christophe-troestler)]

For the suspend problem, make sure "vbetool" is purged from your system — it is incompatible with nvidia GPUs.

[Brad Davis (jherico)]

When this occurs I'm also unable to use the ctrl-alt-F1 shortcut to switch out of the X server and into a console. This is happening on two of my machines. One a lenovo thinkpad with an Intel video chip, the other is a desktop with an nVidia chip.

[akI (azeone123)]

I can confirm this on 12.04 LTS and also on 12.10 with a very fresh install of ubuntu.

Its absolutely regardless which nvidia driver i activate (current, current-updates, experimental) the desktop freezes randomly with ativated nvidia driver.
Sometimes the system freezes complete, desktop, mouse and keyboard are stocked.
Sometimes only the keyboard and desktop freezes. and i can move the cursor but are not able to make the dekstop response do any kind of mouse interacting.

If i change back to NV driver the system runs stable.

Also this only happens the very first boot on the day. If i restart my system i can run it for hours without any problem.
For now i have deactivated the nvidia drivers, hopefully someone can fix this.

I also can confirm (but im not sure) that this must have to do with unity as im running a dualboot system with 12.04 LTS and Ubuntu Studio 12.10. On Ubuntu Studio which uses XFCE the system runs stable with the latest nvidia driver activated.

[Doug Catiller (dgug)]

I am having this problem on two machines as well. Both are as follows:

1. Dell Precision M4600 with Ubuntu 12.04 (fresh build within 30 days)

2. Dell Precision T1650 with Ubuntu 12.04 (fresh build last week)

I am using NVidia drivers at the moment, and will deactivate them for now, as my symptoms are exactly as described.