2011 iMac - 1Tb HD, 12GB ram (I know..weird..)

Hardware Support
1

I've installed Zorin PRO on the machine and now can't seem to get a browser to start up and run properly. I was recently using the CORE package, liked it, and decided to support the effort with pro and save time on getting all the other packages.

So far I've not been able to run brave, so, I've uninstalled it and installed vivaldi with similar results. The first run of vivaldi wouldn't even start and the machine would halt. After a reboot and leaving it alone for a bit, vivaldi started but ultimately in about 20 seconds the system halted again.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

2

Try to switch to Xorg at login. Logout and at login click on your username, then a cog wheal appears at the bottom right corner. There select "Zorin Desktop on Xorg".

Also try to start Brave browser with disabled hardware acceleration from terminal

brave-browser --disable-gpu

If it helps to launch the browser you can disable hardware acceleration in your browser settings.

What graphics card do you have?

2 Likes
3

is it possible to run the same command with Vivaldi? (disabling acceleration from terminal as you've described above?)

I'm not a total newbie, but, I am not a CLI pro. I've been looking just a little to see how I can start vivaldi from the CLI but not seeming to find an answer. Ok, so, maybe not scared of CLI is the right description..

Another basic I know I should be able to do is list installed software so that I could at least try starting vivaldi with the same --disable-gpu added.

graphics: AMD TURKS

graphics 1: Intel HD Graphics 2000 (SNB GT1)

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I was going to ask if you were somehow running out of space on /root, but seeing your spec surely that is not the case.
Maybe an idea to have a look in logs to see what is going on.

EDIT: Is it a general thing or just those Browsers?

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The command depends on the package format of vivaldi (.deb package, flatpak, snap). In which package format is Vivaldi installed?

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I got it through the GUI software option?

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So far it has been just the browsers.

Is this a reasonable list to start with?

https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/ubuntu-linux-gnome-system-log-viewer/

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Can you look in Software Store where you installed it from and tell us if the source of the browser you chose was a flatpak, snap or .apt (Zorin)?

My reference to logs assumed you were having widespread trouble since changing from Core to Pro. If it is just the browser, then we can concentrate on fixing that.

Question: Does Brave browser that is included in Zorin package work OK?
EDIT:

I assume that was Brave that was in the Z18Pro package. Not working.

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Correct - Brave from the Pro Package. not working. It has been uninstalled. Vivaldi has been installed with less than optimal performance and halting. (Yes, rehasing some in hope to save anyone some scrolling..)

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See this re Vivaldi (snap source) issue: Vivaldi Snap issues
Is your Vivaldi a snap? Check what you installed from Software store

Or. To list all your snaps to see if it is there, in terminal, type:

snap list

1 Like
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vivaldi not listed with "snap list".

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Is it a flatpak then:

flatpak list

1 Like
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Unless it's listed under something other than vivaldi, no.

You're welcome to list all the possibilities before "list" if you'd like. I have no qualm with running through them, I honestly don't know many possibilities other than what you've listed so far.

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It would be far easier if you went to the Software store and found out from there what source of Vivaldi you choose to install.

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Thanks! Yes, I just walked back in thinking "let me check the software store for any hints..."

Flathub.

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but:

you said gave no results.
If Flathub was the source, your Vivaldi would be a Flatpak. So I'm at a loss.

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Flatpak packages are larger and more convoluted. They must run through additional steps like xdg-portal to even work at all... and are a lot more sensitive to GPU stack or compositor alignment.

That both the default browser and a fresh installed browser are having so much trouble points to your Graphics stack and compositor.

Which is quite old. Wayland Compositor would likely not let a modern browser launch at all. On X11, it would still be spotty if it launches.
Vivaldi has its perks, but it is a pretty intense browser.

I bet a more stable and better back end supported browser would work: Have you tried Firefox (Not from Flathub or Snap.)

I would also switch to the built in Intel GPU. The AMD radeon driver card is so far out of support at this time that it offers you no benefits.

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I have not tried Firefox on this specific machine/setup yet.

I have an older Mac Mini that will be "zorin'd" soon. Pretty sure it's newer than the iMac I'm sorting out currently.

(This machine was passed to me by someone who was about to trash it, so, I'm at zero loss regardless of how the iMac turns out. This is a lot more educational and you guys have certainly added good info that I definitely appreciate...)

My main goal is my primary win10 machine being able to be swapped to Zorin as well. That one will be handled very carefully since I do have a windows app (which does have a linux version, but, no telling how long for...) that I'll need to keep working.

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I've reinstalled brave and started it from the command line using the GPU disabled tag.

Next up - getting brave to start this way every time.

So far, I'm running videos like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgBi-v-plY4&list=RDEM8KJKsAWB_01c-y-Z6Na58Q&index=2

in a normal window I'm satisfied, full screen some degradation occurs and I'm fine with that given the age of the machine along with the likelihood of this being more of a basic use machine in the future.

I'll jingle for help if I can't get the "startup with GPU everytime" task done.

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In Brave-browser click on the Hamburger menu on the top right side, select "settings" and then "system". At category system disable "Use graphics acceleration when available".