Anyone else experiencing constant reboots/crashes on Zorin OS16 since a couple of months?
I thought it was going to get solved as it could have been a single update issue, but no ... Depending on the daily updates, it gets worse or more stable
Pity as everything was working super nicely, and stable... Without any crash/reboot until a couple of months I think with an update a couple of months ago, my system started suddenly and randomly crashing. Since then depending on the daily updates, it happens once a day or like today,with today's update, it is every 5 minutes...
I basically cannot use it... Trying to figure out what could have caused it. I remember once installing Google Chrome, as it was crashing a lot while using it. But now, even when writing emails on Mailspring (and only that app opened), it crashes:(
Very frustrating experience as I paid for the Plus version, that I LOVED but I'm seriously considering changing as I can't trust its stability anymore.
If anybody has any recommendations or has experienced such crashes/reboots, I'd appreciate a feedback/resolution.
Alternatively, if it can't be trusted, and recommended OS to migrate to
I see two things in the log you posted that may account for consistent crashing or freezing.
If the system is searching for Bluetooth devices with non available, it creates a memory loop that can result in a Crash.
Do you have or use Bluetooth devices? If you do not, then this can be readily solved by disabling Bluetooth entirely.
sudo apt remove --purge bluez
This is a gnome-shell-extension bug and gnome-shell is the major function in a crash.
The solution s to avoid, remove or not use a Dash To Dock style extension.
Other than the above:
Have you tried testing on an earlier kernel like 5.15.0-35?
You also might test if it is a RAM issue that is causing it.
You can test this by freeing up RAM regularly while working
And seeing if it crashes, still. If it does not, then we know that RAM error may be the culprit.
Thank you for your response. A few questions if you don't mind.
I have a keyboard and mouse connected via a Bluetooth dongle (plugged on a USB). Will they work if I remove the Bluetooth with your suggested command line?
I'm using the Zorin Dash as I find it esthetic than a menu bar. Are you advising to switch to that?
Where could I select a different Kernel? On advanced option on booting, I only have Kernel ending with 50 (not loading) or 52 (current). Where could I find/use your recommended one?
I have 24gb of ram and I only have Chrome and email software (Mailspring) opened when rebooting. Not sure the ram is that much of an issue
Last but not least, what changed in the OS updates that have caused all these issues which were not present for the first months of the OS16 release?
You do have Bluetooth devices in use, so please do not remove Bluez.
The removal is a simple fix since it is unneeded.
If it is needed, then we need a complex fix.
I agree; but it may be the cause of the crashing.
Gnome Extensions are great when they work. When they do not... the desktop crashes. As Gnome does not support nor endorse the use of extensions, gnome-dev will provide no help in this.
Upon reboot, tap esc key or tab key (sometimes like you are the drummer for Metallica) to pull up the Grub Menu at startup.
From the Grub menu, select Advanced Options for Zorin.
From there, you will see the kernels you have listed and can select one to boot from.
I truly wish I knew.
But if you are willing to test Not Running Dash to see if that changes anything, it may help to narrow down what is going on.
I now have changed it to the taskbar, and hopefully it will stopped the rebooting.
Edit: rebooted twice since the change to the taskbar (third choice on the available options in the Zorin layout tab in Zorin Appearance)
Edit 2: Changed it to the first choice (first one on Zorin layout options) now, and it seems more stable... hasn't reboot in the past 5 minutes
As per the choice of kernels I have once I go Advanced Option at booting is:
Zorin
Zorin, with Linux 5.15.0-50
Zorin with Linux 5.15.0-52 (doesn't work as it says that the kernel must be loaded first)
Let see how it goes... the "Windows" taskbar layout is my least favourite, but let's see if it provides stability. If so, I might test the others taskbar option (fourth one seemed to be unstable from one try)
Trying to think of anything specific I might have done before the issues started... And the only thing I can really remember is that I installed Google Chrome. I am/was using Brave and Firefox as well.
Seems like the issues stared after. I have uninstalled Chrome a couple of days ago, but nothing changed. Removing the Dash on Dock seemed to have reduce the frequency (a bit) of the reboots but not eliminated them.
It doesn't seem to be software related. I could be only using Firefox or Mailspring when it happens... I don't program nor use specific RAM intensive softwares.
My usage is really only web, LibreOffice and emails. Sometimes photo editing but not since the issues started
I am using some transparency theme, so I might try to go to "pure/basic" Zorin layout aside the taskbar. And see if that helps. If not, then try your suggestion
... Depending on the daily updates, it gets worse or more stable