Laptop freeze 3 times in 1h, how to diagnose?

General Help
1

hi all! Since the last round of updates I had 3 times complete freeze in 1 hour. Each time nothing would react anymore, no mouse-input, no keyboard, nothing and the screen stays on and displays the last image.

I was using Signal and Brave as well as a gedit for editing a text-file, bu nothing fancy. Any ideas how to diagnose this problem, where does it come from?

Here a neofetch for system infos:

image
image663×415 34.6 KB

EDIT1: After some digging I do not see an obvious pattern, but maybe I'm on the wrong path? With journalctl -p err --since "2025-04-21 10:00:00" I
find the last entries before freeze at 13h15:

Apr 21 12:49:10 LaptopYYYY gdm-launch-environment][934]: GLib-GObject: g_object_unref: assertion 'G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed
Apr 21 12:57:35 LaptopYYYY kernel: xhci_hcd 0000:39:00.0: xHCI host controller not responding, assume dead
Apr 21 12:57:35 LaptopYYYY kernel: xhci_hcd 0000:39:00.0: HC died; cleaning up
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4506]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4506]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4506]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4506]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4506]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4506]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4539]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4539]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4539]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4539]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4539]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:36 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[4539]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:57:40 LaptopYYYY kernel: pcieport 0000:02:00.0: Unable to change power state from D3hot to D0, device inaccessible
Apr 21 13:15:14 LaptopYYYY kernel: i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] *ERROR* GT0: rcs0 reset request timed out: {request: 00000001, RESET_CTL: 00000001}
-- Boot 05a6321c93124282a5c80edb4f6b2190 --

Before the freeze at 12h42:

Apr 21 12:42:06 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[1291]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:42:13 LaptopYYYY gdm-password][1653]: gkr-pam: unable to locate daemon control file
Apr 21 12:42:15 LaptopYYYY systemd[1986]: Failed to start Application launched by gnome-session-binary.
Apr 21 12:42:15 LaptopYYYY systemd[1986]: Failed to start Application launched by gnome-session-binary.
Apr 21 12:42:23 LaptopYYYY gdm-launch-environment][947]: GLib-GObject: g_object_unref: assertion 'G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed
-- Boot 109c6b0053694897a80484c38b23da71 --

Before freeze at 12h40:

Apr 21 12:09:37 LaptopYYYY colord-sane[8144]: io/hpmud/musb.c 2101: Invalid usb_open: Permission denied
Apr 21 12:09:41 LaptopYYYY kernel: pcieport 0000:02:00.0: Unable to change power state from D3hot to D0, device inaccessible
Apr 21 12:39:53 LaptopYYYY kernel: i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] *ERROR* GT0: rcs0 reset request timed out: {request: 00000001, RESET_CTL: 00000001}
Apr 21 12:40:07 LaptopYYYY kernel: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000278
Apr 21 12:40:07 LaptopYYYY kernel: #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode
Apr 21 12:40:07 LaptopYYYY kernel: #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page
-- Boot 31cbdbda6a814d4ba56b798766e08537 --
2

Hi,

I suggest you to copy your log in chatgpt to found problem and it seem you have 3-4 main defaults

first one, you have same problem like me, go see this topic to resolve it : https://forum.zorin.com/t/random-freezes-on-zorin-os-17-3-pro-intel-gpu/46837

1 Like
3

Do your System run in Wayland or Xorg? You can check that in Settings>About

4

Its X11 because I was having issues with Wayland some time back.

5

I tried deactivating GPU acceleration in Brave, until now everything is stable. If that does not work I'll try next the hint from @sammolaw

1 Like
6

Hardware acceleration can be problematic a lot of times. I would recommend unless you need it (which 99% of the time you don't) I would disable it. For instance, I know a while back that whenever I would use Discord, if I had it enabled, it would randomly freeze my system. Same goes for a browser, as you've just disabled as well.

Personally I think it should be disabled by default, and if the program recognizes that it might be beneficial, prompt the user for if they would like to enable it or not.

7

Could be done easily now, as Zorin OS anyway modifies some settings when shipping Brave as default browser, no?
I would also support implementing this as a default, because random freezes of an operating systems are VERY distressing and off-putting for new and old users alike.

1 Like
8

No luck unfortunately, just had another freeze. So disabling GPU-acceleration alone does not seem to do the trick.
Next up: Deactivation of PSR.

9

when I have this freeze, I tried disabling GPU acceleration but it doesnt work. Then I disable PSR and everything is fine.

10

If after more testing you are happy that disabling PSR (Panel Self Refresh) is the answer, then can you then mark your post #8 above as :white_check_mark: Solution.

1 Like
11

Also check my post in response to another freezing issue:

1 Like
12

Still no luck, there are again freezes with associated errors of i915:

Mai 02 22:55:04 Kiwi kernel: i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] *ERROR* GT0: rcs0 reset request timed out: {request: 00000001, RESET_CTL: 00000001}
Mai 02 22:55:19 Kiwi kernel: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000278
Mai 02 22:55:19 Kiwi kernel: #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode
Mai 02 22:55:19 Kiwi kernel: #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page
-- Boot 0ca0e5bf26a749dfb3c1646cf50c910a --

By now I have:

  • switched back to Wayland instead of Xorg (supposedly more "graceful" error-handling)
  • i915.enable_psr=0 (disable PSR, power save mode, as suggested by @sammolaw)
  • deactivated hardware acceleration for Brave

After some suggestions by ChatGPT4/turbo I also tried disable power save mode rc6 of GPU (i915.enable_rc6=0), but this does not seem to work because apparently this is not configurable in the current kernel 6.8.0-58-generic.

If I remember correctly the freezes started with some of the updates approximately two weeks ago. There was a kernel update at the time, is it possible that this is related? Should I try a downgrade to the older version of the kernel?

13

oh bad news

i tried ChatGPT 4o, here explanation, maybe it will help you :

:ice: Problem: Intel GPU Freezes Not Solved with i915.enable_psr=0

If you've already tried:

i915.enable_psr=0

...and you're still experiencing freezes, it's likely that your issue involves deeper bugs in the i915 driver or conflicts with power management features.

:white_check_mark: Step 1: Use Additional Kernel Parameters

Try combining multiple options to increase GPU stability:

i915.enable_psr=0 i915.enable_fbc=0 i915.reset=0

What each parameter does:

  • i915.enable_psr=0: disables Panel Self Refresh (power-saving but buggy)
  • i915.enable_fbc=0: disables Frame Buffer Compression (can also cause graphical glitches/freezes)
  • i915.reset=0: disables the GPU reset mechanism that may hang when it fails

:wrench: How to apply them in GRUB

  1. Open GRUB config:
sudo nano /etc/default/grub
  1. Find the line:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
  1. Replace it with:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash i915.enable_psr=0 i915.enable_fbc=0 i915.reset=0"

Optionally, if you also get PCIe errors in your logs, add pci=noaer at the end:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash i915.enable_psr=0 i915.enable_fbc=0 i915.reset=0 pci=noaer"
  1. Save (Ctrl+O, then Enter), exit (Ctrl+X)
  2. Update GRUB:
sudo update-grub
  1. Reboot:
sudo reboot

:repeat_button: Step 2 (If the problem persists): Try a different Linux kernel

Some recent kernels (like 6.2 or later) are known to introduce regressions with Intel GPUs.

You can install a more stable LTS kernel, such as:

  • Kernel 5.15 (widely used and stable)
  • Or Kernel 6.1 (also LTS but newer)
14

No luck either, unfortunately. I tried disabling all these power options. Currently I have settings checked with cat /proc/cmdline: splash i915.enable_psr=0 i915.enable_rc6=0 i915.enable_fbc=0 i915.reset=0, but I still have freezes.

According to the install logs kernel linux-image-6.8.0-52-generic was still ok, starting with linux-image-6.8.0-57-generic the issue began, if it is kernel-related.

I tried installing older kernels and booting them to see if the issue goes away. But obviously it is not that simple, as lots of configuration and drivers (graphics, wifi, ..) seem to be missing and it feels like a typical Linux-rabbit-hole that I want to avoid. Or are these configuration and driver issues easily solvable?

15

Tell me about it, loving the new Linux 'experience' but it's deep.

Sorry no help, I'm far too much of a nuub.

Good luck fellow Zorin'er

1 Like
16

I've just responded to a user with a Dell Inspiron 3530 with freezing issues. Apparently due to a bug in 6.8 kernel on Ubuntu 22.04 (on which Zorin 17 is based) and A.I. search advises to drop to an earlier kernel.