Something is wrong, but where do I start ?

bigjohn · 01-09-2016, 08:12 AM

Currently up to date with kubuntu 15.10

I seem to be picking up some sort of electronic interference i.e. rackles and pops over the audio kit. I also get periods when whatever I'm doing on screen is either slow or freezes. Sometimes when playing solitaire/patience, I can click the mouse to "pick up" a card, but letting go of the mouse button won't "drop" the card unless I place the cursor where it's intended and then click it again.

I also find that when I'm typing something, sometimes a key stroke isn't detected and I have to delete a few characters and then re-type what I was trying to type in the first place.

I do have dual boot with windows 7 and see a few other issues there, like complete lack of sound sometimes.

The fact that some of these issues are common across both OS suggests to me that there might be something starting to fail hardware-wise, but I have absolutely no idea where to start looking or what might possibly be causing this.

Can anyone point me in the direction of something that might help me diagnose what is going on please ?

I'm not worried about replacing parts etc, I just don't know where to start looking.

Could it be connected to my powerline network kit ? Maybe a bit of RAM that's getting dodgy ? Maybe it could be something to do with graphics card being "past it's best" ?

I don't know and would appreciate any ideas and guidance about how to try and sort thing out.......

rokytnji · 01-09-2016, 09:07 AM

Maybe start with looking in Kubuntus package manager and make sure inxi is installed

To give you a Idea

Code:

harry@harry-RV410-RV510-S3510-E3510 ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: harry-RV410-RV510-S3510-E3510 Kernel: 4.2.0-040200-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 4.8.4) 
           Desktop: MATE 1.8.1 (Gtk 3.10.8~8+qiana) 
           Distro: Linux Mint 17 Qiana 
Machine:   Mobo: SAMSUNG model: RV410/RV510/S3510/E3510
           Bios: Phoenix v: 02UC.P026.20100916.LX date: 09/16/2010
CPU:       Dual core Pentium T4500 (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3) bmips: 9177 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 1600 MHz 2: 1600 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Mobile 4 Series Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.15.1 driver: intel
           Resolution: 1366x768@60.0hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express
           GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 10.1.3 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller 
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.2.0-040200-generic
Network:   Card-1: Marvell 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller
           driver: sky2 v: 1.30 port: 3000 bus-ID: 04:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
           driver: ath9k bus-ID: 06:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 320.1GB (32.3% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: SAMSUNG_HM321HI size: 320.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 18G used: 11G (65%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda6 
           ID-2: /home size: 160G used: 83G (55%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5 
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 4.19GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda7 
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 42.0C mobo: 42.0C 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 172 Uptime: 28 min Memory: 805.4/3885.5MB 
           Init: Upstart runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.4 
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.111) inxi: 2.1.29

See how it gives info from graphics to audio hardware drivers so members can see what you are running?
Anyways. I won't be much help with KDE 5 as I am KDE dyslexic and never install KDE on any of my hardware.
Good luck I guess. I was also never a fan of non LTS Ubuntu releases, but, I can see if someone needs to install and run
the newest release because their hardware is the newest hardware on the market also.

bigjohn · 01-09-2016, 11:23 AM

Ok, I'll make sure that's in the system and see what it tells me.....

many thanks

bigjohn · 01-09-2016, 11:35 AM

Code:

System:    Host: xxxxxxx Kernel: 4.2.0-23-generic x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: KDE 5 Distro: Ubuntu 15.10 wily
Machine:   System: Hewlett-Packard product: p6799uk v: xxx0204GRxxxxxxxx0
           Mobo: MSI model: 2A9C v: 1.1 Bios: American Megatrends v: 6.14 date: 11/05/2010
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5 650 (-HT-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB 
           clock speeds: max: 3201 MHz 1: 1200 MHz 2: 1333 MHz 3: 1467 MHz 4: 1200 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GF108 [GeForce GT 420]
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.2 drivers: nvidia (unloaded: fbdev,vesa,nouveau)
           Resolution: 1680x1050@59.95hz
           GLX Renderer: GeForce GT 420/PCIe/SSE2 GLX Version: 4.5.0 NVIDIA 352.63
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 5 Series/3400 Series High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
           Card-2 NVIDIA GF108 High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.2.0-23-generic
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller driver: r8169
           IF: enp2s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
           Card-2: Ralink RT3090 Wireless 802.11n 1T/1R PCIe driver: rt2800pci
           IF: wlp4s0 state: down mac: xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1500.3GB (5.5 used) ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST31500341AS size: 1500.3GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 96G used: 8.7G (10) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5
           ID-2: /home size: 807G used: 67G (9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda7
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 1.62GB used: 0.01GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-0
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 48C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 206 Uptime: 4:30 Memory: 1903.5/3815.0MB Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.2.16

Got a basic idea what that all means, but no idea how to test or look at the kit to see if I can work out what might be going on (a bit like log files, I know there's lots in there but not which is which or how to interpret the data)........

ceyx · 01-09-2016, 12:48 PM

Looks like you have 2 audio cards present. On one of my systems, there was a race condition where one card would be selected as default over another, and next boot the other audio card was selected for the default. Sometimes none, sometimes both ! In VLC, Rhythmbox, the defaults rarely matched the system.

On that system, I was able to go into the BIOS and disable the onboard audio. Perhaps you can do the same, or if not, try to blacklist one of the audio cards.

ondoho · 01-09-2016, 03:01 PM

so many different small problems...
maybe you should consider some hardware problem.
your machine is not the newest, and you have been using linux for quite a while...
maybe, you know, give it a general overhaul? switch it off, open it, clean it, have a good look at the components, connectors...
run some tests (hard drive and ram should be fairly easy)...

frankbell · 01-09-2016, 09:16 PM

No answers, but some questions:

As you are using powerline networking, is there any correlation between events in your electrical system (appliances turning on and off etc.)

If you physically disconnect the computer from the network and they try the actions listed in your initial posts, do the problems still happen?

Have you tested with a different, known-good mouse?

rokytnji · 01-09-2016, 09:23 PM

Quote:

I do have dual boot with windows 7 and see a few other issues there, like complete lack of sound sometimes.

Well because of this. And because your inxi report looks OK to me. I tend to agree with ondoho on pulling panels and reseating cards that are accessible. Both of our laptops are the same year. Though yours has beefier specs than mine and mine runs cool because of this.

I'd pull the keyboard, battery, hard drive, dvd drive, to give me access to internal cards that can be reseated in case of bad connections. Then a can of air to blow out any dust bunnies. Leaving cpu alone.

I am assuming md5sum of Kubuntu was done though it should not matter if Windows is also acting up in the same way , eg:sound.
I take apart and put back together laptops because I never pay full price for any of my gear.
I rebuild kits with missing parts and then utilize them for myself.

So far it sounds like you should google search hardware problems for your model of HP laptop which is

Quote:

Machine: System: Hewlett-Packard product: p6799uk v: xxx0204GRxxxxxxxx0
Mobo: MSI model: 2A9C v: 1.1 Bios: American Megatrends v: 6.14

I don't envy you on this one because hardware problems are usually a
1. I reseated everything and reset bios to defaults and now everything is OK.
2. I did the above and nothing changed. What now?

I clean ram contacts and wireless card contacts and any other internal card contacts with a pencil eraser before reseating.
But usually that is not needed, I can just be anal when it comes to certain things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZc5TDDDarM

I do not know the model number or model name of your laptop. Only you know that. I am just showing how to search for a disassembly video for a generic HP laptop unit to give you a idea I guess.

Edit: just saw Franks post. It is relevant also I guess since we do not know your power situation over seas.

bigjohn · 01-12-2016, 05:35 AM

Some "food for thought" there. Thankyou to all who've replied.

Firstly, it's a desktop PC, not a laptop.

The "2 sound cards" ? I suspect that is showing up because the mobo has a sound chip onboard but the second entry is alluding to the graphics card, which is an Nvidia model - don't know if that makes sense or not ?

I can easily pull it all apart to clean up and reseat all the boards etc, too see if that makes a difference.

The only correlation between the audio interference and the powerline networking, seems to be that some of the audio "crackles and pops" see to be in time with some of the network indications I see on the powerline adaptor that the PC id plugged into (the green system light on the adaptor does show a little weirdness, as it goes red when it will only transfer reduced levels of data - according to the devolo website - though that is sporadic at best and often only seen on boot up - and I see it less when booting windows than when I boot the Kubuntu. Whether there's any security issues with that, I don't know). The crackles and pops are not perfectly in time with the lights on the adaptor. Sometimes it's when the network light flashes and sometimes when the connection light flashes.

I'll have to download some video and audio clips, then try to see if I still get the crackles and pops over the audio.

Equally, I'll go and google the model number for hardware problems now........

Again, thanks all for the input and ideas thus far. I'll report back one way or another

{edit}Just had a thought. Is it better to use a spray on switch/contact cleaner and then a pencil eraser ? Does pencil eraser leave a slight coating across the connecting terminal ?{/edit}

bigjohn · 01-12-2016, 05:43 AM

Nothing obvious comes up for hardware faults for the model number.......

rokytnji · 01-12-2016, 08:04 AM

I'd stay away from using contact cleaner as it can dissolve certain plastics and resins on pc boards.
Pencil eraser I use leaves no kind of film on contacts. But I'd just go with a re-seat. Erasers can be needed
on contacts if living in a humid environment like South America, Louisiana, or Vietnam.

Because the moisture in the air can cause corrosion (your eyes are good gauges for measuring this corrosion). I guess the UK can be pretty wet as far as local humidity goes.
Definitely do not use contact cleaner. You can cause more harm than good if you make a mistake and use the wrong kind.

I'd also leave out the video card as a test in case it is going bad. But I am proficient using command line when needed
(like mc file manager and aplay to play sound files) .

Definitely at the least. Reseat the video card. Check bios settings also is set to defaults and only change boot order if needed as a opening step to just boot my system.