[SOLVED] Xubuntu turning off the PC?

ButterflyMelissa · 10-09-2012, 04:17 AM

hey Gang,

Okay, for those that know, and all of the rest: I had a crash on a PC this weekend, and had to re-install quickly, (Arch wasn't an option

too bad) and now the thing runs Xubuntu. Very occasionally, the PC just ... turns off. Anyone seen this happen too?
As uname -a reports

Quote:

2.6.38-16-generic #67-Ubuntu SMP Thu Sep 6 18:00:43 UTC 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

So...any thoughts here? Is it the OS? Are they looking at a purchase of a new PC? I suspect (sadly) the OS as this behaviour never occurred on Arch, so I may have to tweak somewhat...

Thanks for some feedback Gang!

Thor

TobiSGD · 10-09-2012, 06:15 AM

I would recommend to check the temperatures.

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-09-2012, 07:36 AM

Sudden power off typically means the PSU, but could be many things. Run memtest86 first, then check the BIOS voltages, especially the +12V line.

I also tried to write a hardware diagnostics article:
http://docs.slackware.com/howtos:har...re_diagnostics

ButterflyMelissa · 10-09-2012, 04:26 PM

Thanks...to both of you. One detail, I just installed a 500Gb drive instead of a 250Gb, does it stand to reason that it consumes more than the 250Gb one?
I'll do the checks first thing 2morro'

Thanks gang, I feel less alone now!

Thor

@ H_TexMex_H - thanks for the article, I bookmarked it!!!!
Edit - new detail (useful ones I guess) - he did it again, when I hit the power switch to start up, nothing happened safe for the power light blinking red...my guess is that the power supply is dying on me...could anyone just confirm this? Either the PSU cannot handle the extra load the bigger drive puts on it, or the PSU is dying...in the latter case I'll have to get me a new barebone...
Top's load average reports at 0.12%, still have to get around to a test, but I think everything will point to the "usual suspect"...
On a lighter note: I monitor the PC's status (on or ... off) by playing Internet radio

so, that's ONE up...
Edit 2 - could it simply be a failing hard drive that sends bad signals to the system that makes it turn off??? just meditating in the wild here, you all know me like that...

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-10-2012, 04:43 AM

Make sure to run memtest first. If memtest passes, then I would bet on the PSU or mobo. You can also try to check inside the case for loose connectors.

ButterflyMelissa · 10-10-2012, 05:23 AM

Quote:

You can also try to check inside the case for loose connectors.

That was the first thing I did this morning...even before I had some coffee, how's that for passion (or obsessive behaviour) ???

---------- Post added 10-10-12 at 05:23 AM ----------

Quote:

You can also try to check inside the case for loose connectors.

That was the first thing I did this morning...even before I had some coffee, how's that for passion (or obsessive behaviour) ???

TobiSGD · 10-10-2012, 05:26 AM

Have you checked the temperatures yet? Usually a change in harddisks doesn't matter that much to overload a PSU, at least not if it was working before.
Before replacing any hardware I would make use of all possible tests, until you are sure that the culprit really is the disk..

ButterflyMelissa · 10-10-2012, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Have you checked the temperatures yet?

not yet, I'm still figuring out what to install for that...hard- and soft ya know?

Edit - a very low-tech approach : the case is'nt any hotter than usual, and at performance (gaming and so) the inner fan does turn on...
More Edit - found this page ( http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=886264 ) that I'll give a try, but, right about now, I have to get to work...

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-10-2012, 05:42 AM

I don't think there is any way the HDD can cause the power button not to work.

ButterflyMelissa · 10-10-2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

I don't think there is any way the HDD can cause the power button not to work.

Yeah...that's not very likely...at any rate, I'm considering a new PC anyway...lemme learn something out of that one here...

(after some time, installing and trying to get the sensors operational)

...my system does'nt have any sensors...poooooh....

Man...this is sad....

JaseP · 10-10-2012, 05:05 PM

If your PSU is dying,... absolutely, positively DO NOT keep pushing it to the brink... What could happen is for it to take your new HD with it when it finally decides to go... as in actual puff of smoke and a useless HD. It might also take out something else, besides,... I have first hand experience with that.

Replace that PSU first... And you might also might want to try doing a rough calc of the PSU's wattage versus the system requirements for all components together.

TobiSGD · 10-10-2012, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor_2.0

...my system does'nt have any sensors...poooooh....

Any CPU from manufactured in the last 7-8 years should have an inbuilt thermal sensor.
Would be nice to get some information on the hardware involved.

cascade9 · 10-11-2012, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor_2.0

Okay, for those that know, and all of the rest: I had a crash on a PC this weekend, and had to re-install quickly, (Arch wasn't an option

too bad) and now the thing runs Xubuntu. Very occasionally, the PC just ... turns off. Anyone seen this happen too?
As uname -a reports

So...any thoughts here? Is it the OS? Are they looking at a purchase of a new PC? I suspect (sadly) the OS as this behaviour never occurred on Arch, so I may have to tweak somewhat...

If the same hardware OS 'A' runs fine and OS 'B' crashes, theres a problem with OS 'B'. At least with that hardware.

Since you got at least one crash with arch, and the problem now appears to be getting worse, its likely to not be an OS problem, but a some hardware issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor_2.0

Edit - new detail (useful ones I guess) - he did it again, when I hit the power switch to start up, nothing happened safe for the power light blinking red...my guess is that the power supply is dying on me...could anyone just confirm this? Either the PSU cannot handle the extra load the bigger drive puts on it, or the PSU is dying...in the latter case I'll have to get me a new barebone...

I'd guess PSU problems.

While there can be minor difference between the current drain of HDDs, there isnt a much differnce..unless you are comparing a circa 2004 drive with a circa 2012 drive (or unless you are comparing some 'enterprise' 10K/15K drive to normal desktop 7200 RPM or slower drive).

Newer drives use less power in general, and have bigger platters which reduces the current needed to spin the drive. (an old 500GB might have 4 x 125GB platters, a circa 2011-2012 500GB will be a single platter drive).

What do you mean by 'get a new barebone'? This is what barebones means to me-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barebone_computer

Wouldnt you be better off getting a new PSU? Well, really, you'd be best of trying a different, decent PSU to see if that fixes the problem.

ButterflyMelissa · 10-11-2012, 03:16 AM

hey there cascade9!

Quote:

Wouldnt you be better off getting a new PSU? Well, really, you'd be best of trying a different, decent PSU to see if that fixes the problem

Well, that could be an expensive solution to patch up an old PC....if it were an ATX box, replacing the PSU would be a snap, but here???I dunnow...

And, yes, that's what I meant by a barebone...granted, it has drawbacks...but I'm somewhat strapped here...just bought a house and so...

Thor

ButterflyMelissa · 10-11-2012, 03:19 AM

And...this one's for TobiSGD:

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...and I guess that it's somewhat older thatn 8 years...I had it second hand (I'll cut down on that in the future, promissed)...