Why does linux mint - cinnamon hangs how can I stop it

Your question is too general and you didn't specify details: What hardware are you using? which version of Mint? Did you try another distro on the same hardware without hanging?

Hi, if I may:
I also use Linux Mint with Cinnamon. However, you have given us very little information to work with. Until more information is provided regarding OS version, hardware specs, and perhaps what theme you are running, I can only offer some very general advice:
1. Ensure that your Linux Mint system is updated. Running obsolete software can mean keeping old bugs on your system that were long since resolved.
2. Verify that your system meets or exceeds the required system specifications for the latest stable version of Linux Mint (Mint 15 Olivia). The specifications are as follows:

- x86 processor (Linux Mint 64-bit requires a 64-bit processor. Linux Mint 32-bit works on both 32-bit and 64-bit processors).
- 512 MB RAM (1GB recommended for a comfortable usage).
- 5 GB of disk space
- Graphics card capable of 800×600 resolution
- CD/DVD drive or USB port

3. Disable all unneeded effects/ eye candy in System Settings > Effects.

Hope this helps,
Minty

Hello mintyninja41
This is my system config
I have a dell laptop Inspiron 5520 (has 1GB Graphics Card but its not detected)
OS type: 64bit
Graphics: Intel Ivybridge Mobile
Processor : 4x Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3110M CPU @ 2.40GHz
Memory : 1855MB (807MB used)
Resolution: 1366x768 pixels
Harddisk: 245GB

Also I am not able to update this is what I get when I try to update
" Failed to fetch http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/...amd64/Packages 404 Not Found [IP: 91.189.92.191 80]
Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead. "

Thanks

What version of Mint are you using?

My operating system details
$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: LinuxMint
Description: Linux Mint 13 Maya
Release: 13
Codename: maya

My Kernel version number
3.2.0-23-generic #36-Ubuntu SMP Tue Apr 10 20:39:51 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Installing Mint 15 may help but there is the advantage to using Mint 13 which will be supported long after support for 15 ends:

http://www.linuxmint.com/oldreleases.php

Is this a new problem? Did it ever work without 'hanging' and what exactly do you mean by that? Does it hang when you boot? Does this happen when you have numerous programs open? Does it not matter? If it didn't hang before and this is new behavior, what changes did you make to hardware/software if any?

Check your /etc/apt/sources.list file to see if the site is commented out, the site you try to download from. If it is there and has ## at the beginning of the line, delete them and try again. How did you try to update? The Software Center? from a terminal with apt-get??

I didn't have any problem with a ping to that IP. I didn't do anything because I'm not using Mint/Ubuntu but you might try it again.

You can run the top command (or htop if it's installed) in a terminal and see what programs and processes are using how much of your memory. That might give you a hint as to what is going on.

Upgrading can be a good solution. The Op is using an LTS version of Linux Mint however, and the newer versions are not LTS, so i can understand if the OP wants to remain on Maya.

This concerns me more than the hanging, and if you fix this, you will receive bug fixes that may fix you original issue. Learn to use code tags on this website. post the output of , here in code tags, and we will try to help you fix it, so you can receive updates.

Sometimes hardware can cause a computer to hang:

Memory failure full or partial
intermittent power supply
CPU over heating or loose CPU fan
Hard drive with bad sectors
Video Card issues
etc

I don't use Mint but found this with a Google search and it may fix your update issue. Just run these commands.

sudo sed -i 's/maya/precise/' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.list

then

apt update

That was a fix for someone with the same updating issue on Linux Mint 14 from the Ubuntu forum and the OP said it solved the issue for him.
I hope this helps at least with your updating issue and ultimately helps fix your hanging problems as well.

Note I edited this post to correct for version in the first command as it was originally for mint 14 I replaced nadia with maya and quantal with precise which should be right for mint 13 lts.

Hi Friends, This is the output I got, from the following command, should I remove the # and try to update.

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ maya main upstream import
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ precise partner
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ precise free non-free

# deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu precise-getdeb apps
# deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu precise-getdeb games

Hello yancek

This problem is there since very beginning after I have installed linux mint 4 months back, and it does not depend on the number of programs running it can hang anytime. What should be the best solution. ?

Let's get back to basics. What exactly do you mean by "hang"?

Does it freeze and then unfreeze after a wait. Does it freeze and stay frozen, forcing you to kill X or shutoff the machine? Does it power off?