trying to use inkscape in Ubuntu I get this:

pedro@pedro-school:~$ inkscape

Emergency save activated!
Emergency save completed. Inkscape will close now.
If you can reproduce this crash, please file a bug at www.inkscape.org
with a detailed description of the steps leading to the crash, so we can fix it.
Segmentation fault (core dumped)
pedro@pedro-school:~$

What is a segmentation fault?

Could this be a sign that my hd is failing? Everything else seems to work fine. On the second attempt, inkscape starts, but this has happened a few times lately.

A segmentation fault occurs when the program tries to access memeory it is not allowed to use.

It happens when a program has an error, or encounters an unexpected situation, or the program is damaged.

Because it already happens during startup the first two options are unlikely. The program might be damaged.

It could be a hard disk error, but since sometimes the program does start and there is a check on data integrety during hard disk read this is unlikley as well.

Remains that you can have a memory (RAM) problem. Inkscape start to run, uses memory, reads back an invalid value from memory, uses it, and bingo. Temperature problems in your CPU could cause the same error.

jlinkels

Thanks for that.
I wanted to get some more RAM, I might just replace it all.

Since you have that bash link there, I'd like to ask, what exactly is/was shellshock??

First about your inkscape problem.

I did not read your error descripton carefully enough. You wrote "on the second attempt, inkscape starts". So I assumed incorrectly it did not start the first time, or that the crash happened right at the start.

But that is not true, is it? It happens after some time while you are working, right? And then after the crash when you start it again it will work normally, correct?

In that case it might simply be a program bug.
- Is it reproducible?
- Did it work without crashing in the past? With the same drawing?
- Does it happen with always the same drawing or also with different drawings?
- Does it happen after a long time in that drawing or after a short period of time?

Which version is it exactly?

It might be that Ubuntu included some alpha or beta version. They prefer the latest over stability. Can you try to upgrade Inkscape? Are you in a position to try Inkscape with that particular drawing on a different machine? With the same version of Inkscape?

About the shellshock: it is a bug in Bash which enables malicious software to execute a virus on your computer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shellsh...oftware_bug%29. You update by executing:in a terminal.

jlinkels

Forgot to answer, sorry, been busy: I always keep everything up to date. I have the latest version of everything I think.

The problem was on start, with an empty drawing.

I bought a 4GB RAM stick and threw away the old 2GB in this Toshiba Laptop. Since then I have not had any problems.

Thanks for your comments.

I've been reading your bash script link. All Greek to me, but interesting!

Now I see... you also have the problem with the colored squares and the CMYK problem. Seems you are running Inkscape

I hope both problems are solved.

jlinkels