I have been running Ubuntu 11.04 alongside MS Vista relatively successfully on my pc.

However I have had to run Ubuntu in Classic Mode rather than Unity, until I was able to use the Additional Drivers feature which, after trying one or two Nvidia Drivers I was able to run Unity.

Ubuntu Unity runs OK but I can't use the Suspend or Hibernate features at all?

I noticed when I tried the recommended additional Nvidia Driver. The whole Unity system failed (froze).

Please help a novice terminal user with GUI solution?

/Sigh.

The reason you need help is that GUI solutions prevent you learning about the system. Copy one of these into terminal in your unsuspendable state

sync;sudo echo -n mem > /sys/power/state
sync;sudo echo -n disk > /sys/power/state

Copy one of these into terminal in your unsuspendable state

sync;sudo echo -n mem > /sys/power/state
sync;sudo echo -n disk > /sys/power/state

I can find the Terminal and paste one of these lines in BUT what is the unsuspendable state? Does the word sync; go in before the sudo?

Sorry - I am a beginner when it comes to command line usage - I am more interested in the software I use than system administration - but it seems I will need to learn more about the terminal.

Sorry and Thanks

From Post #1
There is a space or should be in between whe snyc; and the sudo in that line. LQ pulls out some spaces, so be careful.

In that line, 'mem' = memory which is suspend
disk = hibernate. Sometimes this is called through HAL by window managers, and that bit can fall over. In the terminal, you get to see errors.

I came here looking for answers to suspend problems with Nvidia drivers and I doubt that johnkelly solved his problem or has bothered to persist with linux.

John, if you're still stuck:-

The command 'sync' causes all buffers to be flushed, 'sudo' gives you more authority over the OS.

The power state is commanded by the contents of the file /sys/power/state. If you write the word 'mem' into it, the OS will attempt to "suspend", if you write the work 'disk' into it, the OS will attempt to hibernate.

By doing one of these in the terminal, the suspend/hibernate will either work or you'll get some sort of error message which might give a clue as to the nature of the problem.

I have just started this process and have a clean hibernate but an error "write error: No such device" when attempting to suspend.

Ok, the problem only manifested itself when I'd "fiddled" with the nvidia driver. Sadly I ran out of time and patience to properly nail the fault but I have now removed the nvidia driver, running on nouveau again, and the problem has gone away.

I'll reload nvidia and try again later.