what do you do when ubuntu locks up

[OBLAMA2009]

do you just have to reboot? what is the equivalent of cntrl-alt-del? is it cntrl-alt-bkspc? if so its never worked for me. if my computer locks up every couple days does that mean its most likely bad memory. im using the current ubuntu

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I've always used Alt + SysRq + b for instant reboot. There are other commands you can send with the SysRq key, but I haven't needed to use them in ages.

If you suspect bad RAM, boot your LiveCD and run memtest86+ overnight.

 

[VinDSL]

I just hit the power button...

Sometimes this triggers a fsck, but I've never lost anything doing this.

 

[MrColin]

ctrl+alt+{F1-F6} to get to a text login, then I log in and run top in hopes for a clue about the problem. From there I might kill a process or restart gdm or something.

If that doesn't work I'll try ctrl+alt+sysrq+(one at a time:r,e,i,s,u,b)
*I don't remember what all of those commands do but I read somewhere that it was safer than "b" all by itself.

If that doesn't work, powerbutton.

 

[Khyron320]

When somebody leaves themselves logged in at my station i just ctrl+alt+backspace them.

 

[KeypoX]

slam my hands on the keyboard till its fixes its self.

 

[swerus]

Install windows 7.😛

 

[joetekubi]

The Linux X server for many years automatically enabled the "ctrl-alt-backspace" key combination to kill the X server, and leave you at a console prompt. AFAIK, you need to manually enable this yourself (xorg.conf). It's been a very long time since Linux locked up on me.

 

[Crusty]

Try and SSH in to see what's really wrong, if that's dead the box gets a reboot.

 

[Nothinman]

Try and SSH in to see what's really wrong, if that's dead the box gets a reboot.

This. I believe Ctrl+Alt+Bksp is disabled in Xorg by default so you'd have to enable that, but any lockups I've seen were always kernel level and not Xorg so it wouldn't have helped me. And if you do the Sysrq you should probably hit S before B to do a sync before the reboot.

 

[Ken g6]

SysRq key, but I haven't needed to use them in ages.

Hey, cool! :awe: I didn't know about that!

My system always locks up when trying to swap a multi-gigabyte process out of RAM. Next time that happens I'll try Alt-SysRq-f. I wonder what it will kill? :hmm:

 

[Vadatajs]

Point and laugh.

 

[skyking]

I've had a bsd machine freeze once due to hardware failure and require a power button push. Other than that I have never had a machine become unresponsive.

 

[slayer9019]

switch to another terminal, "sudo pkill gnome", switch back to original terminal, "startx"