[gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Maxim Wexler]

Hi group,

Here's a switch: a computer that refuses to turn OFF. When I open a
root console and enter shutdown -h now my eee 900A  Asus Intel-n270
freezes with the message:

The system is going down for a system halt NOW!

Looking at ctrl alt F12, after the usual, normal messages there is this:

<...>
:mtrr:no MTRR for d0000000,10000000 found
:cpufreqd: term_handler     :Caught TERM signal (Terminated), forcing exit.

and at ctrl alt F7 I see:

<...>
*Stopping CPU Frequency Daemon ...      [ok]
*Storing ALSA Mixer Levels ...                   [ok]
*Killing processes using ALSA ...               [ok]
*Unloading ALSA modules ...                     [ok]

This happened yesterday too when I clicked the 'quit' button on the
Xfce4 desktop, so I tried it manually from a console to see if it
would make any difference. Not a bit of it.

Now I have to hold down the off/on button and pray the SSD doesn't
croak when I reboot. Very scary messages about non-contiguous files
and a forced reboot.

FWIW this only started after installing alsa-utils and configuring the
sound card(Intel 82801G) according to alsa-guide.xml

[gentoo-user] Re: [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[walt]

On 07/08/2009 11:27 AM, Maxim Wexler wrote:
> Hi group,
>
> Here's a switch: a computer that refuses to turn OFF. When I open a
> root console and enter shutdown -h now my eee 900A  Asus Intel-n270
> freezes with the message:
>
> The system is going down for a system halt NOW!
>
> Looking at ctrl alt F12, after the usual, normal messages there is this:
>
> <...>
> :mtrr:no MTRR for d0000000,10000000 found
> :cpufreqd: term_handler     :Caught TERM signal (Terminated), forcing exit.
>
> and at ctrl alt F7 I see:
>
> <...>
> *Stopping CPU Frequency Daemon ...      [ok]
> *Storing ALSA Mixer Levels ...                   [ok]
> *Killing processes using ALSA ...               [ok]
> *Unloading ALSA modules ...                     [ok]

The very first thing to try is to change your /etc/conf.d/alsasound so
that it has these two lines:

# Deprecated options:
# Upstream feels, and we wholehartedly agree, that this was a silly idea
UNLOAD_ON_STOP="no"
KILLPROC_ON_STOP="no"

May not help, but that change should be made in any case.

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Maxim Wexler]

> The very first thing to try is to change your /etc/conf.d/alsasound so
> that it has these two lines:
>
> # Deprecated options:
> # Upstream feels, and we wholehartedly agree, that this was a silly idea
> UNLOAD_ON_STOP="no"
> KILLPROC_ON_STOP="no"
>
> May not help, but that change should be made in any case.
>

Definitely related to alsa. I deleted alsasound from runlevel boot(why
does the doc insist on putting it there?) and it shutdown normally.
And why the huge raft of drivers for such simple hardware, just two
ports? My desktop has all the bells and whistles and doesn't use half
the drivers of the little netbook

UPDATE Just rebooted and ran lsmod. The modules with the string
'_hda_' in the middle are still loaded. Some of the others, like
'snd_mixer_oss,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_seq_device' are gone. Except
for 'snd_pcm, snd_timer, snd'; they're still loaded. The logic, if
any, of what's going on escapes me. If I turned off alsa in rc-update
why should it still load some of the modules. They're not it
modules.autoload.d.

mw

[gentoo-user] Re: [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[walt]

On 07/08/2009 12:31 PM, Maxim Wexler wrote:
>> The very first thing to try is to change your /etc/conf.d/alsasound so
>> that it has these two lines:
>>
>> # Deprecated options:
>> # Upstream feels, and we wholehartedly agree, that this was a silly idea
>> UNLOAD_ON_STOP="no"
>> KILLPROC_ON_STOP="no"
>>
>> May not help, but that change should be made in any case.
>>
>
> Definitely related to alsa. I deleted alsasound from runlevel boot(why
> does the doc insist on putting it there?) and it shutdown normally.
> And why the huge raft of drivers for such simple hardware, just two
> ports? My desktop has all the bells and whistles and doesn't use half
> the drivers of the little netbook
>
> UPDATE Just rebooted and ran lsmod. The modules with the string
> '_hda_' in the middle are still loaded. Some of the others, like
> 'snd_mixer_oss,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_seq_device' are gone. Except
> for 'snd_pcm, snd_timer, snd'; they're still loaded. The logic, if
> any, of what's going on escapes me. If I turned off alsa in rc-update
> why should it still load some of the modules. They're not it
> modules.autoload.d.

Read through /etc/conf.d/alsasound and look at the environment variables
that are set in that file.  LOAD_ON_START, for example changes the way
/etc/init.d/alsasound behaves.

If it's set to 'yes' then the script does a modprobe -c and greps thru
the output for sound modules and then loads them.  It's all quite well
done for my purposes, but YMMV.

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 13:31:53 -0600, Maxim Wexler wrote:

> > The very first thing to try is to change your /etc/conf.d/alsasound so
> > that it has these two lines:
> >
> > # Deprecated options:
> > # Upstream feels, and we wholehartedly agree, that this was a silly
> > idea UNLOAD_ON_STOP="no"
> > KILLPROC_ON_STOP="no"
> >
> > May not help, but that change should be made in any case.
> >  
> 
> Definitely related to alsa. I deleted alsasound from runlevel boot

What's the point of quoting a message that gives useful advice, then
going on to explain that you ignored that advice and took a completely
different, and non-functional, approach? Walt's advice is sound (sorry :)
those variables should be set to no top prevent the alsa module unloading
that is apparently stopping your shutdown.

> UPDATE Just rebooted and ran lsmod. The modules with the string
> '_hda_' in the middle are still loaded. Some of the others, like
> 'snd_mixer_oss,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_seq_device' are gone. Except
> for 'snd_pcm, snd_timer, snd'; they're still loaded. The logic, if
> any, of what's going on escapes me. If I turned off alsa in rc-update
> why should it still load some of the modules. They're not it
> modules.autoload.d.

They've been loaded by the hotplug system when the hardware was detected.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Speak softly and carry a cellular phone.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Maxim Wexler]

>> > May not help, but that change should be made in any case.
>> >
>>
>> Definitely related to alsa. I deleted alsasound from runlevel boot
>
> What's the point of quoting a message that gives useful advice, then
> going on to explain that you ignored that advice and took a completely
> different, and non-functional, approach?

Whoa! I never "explained" anything. I merely turned off alsasound to
see if that was the problem.

>Walt's advice is sound (sorry :)

Thanks for your kind corroboration. I'll get to it pronto.

mw

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:27:02 -0600, Maxim Wexler wrote:

> Now I have to hold down the off/on button and pray the SSD doesn't
> croak when I reboot. Very scary messages about non-contiguous files
> and a forced reboot.

Why? Magic SysRq keys are a much safer option.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Q: How many accountants does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: What kind of answer did you have in mind?

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Maxim Wexler]

> Why? Magic SysRq keys are a much safer option.
>

Learn something new... Ok, I'll try that, thanks.  But I forsee
difficulties: the Sys Rq key on the eee is part of the fn +
blue-labelled-key system. Is that similar to yours?

How do I test it out? Must I induce a freeze somehow or can I just
apply it to a working rig?

mw

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 17:34:54 -0600, Maxim Wexler wrote:

> > Why? Magic SysRq keys are a much safer option.

> Learn something new... Ok, I'll try that, thanks.  But I forsee
> difficulties: the Sys Rq key on the eee is part of the fn +
> blue-labelled-key system. Is that similar to yours?

You have to hold down Alt, hold down Fn, hold down PrtSc, release Fn then
press the command keys. If you keep Fn held down, U is seen as 4 etc.

> How do I test it out? Must I induce a freeze somehow or can I just
> apply it to a working rig?

Press Ctrl-Alt-F1 to get to the first VC then press Alt-SysRq S. It
should report "Emergency sync".


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Programmer (n): A red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing
with inanimate objects.

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Maxim Wexler]

> You have to hold down Alt, hold down Fn, hold down PrtSc, release Fn then
> press the command keys. If you keep Fn held down, U is seen as 4 etc.
>
>> How do I test it out? Must I induce a freeze somehow or can I just
>> apply it to a working rig?
>
> Press Ctrl-Alt-F1 to get to the first VC then press Alt-SysRq S. It
> should report "Emergency sync".

None of these maneuvers have any effect whatever. Except getting to
the first console.  Least that I can see.

BTW, when I try getting back to the X console, it's blank. Is this an
Xfce4 thing? I remember sysrescuecd which also uses Xfce4 had the same
bug/feature. I have to ctrl-c on the first console to get back to the
prompt so I can restart X.

FWIW  Prt Sc and Sys Rq are separate keys on this unit. They share
space with Ins and Del, respectively. Prt Sc and Sys Rq are printed in
blue and, I assume. are part of the 'fn' system.

mw

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Thu, 9 Jul 2009 15:54:14 -0600, Maxim Wexler wrote:

> > Press Ctrl-Alt-F1 to get to the first VC then press Alt-SysRq S. It
> > should report "Emergency sync".  
> 
> None of these maneuvers have any effect whatever. Except getting to
> the first console.  Least that I can see.

Do you have CONFIG_MAGIC_SYSRQ enabled in your kernel?

> BTW, when I try getting back to the X console, it's blank. Is this an
> Xfce4 thing? I remember sysrescuecd which also uses Xfce4 had the same
> bug/feature. I have to ctrl-c on the first console to get back to the
> prompt so I can restart X.

Ctrl-C, my console isn't even logged in. so Ctrl-C won't do anything.
Alt-F7 takes me back to KDE.

> FWIW  Prt Sc and Sys Rq are separate keys on this unit. They share
> space with Ins and Del, respectively. Prt Sc and Sys Rq are printed in
> blue and, I assume. are part of the 'fn' system.

Yes, and both work s magic SysRq keys on my Eee.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Gravity isn't easy, but it's the law.

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Maxim Wexler]

> Do you have CONFIG_MAGIC_SYSRQ enabled in your kernel?

yes


>
>> BTW, when I try getting back to the X console, it's blank. Is this an
> > Xfce4 thing? I remember sysrescuecd which also uses Xfce4 had the same
>> bug/feature. I have to ctrl-c on the first console to get back to the
>> prompt so I can restart X.
>
> Ctrl-C, my console isn't even logged in. so Ctrl-C won't do anything.

Don't understand "isn't even logged in"

> Alt-F7 takes me back to KDE.

Takes me to a completely blank(black) console, no cursor, no login, zip

>
>> FWIW  Prt Sc and Sys Rq are separate keys on this unit. They share
>> space with Ins and Del, respectively. Prt Sc and Sys Rq are printed in
>> blue and, I assume. are part of the 'fn' system.
>
> Yes, and both work s magic SysRq keys on my Eee.
>

When you do # tail -f /var/log/messages do you see some sort of report
when you push SysRq.

mw

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:50:33 -0600, Maxim Wexler wrote:

> > Ctrl-C? My console isn't even logged in. so Ctrl-C won't do anything.
> 
> Don't understand "isn't even logged in"

As in it's just sitting there with a login prompt, but pressing Alt-SysRq-S 
shows the emergency sync message.

> When you do # tail -f /var/log/messages do you see some sort of report
> when you push SysRq.

Yes.

Jul 10 21:17:12 zaphod SysRq : Emergency Sync
Jul 10 21:17:12 zaphod Emergency Sync complete


-- 
Neil Bothwick

(A)bort, (R)etry, (P)retend this never happened...

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Maxim Wexler]

>> When you do # tail -f /var/log/messages do you see some sort of report
>> when you push SysRq.
>
> Yes.
>
> Jul 10 21:17:12 zaphod SysRq : Emergency Sync
> Jul 10 21:17:12 zaphod Emergency Sync complete
>

That's strange; I see nothing. Is there a hotkey number associated
with it as there is for the wireless key or the brightness-darkness
keys? Perhaps something is configured as a module which should be in
the kernel. BTW cat /proc/sys/kernel/sysrq shows a '1', which
supposedly means it's enabled.

mw

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Walter Dnes]

On Wed, Jul 08, 2009 at 10:53:46PM +0100, Neil Bothwick wrote
> On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:27:02 -0600, Maxim Wexler wrote:
> 
> > Now I have to hold down the off/on button and pray the SSD doesn't
> > croak when I reboot. Very scary messages about non-contiguous files
> > and a forced reboot.
> 
> Why? Magic SysRq keys are a much safer option.

  Or, failing that, at least issue the command "sync" from a text
console just before "offing" your computer.

-- 
Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org>

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] eee PC crashes on shutdown.

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 20:13:39 -0400, Walter Dnes wrote:

> > Why? Magic SysRq keys are a much safer option.  
> 
>   Or, failing that, at least issue the command "sync" from a text
> console just before "offing" your computer.

Sync won't help much where active processes have files open.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

In an atomic war, all men will be cremated equal.

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