Debian 13 suddenly freezes and i cant interact with anything

[mizugi]

Heyo
Recently decided to install debian on an old laptop and its been going pretty well
One thing I run into is that sometimes everything on the system will freeze, not the actual system, and I wont be able to do antthing with said freezed applications.
For example I would open up krita and firefox and then suddenly I wont be able to interact with krita at all, for some reason firefox would still be fine
I can still open up new applications using keyboard shortcuts but I wont be able to do anything in those applications
Im using xfce
Im new to this so please nicely tell me if I did anything wrong
Would love some help, thank you

 

[Condobloke]

G'day @mizugi, Welcome to Linux.org

Give us some detail re your laptop

brand & model, ram, drive/s, which particular debian installed (version) etc

if you open a terminal, and run the below....then post the result, thta would also help::

inxi -Fxxzr

 

[CaffeineAddict]

Suggested to run memory test with memtest86+

sudo apt install memtest86+

Then reboot and you'll see memtest item in boot menu, select it and let it run for 6 passes.

 

[mizugi]

G'day @mizugi, Welcome to Linux.org

Give us some detail re your laptop

brand & model, ram, drive/s, which particular debian installed (version) etc

if you open a terminal, and run the below....then post the result, thta would also help::

inxi -Fxxzr

hey thanks a bunch for the response
i had to run sudo apt install inxi before so i hope i did it right

System:
Kernel: 6.12.94+deb13-amd64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.0
Desktop: Xfce v: 4.20.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.48 wm: xfwm4 dm: LightDM
Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie)
Machine:
Type: Laptop System: ASUSTeK product: X450JN v: 1.0
serial: <superuser required>
Mobo: ASUSTeK model: X450JN v: 1.0 serial: <superuser required>
part-nu: ASUS-NotebookSKU UEFI: American Megatrends v: 203 date: 02/27/2014
CPU:
Info: dual core model: Intel Core i5-4200H bits: 64 type: MT MCP
arch: Haswell rev: 3 cache: L1: 128 KiB L2: 512 KiB L3: 3 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 800 min/max: 800/3400 cores: 1: 800 2: 800 3: 800 4: 800
bogomips: 22349
Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics vendor: ASUSTeK
driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-7.5 ports: active: eDP-1
empty: HDMI-A-1,VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0416
Device-2: NVIDIA GM108M [GeForce 840M] vendor: ASUSTeK driver: nouveau
v: kernel arch: Maxwell pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 4 bus-ID: 01:00.0
chip-ID: 10de:1341
Device-3: Chicony USB2.0 HD UVC WebCam driver: uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 3-9:4 chip-ID: 04f2:b3d8
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.16 compositor: xfwm4 v: 4.20.0 driver:
X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: crocus gpu: i915
display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1366x768 s-dpi: 96
Monitor-1: eDP-1 model: AU Optronics 0x363c res: 1366x768 hz: 60 dpi: 112
diag: 354mm (13.9")
API: EGL v: 1.5 platforms: device: 0 drv: nouveau device: 1 drv: crocus
device: 2 drv: swrast gbm: drv: nouveau surfaceless: drv: nouveau x11:
drv: crocus inactive: wayland
API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.3 vendor: intel mesa v: 25.0.7-2 glx-v: 1.4
direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2)
device-ID: 8086:0416
Info: Tools: api: eglinfo,glxinfo de: xfce4-display-settings x11: xdriinfo,
xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio
vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:03.0
chip-ID: 8086:0c0c
Device-2: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio vendor: ASUSTeK
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:8c20
API: ALSA v: k6.12.94+deb13-amd64 status: kernel-api
Server-1: PulseAudio v: 17.0 status: active
Network:
Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9565 / AR9565 Wireless Network Adapter
vendor: Lite-On driver: ath9k v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1
bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 168c:0036
IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros QCA8171 Gigabit Ethernet vendor: ASUSTeK
driver: alx v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: d000
bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 1969:10a1
IF: enp4s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
Device-1: Lite-On Atheros AR3012 Bluetooth driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB
rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 3-10:6 chip-ID: 04ca:300f
Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 4.1
lmp-v: 7 sub-v: 1
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 698.64 GiB used: 10.54 GiB (1.5%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: HGST (Hitachi) model: HTS721075A9E630
size: 698.64 GiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: <filter>
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 677.9 GiB used: 10.53 GiB (1.6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
ID-2: /boot/efi size: 974.1 MiB used: 8.8 MiB (0.9%) fs: vfat
dev: /dev/sda1
Swap:
ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 7.88 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
dev: /dev/sda3
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 90.0 C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Repos:
Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 1888
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ trixie main non-free-firmware
2: deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian/ trixie main non-free-firmware
3: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security trixie-security main non-free-firmware
4: deb-src http://security.debian.org/debian-security trixie-security main non-free-firmware
5: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ trixie-updates main non-free-firmware
6: deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian/ trixie-updates main non-free-firmware
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam-beta.list
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam-stable.list
1: deb [arch=amd64,i386 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/steam.gpg] https://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam
2: deb-src [arch=amd64,i386 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/steam.gpg] https://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam
Info:
Memory: total: 8 GiB available: 7.64 GiB used: 2.42 GiB (31.6%)
Processes: 214 Power: uptime: 5m wakeups: 0 Init: systemd v: 257
default: graphical
Compilers: gcc: 14.2.0 Shell: Bash v: 5.2.37 running-in: xfce4-terminal
inxi: 3.3.38
this is what came out
Thanks again

 

[kc1di]

The system temp is high and could be the the reason for the lockups. Check the cpu and fan and clean out any dirt and dust.
The nvidia card can also be the problem. I would run your intel graphic as much as possible.

 

[wendy-lebaron]

krita is a very demanding application. with potentially great memory requirements.

i don't know if it would make a difference. using krita 5 with qt5. for less memory and better performance. but it might not be noticed well. (performance might not even be noticed on quad-core or better cpu.) i use the appimage obtained from the program's main website. on a system i tested with "trixie" base. i couldn't use krita 5. (this was before krita 6 came out.) then discovered "gmic" installed with "apt". refused to launch inside krita. a big fat turn-off.

do you work with large images? like 1920x1020 or larger, like for 4k screens? you will need a lot of memory for it. make sure those ram modules are reliable. especially the ones installed. that didn't come with the computer. 8gb ram is good. but more memory is better. especially if editing images or playing games. is the primary thing to do with the computer.

i cannot recommend gimp 3 as easily as i did in the past. those developers favor gnome. so it looks awesome there. for people who have larger than laptop screens. on that "test" system. i had to get along with really small print. to get anywhere near comfort and workflow. that i achieved with gimp 2.10.

gimp should have been a better fit for xfce. since that desktop leans toward gtk.

 

[mizugi]

krita is a very demanding application. with potentially great memory requirements.

i don't know if it would make a difference. using krita 5 with qt5. for less memory and better performance. but it might not be noticed well. (performance might not even be noticed on quad-core or better cpu.) i use the appimage obtained from the program's main website. on a system i tested with "trixie" base. i couldn't use krita 5. (this was before krita 6 came out.) then discovered "gmic" installed with "apt". refused to launch inside krita. a big fat turn-off.

do you work with large images? like 1920x1020 or larger, like for 4k screens? you will need a lot of memory for it. make sure those ram modules are reliable. especially the ones installed. that didn't come with the computer. 8gb ram is good. but more memory is better. especially if editing images or playing games. is the primary thing to do with the computer.

i cannot recommend gimp 3 as easily as i did in the past. those developers favor gnome. so it looks awesome there. for people who have larger than laptop screens. on that "test" system. i had to get along with really small print. to get anywhere near comfort and workflow. that i achieved with gimp 2.10.

gimp should have been a better fit for xfce. since that desktop leans toward gtk.

Hey thanks for the reply
Yes I use pretty big canvasses for my drawing stuff, like around 4500x3700 as default
I switched from clip studio paint to krita when switching to kinuz and ive only recently started getting used to it so id rather not switch again
Im using a relatively old laptop and i dont really wanna have to buy more ram, if i dont have to, im not even really sure how to upgrade ram on a laptop

I appreciate the help

 

[mizugi]

The system temp is high and could the the reason for the lockups. Check the cpu and fan and clean out any dirt and dust.
The nvidia card can also be the problem. I would run your intel graphic as much as possible.

Hey thanks for replaying
Its a pretty old laptop so the battery is dead and it has to be plugged in all the time so that may be why
Ill try looking up how to switch a gpu in debian

 

[f33dm3bits]

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics vendor: ASUSTeK
driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-7.5 ports: active: eDP-1
empty: HDMI-A-1,VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0416
Device-2: NVIDIA GM108M [GeForce 840M] vendor: ASUSTeK driver: nouveau

You have Hybrid graphics, meaning both an integrated gpu on your chip and a discrete gpu. That combination can give a lot of trouble. Also you're using the nouveau driver for your Nvidia gpu, I would try installing the one from the repos. You would have to enable the "non-free" component and install "nvidia-kernel-dkms".

NvidiaGraphicsDrivers - Debian Wiki

wiki.debian.org

I would start with that to see if it improves your problem.

 

[mizugi]

Suggested to run memory test with memtest86+

sudo apt install memtest86+

Then reboot and you'll see memtest item in boot menu, select it and let it run for 6 passes.

Sorry for taking a while to respond this took about 13 hours

sorry for the image i wasnt sure how else to do it

 

[CaffeineAddict]

Sorry for taking a while to respond this took about 13 hours

sorry for the image i wasnt sure how else to do it

Memory is fine, I'd do as @f33dm3bits said, install Nvidia driver and reboot, if you still have freezing problem after that verify if you're not running out of RAM.
You can use htop to monitor RAM, have 1 terminal open all time running htop to see ram usage.

System Temperatures: cpu: 90.0 C mobo: N/A

And like @kc1di said, your temp is way too high, when CPU reaches max (this can be 90 or 100 C) it should shut down system to prevent damage.
You should clean up your laptop, if this still doesn't bring cpu temp down then re-pasting CPU will be needed.

 

[Condobloke]

when CPU reaches max (this can be 90 or 100 C) it should shut down system to prevent damage.

@mizugi .....you are getting sidetracked. Look below, please.

That sort of temp will KILL your pc/laptop

Pay Attention to that, FIRST.

My i7 runs between 30C and 48C (this is just to give you some idea)

If you have had the oc apart at any time, look for dust or dirt on the fan over the pcu, in the fins of the heat sink, in the air intakes and outlets of the case itself.....you can clean with a q-tip, cotton bud etc.....even if you moisten it slightly with water, that will be ok.

There is a CPU Temperature Indicator : https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/applets/view/106
I dont use debian, but right clicking on the panel (task bar) may bring up 'applets' ...CPU temp indicator should be there, or you can download it from the url just above here.
The temp indicator will tell you at a glance what the temp is.

If that makes no difference, you will likely need to take the cpu off and reapply thermal paste.

Right Way To Apply Thermal Paste Laptop at Ron Gerald blog

 

[ron.alan]

Asus has an update for your bios . . . but if you can get the temperature under control, and have no other issues, I wouldn't worry about it.

https://www.asus.com/us/supportonly/x450jn/helpdesk_bios/