Complicated problem - All linux distros freeze, briefly run sluggish, and some cannot be installed (INFO provided) [Expert needed]

[Catalin]

Hello!

I tried multiple Linux distros: Manjaro (KDE, Xfce), Garuda (KDE, Xfce), Lubuntu, Kubuntu.

With Arch based I can get them installed but eventually they will freeze, sometimes they get sluggish before this happening but it's not a rule. Other times changing kernel or doing other settings would not apply or got stuck.

With Debian I can’t even get past Calamares installation as it freezes. Sometimes the cursos can be moved, other times it won't.
I also had issues with snapshots. When I tried doing this on Garuda sometimes I would receive “/var/lib/sddm/.config/sddm-greeterrc” not writable, Please contact your system administrator.
1) No other OS installed on it 2) Fast boot turned off 3) Secure boot turned off 4) It has latest Bios update 5) mtestram showed no incompatibilities - green pass (here CPU was 60/92/79 where the last one is the average)

They were verified with Checksum and everything was okay there. I used Rufus and also Ventoy. I went for Standard installation - swap with hibernate.

My specs are:
Laptop Asus X541U(V) (BIOS version 2019, latest - 309 with Vbios version 1036.I019X541UV.003)
Intel i5 6198DU 2.30GHz (I have never overclocked anything, but in the past an IT guy worked on my laptop)
It has 8 GB RAM (4+4)
It has two hard disks (SSD + mechanical)
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 920MX

Laptop was purchased in 2016 but in 2020 I had an original Assus battery purchased and replaced by an authorized IT guy at a tech shop.
I am not sure about it’s complete hardware specs BUT here I added:
1) paste bin with it’s dxdiag when it had Windows 10 on it - pastebin1
2) paste bin with Manjaro Xfce error - pastebin2
3) sudo journalctl -f -pwarning (when it was on Garude KDE Dragonized) - pastebin3
4) sudo journalctl -b -pwarning (when it was on Garude KDE Dragonized) - pastebin4


Some error pictures from various distros:
Picture1 Picture2 Picture3 Picture4 Picture5 Picture6
Memory test - Picture7 Picture8 Picture9

I just entered Garuda KDE dragonized. It has a switch button between integrated dedicated and hybryd. With integrated I was able to run a video in VLC from mechanical hardware (which is NTFS and I have data there) but when I switched to Nvidia, VLC would not open it, it would briefly try to open it for milisecond then it was closing itself. But my GPU is not dead.
EDIT Here are two pictures BIOS Menu BIOS Graphics Configuration
pastebin - Motherboard info Lipsci info


On Windows 10 I never had any issues.

I really want to become a penguin. I really like Linux but I don’t know why it is so very hard to make it work.
If you can help meI will greatly appreciate your effort. Also I want to mention that I am not a tech savvy so if you can help me, please provide some baby steps

Thank you.

 

[smooth_buddha]

Hello!

I tried multiple Linux distros: Manjaro (KDE, Xfce), Garuda (KDE, Xfce), Lubuntu, Kubuntu.

With Arch based I can get them installed but eventually they will freeze, sometimes they get sluggish before this happening but it's not a rule. Other times changing kernel or doing other settings would not apply or got stuck.

With Debian I can’t even get past Calamares installation as it freezes. Sometimes the cursos can be moved, other times it won't.
I also had issues with snapshots. When I tried doing this on Garuda sometimes I would receive “/var/lib/sddm/.config/sddm-greeterrc” not writable, Please contact your system administrator.
1) No other OS installed on it 2) Fast boot turned off 3) Secure boot turned off 4) It has latest Bios update 5) mtestram showed no incompatibilities - green pass (here CPU was 60/92/79 where the last one is the average)

They were verified with Checksum and everything was okay there. I used Rufus and also Ventoy. I went for Standard installation - swap with hibernate.

My specs are:
Laptop Asus X541U(V) (BIOS version 2019, latest - 309 with Vbios version 1036.I019X541UV.003)
Intel i5 6198DU 2.30GHz (I have never overclocked anything, but in the past an IT guy worked on my laptop)
It has 8 GB RAM (4+4)
It has two hard disks (SSD + mechanical)
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 920MX

Laptop was purchased in 2016 but in 2020 I had an original Assus battery purchased and replaced by an authorized IT guy at a tech shop.
I am not sure about it’s complete hardware specs BUT here I added:
1) paste bin with it’s dxdiag when it had Windows 10 on it - pastebin1
2) paste bin with Manjaro Xfce error - pastebin2
3) sudo journalctl -f -pwarning (when it was on Garude KDE Dragonized) - pastebin3
4) sudo journalctl -b -pwarning (when it was on Garude KDE Dragonized) - pastebin4


Some error pictures from various distros:
Picture1 Picture2 Picture3 Picture4 Picture5 Picture6
Memory test - Picture7 Picture8 Picture9

I just entered Garuda KDE dragonized. It has a switch button between integrated dedicated and hybryd. With integrated I was able to run a video in VLC from mechanical hardware (which is NTFS and I have data there) but when I switched to Nvidia, VLC would not open it, it would briefly try to open it for milisecond then it was closing itself. But my GPU is not dead.
EDIT Here are two pictures BIOS Menu BIOS Graphics Configuration
pastebin - Motherboard info Lipsci info


On Windows 10 I never had any issues.

I really want to become a penguin. I really like Linux but I don’t know why it is so very hard to make it work.
If you can help meI will greatly appreciate your effort. Also I want to mention that I am not a tech savvy so if you can help me, please provide some baby steps

Thank you.

Did you install using usb or cd/dvd?
did you try to install distro on the ssd or the hd drive?
did you manually partition install or do let the installer set up partitions automatically?
If you set up partitions manually did you make a swap space if so how big?
Was you connected to internet whilst you experiecned the freeze? or was you offline when the computer froze??
Did it freeeze during the actual install process or did it freeze once everything was working after install??

Im no expert but i will try to help

 

[Brickwizard]

Welcome to the forums

“How do I instal Linux a general guide to installation” a guest article for Linux-Tips

I have written a little article for Linux-tips, entitled “Linux a general guide to installation” It is based on my usual reply to the question “how do I instal Linux”, As it is aimed at the newest of members to GNU-Linux, I have tried to keep the technobabble to a minimum, Please take a look and...

www.linux.org

 

[Catalin]

Welcome to the forums

Thanks!

I installed from USB - tried with Hama 3.0 and Emtec 2.0
I went for standard installation, so no manual partition. It automatically went for 8GB swap. I chose swap with hibernate.
I went for SSD and always connected to the internet via wifi in live Calamares.

Sometimes it was freezing in Live, other times in distro during mouse hovering or when trying to switch to a different kernel or when trying to snapshot. It takes a lot of time to restart or shutdown from distro too.
So freezes were happening all the time - live, when installed, after installation, before installation etc. as I mentioned in my first post.

 

[Brickwizard]

There is nothing I can see wrong with your kit, My imidiate suspicions fall on a corrupt download, a bad burn of the installation medium, [I always recommend etcher, or possibly a poor quality old or worn out pen drive

addendum, when you run "live" you will not get full speed

 

[Catalin]

There is nothing I can see wrong with your kit, My imidiate suspicions fall on a corrupt download, a bad burn of the installation medium, [I always recommend etcher, or possibly a poor quality old or worn out pen drive

BalenaEtcher always failed to work for me. I used Rufus and Ventoy.
I checked them with MD5_and_SHA_Checksum_Utility
Emtec 2.0 - is a stick from 2015.
Hama 3.0 - but this one I purchsed in 2020 and I have barely used it until now.

 

[smooth_buddha]

you mentioned it only freeze on Arch based distros, maybe go with debian based so mint or ubuntu or standard debian

 

[Catalin]

you mentioned it only freeze on Arch based distros, maybe go with debian based so mint or ubuntu or standard debian

I appreciate that you are trying to help me guys but.. I have already added all the information that is possibly needed. Lubuntu and Kubuntu are Debian.
Check my first post, please.

Maybe there might be something from BIOS that I am not aware of...

 

[Brickwizard]

Hama 3.0 - but this one I purchsed in 2020 and I have barely used it until now

Not familiar with that make, I use 4gb PNY usb3 for all my testing, My experience with Rufus is the exact opposite to yours, and from previous post has caused problems for quite a few members, not used Ventroy but several of my associates on here recommend It.
The battery should not cause any issues [I run 3 laptops including an old Acer with non oem batteries.]
what I suggest for starters is you try Linux mint as it is one of the least problematic to install [make sure you are connected to the internet, and tick the box to install non-free/ propriotry drivers]

 

[Brickwizard]

I have had a quick look at your windows and Manjaro print-outs and nothing is jumping out at me as being wrong

 

[Catalin]

what I suggest for starters is you try Linux min

I understand Linux Mint is like the thing that everybody should try but I don't like it.
Moreover, and most importantly, I checked like at least 5 (Pop_Os, Manjaro, Garuda, Lubuntu, Kubuntu) with different DEs (Xfce and KDE) - at this point trying others will not do it. There is something underneath it... Windows never had a problem on that laptop.

I have had a quick look at your windows and Manjaro print-outs and nothing is jumping out at me as being wrong

Could you also check the pictures, please ? <3

 

[Condobloke]

why did this kernel drama happen ?

what led up to this happening?

Linux Kernel 5.10 release – Download and Install​

You can install the mainline kernel packages from the below link right now in your latest Ubuntu or Ubuntu-based derivatives. But it is not recommended to install this as it might break the current Ubuntu Linux system whichever you are running (e.g Ubuntu 20.04 LTS). If you are running Debian, Ubuntu, and other stable releases – do not upgrade using the below steps. Instead, wait for an official update in respective distributions.

For general users, unless you are keen to experiment with the latest hardware whose support is added in this release, you should not update at the moment.

 

[Condobloke]

@brickwizard suggested
"" what I suggest for starters is you try Linux mint as it is one of the least problematic to install [make sure you are connected to the internet, and tick the box to install non-free/ proprietary drivers]""

A good suggestion. Read his link also. Follow it to the letter. Do not deviate from it.

 

[Brickwizard]

Even if you do not like the mint desktop, that is not an unsurmountable problem, if you don't like the ones on offer you can change to almost any desktop you prefer once you have a working system
pictures 1-6 could all be installation errors [ wrong Kernel or bad download/burn] 1&2 could also be BIOS faults

 

[Brickwizard]

another thought, MX-linux [debian based] with AHS may be a better bet, again if it works and you dont like the desktop you can change it

 

[Old Tom Bombadil]

Maybe there might be something from BIOS that I am not aware of...

It's possible. Look in BIOS for "SATA Controller" settings. If set to Raid or IDE, change it to AHCI, save the settings, reboot and try to reinstall the OS you prefer. If SATA Controller is set to AHCI, you can try to change to IDE, but AHCI is usually the better setting.

You could also reset all BIOS settings to default (usually a safe move) in case there are forgotten tweaks from years past. After setting to default, only change those you need (Fastboot and Secure Boot, I guess, though some Linux distros will work with those enabled too). If you reset to defaults, check SATA Controller again afterwards.

Sometimes you may need to insert a certain kernel parameter when booting on your live USB, but there are many of these parameters and I don't know offhand which might be helpful.

 

[unprepar3D]

Are you sure the destination drive isn't bad? SMART values all ok?

 

[Alexzee]

I read in your specs list that you have a Nvidia Geforce 920 MX GPU.
Sometimes Nvidia doesn't play nice with Linux and you have to install the Linux X64 Display driver from Nvidia.
Your GPU is in the list under Supported Products.
Download the driver and install it. If it doesn't stop the freezing you can always remove the driver.
It should look like this when you go to download it.

NVIDIA-Linux-x86-495.44.run

1. Open the terminal and move to the folder in which you've saved your RUN file.
2. Use the command chmod +x yourfilename. run to make your RUN file executable.
3. Use the command ./yourfilename. run to execute your RUN file.

Driver Details | NVIDIA

Download the <dd~LanguageName> <dd~Name> for <dd~OSName> systems. Released <dd~ReleaseDateTime>

www.nvidia.com

 

[wizardfromoz]

You could also reset all BIOS settings to default (usually a safe move) in case there are forgotten tweaks from years past. After setting to default, only change those you need (Fastboot and Secure Boot, I guess, though some Linux distros will work with those enabled too). If you reset to defaults, check SATA Controller again afterwards.

G'day @Catalin and welcome to linux.org

I would first and foremost follow Tom's advice, if your Aptio utility has the settings -

Switch off Secure Boot and disable Fast Boot if there.

Try reset to Defaults and if no joy

Reset to Factory Settings

Consider trying install under Legacy if all else fails.

Skip the Hibernate for now.

Skip the Swap for now, unless/until it is shown you need it. All of the Distros you have tried install their own builtin swap, or else zram/zswap as standard, usually 1 - 2 GB

I run 70 Linux on this Dell rig, including all you have tried.

Cheers

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz

 

[Catalin]

It's possible. Look in BIOS for "SATA Controller" settings. If set to Raid or IDE, change it to AHCI, save the settings, reboot and try to reinstall the OS you prefer. If SATA Controller is set to AHCI, you can try to change to IDE, but AHCI is usually the better setting.

You could also reset all BIOS settings to default (usually a safe move) in case there are forgotten tweaks from years past. After setting to default, only change those you need (Fastboot and Secure Boot, I guess, though some Linux distros will work with those enabled too). If you reset to defaults, check SATA Controller again afterward

I will try this

Consider trying install under Legacy if all else fails.

And this

1. Open the terminal and move to the folder in which you've saved your RUN file.
2. Use the command chmod +x yourfilename. run to make your RUN file executable.
3. Use the command ./yourfilename. run to execute your RUN file.

Driver Details | NVIDIA

Download the <dd~LanguageName> <dd~Name> for <dd~OSName> systems. Released <dd~ReleaseDateTime>

www.nvidia.com

I will also try this. I've seen in Live that you can actually double click the .run driver from nvidia - could I do it like that? I am not good with terminal.