Linux Mint 21.1 Cinnamon Disconnecting to the X Server {Solved}

[Alexzee]

Over the last 2 weeks I have lost the ability to log in after the system has been idle for a while. This has happened 3 times now.
When I move the mouse all I have is a black screen with the cursor no GUI or the ability to log in.

So I hold down the keys I have to in order to drop to a shell and log in.
Than run startx and the command-line complains that it has lost it's connection to the X Server.

I'm not able to get back to the GUI so I have to run sudo reboot:-

Any ideas what I could try?

 

[Condobloke]

have a look at 'Screensaver' settings ?...delay before starting the screensaver? .....lock the computer when put to sleep ?.....lock the computer after the screensaver starts?

I avoid any "lock" in screensaver settings....In power management....." I choose to 'turn off then inactive for"....Never

and..."Suspend when inactive for".....Never

In other words I use the 'Screensaver" settings to control how long before the screensaver starts....and under customize I show a message...."dont screw with Brian PC while he is not here !"

hth

 

[osprey]

Over the last 2 weeks I have lost the ability to log in after the system has been idle for a while. This has happened 3 times now.
When I move the mouse all I have is a black screen with the cursor no GUI or the ability to log in.

So I hold down the keys I have to in order to drop to a shell and log in.
Than run startx and the command-line complains that it has lost it's connection to the X Server.

I'm not able to get back to the GUI so I have to run sudo reboot:-

Any ideas what I could try?

Maybe if you don't have the latest version of the X server installed, it would be worth installing that. X does get version upgrades and I found niggles like the one you describe have disappeared on such upgrades.

You could have a look at the Xorg.0.log file to see if there is any useful info there, but there often isn't other than generalised comments like "the connection to the X server failed" or something like that.

 

[Alexzee]

have a look at 'Screensaver' settings ?...delay before starting the screensaver? .....lock the computer when put to sleep ?.....lock the computer after the screensaver starts?

I avoid any "lock" in screensaver settings....In power management....." I choose to 'turn off then inactive for"....Never

and..."Suspend when inactive for".....Never

In other words I use the 'Screensaver" settings to control how long before the screensaver starts....and under customize I show a message...."dont screw with Brian PC while he is not here !"

hth

Took screenshots of Power Management settings and the screensaver--

I'll walk away and come back and see it it complains again about the connection to the x server lost.

 

[Condobloke]

If you don't have any joy with those settings....the only change I would make would be in Power Options.....'turn off the screen when inactive for 30 mins .... never

 

[Alexzee]

Maybe if you don't have the latest version of the X server installed, it would be worth installing that. X does get version upgrades and I found niggles like the one you describe have disappeared on such upgrades.

You could have a look at the Xorg.0.log file to see if there is any useful info there, but there often isn't other than generalised comments like "the connection to the X server failed" or something like that.

Having trouble locating that file-

 

[Alexzee]

If you don't have any joy with those settings....the only change I would make would be in Power Options.....'turn off the screen when inactive for 30 mins .... never

Roger that:-
I'll let you know what happens. Thanks!

 

[wizardfromoz]

Having trouble locating that file-

1st screenshot, 2nd column, 2nd from bottom - it is in /var/log/

If you want to save time wading through it, you can right-click in Nemo and check Properties and see the date time stamp. If nothing recent (mine is 14 February) nothing new written to it.

Wiz

 

[osprey]

Having trouble locating that fille

Try: /home/<user>/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log
That should be the one of the current boot. Of the /var/log/Xorg.0.log file, check the date to see if it's current or not.

 

[Alexzee]

1st screenshot, 2nd column, 2nd from bottom - it is in /var/log/

If you want to save time wading through it, you can right-click in Nemo and check Properties and see the date time stamp. If nothing recent (mine is 14 February) nothing new written to it.

Wiz

Using Nemo opened a window saying it can not find the Xorg file.

Alex:  ls /var/log/Xorg.O.log
ls: cannot access '/var/log/Xorg.O.log': No such file or directory
Alex:  cat /var/log/Xorg.O.log
cat: /var/log/Xorg.O.log: No such file or directory
Alex:  nemo Xorg.O.log
Nemo-Share-Message: 20:18:40.629: Called "net usershare info" but it failed: 'net usershare' returned error 255: net usershare: cannot open usershare directory /var/lib/samba/usershares. Error No such file or directory
Please ask your system administrator to enable user sharing.

 

[Alexzee]

Looks like It doesn't exist--

Alex:  cat /home/alex/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.O.log
cat: /home/alex/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.O.log: No such file or directory

 

[osprey]

There is a contradiction between the output shown in post #6 which displays an Xorg.0.log file, and post #10 where it apparently can't be listed with ls. Why is it so?

 

[wizardfromoz]

From another of Alex's threads

Taking a break for a little while. Hand is starting to give me pain.

Rest your hand first, this can wait.

Wiz

Try: /home/<user>/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log

Applies under Ubuntu but does not apply under Linux Mint - one of the differences.

Latest is under /var/log - mine has just changed a few minutes ago.

I'll come back with more a little later.

Wiz

 

[Alexzee]

There is a contradiction between the output shown in post #6 which displays an Xorg.0.log file, and post #10 where it apparently can't be listed with ls. Why is it so?

It's Xorg.1.log that's why I couldn't find it-

 

[wizardfromoz]

Damn ... now I'm curious.

Later.

 

[Alexzee]

Be back later it's getting late.

 

[osprey]

It's Xorg.1.log that's why I couldn't find it-

Aha! Good to know. Thanks.

 

[Alexzee]

Aha! Good to know. Thanks.

You're Welcome-
I'll walk away for a while and see if it happens again.
bb later

 

[Alexzee]

Came back 15 minutes later and moved the mouse. The system seems ok now and brought me back to where I was.
I'll see how things go over the next few days to ensure that this stays consistent.

 

[f33dm3bits]

When I move the mouse all I have is a black screen with the cursor no GUI or the ability to log in.

So I hold down the keys I have to in order to drop to a shell and log in.
Than run startx and the command-line complains that it has lost it's connection to the X Server.

I'm not able to get back to the GUI so I have to run sudo reboot:-

Do you mean that you switch to a tty why by running ctrl+alt+f? ?
How much ram does that system have?