Computer Locks Up(1-2 Times Every 5-8 Mins)

#1 Matthew Alan

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Posted 28 June 2007 - 04:17 PM

I installed Ubuntu on a spare computer. I really like it except, The computer freezes, 1-2 times every 5 or so minutes. I'm thinking the RAM is to low(256mb). But someone else said it was my graphics card drivers(most likely). I asked a local computer store, and they said a 256mb of RAM would cost 40-50 bucks. I want to make sure I NEED that before I buy it. Now, im searching for the drivers and can't find it. So Where should I look for them? and what else could be causing this?

COMPUTER DETAILS:
Brand: HP
Model: 513c
Current RAM: 256mb (max is 2gb)
OS: Ubuntu, Linux.

EDIT: I don't know if it matters, but I couldn't install from the Live CD. It would go to open step 2 and lock up forever. So I had to do the ALT cd.

This post has been edited by Matthew Alan: 28 June 2007 - 04:18 PM

#2 twardnw

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Posted 28 June 2007 - 08:34 PM

they're WAY over-charging for that RAM. Newegg.com has 256MB sticks of Kingston DDR PC2100 for under $20.

Do you know exactly what graphics card is in there? I couldn't find any info on the HP website that stated the exact chipset that motherboard uses

Tyler
www.twardnw.com

#3 Matthew Alan

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Posted 28 June 2007 - 08:43 PM

I have no idea what it is. I couldn't find anything on there site either. So that ram is way to high? Thats the cheapest another store wanted 76 dollars for it.

#4 oldf@rt

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Posted 28 June 2007 - 10:33 PM

Here is the link to HPs page:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/documen...832&lang=en

The name says it all -- 59 and holding permanently

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#5 oldf@rt

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Posted 28 June 2007 - 10:39 PM

as far as ram prices 20.00 on circuitcity.com http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/ACP-EP-256M...roductDetail.do

and 21.00 from crucial http://www.crucial.com/store/listmodule/DDR/list.html

you can buy a 512 stick from best buy for less than those prices that you quoted.

The name says it all -- 59 and holding permanently

**WARNING** _{Links I provide might cause brain damage}

#6 Matthew Alan

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Posted 28 June 2007 - 10:51 PM

ill be getting the Best Buy one soon, now I need to know where to get the drivers. I found it but its for XP online :thumbsup:

I'm on Ubuntu.

#7 Joedude

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Posted 28 June 2007 - 11:31 PM

When you installed, how did you partition your hard drive? Is the Swap listed in your fstab?

If someone tells you to su rm -rf /
DON'T DO IT!!!!
Be in the know, Bash smart!

#8 Matthew Alan

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Posted 29 June 2007 - 10:27 AM

I made it all one hard drive(only 40gb). So no, all I have is filesystem.

#9 Joedude

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Posted 29 June 2007 - 11:32 AM

Well, there is a problem ;)

You must create a Swap partition. This is basically the same thing as the pagefile in your Windows OS, except it's on it's own partition. This seperation causes many advantages, such as being operated seperately from the partition which is running the OS. Less demanding on the system as well. I am actually surprised you got a proper install at all without it. Make a small swap partition, 512Mb to 1Gb would be PLENTY. then see how much smoother she runs.

If someone tells you to su rm -rf /
DON'T DO IT!!!!
Be in the know, Bash smart!

#10 oldf@rt

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Posted 29 June 2007 - 12:31 PM

Here is a link to intel for their linux graphics drivers: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filter_res...mp;submit=Go%21

start with what joedude says you need a swap partition.

This post has been edited by oldf@rt: 29 June 2007 - 12:32 PM

The name says it all -- 59 and holding permanently

**WARNING** _{Links I provide might cause brain damage}

#11 Matthew Alan

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Posted 29 June 2007 - 12:55 PM

I did what they reconmended. I honestly am not sure if I have the swap partioning. How do I check, and I downloaded that. Now how do I install?

#12 Joedude

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Posted 30 June 2007 - 10:15 AM

On your application bar, go to desktop then admin. Look for disk manager. that will tell you exactly what partitions you have, graphically even. If your still locking up, it's because you haven't set that to be a partition to be mounted at boot. A likely result from adding the partition after the fact. You will need to edit your fstab to fix it.

Here's the whole fstab'ing explained for Ubuntu: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=283131

If someone tells you to su rm -rf /
DON'T DO IT!!!!
Be in the know, Bash smart!

#13 rever

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Posted 02 July 2007 - 03:54 PM

Matthew Alan, on Jun 29 2007, 12:55 PM, said:

I did what they reconmended. I honestly am not sure if I have the swap partioning. How do I check, and I downloaded that. Now how do I install?

If you used there recommendation and took up the complete Disk and you did not manage the partitioning yourself then you have a swap partition. You can check the amount of memory usage by using the free command. From a terminal at the $ type free -m . This should give you your memory usage. It will look something like this.....
rever@killa-linux:~$ free -m

		  total	   used	   free	 shared	buffers	 cached
Mem:		  2026	   1952		 73		  0		 44	   1263
-/+ buffers/cache:		645	   1381
Swap:		 1027		 30		997

Although the free is small if you look at the cache it is high. So most memory is still available for use.

#14 Matthew Alan

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Posted 05 July 2007 - 12:20 AM

I did what was recommended. I dont under stand what you mean with that ^^. I am a TOTAL noob to this stuff, so please explain as in THIS > THIS > TYPE "DFDFSF" >OK > SAVE etc.

Thanks.

EDIT: nvm i fiqured that out. Mine is:
matt@Linux:~$ free -m
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 248 244 3 0 1 55
-/+ buffers/cache: 188 60
Swap: 721 80 640

--------------------------------------------
So I have it right? Also, the ram is scheduled to be delivered today(Thursday). Please explain how to download/install the drivers. Thanks Guys, you guys are always helpful.

Edit2: From the above link given by, oldf@rt I downloaded the driver, but I don't understand how to install.

This post has been edited by Matthew Alan: 05 July 2007 - 01:06 AM

#15 Matthew Alan

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Posted 05 July 2007 - 09:51 PM

I got RAM ealier it seemed to help ALOT, but I still need the drivers installed. So can anyone help please? I have the tar.gz on my desktop but I dont know how to install anything like this on Ubuntu