Hey everyone! I'm really struggling to get Linux running on my desktop, and I'm hoping for some advice. I've tried several different distros, including Debian, Linux Mint XFCE 22, LMDE 6, and even Puppy Linux, but they all freeze after a while. With Linux Mint XFCE 22, I can't even get it installed because it freezes right around the 10-minute mark. For both Debian and Mint LMDE 6, they tend to freeze after about 30 minutes; interestingly, only GNOME manages to last that long for me. I can't believe it's a hardware issue since my system feels great, and Puppy Linux behaves similarly before eventually freezing. Windows 10 runs perfectly fine, so I really need some help resolving this Linux problem. Any thoughts or suggestions? By the way, I haven't tried these distros in a VM yet. Here are my specs:
CPU: i5-2400 3.1 GHz
GPU: Nvidia GT 240
RAM: 12 GB
Motherboard: GoldenTec H61 M2 (budget model)
5 Answers
Just a thought, do you have the latest BIOS installed? If you love Debian, give MX Linux XFCE a shot; it's based on Debian and pretty stable!
Are you using an HDD or SSD? You might want to check for any signs of failure on either. Running memtest86+ is a good idea to check the memory, and you can use gsmartcontrol for storage. If it continues to freeze, you could try booting with *nomodeset*. Also, make sure your PC isn’t full of dust, and see if reapplying thermal paste might help with overheating. Oh, and have you experienced freezes while using a live USB?
Hey! First off, what boot device are you using? Is it a USB or a CD? This issue could point to a power management setting. It might be worth checking if any part of your hardware is overheating or failing after a while. Just some ideas to get you started!
I’m booting from USB.
I would guess it could be a memory issue. Try reseating your RAM and see if that fixes the problem.
I’m definitely going to check on that. The RAM is pretty new, though.
Sounds frustrating! I doubt it's hardware, but compatibility issues can crop up. What GPU and motherboard are you using? This info might be helpful for anyone giving you advice.
Got it! I updated my post with that info.
It's an HDD, and memtest86+ showed no issues. Yes, I also experience freezes while using the live USB. The PC isn't dusty and it’s running cool. Crystaldiskinfo said everything looks fine, but I’ll check gsmartcontrol next.