I've recently bought a Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 and decided to install Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS as I'm shifting to open-source alternatives. However, I'm facing some frustrating issues. My work mostly involves using an internet browser and some UI/UX design tools, but I find myself having to restart my computer multiple times a day because the system would freeze or the internet connection just drops out. I often get an error with 'NetworkManager' failing, and it seems like no matter how I try to troubleshoot, things just get complicated. Sometimes the browser apps just crash and I can't shut them down normally, forcing me to do a hard shutdown. I'm using the App Center for installations, but could my installation steps or the choice of OS be the problem? Is this typical for Linux newbs like me, or is something else wrong?
5 Answers
Try using Chrome for a while instead of Firefox or Brave. I’ve noticed their recent updates can cause crashes and heavy resource usage on Linux. Sometimes, switching browsers can magically fix these annoying issues you're facing!
Another option would be to SSH into your machine while it's frozen and run `sudo dmesg -w`. This command could show you valuable log information before the crash occurs, helping diagnose if there's a deeper issue at play. But take it easy if you're new; focus on simpler solutions first!
Sounds intense! I’ll save that as a backup plan in case the basic fixes don’t work.
It sounds like you're dealing with a couple of major issues here. First off, having NetworkManager fail frequently isn’t normal, especially if you're just browsing with a few tabs open. I'd suggest looking into how you're installing applications. Stick with the standard repositories for your installations instead of Flatpaks or Snaps, as they can cause inconsistencies. Also, since you've got a new laptop, it might be worth checking for any driver updates or compatibility issues due to the recent release. If the problems persist, switching to a different distro like Fedora or Linux Mint could be helpful for better stability. Don't worry too much about the command line just yet—stick to basics until you feel more comfortable with it!
Thanks for the detailed reply! I was thinking the same about switching distros. I've had Ubuntu crash on me too, so maybe Mint or Fedora could ease things up.
Yeah, I agree. I ran into the same issues with Ubuntu once, and switching to Mint made a huge difference in stability. Definitely worth a shot!
It's possible that Firefox is consuming too much memory, especially on Ubuntu. You might want to check your swap file size since it helps manage memory loads. If you're considering different distros, try something like LMDE or Debian, as they tend to be more stable and efficient.
Good point! I’ll definitely check on the swap file and maybe take your advice on trying those other distributions too.
Honestly, I'd recommend switching from Ubuntu. I've heard it’s heading more towards being like Windows with some of its current updates and restrictions—like the Snap packages causing performance hiccups. Switching to a lightweight distro like Mint or Fedora KDE could really help with those app crashes and loading issues you’re experiencing. Since you're mostly working on a ThinkPad, these distros should run perfectly fine on your hardware!
Thanks for the tip! I might just go for Mint since it sounds user-friendly enough for someone still getting used to Linux.
Same here! Mint usually has better performance and feels more straightforward for newcomers.
I'll give Chrome a try! I’ve heard some users say it works better on Linux.