OT---COMPUTER LOCKS UP

I don't know much about computers--saying that my computer will just lock up. It may run for a day or two and then it will lock up 10 times the next day. I have to shut it down and restart.
Dell computer with Linux and Firefox---what ever that means.
Thanks for any help.......

I don't know too much about computers either but they can sure get the best of your temper when they just cause frustration. Is yours a desk top or laptop? Years ago my wife and I totally gave up on desktops and we each got Macbook laptops...the best thing we ever did. Once we got set up with Google Chrome most everything runs very smooth without frustration. Firefox had its good points but I got very frustrated being asked to do upgrades every few days to keep it working. I would never buy another desktop again...the bulk, wires and the list goes on. When we go to town (80 miles away) I bring the laptop and use wi-fi wherever. I don't like fiddling with the iphone to do searches etc. Sorry I can't help you too much with "the lock-ups".

When was the last time you did a disk clean up and defrag and deleted your cookies?? Any of those can cause problems.

Have you installed any add-ons to firefox lately? I had a similar problem, Uninstalled most add-ons and it want away.

The other thing that causes crashes like that is overheating. Make sure the fans are clean, blow any dust out of the innards.

Hello Tom--What is an --add on---??

thank you

Is your browser 42.0 ? help/ about will tell you
Possibly could have something to do with how your browser setting are set.

I assume this is a recent problem that had not occurred previously. Could be a couple of problems:

a) Memory dereferencing problem, you are running out of memory as your apps are not releasing it correctly, Turn device off every night or every two days to do a clean memory reset during power up. If problem goes away, add some memory, 8 GB minimum.
b) Download Google Chrome browser and see if your problem disappears.

Yep i have the same problem with mine . I also run linux and fire fox . > My brother builds them and there is always a problem with his builds. He keeps telling me that you will not get virus's Yea wright i got something in mine now that will not allow and updates. Soooooo i will have to wait on him to fix it as he is to busy to be bothered to come down .

Had the same deal with my sisters computer and it was a memory with so much cr..... in it that it kept shutting down. It took several tries before I could get it into defrag. Fixed her up.

Static electricity can do it. Do you walk on carpeting to get to the computer?

Crashes and lockups can be caused by either hardware or software faults. If it always locks up while you are browsing, then most likely it's a problem with Firefox or one of the Firefox plugins. If there are particular sites that seem to trigger a lockup, then there's probably content on that site your browser can't handle. Often Flash content (video and animations) will cause problems for older browsers or versions of the flash plugin.

It's important to have the latest system updates when running Linux. If your system was installed more than a year ago, you're probably no longer getting updates and need to upgrade to a newer version of your Linux distribution.

then why are you talking?

MarkB I have been looking for an industrial 4x4 tractor on Craig's list under --heavy equip and I have lock up trouble there , but it also locks up on other sites..........

(quoted from post at 03:47:37 12/02/15) Yep i have the same problem with mine . I also run linux and fire fox . > My brother builds them and there is always a problem with his builds. He keeps telling me that you will not get virus's Yea wright i got something in mine now that will not allow and updates. Soooooo i will have to wait on him to fix it as he is to busy to be bothered to come down .

Click to expand...

There are no viruses to worry about, so he is correct. Don't know what issues he has with his builds, I don't with mine. What MarkB_MI said may be the issue. I don't know which distribution you have installed, but would guess Ubuntu or similar. There are security updates all the time, and then "major" upgrades every 6 months. You can skip the major upgrade every six months, but if you do, what you have installed will stop being supported 9 months after it's first release date. So, it's a good idea to upgrade every 6 months. There is an exception to this, the LTS (Long term support) release they put out every once in a while. It gets updates for 5 years.

Another possibility is the "server"/computer where you get your updates is having issues. Updates are on many servers around the world, hosted at businesses, colleges, etc., sometimes you may need to change which one you are getting updates (I've never had to). And of course, could be something else, without seeing it, can't say.

When he goes through it, I'd suggest you have him put a LTS release of either Ubuntu, Kubuntu, or my highest recommendation would be Linux Mint Cinnamon (or MATE if your computer is older). Easier for a novice to keep running.

If you're running Linux, you don't need to defrag. You also don't need more ram, 2GB is enough, less works too, 4GB is a decent number. There isn't the overhead that Windows has with more things running, no antivirus for example.

Did this Dell come with Linux or was it installed later? How old is it? Have updates been coming the entire time? You should get a notification if they are. See my previous reply for some info on that. If you haven't upgraded since new and it's a few years old, you -should- have the software upgraded.

Could be a hardware issue, could be heat as mentioned, open up the side of the case and get one of those compressed cans of air (not from an air compressor, at least I suggest not), blow out everything.

It only messes up with Firefox running? Does your version of Firefox have the 3 horizontal lines to the right of the search box? Can you click that, question mark in a circle at the bottom click that, then about Firefox, let us know your version number, and if it says below it what version of Linux/ubuntu you have. If your Firefox doesn't have the lines, let us know, it's an older version. If it does, after doing the other, click the lines again, then history, then clear recent history, then change the drop box to everything, then details, select everything and ok that. That will also log you out of all sites.

Installing Chrome is a good suggestion at least to test, but not knowing which version you have, can't give specific instructions. Chrome has it's own built in Flash etc. support so if it's broken in Firefox, it shouldn't be in Chrome. http://askubuntu.com/questions/510056/how-to-install-google-chrome. If you don't know 32 or 64 bit, I'd start with 64.

Also, Opera is something that should be easier to install, different browser, it should be included in your software installer. So, look through your menus for something like install/remove software (again, don't know your version). Start the software installer, search for Opera, and click install.

Software installer might be called Ubuntu Software Center, haven't looked at plain Ubuntu much in years. Also, in addition to Opera, you can install Chromium. It is what Chrome is based on, but things like Flash aren't built in, but it could be used for testing. And in the link I posted before about Chrome, the top answer with the most votes should work. If not, the others should, but it takes copying and pasting commands (not hard, just needs done right).

Because I'm suggesting he gets himself a Mac laptop computer and Google Chrome...did you read more than my last line??

Basically it's like this, and some people get annoyed by it. Me, I think people can suggest what they want within reason.

Person one "I have a Ford, it's acting funny, can you guys figure it out?"

Response "Buy a more expensive Chevy"

Sometimes that's an appropriate response, sometimes not. He already has Linux, not Windows, so he doesn't have the malware/spyware issues of Windows. So, the same "benefit" as switching to Mac on that point.

Hard to diagnose without seeing it, but most of the likely causes are fixable, which is why most aren't suggesting to abandon it yet.

Besides that, if I were to suggest something, if the computer is mainly only used for online stuff, maybe Google Docs, Youtube, Netflix, websites, light photo editing, I'd suggest something besides an expensive Macbook (nothing wrong with them, just don't care for them personally, trackpad, keyboard, the OS itself I find quite limiting, etc. for the price paid). Chromebook, new, $100 to $200 range for decent, $300 for one with a screen that rivals Macbooks and has a lighted keyboard. Great battery life, idiot proof Linux distribution (takes minutes to reset if there is an issue), great reviews by most. Chromebox, same thing but a small desktop. Chromebit, same thing except like the size of a usb flash drive. Or Intel Compute stick, Windows and possibly Linux version (haven't looked up much). But, all personal opinion, people like different things, and again, OP has no reason to change, at least yet.

rview and others--thanks very much for your ideas. rview--your ideas are very much appreciated and the time you have taken to inform. At almost 71 I am just not up to the lingo and info. you have given. I am saving and going to give to my son-in-law--he is an electrical engineer and very bright. He is the one who set me up with firefox and Linux etc.
It seems the Craig's list and Facebook give me more lock up problems than the others.

>I am saving and going to give to my son-in-law--he is an electrical engineer and very bright. He is the one who set me up with firefox and Linux etc.

That is exactly what I would recommend.

There are many different Linux distributions (well over a hundred), and without knowing which one you have it's difficult to give you anything more than very general recommendations. But I'm sure you SIL will be able to get you straightened out.

(quoted from post at 23:16:49 12/02/15) rview and others--thanks very much for your ideas. rview--your ideas are very much appreciated and the time you have taken to inform. At almost 71 I am just not up to the lingo and info. you have given. I am saving and going to give to my son-in-law--he is an electrical engineer and very bright. He is the one who set me up with firefox and Linux etc.
It seems the Craig's list and Facebook give me more lock up problems than the others.

Click to expand...

Ok, sorry about that. I've set a few people up with it, generally have everything done, and then a quick note of stuff they need to know, and don't have many issues. I tend to ramble as well, so that doesn't help either.

There might be a logo/words shortly after you turn on your computer, right after it says "Dell".

Couple more attempts, then I'll quit, no need to reply if you don't want to. Lots of differences, so none of this may work....

If you see something with "...buntu" or "Mint", go to www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/index.html , click on Download, click on 64 bit .deb (or .rpm if you see one of the others in the name), click on accept, click on save if asked, click ok, wait for a download to get done. Should be a progress meter going up by the top right if Firefox is updated. When done, it should be a down pointing arrow. Click on the arrow. There should be a .deb file listed, click on the folder looking graphic to the right of it. Should open a file folder, click on the chrome file to try to open it, ok, yes, install, whatever it asks. If successful, wait for a while, then in your menu/applications, in the Internet section, look for Chrome and try to start it. Doing this should be "safe", it will either work or not, and ...shouldn't screw anything up.

Or, like I mentioned, Chromium (Chrome-like). Type in Chromium next to the magnifying glass looking thing in the examples from this page for Ubuntu/Mint, and the results should be clickable/should see a button to install. Graphics near the top "software" ones.
http://www.howtogeek.com/191245/beginner-geek-how-to-install-software-on-linux/

I am running MAC OS and firefox, have problems with it on that.

With Firefox open
Top of the page..
If you do not have the Menu Bar visible.

Right click
Check Menu Bar

Tools
Add-Ons
Plugins
Shockwave Flash
Never Activate

See if your computer stops locking up when web browsing.