Ubuntu 17.10 keeps locking up and freezing. Mouse and Keyboard input doesn't work as image on screen is frozen. Help!

Question

I got an Ultrabook 2 weeks ago, cleared out Windows 10 and installed Ubuntu 17.10. UI and system are great, but it keeps freezing on me, and I was forced to hold the power button to shut it down. I have tried the following fixes:

1. Run:

   sudo nano /etc/default/grub
   

2. There is a line in that file that says:

   GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
   

   I replaced it with:

   GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash intel_idle.max_cstate=1"
   

3. Saved the file using CTRL+O.

4. Updated GRUB:

   sudo update-grub
   

5. Restarted PC:

   sudo reboot
   

I got this fix from another StackOverflow question: Ubuntu 15.10 and 16.04 keep freezing randomly

However it only worked for the first few days and then it started the freezing craze all over again.

Then, I tried to upgrade the kernel to the latest stable kernel, 4.13.10.

But the problem still persists. It locks up every so often and I am forced to shut it down. I have a Dell XPS 13 9360, and the day I got it, I removed Windows and installed Ubuntu 17.10.

Is there a certain fix for this?

Solution

I've had a similar issue to this where random freezing would occur with my mouse, this was after and upgrade from 16.04.

A lot of probing and research later, I found out it was linked to a problem with my display manager (gdm3) not being able to start Wayland. Using lightDM has fixed this issue for me.

Hope this helps

sudo dpkg-reconfigure lightdm

Comments

[opinion_no9]

my personal experience w/ Ubuntu 17.x is so extremely bad I first would try U18.x. No joke, I regard to be the 17s to be very buggy. I have some stability and success with this grub config line: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="plymouth:debug drm.debug=0xe"

[labyrinth]

Switching to lightdm didn't fix Wayland not loading for me, but I'm glad you posted. I didn't even realize wayland wasn't loading. Incidentally, for others who want to know if Wayland is running, do loginctl to get your session number, then loginctl show-session <session#>. Then see if Type=Wayland. If it's x11, Wayland isn't loading.

[David Foerster]

Welcome to Ask Ubuntu! I recommend to edit this answer to expand it with specific details about how to do this. (See also How do I write a good answer? for general advice about what sorts of answers are considered most valuable on Ask Ubuntu.)

[Elder Geek]

Would you be so bold as to edit this answer to provide clarity as to what file you installed and how you installed it? And whether you also have a Dell Xps 13 9360? As it is (at least I and perhaps others also ) find it impossible to ascertain exactly what you are taking about.

[mondotofu]

you might try an even numbered Ubuntu LTS edition: 16, 18, 20, etc. They tend to be more stable. Here's why: ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle