• Registered: 2009-08-30
  • Posts: 51

Topic: [solved]New Machine Build

I ordered one of those foxcon barebones machines with the recommended hdd, odd and ram from newegg.  I put this thing together last night and tried to install Mint 8 and Ubuntu 9.10.  Both of these OS's kept freezing up during the update manager.

That is crap man and very frustrating.  I'm going to put #! on next and see what happens.  The space inside the box is very cramped but nothing has pressure on it.  This was going to be a 4th system (I have a lot of kids and we home school) so I was wanting something that would be really easy for them to use.  My oldest two do fine with #! but I don't know about the younger ones.

Any ideas on why they were freezing up?  I searched ubuntuforums and didn't find an easy answer.  Basically, there are a hundred different reasons on why it would freeze.  Maybe I should try a Linux that isn't Ubuntu based?

Last edited by AnarchoPhill (2010-03-11 19:13:05)

  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 1,858

Re: [solved]New Machine Build

Which Foxconn barebones? They make several of them. smile

If you are using one with intel 945g graphics (like my R10-S4), disabling Compiz desktop effects should prevent the system from locking up with Ubuntu 9.10 (and several other distros of the same vintage). CrunchBang should run great since it is a) based on 9.04 and b) doesn't feature Compiz. smile

  • Registered: 2009-08-30
  • Posts: 51

Re: [solved]New Machine Build

It's the R30-S4 with Intel 945GC.  Your solution could very well be what I was looking for.  How would I disable compiz before the system freezes?

  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 1,858

Re: [solved]New Machine Build

A quick alt-f2, then type 'metacity --replace' should do the trick.

I had the freezing-with-compiz problem with 9.10, Arch, and Fedora 12. It must have been some common driver version among all those distros. Intel graphics support is hit or miss these days as you know.

Not sure if it will work in Ubuntu, but I got around the problem in Arch by installing fusion-icon and selection Compiz Options->Indirect Rendering. Worth a try at least. smile

I have Arch and CentOS installed on my Foxconn, it's set up in my living room and I use it for web browsing, streaming music, etc. smile

  • Registered: 2009-08-30
  • Posts: 51

Re: [solved]New Machine Build

So far, it looks like that is working for me.  I don't want to jinx it because the last time that I tried with Mint it got down to the last update and froze up.  I'll probably still run #! beside it if it works ok.  It maybe to soon to speak right now.

Thanks for the help though brother.  The community here is far better than any other on the 'net.

  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 1,858

Re: [solved]New Machine Build

Good luck with it! smile

  • Registered: 2009-08-30
  • Posts: 51

Re: [solved]New Machine Build

Will I have to disable it ever boot up?  Everything went great through the updates but when it rebooted it froze up again.  I restarted the system and then disabled compiz as advised and its ok again.  Maybe it defaulted in the updates.  I'll reboot and see if it changes.

  • Registered: 2008-11-24
  • Posts: 1,858

Re: [solved]New Machine Build

Oh, sorry, forgot to mention... you can right click on the desktop, change desktop background, then there is a tab called visual effects or something where you can permanently disable compiz. smile

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  • Registered: 2009-10-18
  • Posts: 4,912

Re: [solved]New Machine Build

I'm glad you found that.  Some compiz effects are pretty, but to me they really don't do anything in terms of usability.  Maybe they're fine on uberfast PC's, but there's always a speed cost to eye candy.  And as you found out first-hand, they sometimes conflict with graphics hardware.

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );