No, not the Counting Crows song.

Primary laptop has spazzed out - linux mint logo appears, then I get a blinking
cursor (underscore) and that's the extent of my OS for the time being.  HDD's
not dead - I can boot up with a USB stick and access all the files.
I think it has something to do with video...  but not sure how to fix it and get
back to a default state.

My backup laptop (this) boots up fine, but frequently I find it as an
unresponsive black screen in the morning, and have to reboot.

So, those are (some of) the challenges I'm experiencing right now.

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"Bald Eagle" <cre### [at] netscapenet> wrote:
> No, not the Counting Crows song.
>
> Primary laptop has spazzed out - linux mint logo appears, then I get a blinking
> cursor (underscore) and that's the extent of my OS for the time being.  HDD's
> not dead - I can boot up with a USB stick and access all the files.
> I think it has something to do with video...  but not sure how to fix it and get
> back to a default state.
>
> My backup laptop (this) boots up fine, but frequently I find it as an
> unresponsive black screen in the morning, and have to reboot.
>
> So, those are (some of) the challenges I'm experiencing right now.

Hi Bald Eagle,

Wow, that really sucks.

I have zero experience with Linux... And I can't even properly diagnose my own
hardware issues (computer hard freezing when stressed), but have you run am
internet search using the following keywords? linux not booting blinking cursor

One person was saying it might be an issue with a full disk.

My only useful suggestion is to backup anything important pronto.

I really hope you don't need a new rig, but if you do, some good deals might be
found on ebay. That's how I got a semi-used laptop for cheap many years ago.

Regarding the lack of sleep... my only ideas for that involve chemical
intervention and physical exertion (the latter being something I don't practice
often enough :/ ).

Sam

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"Bald Eagle" <cre### [at] netscapenet> wrote:
> No, not the Counting Crows song.
>
> Primary laptop has spazzed out ...

Bummer. I hope you can fix it. That kind of thing is maddening.

My previous Windows 7 machine has been sitting un-used (and un-usable) on my
desk for months, due to *some* kind of software problem, waiting for me to take
it in for a deep diagnostic. I *hope* it's fixable. Software? Power supply? I
really don't know. This situation 'forced' me to buy a new Win 10 machine, a
super-fast Lenovo desktop with my first SSHD, so I'm not complaining-- but I
always have the nagging feeling that *this* machine will develop some kind of
problem in the future too, no matter *what* I do right or wrong. They always do.

If automobile manufacturers built cars to the same 'expected lifespans' of
current computers and OS systems, there would be class-action lawsuits flying in
all directions. I personally think that OS's have outstripped the ability of
mere humans to fully understand and diagnose hidden problems.

I certainly have a 'love-hate' relationship with computers. :-[

Post a reply to this message

"Bald Eagle" <cre### [at] netscapenet> wrote:
> No, not the Counting Crows song.
>
> Primary laptop has spazzed out - linux mint logo appears, then I get a blinking
> cursor (underscore) and that's the extent of my OS for the time being.  HDD's
> not dead - I can boot up with a USB stick and access all the files.
> I think it has something to do with video...  but not sure how to fix it and get
> back to a default state.
>
> My backup laptop (this) boots up fine, but frequently I find it as an
> unresponsive black screen in the morning, and have to reboot.
>
> So, those are (some of) the challenges I'm experiencing right now.

Have you tried to switch to another virtual console when you're stuck on the
blank screen with the blinking cursor? You can do so using Ctrl + Alt + (any of
the function keys). I sometime experience the case where the X session starts
running in its console and the text console used for booting keeps the hand.
Simply switching the console bring me back to normal. At least you may have
another text console still alive, which would leave you the opportunity for
troubleshooting.
Hoping it may help you.
Pascal

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"Kenneth" <kdw### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
> "Bald Eagle" <cre### [at] netscapenet> wrote:
> > No, not the Counting Crows song.
> >
> > Primary laptop has spazzed out ...
>
> Bummer. I hope you can fix it. That kind of thing is maddening.
>
> My previous Windows 7 machine has been sitting un-used (and un-usable) on my
> desk for months, due to *some* kind of software problem, waiting for me to take
> it in for a deep diagnostic.

I'm going to try "SuperGrub2" as a repair usb stick.  Maybe see if that's in any
way applicable, or if there's another Windows rescue ISO or other tool.  Can you
boot from a USB or CD/DVD?  Do you have a Win7 repair disk?

I have a few things to do before I dive any deeper into this electronic
shitshow, but I'm sure I will work it out, and then I can move on.
jr is like my Linux and spiritual mentor...  :D

> If automobile manufacturers built cars to the same 'expected lifespans' of
> current computers and OS systems, there would be class-action lawsuits flying in
> all directions. I personally think that OS's have outstripped the ability of
> mere humans to fully understand and diagnose hidden problems.
>
> I certainly have a 'love-hate' relationship with computers. :-[

Yes.  I've been running into a lot of problems with current manufacture stuff
lately.  Cracked a cell phone and killed the backlight, tried to make a clone
with a donor phone.  Got a brand new LG phone, and one day - it just stopped
working.  Completely.  Hardly any use at all.

It's an example of a phenomenon that I call "for display purposes only".  It's a
thing that LOOKS like what you want - it's made out of generally the same stuff
as what you want, and is in the shape of what you want, but it's manufacture so
cheaply, and with such low quality of materials and workmanship, that it's worse
than useless.   It's just for display on the shelf or the peg - to get you to
spend your money, and then ...  tough crap, buddy.

Apparently other people are well aware of this as well.
From:   https://paulsellers.com/2015/05/saw-files-lasting-qualities/


that look like tools, but do not in fact function as tools. As a novice, I was
almost entirely dissuaded from hand tools because I believed that those things
on the shelf that look like a plane or a saw were, in fact, decent functioning
tools, and not hunks of metal merely shaped to look like a tool and cause
frustration to anyone who picks it up and actually tries to use it!

I have found that my best functioning tools are the ones that I make myself, and
the ones that I find at flea markets or on ebay and restore. Your videos really
encouraged me to do just these things, and I wanted to thank you for sharing
your knowledge and pointing me in the right direction! My relationship with my
tools has gone from one of frustration to one of joy and confidence, and has
really changed my experience of woodworking. I feel bad for all of the young
people like myself who have were turned off from hand tools because they bought
something at a big box store, and that shaped their impression of a saw, plane,
or chisel."

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Op 19/11/2021 om 19:39 schreef Bald Eagle:
> Yes.  I've been running into a lot of problems with current manufacture stuff
> lately.  Cracked a cell phone and killed the backlight, tried to make a clone
> with a donor phone.  Got a brand new LG phone, and one day - it just stopped
> working.  Completely.  Hardly any use at all.
> 
> It's an example of a phenomenon that I call "for display purposes only".  It's a
> thing that LOOKS like what you want - it's made out of generally the same stuff
> as what you want, and is in the shape of what you want, but it's manufacture so
> cheaply, and with such low quality of materials and workmanship, that it's worse
> than useless.   It's just for display on the shelf or the peg - to get you to
> spend your money, and then ...  tough crap, buddy.
>


That's the modern world it appears. Just to mention a few, 'Programmed 
Obsolescence" being one of those trends, together with the almost 
monopolistic dumping on the world market of Chinese products which have, 
overall, less than average quality, even when sold under 
'prestigious'(?) brand names. People want to buy 'cheap' and this is the 
result. No wonder the world is going to crap. :-/  [end rant]

Sorry to read about your problems. I have no solution to offer, I am 
afraid, but from time to time I stumble also into similar nonsensical 
market shit.

-- 
Thomas

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