Sometimes Apps Won't Run

Support Software & Applications
1

So… I don’t know where to go find log information for this problem… because it’s a bit of a weird one.

Sometimes (intermittently) I have to restart Manjaro, because apps just stop launching.
I may be running some apps, and go to open my web-browser, and it just doesn’t launch. It shows the KDE Mouse Cursor with the little bouncing app icon, but then it goes away. Like the app tries to load, and then terminates.

I am able to restart the computer, and things start working again… but after a certain amount of time, they stop.

If there are apps running, they stay running. But if I need to load a new app, it will not launch. This is ALL apps in general.

So, if I have Handbrake running a Blu-Ray encode (which can take 2-3 hours), and my apps stop working. Handbrake will be running, and still need an hour and a half or so until it’s done… So I have two choices: Reboot the computer to be able to use the web-browser, and have to restart my encode, or wait until handbrake is done to be able to use the web-browser.

Is anyone else having this app-launch problem, or know what to do?

1 Like
2

I’d suggest running journalctl --follow in a terminal to see if it shows anything useful. It may be worth teeing the output into a file so you can read it in more detail after another restart.

2 Likes
3

This sounds like you are running low on RAM.

free -h

… is useful to check this. It’s a good idea to have watch -n30 free -h running in a Terminal to keep an eye on things.

Some system info will certainly help:

inxi -zv8

…remember to use proper formatting :wink:

3 Likes
4

I’d suggest running journalctl --follow in a terminal to see if it shows anything useful. It may be worth teeing the output into a file so you can read it in more detail after another restart.

Do I need to wait until it happens first?

This sounds like you are running low on RAM.

I mean… it’s possible. But I have 32g.

5

No.
Some delay if the system is under heavy load, though.

If you think that the activity of encoding (Handbrake) is impeding the functionality of the rest of your system, consuming all the resources,
then start the application from terminal in the future - and give it a low priority:
nice -n 19 handbrake

Or, if your browser doesn’t start anymore,
try starting it via terminal - and see the message telling you what happens or why it will not start
… if you can start a terminal, that is …

hit the Super (Windows) key and start typing a program name - see what comes up as selectable - it’s another way to launch a program

6

There is the clue right here. Blu-Ray re-coding will require quite a lot of memory; likely more than you have. Some BDs are up to ~50G each.

This is why I suggested those commands above, just to keep an eye on what memory is in use, or, free to use.

Since we don’t yet have the requested inxi report, we don’t know other important things, like how much swap is available. :wink:

4 Likes
7

This could be a sign of not having enough swap defined.

Converting media is always coming at high CPU and memory cost.

Computers does not multi task - the switch between process so fast that we believe it is multi tasking - so when you are converting a blue ray - it is very resource intensive task - better leave it until the task has been done.

Swap - Manjaro

Could you please supply the url generated by inxi system info and piping it to an online paste bin?

inxi -Fxxxzc0 | curl -F'file=@' https://0x0.st

On an after thought - Manjaro kernels come with zswap enabled - if you don’t have a backing swap partition or swapfile - up to 20% of you RAM can be used as swap - compression rate around 3.6 - but nonetheless, if resources gets exhausted…

zswap - ArchWiki

3 Likes
8

No. Run it all the time, otherwise you won’t see what’s happening.

Alternatively, you could run journalctl -b1 after rebooting, but the advantage of having it running is that you have more chance of spotting what happens at the time it happens, rather than having to trawl through a long journal.

9

A quick way of finding out what’s happening is to run the command top. If you’re using 90%+ of your CPU, that alone would explain why everything is grinding to a halt. I would imagine the exercise you’re doing would be CPU intensive, as is the case of myself, whenever I compress video files or do video editing. But then I have an old 4 core CPU computer.

Details about using and reading top can be found here.

10

Here is inxi -zv8

System:
  Kernel: 6.12.39-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.1.1
    clocksource: hpet avail: acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-6.12-x86_64
    root=UUID=cb9d0667-72ca-4ee5-aa13-55f1e0e60698 rw rootflags=subvol=@
    quiet splash udev.log_priority=3
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.3.6 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.16.0
    wm: kwin_wayland vt: 1 dm: SDDM Distro: Manjaro base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: N/A model: HX90 serial: <superuser required>
    uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends LLC. v: 5.19
    date: 10/11/2021
Battery:
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech ERGO M575 Trackball
    serial: <filter> charge: 60% rechargeable: yes status: discharging
Memory:
  System RAM: total: 32 GiB available: 30.77 GiB used: 5.93 GiB (19.3%)
  Message: For most reliable report, use superuser + dmidecode.
  Array-1: capacity: 32 GiB slots: 2 modules: 2 EC: None
    max-module-size: 16 GiB note: est.
  Device-1: Channel-A DIMM 0 type: DDR4 detail: synchronous unbuffered
    (unregistered) size: 16 GiB speed: 2667 MT/s volts: note: check curr: 1
    min: 1 max: 1 width (bits): data: 64 total: 64 manufacturer: Crucial
    part-no: BL16G32C16S4B.M16FE1 serial: <filter>
  Device-2: Channel-B DIMM 0 type: DDR4 detail: synchronous unbuffered
    (unregistered) size: 16 GiB speed: 2667 MT/s volts: note: check curr: 1
    min: 1 max: 1 width (bits): data: 64 total: 64 manufacturer: Crucial
    part-no: BL16G32C16S4B.M16FE1 serial: <filter>
PCI Slots:
  Permissions: Unable to run dmidecode. Root privileges required.
CPU:
  Info: model: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX with Radeon Graphics bits: 64 type: MT MCP
    arch: Zen 3 gen: 3 level: v3 note: check built: 2021-22
    process: TSMC n7 (7nm) family: 0x19 (25) model-id: 0x50 (80) stepping: 0
    microcode: 0xA500012
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 1 cores: 8 threads: 16 tpc: 2
    smt: enabled cache: L1: 512 KiB desc: d-8x32 KiB; i-8x32 KiB L2: 4 MiB
    desc: 8x512 KiB L3: 16 MiB desc: 1x16 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3958 min/max: 400/4680 boost: enabled scaling:
    driver: amd-pstate-epp governor: powersave cores: 1: 3958 2: 3958 3: 3958
    4: 3958 5: 3958 6: 3958 7: 3958 8: 3958 9: 3958 10: 3958 11: 3958 12: 3958
    13: 3958 14: 3958 15: 3958 16: 3958 bogomips: 105451
  Flags: 3dnowprefetch abm adx aes aperfmperf apic arat avic avx avx2 bmi1
    bmi2 bpext cat_l3 cdp_l3 clflush clflushopt clwb clzero cmov cmp_legacy
    constant_tsc cpb cppc cpuid cqm cqm_llc cqm_mbm_local cqm_mbm_total
    cqm_occup_llc cr8_legacy cx16 cx8 de debug_swap decodeassists erms
    extapic extd_apicid f16c flushbyasid fma fpu fsgsbase fsrm fxsr fxsr_opt
    ht hw_pstate ibpb ibrs ibs invpcid irperf lahf_lm lbrv lm mba mca mce
    misalignsse mmx mmxext monitor movbe msr mtrr mwaitx nonstop_tsc nopl npt
    nrip_save nx ospke osvw overflow_recov pae pat pausefilter pclmulqdq
    pdpe1gb perfctr_core perfctr_llc perfctr_nb pfthreshold pge pku pni
    popcnt pse pse36 rapl rdpid rdpru rdrand rdseed rdt_a rdtscp rep_good sep
    sha_ni skinit smap smca smep ssbd sse sse2 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3
    stibp succor svm svm_lock syscall tce topoext tsc tsc_scale umip
    user_shstk v_spec_ctrl v_vmsave_vmload vaes vgif vmcb_clean vme vmmcall
    vpclmulqdq wbnoinvd wdt xgetbv1 xsave xsavec xsaveerptr xsaveopt xsaves
    xtopology
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: indirect_target_selection status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow mitigation: Safe RET
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
    prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
    sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; IBPB: conditional; IBRS_FW;
    STIBP: always-on; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not
    affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsa mitigation: Clear CPU buffers
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Cezanne [Radeon Vega Series /
    Radeon Mobile Series] driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: GCN-5 code: Vega
    process: GF 14nm built: 2017-20 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s ports: active: DP-2
    empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:1638
    class-ID: 0300 temp: 62.0 C
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.18 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.8
    compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: amdgpu unloaded: modesetting
    alternate: fbdev,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu display-ID: 0
  Monitor-1: DP-2 model: VG279QL1A serial: <filter> built: 2024 res:
    mode: 1920x1080 hz: 144 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 82 gamma: 1.2 chroma: red:
    x: 0.682 y: 0.314 green: x: 0.271 y: 0.627 blue: x: 0.145 y: 0.055 white:
    x: 0.314 y: 0.329 size: 598x336mm (23.54x13.23") diag: 686mm (27")
    ratio: 16:9 modes: 1920x1080, 1680x1050, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1280x960,
    1280x800, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1440x576, 1024x768, 1440x480, 800x600,
    720x576, 720x480, 640x480, 720x400
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0 drv: radeonsi
    device: 1 drv: swrast gbm: drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: radeonsi
    wayland: drv: radeonsi x11: drv: radeonsi
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: amd mesa v: 25.1.6-arch1.1
    glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: AMD Radeon Graphics (radeonsi
    renoir ACO DRM 3.61 6.12.39-1-MANJARO) device-ID: 1002:1638
    memory: 500 MiB unified: no display-ID: :1.0
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.321 layers: N/A device: 0 type: integrated-gpu name: AMD
    Radeon Graphics (RADV RENOIR) driver: mesa radv v: 25.1.6-arch1.1
    device-ID: 1002:1638 surfaces: N/A
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
    de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo,xprop
Audio:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Renoir Radeon High Definition
    Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 04:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:1637
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Audio Coprocessor driver: N/A
    alternate: snd_pci_acp3x, snd_rn_pci_acp3x, snd_pci_acp5x, snd_pci_acp6x,
    snd_acp_pci, snd_rpl_pci_acp6x, snd_pci_ps, snd_sof_amd_renoir,
    snd_sof_amd_rembrandt, snd_sof_amd_vangogh, snd_sof_amd_acp63,
    snd_sof_amd_acp70 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 4
    speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 04:00.5 chip-ID: 1022:15e2 class-ID: 0480
  Device-3: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 17h/19h/1ah HD Audio
    vendor: Realtek driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s
    lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 04:00.6
    chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
  Device-4: C-Media Audio Adapter (Unitek Y-247A)
    driver: cmedia_hs100b,snd-usb-audio,usbhid type: USB rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s
    lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-1:2 chip-ID: 0d8c:0014 class-ID: 0300
  API: ALSA v: k6.12.39-1-MANJARO status: kernel-api with: aoss
    type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off tools: N/A
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.4.6 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Ethernet I225-V driver: igc v: kernel pcie: gen: 2
    speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: N/A bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:15f3
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: eno1 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel pcie: gen: 2
    speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:2723 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter>
  IP v4: <filter> type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
    broadcast: <filter>
  IP v6: <filter> type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
  IP v6: <filter> type: noprefixroute scope: link
  IF-ID-1: tun0 state: unknown speed: 10000 Mbps duplex: full mac: N/A
  IP v4: <filter> scope: global
  Info: services: NetworkManager, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
  WAN IP: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel AX200 Bluetooth driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 3-4:3 chip-ID: 8087:0029
    class-ID: e001
  Report: rfkill ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down bt-service: enabled,running
    rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes address: see --recommends
Logical:
  Message: No logical block device data found.
RAID:
  Message: No RAID data found.
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 9.56 TiB used: 239.63 GiB (2.4%)
  SMART Message: Required tool smartctl not installed. Check --recommends
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Intel model: SSDPEKNW512G8
    size: 476.94 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 004C temp: 30.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Western Digital
    model: WD20SPZX-22UA7T0 size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B
    logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 1A01 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Western Digital
    model: WD80EDBZ-11B0ZA0 size: 7.28 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B
    logical: 512 B type: USB rev: 3.1 spd: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1
    tech: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter> fw-rev: 1031 scheme: GPT
  Message: No optical or floppy data found.
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 64 GiB size: 64 GiB (100.00%) used: 11.41 GiB (17.8%)
    fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2 label: N/A
    uuid: cb9d0667-72ca-4ee5-aa13-55f1e0e60698
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 1024 MiB size: 1022 MiB (99.80%)
    used: 616 KiB (0.1%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1 label: N/A
    uuid: D855-6D40
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 364.25 GiB size: 364.25 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 1.99 GiB (0.5%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
    label: N/A uuid: 46b86cb7-b217-4719-a255-c821acd4f636
  ID-4: /mnt/In Work raw-size: 1.82 TiB size: 1.79 TiB (98.37%)
    used: 226.22 GiB (12.3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1 label: In Work
    uuid: 428d3043-6892-43ea-b069-1ec873b2d6e3
  ID-5: /var/cache raw-size: 64 GiB size: 64 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 11.41 GiB (17.8%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
    label: N/A uuid: cb9d0667-72ca-4ee5-aa13-55f1e0e60698
  ID-6: /var/log raw-size: 64 GiB size: 64 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 11.41 GiB (17.8%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
    label: N/A uuid: cb9d0667-72ca-4ee5-aa13-55f1e0e60698
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Unmounted:
  ID-1: /dev/sdb1 maj-min: 8:17 size: 7.28 TiB fs: ext4 label: Backup
    uuid: 7eb5bd9a-83cf-4e32-b05c-362cbb68278b
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 4 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
    class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-1:2 info: C-Media Audio Adapter (Unitek Y-247A)
    type: audio,HID driver: cmedia_hs100b,snd-usb-audio,usbhid interfaces: 4
    rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s (1.4 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 0d8c:0014 class-ID: 0300
  Hub-2: 1-2:3 info: VIA Labs USB2.0 Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.1
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 chip-ID: 2109:2817
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-3: 1-2.3:4 info: Genesys Logic Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.1
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 05e3:0610 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-2.3.1:5 info: China Resource Semico COUGAR Gaming Keyboard
    type: keyboard,mouse driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 2 rev: 1.1
    speed: 1.5 Mb/s (183 KiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 1.0 power: 500mA
    chip-ID: 1a2c:437c class-ID: 0301
  Device-2: 1-2.3.3:6 info: Logitech Unifying Receiver
    type: keyboard,mouse,HID driver: logitech-djreceiver,usbhid interfaces: 3
    rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s (1.4 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 power: 98mA
    chip-ID: 046d:c52b class-ID: 0300
  Hub-4: 2-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 2 rev: 3.1
    speed: 10 Gb/s (1.16 GiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-2x1 chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-5: 2-2:2 info: VIA Labs USB3.0 Hub ports: 4 rev: 3.1
    speed: 5 Gb/s (596.0 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1 chip-ID: 2109:0817
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-6: 2-2.3:3 info: Genesys Logic Hub ports: 4 rev: 3.2
    speed: 5 Gb/s (596.0 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1 chip-ID: 05e3:0626
    class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 2-2.4:4 info: Western Digital My Book 25ED type: mass storage
    driver: usb-storage interfaces: 1 rev: 3.1 speed: 5 Gb/s (596.0 MiB/s)
    lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1 power: 8mA chip-ID: 1058:25ed class-ID: 0806
    serial: <filter>
  Hub-7: 3-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 4 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-8: 3-2:2 info: VIA Labs USB2.0 Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.1
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 chip-ID: 2109:2817
    class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 3-4:3 info: Intel AX200 Bluetooth type: bluetooth driver: btusb
    interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s (1.4 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 1.1
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 8087:0029 class-ID: e001
  Hub-9: 4-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 2 rev: 3.1
    speed: 10 Gb/s (1.16 GiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-2x1 chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-10: 4-2:2 info: VIA Labs USB3.0 Hub ports: 4 rev: 3.1
    speed: 5 Gb/s (596.0 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1 chip-ID: 2109:0817
    class-ID: 0900
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 92.2 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 62.0 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 1200 pm: pacman pkgs: 1177 libs: 317 tools: pamac pm: flatpak
    pkgs: 23
  Active pacman repo servers in: /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
    1: https://manjaro.kurdy.org/stable/$repo/$arch
    2: https://southfront.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    3: https://volico.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    4: https://manjaro.mirrors.lavatech.top/stable/$repo/$arch
    5: https://mirror.easyname.at/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    6: https://manjaro.c3sl.ufpr.br/stable/$repo/$arch
    7: https://fosszone.csd.auth.gr/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    8: https://mirror.ufro.cl/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
Processes:
  CPU top: 5 of 411
  1: cpu: 716% command: ghb pid: 6335 mem: 929.4 MiB (2.9%)
  2: cpu: 100% command: ps pid: 10896 mem: 4.09 MiB (0.0%)
  3: cpu: 13.7% command: brave pid: 10585 mem: 266.3 MiB (0.8%)
  4: cpu: 12.7% command: plex-bin pid: 10223 mem: 256.4 MiB (0.8%)
  5: cpu: 11.2% command: brave pid: 10365 mem: 347.1 MiB (1.1%)
  Memory top: 5 of 411
  1: mem: 1209.8 MiB (3.8%) command: qbittorrent pid: 4731 cpu: 6.4%
  2: mem: 1139.4 MiB (3.6%) command: tinymediamanager pid: 4784 cpu: 1.6%
  3: mem: 929.4 MiB (2.9%) command: ghb pid: 6335 cpu: 716%
  4: mem: 501.9 MiB (1.5%) command: plasmashell pid: 3408 cpu: 1.4%
  5: mem: 347.1 MiB (1.1%) command: brave pid: 10365 cpu: 11.2%
Info:
  Processes: 411 Power: uptime: 58m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
    avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
    suspend, test_resume image: 12.29 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
    power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
    tool: systemctl
  Compilers: gcc: 15.1.1 Shell: Zsh v: 5.9 running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.38
1 Like
11

Well, this likely explains problems with burning BD discs;

If the source of data being written is from a USB drive, that might also be a contributor, albeit minimal.

I’d suggest a swap partition might be warranted, to be used perhaps in combination with zswap.

This might at least allow your encodes to complete without using all available resources (which is why some apps might no longer launch - there can be insufficient memory, and no swap to offset it).

1 Like
12

I’m not burning Blu-Ray Disks… I am encoding them to MKV with Handbrake.
However, the same problem happened the other night after nothing had been done on the computer.

I turned it on, went and did some things, came back about 3-4 hours later, and it would not load ANY of the programs. Just the bouncing icon, and nada.

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A terminal will likely start - eventually.
Or:
you start it beforehand - since you know nothing will be responsive after a while

run top or htop in it - and it’ll likely still show you … something

or:
as I said
run the app with nice -n 19 ... in a terminal
(that gives the process the lowest possible priority - everything else is treated as more important than it)

You could alter/edit the launcher as well, to do the same.

Disk I/O on spinning disks can be slow and appear to block any other activity for quite some time.

1 Like
14

Whichever. The takeaway applies to any resource intensive operation over an extended amount of time, or any application(s) that consistently use a lot of system resources; browsers, flatpak, electron based apps (can really be a :pig2:), and so on.

It’s often best to have swap space available, even if it’s only a swap file; though, you clearly have more than sufficient space for a swap partition, if you opt to. I have 64GB of RAM, and many would argue “you don’t need swap with that much RAM”… and there was a time my voice would have been among them.

I too used Handbrake; rather extensively, actually, though not so much this year - encodes would randomly fail to complete; grinding to a halt, so to speak. It took me a while to connect the dots, but after I configured a swap partition the problem was gone.

Now and again I note that the amount of swap used during normal usage is minimal; in fact virtually non-existent; but for the sake of a little realestate, I’m glad it’s there whenever it is needed.

With all that said, it’s not a “cure-all” for every situation; your issue could be something else completely.