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> X freeze bugs - involves the GPU (graphical processor) and is due to code 
> which was not tested on all hardware, often apparently random, or triggered 
> by certain events (such as starting SVGA X server or svgalib). Distinct from 
> input bugs, which let the screen continue to update but you cannot access it 
> - one time when I got as far as starting to download a website I could see 
> the pink stuff go by in the little square at bottom right of icewm. The 
> situation can be complicated by having two or more types of bugs.  (Such as 
> my problem of Backspace causing a VT to freeze but not the whole computer to 
> freeze).
>
> X freeze can often be triggered by switching VTs or desktops.
> The code tries to access the wrong register for particular hardware.
>
> Suggestion is to ssh to the computer to test if it is an input bug and see if 
> you can kill X using the client's keyboard.  (Via serial, parallel, or 
> network cable - see BL archives about using BL as a serial terminal.  Telnet 
> also works).

I went into BL2 on a Thinkpad on the same local network and loaded network 
drivers.  (Use a crossover cable, two straight cables and a hub, switch 
or router).  Set one with ifconfig eth0 to 192.168.1.1 and the other to 
192.168.1.2. dbclient root AT 192.168.1.1 from the Thinkpad to the Winbook.

I could run programs there.  Typed xinit on the Winbook and saw little
green lines go by in the box at lower right for a while, suggesting that 
this is not a freeze but an input bug.

> From the Thinkpad I could run links2 in console mode on the Winbook. 
(Did not try to use it as an X server).  But when I typed something and 
hit Backspace to correct a typo, that terminal froze.  I cannot access it 
again from another terminal here.

Two (or more) bugs in BL2 - I lose input ability in X immediately after 
starting SVGA server or shortly after starting Xvesa or Xfbdev, and a 
console also sometimes freezes (even without X loaded, from terminal on 
the same Winbook or over a network with Thinkpad as terminal.

There is little point in using a pair of laptops like this.


Some day I will get BL2 working with updated kernel, modules, X and glibc.
Maybe the most recent 2.4 kernel would even work.  2.4.37.9 Feb 1 2010.

Sindi