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My ubuntu laptop crashes with a bunch of code on the screen. Where can I look to see what is causing the crash?

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closed as off topic by Marco Ceppi Feb 6 '12 at 0:04


We'd need to see that "bunch of code on the screen" to tell you what's going on –  tumbleweed Dec 26 '11 at 13:04
This question should instead be filed as a bug report, thanks! Instructions here. –  Jorge Castro Feb 5 '12 at 23:34

2 Answers 2

up vote 1 down vote accepted

Travis, start your PC with the LiveCD and follow the instructions of this post:


Remember that your /etc/default/bootlogd will be into your Ubuntu partition, when you're inside the LiveCD. Will be something like /media/[Disk-1-LABEL]/etc/default/bootlogd.

After that, put here your /var/log/boot contents.


Travis, I think that your bug is related here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/875571

By this way, you could try to update your kernel to the 3.1 version.

You can get the update to Kernel 3.1.4 here:


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The crash I am having is not during boot. It boots up fine, I will be using ubuntu, and suddenly black screen with a ton of text about modules and panic and everything is locked up. I can't go to the console, I can't restart, I have to hold in the power button until it shuts off. I would think there would be a file somewhere that all that code was being written to that would say "This module failed" or something like that. Is there? –  Travis Dec 6 '11 at 20:27
Looks like Kernel issues, try with 10.04 –  Uri Herrera Dec 6 '11 at 20:40
Travis, just look to my edited answer to see if it fix your problem. –  Edgar Eler Dec 6 '11 at 21:30

I have the same issue with my Toshiba laptop and Ubuntu 11.10. I reinstalled several times, and only when I disable the update settings and thereby using the original code from the boot CD I save my laptop from crashing within minutes after booting... Probably it is a kernel or graphic driver issue but it should be addressed!

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