Fixing Ubuntu 18.04 Gnome Login Freeze on Dell XPS 15

In this article, we will explore a few potential solutions to address the issue of GNOME freezing on the login screen in Ubuntu 18.04, specifically on Dell XPS 15. This is a common issue that many users have reported and we will provide detailed solutions to help you troubleshoot and resolve the problem.

Debugging GNOME

Firstly, let’s try debugging GNOME to identify any error messages that could be causing the freeze. To do this, you’ll need to log in through tty. You can access tty by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F2 or F3. Once you’re logged in, run the following command:

journalctl -xe

This command will display the system journal, starting from the most recent logs and continuing until the end of the journal. The -xe option is used to explain what is happening in the log in an easy-to-understand format.

Look for any error messages or warnings that might indicate the cause of the freeze. If you find any, you can then search for these specific errors online to find potential solutions.

If you do not find any specific errors, you can try resetting GNOME settings to their defaults. This can be done by running the following command:

dconf reset -f /org/gnome/

The dconf command is a simple key-based configuration system. The reset option is used to reset the values of keys, and -f is used to specify the path of the key. In this case, we are resetting all keys under /org/gnome/.

NMI watchdog error

If you’re seeing an error message that says “NMI watchdog: Watchdog detected hard LOCKUP on cpu”, it suggests a possible hardware issue.

One potential solution is to update your BIOS firmware to the latest version provided by Dell. You can find the latest BIOS firmware on Dell’s official website.

Another solution is to disable the NMI watchdog by adding nmi_watchdog=0 to the kernel boot parameters. To do this, edit the /etc/default/grub file and modify the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT line to include nmi_watchdog=0. After saving the file, run the following command to apply the changes:

sudo update-grub

The sudo command is used to run the command as the superuser, update-grub generates a new GRUB boot loader configuration based on the contents of /etc/default/grub.

Alternative desktop environments

If you’re still experiencing the freeze, you can try using a different desktop environment such as Unity. On the login screen, click the gear icon next to the “Sign in” button and choose the “Unity” desktop option. This might provide a temporary workaround until the issue with GNOME is resolved.

Checking for known bugs

Lastly, the issue you are facing might be a known bug. Check the Ubuntu bug tracker and forums for any reported issues related to GNOME freezing on the login screen. If you find a relevant bug report, subscribe to it and provide any requested logs or information that might help in troubleshooting the problem.

In conclusion, while these are potential solutions based on the information provided, further investigation might be required to pinpoint the exact cause of the issue. We hope that this article has been helpful in guiding you through the process of troubleshooting and resolving the GNOME login freeze issue on your Dell XPS 15 running Ubuntu 18.04.