ALLVISIONN / Getty Images
ZDNET's key takeaways
If your Linux desktop freezes, don't panic; there are ways to fix it.
You can use keyboard shortcuts, virtual consoles, SSH, and other tricks.
These tips can help avoid a hard reboot.
I started using Linux in 1997, and since then, it's been a rare occasion that my desktop causes me any issues.
Notice I said "rare." That doesn't mean I've gone all these years without an issue. In fact, I have had my desktop freeze up on me enough that I've had to lean on some tricks to reclaim it.
Now, before I continue, I want to make one thing clear: when a Linux desktop freezes, 99.99999% of the time, it's not the kernel's fault. Typically, what causes the issue is a single app that, out of nowhere, consumes a majority of the system resources, causing the desktop to lock up. That app could be a web browser, a virtual machine manager, an image editor -- anything that uses memory. When that app goes on a memory-gobbling spree, it will either cause your desktop to react very slowly or not at all. I've had situations where the cursor still moves but cannot interact with the apps.
What do you do?
Also: Ready to ditch Windows for Linux? This is the ideal distro for you
... continue reading