TuxTops Amethyst lockups (video/APM suspected)

["Karsten M. Self" <kmself@ix.netcom.com>]

I've got a TuxTops Amethyst 20U (also OEMed as the QLITech King, and the
Chembook 2020).  Original manufacturer is the Compal, as the N20U:  

    http://www.compal.com/Product/S3/20U/n20u/n20uspec.htm
    http://www.qlitech.net/products/laptops/king.html
    http://www.chembook.com/prod_specs.php3?product_id=902

I'm having problems with hard lockups on the system with distressing
regularity -- up to several times a day.  I suspect either video or APM
is leading to the problems, and this may be related to recent Debian
updates.  I don't find any diagnostic information in my logs -- just a
last log entry, then things shut down.  I've had the problem while using
the system (it just locks hard), when it's sitting unused, and even when
the display was set to console (though an X session was running in
another virtual console.

The other hint is that the problem appears to happen, sometimes, when
the power cord is jostled.  Though inserting and removing the cord
doesn't necessarily trigger the lockup.

I've noticed that when a lockup has occured, removing, then reinserting,
the power cord sometimes has an effect.  A few times I've even regained
system response, though it's been *very* slow, but enough to shut the
system down.  Other times I'll see a fraction of second of response -- a
few characters may appear (apparently stashed in a keyboard buffer), or
system monitors (time, net, CPU) may update a few ticks.

Otherwise, the only visible responses are low-level hardware.  The <Fn>
key indicator LED will light (but not caps lock, scroll lock, or numlock
LEDs).  the magic-alt-sysrq keys don't work.  Adjusting monitor
brightness works.  Pings from another networked system aren't returned.  

Suggestions or tips on identifying or troubleshooting this issue
appreciated.

System info:

    Debian Woody (testing)

    [karsten@ego:karsten]$ cat /proc/cpuinfo
    processor       : 0
    vendor_id       : GenuineIntel
    cpu family      : 6
    model           : 8
    model name      : Pentium III (Coppermine)
    stepping        : 1
    cpu MHz         : 597.071
    cache size      : 256 KB
    fdiv_bug        : no
    hlt_bug         : no
    sep_bug         : no
    f00f_bug        : no
    coma_bug        : no
    fpu             : yes
    fpu_exception   : yes
    cpuid level     : 3
    wp              : yes
    flags           : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 psn mmx fxsr xmm
    bogomips        : 1192.75


    lspci:
    00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX - 82443BX/ZX Host bridge (rev 03)
    00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX - 82443BX/ZX AGP bridge (rev 03)
    00:04.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1410 PC card Cardbus Controller (rev 01)
    00:07.0 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02)
    00:07.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82371AB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)
    00:07.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82371AB PIIX4 USB (rev 01)
    00:07.3 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 03)
    00:08.0 Multimedia audio controller: Cirrus Logic Crystal CS4281 PCI Audio (rev 01)
    00:10.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82557 [Ethernet Pro 100] (rev 08)
    00:10.1 Serial controller: Lucent Microelectronics LT WinModem
    01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc 3D Rage P/M Mobility AGP 2x (rev 64)

    $ dpkg -s apmd: 
    Package: apmd
    Status: install ok installed
    Priority: extra
    Section: admin
    Installed-Size: 147
    Maintainer: Avery Pennarun <apenwarr@debian.org>
    Version: 3.0final-1
    Depends: libc6 (>= 2.1.2), xlib6g (>= 3.3-5), xlib6g (>= 3.3.5-1)
    Conffiles:
     /etc/init.d/apmd 3526e15cf4433b55fb4cd835bbf5a1c3
     /etc/apm/apmd_proxy f5a9ca9dc43971f329e0b7d8e644cea1
     /etc/apm/event.d/00hwclock 17a2575afb84599c3186301c306fe3f4

    $ dpkg -s xserver-xfree86:
    Package: xserver-xfree86
    Status: install ok installed
    Priority: optional
    Section: x11
    Installed-Size: 11344
    Maintainer: Branden Robinson <branden@debian.org>
    Source: xfree86
    Version: 4.0.2-13
    Replaces: xserver-common (<< 4.0), libxfont-xtt (<< 1:1.3.0.1-13)
    Provides: xserver
    Depends: debconf (>= 0.3.83), xserver-common (>> 4.0), libc6 (>= 2.2.2-2), zlib1g (>= 1:1.1.3)
    Suggests: mdetect, read-edid

-- 
Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com>    http://kmself.home.netcom.com/
 What part of "Gestalt" don't you understand?       There is no K5 cabal
  http://gestalt-system.sourceforge.net/         http://www.kuro5hin.org

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