Re: Problem with swapping - computer crash.
On Sat, Aug 12, 2000 at 08:19:32AM +0200, Marko Cehaja wrote:
>
> I have serious problem with swap file, since I changed from potato
> to slink.
>
> I have 128 MB memory and have about 75 MB swap file.
>
> There were just 4-5 programs in memory, taking about 80-100 MB, which
> are Netscape, Gimp, rxvt+mc, mutt.
^^^^^^^^
What you describe has happened to me once or twice in Linux, and I've
observed the exact same phenomenon under Windows 95 on my mom's
computer.
Despite different OS's, both incidents were caused by the same program:
Netscape. Before I fixed it on my mom's computer I watched a memory
monitor--once Netscape was opened, the amount of memory being used
skyrocketed until it was all gone, then all the swap started being used
until _that_ was all gone too, and then the computer locked up, with the
hard drive working like crazy. I didn't get to chance to watch the fun
in top or whatever when it happened on my computer, but considering the
symptoms, I think the same thing was going on.
I have no idea what causes Netscape to do that. My solution, in both
cases, was just to get a fresh start with Netscape--i.e. wipe user
preferences (~/.netscape) aside from bookmarks, and reinstall Netscape.
That might not be your problem, but it sounds eerily similar, and if you
always have Netscape open when it happens... well I trust that less than
Gimp, mc, and mutt. :)
Tom
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