Squeeze System "Bricked" after Software Upgrades 09/04
I have a Panasonic subnotebook (CF-R3) that has been functioning
superbly for months under Squeeze with Xfce/gdm. It has an integrated
Intel video system and a Japanese / English keyboard with which I have
used the standard kernel mapping (chosen during Expert install). This is
Squeeze with no proprietary firmware and the stock repositories (no
third party repositories, no non-free, all software installations
throughout the history of the system on this OS being made through
aptitude).
This morning (09/04) after applying latest updates through aptitude, I
rebooted the system. It hard locked after it started loading gdm. The
REISUB key combination had no effect whatsoever on the system. I was
unable to connect to it via Ethernet. I had to force it down with the
power switch.
I can boot into recovery mode. I used "touch /forcefsck" to get a file
system check during a reboot. No errors reported.
Below is the list of software upgrades applied this morning.
--------------------------8<-----------------------------
[INSTALL, DEPENDENCIES] libxapian22
[UPGRADE] apt 0.7.25.3 -> 0.8.0
[UPGRADE] apt-utils 0.7.25.3 -> 0.8.0
[UPGRADE] aptitude 0.6.3-3 -> 0.6.3-3.1
[UPGRADE] aptitude-doc-en 0.6.3-3 -> 0.6.3-3.1
[UPGRADE] firmware-linux-free 2.6.32-20 -> 2.6.32-21
[UPGRADE] libept1 1.0.3 -> 1.0.3+b1
[UPGRADE] libldap-2.4-2 2.4.17-2.1 -> 2.4.23-4
[UPGRADE] libparted0debian1 2.3-1 -> 2.3-2
[UPGRADE] libsdl-gfx1.2-4 2.0.20-1 -> 2.0.20-1.1
[UPGRADE] linux-base 2.6.32-20 -> 2.6.32-21
[UPGRADE] linux-image-2.6.32-5-686 2.6.32-20 -> 2.6.32-21
[UPGRADE] python-apt 0.7.96.1 -> 0.7.97.1
[UPGRADE] python-gobject 2.21.1-2 -> 2.21.4+is.2.21.3-1
[UPGRADE] python-xapian 1.0.20-1 -> 1.2.3-3
[UPGRADE] xserver-common 2:1.7.7-3 -> 2:1.7.7-4
[UPGRADE] xserver-xephyr 2:1.7.7-3 -> 2:1.7.7-4
[UPGRADE] xserver-xorg-core 2:1.7.7-3 -> 2:1.7.7-4
--------------------------8<-----------------------------
I have a very different notebook (Dell Precision M70) that has exactly
the same installation history. (I run them side-by-side, relying upon
the Panasonic system as an emergency backup if the Dell should fail.) No
problems ever running Squeeze on these systems other than some minor
issues in the Nouveau driver transition on the Dell system a couple of
months ago.
I've tried examining dmesg output, /var/log/syslog, /var/log/Xorg.0.log
-- but, if there is evidence in there of why this is happening I'm not
seeing it. (I'm happy to admit that I've in well over my head on this,
though.)
From the list of upgraded software I suppose that my problem is either
with the linux-image upgrade or with the xserver upgrades.
Unfortunately, I have no previous kernels from which to boot the system.
It does not have an optical drive, but I can attach one to a USB port
and boot another environment if need be. I have a feeling that this
isn't a hardware issue, though.
Would someone be willing to lead me through troubleshooting? I'd really
appreciate it!
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