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Resolving Graphical Applications Crashing on Dual-Boot Systems

9 months ago
by Brendan Smith

Graphical Applications Constantly Crash.

On my personal computer, semi-recently, graphical applications started randomly crashing. It just started with a Firefox tab crashing randomly, to Windows bluescreening four times in a few hours. I have a Dell G15 5510 laptop dual-booting Linux Mint Cinnamon stable and Windows 10, mint being my main OS. A few months ago, I got 2×16 GB Crucial DDR4 3200MHz RAM as an upgrade from the 8 GB that the laptop came with. (Side note: I ran memtest86+ today and it passed with 0 errors) A month or so later, I started having this problem. It’s gotten to the point where my computer is unusable. The main applications that affect me are Firefox, VSCode, Discord, and Chrome. As mentioned above, firefox starts with a tab or two crashing, then the entire browser crashes, and then after a bit it gets to the point where it crashes instantly whenever opened until I restart my computer. When run from the console, firefox shows zero errors in the output log. With VSCode, when it crashes, it always shows the error code 139 (I think this means segfault?), however, it essentially crashes just like Firefox. For Chrome, it doesn’t do any of the intermediate steps and instead goes to just straight up not opening, same with Discord.

Yesterday, I booted into Windows (I do it at least once a week for AltServer) to use Adobe Illustrator. Windows bluescreened four times that day (the first time I saw one since I switched to Linux), the first being when I was installing Illustrator. I didn’t catch the first bluescreen error, however the second, third, and fourth were as follows: MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION, and KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR. Something else I should mention is that this hasn’t happened to me on games (Minecraft Java/Bedrock and Shapez are the only ones I play) I haven’t tried removing/changing out the memory sticks yet because the screws were already pretty stripped and I don’t want to make it worse, although I’m open to that option. Any help would be greatly appreciated.Reddit User

Dealing with graphical applications crashing on your personal computer can be frustrating, especially when the problem escalates from minor inconveniences to system-wide issues like blue screens of death. This guide aims to navigate through the troubleshooting process for resolving application crashes on a Dell G15 5510 laptop dual-booting Linux Mint Cinnamon and Windows 10.

Potential Causes

The issues described span across both operating systems, suggesting a hardware-related cause. Given the timeline, the RAM upgrade is a potential suspect, despite passing memtest86+. Other causes could include driver conflicts, overheating, or system file corruption.

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Check for Overheating: Use software tools to monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures. Overheating can cause system instability and crashes.
  2. Update Drivers: Ensure all drivers, especially those for your graphics card, are up to date. For Linux, use your distribution’s package manager. For Windows, use Device Manager or the manufacturer’s website.
  3. Reinstall Graphical Applications: Corrupted application files can lead to crashes. Try reinstalling Firefox, VSCode, Chrome, and Discord.
  4. System File Check: For Windows, run sfc /scannow in the command prompt to check for corrupted system files. For Linux, use a tool like fsck from a live USB to check and repair your file system.
  5. Memory Diagnostics: Although memtest86+ showed no errors, it might be worth running Windows Memory Diagnostic tool or another round of memtest86+ for a longer period.
  6. Hardware Testing: If possible, swap the RAM with the original sticks to see if the problem persists. This could help rule out compatibility or faulty hardware issues.
  7. BIOS Update: Check for firmware updates for your Dell G15 5510. A BIOS update could resolve compatibility issues with the new RAM.

Considerations for Dual-Boot Systems

Dual-boot systems add complexity to troubleshooting hardware and software issues. Ensuring that both operating systems are properly configured to handle the hardware can mitigate potential problems. Pay special attention to the boot loader and any shared resources between the operating systems.

Brendan Smith
Brendan Smith
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Conclusion

Graphical application crashes can stem from various sources, including hardware incompatibilities, driver issues, or system file corruption. By methodically working through these troubleshooting steps, you can identify and resolve the root cause of the crashes, restoring stability to your dual-boot system.

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About the author

Brendan Smith

I'm Brendan Smith, a passionate journalist, researcher, and web content developer. With a keen interest in computer technology and security, I specialize in delivering high-quality content that educates and empowers readers to navigate the digital landscape.

Focused on computer technology and security, I am committed to sharing my knowledge and insights to help individuals and organizations protect themselves in the digital age. My expertise in cybersecurity principles, data privacy, and best practices enables me to provide practical tips and advice that readers can implement to enhance their online security.

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