Re: [orca-list] Orca becomes unresponsive periodically on Linux Mint 9

[Kyle <kyle4jesus gmail com>]

Hi, and thanks for the quick response.

Yes, I can see that mint-update is running as a process under my 
username. I didn't think it was much different from update-notifier, so 
I didn't give it much of a thought. On Ubuntu, update-notifier runs in 
the background and puts an icon in the notification area when updates 
become available. Mint-update appears at first glance to do the same 
thing. I did notice, however, that if I activate the mint-update icon 
when it's in my notification panel, Orca hangs completely, and only a 
reboot can solve the problem. I also didn't consider mint-update to be 
the potential cause of the problem, since it appears to be running all 
the time, even when Orca is responsive. However, it's possible that it's 
calling something else that hangs Orca or the at-spi or something else 
entirely.

I also am including here the process line for mint-update, in case it 
can help. This was read from ps during a time that Orca was unresponsive.

kyle      1496  0.0  1.1 411308 11740 ?        Sl   Jul17   0:07 python 
/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintUpdate/mintUpdate.py

Very shortly after I took this reading, I restarted orca and it came 
back to life with no difficulty until the next time. Also, Here's the 
output of the uptime and ps commands that Trever recommended, which I 
also received during a period of unresponsiveness:

uptime

 15:38:31 up 22:32,  3 users,  load average: 2.00, 1.56, 1.38

ps -e -o %cpu,cmd | sort -n

 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0 acpid -c /etc/acpi/events -s /var/run/acpid.socket
 0.0 [aio/0]
 0.0 [aio/1]
 0.0 [async/mgr]
 0.0 [ata/0]
 0.0 [ata/1]
 0.0 [ata_aux]
 0.0 atd
 0.0 avahi-daemon: chroot helper
 0.0 avahi-daemon: registering [mint.local]
 0.0 bash
 0.0 -bash
 0.0 [bdi-default]
 0.0 /bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print-pid 5 --print-address 9 --session
 0.0 /bin/login --
 0.0 /bin/sh -c gnome-terminal
 0.0 /bin/sh -c /home/kyle/reset
 0.0 /bin/sh -c /usr/bin/compiz-decorator
 0.0 /bin/sh /home/kyle/reset
 0.0 /bin/sh /usr/lib/thunderbird-3.0.5/run-mozilla.sh 
/usr/lib/thunderbird-3.0.5/thunderbird-bin
 0.0 /bin/sh /usr/lib/thunderbird-3.0.5/thunderbird
 0.0 [bluetooth]
 0.0 bluetooth-applet
 0.0 [cpuset]
 0.0 cron
 0.0 [crypto/0]
 0.0 [crypto/1]
 0.0 dbus-daemon --system --fork
 0.0 [ecryptfs-kthrea]
 0.0 [edac-poller]
 0.0 [events/0]
 0.0 [events/1]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [flush-8:0]
 0.0 gdm-binary
 0.0 gnome-panel
 0.0 gnome-power-manager
 0.0 gnome-pty-helper
 0.0 gnome-session
 0.0 hald-addon-acpi: listening on acpid socket /var/run/acpid.socket
 0.0 hald-addon-input: Listening on /dev/input/event5 /dev/input/event4 
/dev/input/event0 /dev/input/event1
 0.0 hald-addon-storage: polling /dev/sr0 (every 2 sec)
 0.0 hald-addon-storage: polling /dev/sr1 (every 2 sec)
 0.0 hald-runner
 0.0 [jbd2/sda1-8]
 0.0 [jbd2/sda2-8]
 0.0 [kacpid]
 0.0 [kacpi_hotplug]
 0.0 [kacpi_notify]
 0.0 [kblockd/0]
 0.0 [kblockd/1]
 0.0 [kconservative/0]
 0.0 [kconservative/1]
 0.0 [kgameportd]
 0.0 [khelper]
 0.0 [khpsbpkt]
 0.0 [khubd]
 0.0 [khungtaskd]
 0.0 [kintegrityd/0]
 0.0 [kintegrityd/1]
 0.0 [kmmcd]
 0.0 [kmpathd/0]
 0.0 [kmpathd/1]
 0.0 [kmpath_handlerd]
 0.0 [knodemgrd_0]
 0.0 [kondemand/0]
 0.0 [kondemand/1]
 0.0 [kpsmoused]
 0.0 [krfcommd]
 0.0 [kseriod]
 0.0 [ksmd]
 0.0 [ksnapd]
 0.0 [ksoftirqd/0]
 0.0 [ksoftirqd/1]
 0.0 [kstriped]
 0.0 [ksuspend_usbd]
 0.0 [kswapd0]
 0.0 [kthreadd]
 0.0 [migration/0]
 0.0 [migration/1]
 0.0 [netns]
 0.0 NetworkManager
 0.0 nm-applet --sm-disable
 0.0 nmbd -D
 0.0 [pm]
 0.0 ps -e -o %cpu,cmd
 0.0 python /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintUpdate/mintUpdate.py
 0.0 [radeon/0]
 0.0 [radeon/1]
 0.0 rsyslogd -c4
 0.0 /sbin/dhclient -d -sf 
/usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action -pf 
/var/run/dhclient-eth1.pid -lf 
/var/lib/dhcp3/dhclient-99177cef-4276-486d-8420-fccc550f56f7-eth1.lease 
-cf /var/run/nm-dhclient-eth1.conf eth1
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty2
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty3
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty4
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty5
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty6
 0.0 /sbin/init
 0.0 /sbin/wpa_supplicant -u -s
 0.0 [scsi_eh_0]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_1]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_2]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_4]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_5]
 0.0 smbd -F
 0.0 smbd -F
 0.0 sort -n
 0.0 speech-dispatcher
 0.0 [sync_supers]
 0.0 [ttm_swap]
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udisks-daemon: polling /dev/sr1 /dev/sr0
 0.0 upstart-udev-bridge --daemon
 0.0 [usbhid_resumer]
 0.0 /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session
 0.0 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --start --components=ssh
 0.0 /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver
 0.0 /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator
 0.0 /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session 
gnome-session
 0.0 /usr/lib/bonobo-activation/bonobo-activation-server --ac-activate 
--ior-output-fd=17
 0.0 /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-session-worker
 0.0 /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-simple-slave --display-id 
/org/gnome/DisplayManager/Display1
 0.0 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/clock-applet 
--oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_ClockApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=27
 0.0 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/notification-area-applet 
--oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_NotificationAreaApplet_Factory 
--oaf-ior-fd=39
 0.0 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/wnck-applet 
--oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_Wncklet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=21
 0.0 /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon/gnome-settings-daemon
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-afc-volume-monitor
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-burn --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/1
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-computer --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/3
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-http --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/2
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-metadata
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-trash --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/0
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs//gvfs-fuse-daemon /home/kyle/.gvfs
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gdu-volume-monitor
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gphoto2-volume-monitor
 0.0 /usr/lib/hal/hald-addon-cpufreq
 0.0 /usr/lib/hal/hald-addon-rfkill-killswitch
 0.0 /usr/lib/indicator-applet/indicator-applet 
--oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_IndicatorApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=33
 0.0 /usr/lib/indicator-application/indicator-application-service
 0.0 /usr/lib/indicator-sound/indicator-sound-service
 0.0 /usr/lib/libgconf2-4/gconfd-2
 0.0 /usr/lib/notify-osd/notify-osd
 0.0 /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1
 0.0 /usr/lib/policykit-1/polkitd
 0.0 /usr/lib/pulseaudio/pulse/gconf-helper
 0.0 /usr/lib/rtkit/rtkit-daemon
 0.0 /usr/lib/udisks/udisks-daemon
 0.0 /usr/lib/upower/upowerd
 0.0 /usr/sbin/bluetoothd --udev
 0.0 /usr/sbin/console-kit-daemon --no-daemon
 0.0 /usr/sbin/cupsd -C /etc/cups/cupsd.conf
 0.0 /usr/sbin/hald
 0.0 /usr/sbin/irqbalance
 0.0 /usr/sbin/modem-manager
 0.0 [watchdog/0]
 0.0 [watchdog/1]
%CPU CMD
 0.1 nautilus
 0.1 [scsi_eh_3]
 0.3 /usr/bin/compiz
 0.4 gnome-terminal
 0.4 pidgin
 0.8 /usr/lib/at-spi/at-spi-registryd
 1.2 /usr/bin/X :0 -nr -verbose -auth 
/var/run/gdm/auth-for-gdm-Y0s9LU/database -nolisten tcp vt7
 1.3
 1.3 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --start --log-target=syslog
 5.6 /usr/bin/python -c import orca.orca; orca.orca.main() --replace
39.4 /usr/lib/thunderbird-3.0.5/thunderbird-bin

ps -e -o %mem,cmd | sort -n

 0.0
 0.0
 0.0 acpid -c /etc/acpi/events -s /var/run/acpid.socket
 0.0 [aio/0]
 0.0 [aio/1]
 0.0 [async/mgr]
 0.0 [ata/0]
 0.0 [ata/1]
 0.0 [ata_aux]
 0.0 atd
 0.0 avahi-daemon: chroot helper
 0.0 avahi-daemon: registering [mint.local]
 0.0 -bash
 0.0 [bdi-default]
 0.0 /bin/login --
 0.0 /bin/sh -c gnome-terminal
 0.0 /bin/sh -c /home/kyle/reset
 0.0 /bin/sh -c /usr/bin/compiz-decorator
 0.0 /bin/sh /home/kyle/reset
 0.0 /bin/sh /usr/lib/thunderbird-3.0.5/run-mozilla.sh 
/usr/lib/thunderbird-3.0.5/thunderbird-bin
 0.0 /bin/sh /usr/lib/thunderbird-3.0.5/thunderbird
 0.0 [bluetooth]
 0.0 [cpuset]
 0.0 cron
 0.0 [crypto/0]
 0.0 [crypto/1]
 0.0 [ecryptfs-kthrea]
 0.0 [edac-poller]
 0.0 [events/0]
 0.0 [events/1]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
 0.0 [flush-8:0]
 0.0 gnome-pty-helper
 0.0 hald-addon-acpi: listening on acpid socket /var/run/acpid.socket
 0.0 hald-addon-input: Listening on /dev/input/event5 /dev/input/event4 
/dev/input/event0 /dev/input/event1
 0.0 hald-addon-storage: polling /dev/sr0 (every 2 sec)
 0.0 hald-addon-storage: polling /dev/sr1 (every 2 sec)
 0.0 hald-runner
 0.0 [jbd2/sda1-8]
 0.0 [jbd2/sda2-8]
 0.0 [kacpid]
 0.0 [kacpi_hotplug]
 0.0 [kacpi_notify]
 0.0 [kblockd/0]
 0.0 [kblockd/1]
 0.0 [kconservative/0]
 0.0 [kconservative/1]
 0.0 [kgameportd]
 0.0 [khelper]
 0.0 [khpsbpkt]
 0.0 [khubd]
 0.0 [khungtaskd]
 0.0 [kintegrityd/0]
 0.0 [kintegrityd/1]
 0.0 [kmmcd]
 0.0 [kmpathd/0]
 0.0 [kmpathd/1]
 0.0 [kmpath_handlerd]
 0.0 [knodemgrd_0]
 0.0 [kondemand/0]
 0.0 [kondemand/1]
 0.0 [kpsmoused]
 0.0 [krfcommd]
 0.0 [kseriod]
 0.0 [ksmd]
 0.0 [ksnapd]
 0.0 [ksoftirqd/0]
 0.0 [ksoftirqd/1]
 0.0 [kstriped]
 0.0 [ksuspend_usbd]
 0.0 [kswapd0]
 0.0 [kthreadd]
 0.0 [migration/0]
 0.0 [migration/1]
 0.0 [netns]
 0.0 nmbd -D
 0.0 [pm]
 0.0 ps -e -o %mem,cmd
 0.0 [radeon/0]
 0.0 [radeon/1]
 0.0 rsyslogd -c4
 0.0 /sbin/dhclient -d -sf 
/usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action -pf 
/var/run/dhclient-eth1.pid -lf 
/var/lib/dhcp3/dhclient-99177cef-4276-486d-8420-fccc550f56f7-eth1.lease 
-cf /var/run/nm-dhclient-eth1.conf eth1
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty2
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty3
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty4
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty5
 0.0 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty6
 0.0 /sbin/init
 0.0 /sbin/wpa_supplicant -u -s
 0.0 [scsi_eh_0]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_1]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_2]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_3]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_4]
 0.0 [scsi_eh_5]
 0.0 smbd -F
 0.0 smbd -F
 0.0 sort -n
 0.0 speech-dispatcher
 0.0 [sync_supers]
 0.0 [ttm_swap]
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udevd --daemon
 0.0 udisks-daemon: polling /dev/sr1 /dev/sr0
 0.0 upstart-udev-bridge --daemon
 0.0 [usbhid_resumer]
 0.0 /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session
 0.0 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --start --components=ssh
 0.0 /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session 
gnome-session
 0.0 /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-session-worker
 0.0 /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-simple-slave --display-id 
/org/gnome/DisplayManager/Display1
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-afc-volume-monitor
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-burn --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/1
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-computer --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/3
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-metadata
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-trash --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/0
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs//gvfs-fuse-daemon /home/kyle/.gvfs
 0.0 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gphoto2-volume-monitor
 0.0 /usr/lib/hal/hald-addon-cpufreq
 0.0 /usr/lib/hal/hald-addon-rfkill-killswitch
 0.0 /usr/lib/pulseaudio/pulse/gconf-helper
 0.0 /usr/lib/rtkit/rtkit-daemon
 0.0 /usr/sbin/bluetoothd --udev
 0.0 /usr/sbin/cupsd -C /etc/cups/cupsd.conf
 0.0 /usr/sbin/irqbalance
 0.0 [watchdog/0]
 0.0 [watchdog/1]
%MEM CMD
 0.1
 0.1 /bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print-pid 5 --print-address 9 --session
 0.1 dbus-daemon --system --fork
 0.1 gdm-binary
 0.1 NetworkManager
 0.1 /usr/lib/bonobo-activation/bonobo-activation-server --ac-activate 
--ior-output-fd=17
 0.1 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd
 0.1 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-http --spawner :1.10 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/2
 0.1 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gdu-volume-monitor
 0.1 /usr/lib/indicator-application/indicator-application-service
 0.1 /usr/lib/indicator-sound/indicator-sound-service
 0.1 /usr/lib/policykit-1/polkitd
 0.1 /usr/lib/udisks/udisks-daemon
 0.1 /usr/lib/upower/upowerd
 0.1 /usr/sbin/console-kit-daemon --no-daemon
 0.1 /usr/sbin/hald
 0.1 /usr/sbin/modem-manager
 0.2 gnome-power-manager
 0.2 gnome-session
 0.2 /usr/lib/libgconf2-4/gconfd-2
 0.2 /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1
 0.3 bash
 0.3 bluetooth-applet
 0.3 nm-applet --sm-disable
 0.3 /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver
 0.3 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/notification-area-applet 
--oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_NotificationAreaApplet_Factory 
--oaf-ior-fd=39
 0.3 /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon/gnome-settings-daemon
 0.3 /usr/lib/indicator-applet/indicator-applet 
--oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_IndicatorApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=33
 0.4
 0.4 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/clock-applet 
--oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_ClockApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=27
 0.5 /usr/bin/compiz
 0.5 /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator
 0.6 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/wnck-applet 
--oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_Wncklet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=21
 0.6 /usr/lib/notify-osd/notify-osd
 0.7 gnome-panel
 0.7 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --start --log-target=syslog
 1.0 gnome-terminal
 1.0 python /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintUpdate/mintUpdate.py
 1.0 /usr/bin/X :0 -nr -verbose -auth 
/var/run/gdm/auth-for-gdm-Y0s9LU/database -nolisten tcp vt7
 2.1 pidgin
 2.7 /usr/bin/python -c import orca.orca; orca.orca.main() --replace
 3.3 nautilus
21.7 /usr/lib/thunderbird-3.0.5/thunderbird-bin
39.8 /usr/lib/at-spi/at-spi-registryd

It's interesting to note that Thunderbird seems to be using a lot of CPU 
at the moment this snapshot was taken, but Thunderbird isn't running 
most of the time when I have this problem. It's also interesting to note 
that at-spi-registryd and not Thunderbird is using quite a lot of memory 
at this same moment. Funny thing is that mint-update doesn't seem to 
factor into this equation at all according to ps.

I hope I was able to help a little, so I know where to file a bug report 
and what to include in it. Sometimes, these things seem pretty hard to 
track down.

~Kyle