Zorin menu selection fails

Sometimes it happens when this menu opens or is opened the menu selections do not work.
I could not select any item in the menu and it looks like "locked" for me:

Then also I can not exit the opened menu and only thing I could do is to run the cursor on the screen
and make screenshots.
Then if I pressed the HP-laptop startup key the menu releases. It can not be released by <ESC>-key (as normally) when
it is locked as this.

What is that app running in the background? Wonder if it is eating up resources and creating issues for the menu. Can you please confirm which version of Zorin you are using and model of HP Notebook. Thanks.

There was not apps running and this is almost impossible to repeat.

How long does it stay locked up?

As long as I restart it by HP restart key.

jarkky wrote:As long as I restart it by HP restart key.

Ah, so it is not a short freeze, then. Does it happen often or once in a while?
I wonder if it is just the terminal or if other things freeze, too.

It didn't seem to occur recently.. but let me follow up some more.

Last night it lock down the system again. I could move the mouse cursor, but all the menus were locked
and I could not select any operation.

It seems to fail again that if the menu opens, but the system did not respond to any selection or mouse movement and had to be reboot.
Possibly some X11-setting issue that it is jamming the system...
I'm suspecting some type of "overheating" issue also, because the system after shutdown didn't reboot before cooling for several minutes.

I would hope to find some means to debug this, because it seems to occur again and again.
Unfortunately there seem to be very few options to fix this:
Ref:
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook- ... -p/7604852

The screen seems to dim some cases and mix different graphics and background image:

I can not describe exactly what this problem is and I have no idea what causes it.

But almost all other function than mouse cursor and keyboard are "locked" in the X11-system.
I might just guess that this is caused by the "Sky" application as seen in the left side screen.

Have you checked your xrandr settings? There was a post recently where another forum member advised what to do - suspect that is the issue there looking at the image.

Below is the 'xrandr' results:

jari@ENVY-17:~$ xrandr --verbose
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3840 x 1100, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+20 (0x47) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 382mm x 215mm
Identifier: 0x42
Timestamp: 20151
Subpixel: unknown
Gamma: 1.0:1.0:1.0
Brightness: 1.0
Clones:
CRTC: 0
CRTCs: 1 0 2
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
_MUTTER_PRESENTATION_OUTPUT: 0
EDID:
00ffffffffffff0009e5250800000000
011c0104a526157803de50a3544c9926
0f505400000001010101010101010101
010101010101c43680cc703814406c30
aa007ed71000001a862480cc70381440
6c30aa007ed71000001a000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000002
000933ff0a3c96151b4496000000009a
scaling mode: Full aspect
supported: Full, Center, Full aspect
max bpc: 12
range: (6, 12)
Broadcast RGB: Automatic
supported: Automatic, Full, Limited 16:235
link-status: Good
supported: Good, Bad
CONNECTOR_ID: 86
supported: 86
non-desktop: 0
range: (0, 1)
1920x1080 (0x47) 140.200MHz +HSync -VSync *current +preferred
h: width 1920 start 2028 end 2076 total 2124 skew 0 clock 66.01KHz
v: height 1080 start 1090 end 1100 total 1100 clock 60.01Hz
1920x1080 (0x48) 93.500MHz +HSync -VSync
h: width 1920 start 2028 end 2076 total 2124 skew 0 clock 44.02KHz
v: height 1080 start 1090 end 1100 total 1100 clock 40.02Hz
DP-1 connected 1920x1080+1920+0 (0x49) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 368mm x 207mm
Identifier: 0x43
Timestamp: 20151
Subpixel: unknown
Gamma: 1.0:1.0:1.0
Brightness: 1.0
Clones:
CRTC: 1
CRTCs: 1 0 2
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
_MUTTER_PRESENTATION_OUTPUT: 0
EDID:
00ffffffffffff00504420030a1a0000
231c0104a2462778fad6a5a2594a9524
145054afcf00810081407140a9c08180
81c09500b300023a801871382d40582c
450070cf1000001e662150b051001a30
40703600b0f31000001e662156aa5100
1e30468f3300aaef1000001e000000fc
0048444d49320a2020202020202001a8
02031f714b030405901213141f202122
23091f078301000066030c0010008001
1d8018711c1620582c2500c48e210000
9e8c0ad08a20e02d10103e9600138e21
0000188f0ad08a20e02d10103e9600c4
8e210000188c0ad08a20e02d10103e96
00138e210000188c0ad08a20e02d1010
3e9600c48e21000018000000000000aa
Content Protection: Undesired
supported: Undesired, Desired, Enabled
max bpc: 12
range: (6, 12)
Broadcast RGB: Automatic
supported: Automatic, Full, Limited 16:235
audio: auto
supported: force-dvi, off, auto, on
link-status: Good
supported: Good, Bad
CONNECTOR_ID: 92
supported: 92
non-desktop: 0
range: (0, 1)
1920x1080 (0x49) 148.500MHz +HSync +VSync *current +preferred
h: width 1920 start 2008 end 2052 total 2200 skew 0 clock 67.50KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125 clock 60.00Hz
1920x1080 (0x4a) 148.500MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1920 start 2448 end 2492 total 2640 skew 0 clock 56.25KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125 clock 50.00Hz
1920x1080 (0x4b) 148.352MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1920 start 2008 end 2052 total 2200 skew 0 clock 67.43KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125 clock 59.94Hz
1920x1080i (0x4c) 74.250MHz +HSync +VSync Interlace
h: width 1920 start 2008 end 2052 total 2200 skew 0 clock 33.75KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1094 total 1125 clock 60.00Hz
1920x1080i (0x4d) 74.250MHz +HSync +VSync Interlace
h: width 1920 start 2448 end 2492 total 2640 skew 0 clock 28.12KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1094 total 1125 clock 50.00Hz
1920x1080 (0x4e) 74.250MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1920 start 2008 end 2052 total 2200 skew 0 clock 33.75KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125 clock 30.00Hz
1920x1080 (0x4f) 74.250MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1920 start 2448 end 2492 total 2640 skew 0 clock 28.12KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125 clock 25.00Hz
1920x1080 (0x50) 74.250MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1920 start 2558 end 2602 total 2750 skew 0 clock 27.00KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125 clock 24.00Hz
1920x1080i (0x51) 74.176MHz +HSync +VSync Interlace
h: width 1920 start 2008 end 2052 total 2200 skew 0 clock 33.72KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1094 total 1125 clock 59.94Hz
1920x1080 (0x52) 74.176MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1920 start 2008 end 2052 total 2200 skew 0 clock 33.72KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125 clock 29.97Hz
1920x1080 (0x53) 74.176MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1920 start 2558 end 2602 total 2750 skew 0 clock 26.97KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125 clock 23.98Hz
1680x1050 (0x54) 146.250MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 1680 start 1784 end 1960 total 2240 skew 0 clock 65.29KHz
v: height 1050 start 1053 end 1059 total 1089 clock 59.95Hz
1600x900 (0x55) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1600 start 1624 end 1704 total 1800 skew 0 clock 60.00KHz
v: height 900 start 901 end 904 total 1000 clock 60.00Hz
1280x1024 (0x56) 135.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1296 end 1440 total 1688 skew 0 clock 79.98KHz
v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066 clock 75.02Hz
1280x1024 (0x57) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew 0 clock 63.98KHz
v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066 clock 60.02Hz
1440x900 (0x58) 106.500MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 1440 start 1520 end 1672 total 1904 skew 0 clock 55.93KHz
v: height 900 start 903 end 909 total 934 clock 59.89Hz
1280x960 (0x59) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1376 end 1488 total 1800 skew 0 clock 60.00KHz
v: height 960 start 961 end 964 total 1000 clock 60.00Hz
1366x768 (0x5a) 85.500MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1366 start 1436 end 1579 total 1792 skew 0 clock 47.71KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 774 total 798 clock 59.79Hz
1360x768 (0x5b) 85.500MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1360 start 1424 end 1536 total 1792 skew 0 clock 47.71KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 794 clock 60.09Hz
1280x800 (0x5c) 83.500MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1352 end 1480 total 1680 skew 0 clock 49.70KHz
v: height 800 start 803 end 809 total 831 clock 59.81Hz
1152x864 (0x5d) 81.579MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 1152 start 1216 end 1336 total 1520 skew 0 clock 53.67KHz
v: height 864 start 865 end 868 total 895 clock 59.97Hz
1280x720 (0x5e) 74.250MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1390 end 1430 total 1650 skew 0 clock 45.00KHz
v: height 720 start 725 end 730 total 750 clock 60.00Hz
1280x720 (0x5f) 74.250MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1720 end 1760 total 1980 skew 0 clock 37.50KHz
v: height 720 start 725 end 730 total 750 clock 50.00Hz
1280x720 (0x60) 74.176MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1390 end 1430 total 1650 skew 0 clock 44.96KHz
v: height 720 start 725 end 730 total 750 clock 59.94Hz
1024x768 (0x61) 78.750MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1024 start 1040 end 1136 total 1312 skew 0 clock 60.02KHz
v: height 768 start 769 end 772 total 800 clock 75.03Hz
1024x768 (0x62) 75.000MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew 0 clock 56.48KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 70.07Hz
1024x768 (0x63) 65.000MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew 0 clock 48.36KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 60.00Hz
800x600 (0x64) 50.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 856 end 976 total 1040 skew 0 clock 48.08KHz
v: height 600 start 637 end 643 total 666 clock 72.19Hz
800x600 (0x65) 49.500MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 816 end 896 total 1056 skew 0 clock 46.88KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 604 total 625 clock 75.00Hz
800x600 (0x66) 40.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 840 end 968 total 1056 skew 0 clock 37.88KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 605 total 628 clock 60.32Hz
800x600 (0x67) 36.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 824 end 896 total 1024 skew 0 clock 35.16KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 603 total 625 clock 56.25Hz
720x576 (0x68) 27.000MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 720 start 732 end 796 total 864 skew 0 clock 31.25KHz
v: height 576 start 581 end 586 total 625 clock 50.00Hz
720x480 (0x69) 27.027MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 720 start 736 end 798 total 858 skew 0 clock 31.50KHz
v: height 480 start 489 end 495 total 525 clock 60.00Hz
720x480 (0x6a) 27.000MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 720 start 736 end 798 total 858 skew 0 clock 31.47KHz
v: height 480 start 489 end 495 total 525 clock 59.94Hz
640x480 (0x6b) 31.500MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 720 total 840 skew 0 clock 37.50KHz
v: height 480 start 481 end 484 total 500 clock 75.00Hz
640x480 (0x6c) 31.500MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 664 end 704 total 832 skew 0 clock 37.86KHz
v: height 480 start 489 end 492 total 520 clock 72.81Hz
640x480 (0x6d) 25.200MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 752 total 800 skew 0 clock 31.50KHz
v: height 480 start 490 end 492 total 525 clock 60.00Hz
640x480 (0x6e) 25.175MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 752 total 800 skew 0 clock 31.47KHz
v: height 480 start 490 end 492 total 525 clock 59.94Hz
720x400 (0x6f) 28.320MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 720 start 738 end 846 total 900 skew 0 clock 31.47KHz
v: height 400 start 412 end 414 total 449 clock 70.08Hz
DP-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
Identifier: 0x44
Timestamp: 20151
Subpixel: unknown
Clones: HDMI-1
CRTCs: 1 0 2
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
Content Protection: Undesired
supported: Undesired, Desired, Enabled
max bpc: 12
range: (6, 12)
Broadcast RGB: Automatic
supported: Automatic, Full, Limited 16:235
audio: auto
supported: force-dvi, off, auto, on
link-status: Good
supported: Good, Bad
CONNECTOR_ID: 100
supported: 100
non-desktop: 0
range: (0, 1)
HDMI-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
Identifier: 0x45
Timestamp: 20151
Subpixel: unknown
Clones: DP-2
CRTCs: 1 0 2
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
Content Protection: Undesired
supported: Undesired, Desired, Enabled
max bpc: 12
range: (8, 12)
content type: No Data
supported: No Data, Graphics, Photo, Cinema, Game
Colorspace: Default
supported: Default, SMPTE_170M_YCC, BT709_YCC, XVYCC_601, XVYCC_709, SYCC_601, opYCC_601, opRGB, BT2020_CYCC, BT2020_RGB, BT2020_YCC, DCI-P3_RGB_D65, DCI-P3_RGB_Theater
aspect ratio: Automatic
supported: Automatic, 4:3, 16:9
Broadcast RGB: Automatic
supported: Automatic, Full, Limited 16:235
audio: auto
supported: force-dvi, off, auto, on
link-status: Good
supported: Good, Bad
CONNECTOR_ID: 105
supported: 105
non-desktop: 0
range: (0, 1)

Everything there looks good, I think. If anyone else spots something wrong- please say so.

I am curious if this is an issue with your specific hardware combined with Gnome Shell and Arc Menu. I am wondering if you would be willing to run the following tests (Since it is difficult to predict or replicate, it may take time or get tedious):
Install the gnome shell extension Arc Menu from git. Add it as another Menu to your panel and try running from it as you normally would. (The Zorin Menu is built off of the Arc Menu. So you will find the menus to be very similar).
If you get the same freeze; Test if Either Menu also crashes Gnome-shell during lock and unlock.
Install another menu and test whether that non-Arc menu freezes on gnome-shell.

IF all menus experience the freeze, we can try searching through your Gnome-Shell for the issue.
IF Both the Arc Menu and Zorin menu freeze, we can try searching through the script for how the menus interact with Gnome.
IF only the Zorin Menu freezes, we can search through the build for Zorin menu.

This is very hard to test...
Only if the menu will leave any log-files, then that could be inspected.
Do you think I can enable the X11 or the menus specifically to send log-files to the /var/log ?

jarkky wrote:This is very hard to test...
Only if the menu will leave any log-files, then that could be inspected.
Do you think I can enable the X11 or the menus specifically to send log-files to the /var/log ?

If Arc menu was crashing gnome-shell, then it should send a copy of the crash log to /var/crash
or it MAY be worthwhile to try running

Code:

journalctl --list-boots

in terminal and see if there could be any clues there.

Edit for clarity: If you run the command, it will show that time and datestamp on a boot record and IF there is an error or crash. If there is no error or crash, then it will be just the time and datestamp and those can be disregarded. It means that was a normal boot without problems.

That aside, one thing you could do instead is remove and then reinstall the Zorin Menu and then forget about the problem for a while to see if it rears its head in the future.
repository ppa:zorinos/stable
gnome-shell-extension-zorin-menu