[resolved] Blank screen at a critical moment

I was workng on (updating) an important document (unsaved) on my Zorin12 laptop when suddenly the screen went blank.

I recognised an imminent shutdown (I have had this happen before and had found a workaround).

I quickly closed the lid and the machine shut down - what version of shutdown I don't know, but not full power off.

On opening the lid, it did as before - a black screen with my username in a small box in the centre. I can't remember whether I had to click the username first but I found a box that I coud put my password into and clicked return.

Hey presto! back to my desktop with all applications closed - just like a power off restart.

Fortunately I was able to restore my document, but had lost all my updates.


What is going on here? - can't really be an overheat as I can get going again immediately.


Definately an undesirable feature, whatever it is.


Any way of turning it off??

Have you checked your Power Settings in Settings?

Power settings all looking normal to me - under the "Suspend and power off" , I have "automatic suspend" set to "off", whatever that means .

I have suspend on lid closed selected - but I don't see that in power settings - where was that setting made from?

It's a good job I found the workaround for this problem - but it will be nice to get it sorted out

Hi, take a look here


https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting/BlankScreen

No mention in that thread of the Username coming up in a box. However, intrigued as to what "Plymouth" is - and what a "splash screen" is.


Also no mention of "my" workaround.


Still perplexed!! Thanks for your interest, Swarf.

Plymouth is the app that runs the boot theme (glowing Z) and splash screen is the backdrop of the login screen.

Another important document being worked on (saved fortunately, this time) then the black screen of death - time to shut the lid on my Zorin 12.3 Ultimate laptop.

On opening the lid, no box and invitation to enter my username - but I did notice a dropdow arrow (top RHS in white on a black screen), in a very small font, which gave me access to a shutdown icon.

Powered off and restarted - normally, as it turns out.


What is periodically kicking in here?? Any way to stop it? - it can't be an overheat as it runs fine on immediate restart.

Hi
can you check your PM (new messages) please
tks

Thanks for the update - over and out (for some time).