laptop running LL3.8 behaving unusually

[JanetBiggar]

This is an old Dell Inspiron 1720 that has been running fine on LL 3.8 till recently.  The youth using it mentioned that on occasion he wasn't able to connect to the internet, then other times he was able to do so.

The current issue is that while it does consistently "connect" (or show it is connected) when he/we pull up Firefox the page is blank with the exception of the menu bar and url line and in the upper right corner the "dot" keeps going back and forth indicating it is trying to connect.  It is running Firefox quantum 65.0.1 (32 bit). I even try pulling up google on it and same thing.  I have tried refreshing Firefox, still no change.

Also for whatever reason despite having a user name and password, when it is turned on it no longer asks for user and password...

I'm thinking with it acting weird maybe the hard drive is on the way out..?

I'm at the point that maybe I will simply reload LL3.8 (previously I believe I upgraded from LL3.4), but I'm not sure if this will really change anything...

Despite the above, it can still act as a study information source as so far accessing the study info (videos, exams, etc) still seem to function.

Does anyone have any insight or suggestions?

I have run a system report and have it saved.

[newtusmaximus]

Has  he cleared browser caches - also other caches can be cleared via Lite tweaks?

[Artim]

Does it do that on any other browser (like Chromium or Google Chrome) or have you tried using another browser?

[JanetBiggar]

Has  he cleared browser caches - also other caches can be cleared via Lite tweaks?

I believe we did that yesterday when I was checking things out, however I will make sure to do it today when I’m working on it.

I brought it home and went back to an earlier system restore point, which I did last time when this happened last week. So far it’s been working fine including showing the login screen. When I pull it up and this morning I will see if it’s still the case.

[JanetBiggar]

Does it do that on any other browser (like Chromium or Google Chrome) or have you tried using another browser?

I wasn’t sure how to check with another browser - I’m assuming I’d have to download google chrome then try it.  I will have a look as I also wasn’t sure if I could do so with a 32 bit system.

Thanks for the replies so far Artim and Newtusmaximus, I will update you.

If all works fine I think I will make another restore point before doing updates...I’m actually thinking maybe I shouldn’t update...any thoughts?

[Artim]

I’m actually thinking maybe I shouldn’t update...any thoughts?

Omygosh, this is the one single issue I have with all Ubuntu-based distros.  I update selectively, avoiding anything that might bork my system.  Newbies don't know how to update selectively, and any distro aimed at newbies should offer a way to filter out potentially harmful ones.  Linux Mint does this with their updater, and [member=6629]ralphy[/member] has adapted that updater for Linux Lite users (clicky here to read about it).

To be fair:  Linux Lite lead developer [member=2]Jerry[/member] does NOT approve of this, it is NOT the official "proper" way to keep Linux Lite updated.

But it is the only way I will let my newbie clients update their copies of Linux Lite, and it has already saved them a great deal of trouble, including the crippling GRUB bug (Beta software in an update to a distro for newbies! Unforgivable) last year. 

I remain a fan and supporter (financially as well as otherwise) of Linux Lite.  But on this single point we disagree.  If it were me, I would go back to a previous restore point, then install the Mint-adapted updater from the link above, and rest easier knowing that dangerous updates can be selectively refused, even by a newbie who ordinarily would not know how.

[newtusmaximus]

As far as I know Chrome is for 64bit machines only now.  Could try Chromium via menu /all/install/remove software

[JanetBiggar]

Artim mentioned:
Omygosh, this is the one single issue I have with all Ubuntu-based distros.  I update selectively, avoiding anything that might bork my system.  Newbies don't know how to update selectively, and any distro aimed at newbies should offer a way to filter out potentially harmful ones.  Linux Mint does this with their updater, and [member=6629]ralphy[/member] has adapted that updater for Linux Lite users (clicky here to read about it).


So my follow up question about updates is:
Once I install Ll3.8 on an older laptop do I do the “full update” via the Welcome screen as per the instructions on initially installing OR should I simply go to the mint update manager for LL and electively choose the level 1,2,3 updates?

[Artim]

So my follow up question about updates is:
Once I install Ll3.8 on an older laptop do I do the “full update” via the Welcome screen as per the instructions on initially installing OR should I simply go to the mint update manager for LL and electively choose the level 1,2,3 updates?

I believe it's completely safe (now that some buggy earlier updates have been fixed) to fully update 3.8 from the Welcome screen, and thereafter use the Mint updater adapted for Linux Lite.

DISCLAIMER:  This is not an official or developer-approved method for updating Linux Lite.  It's an unapproved alternative adapted for Linux Lite from Linux Mint's updater, and provided because upstream updates from Ubuntu are known to include dangerous, untested, and even Beta software that could brick a perfectly good system and frustrate new users who have not learned how to selectively update Linux Lite.

[JanetBiggar]

Thanks a lot Artim for your reply and your comment. This helps a lot.