The machine performs segfaults regularly

Question

When I use apt-get to install or upgrade my hard Ubuntu system, I often get these messages:

$ sudo apt-get install foo Reading package lists... Done Segmentation faulty tree... 50% $ sudo apt-get install foo Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done Segmentation fault $ sudo apt-get install foo Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done terminate called after throwing an instance of 'std::logic_error' what(): basic_string::_S_construct NULL not valid Aborted cc -Os -g -Wall -DLOCAL_ROOT=\"/usr/share/polipo/www/\" -DDISK_CACHE_ROOT=\"/var/cache/polipo/\" -DCHUNK_SIZE=16384 -c -o http_parse.o http_parse.c http_parse.c:1564: internal compiler error: Segmentation fault Please submit a full bug report, with preprocessed source if appropriate. See <URL:http://gcc.gnu.org/bugs.html> for instructions. For Debian GNU/Linux specific bug reporting instructions, see <URL:file:///usr/share/doc/gcc-4.2/README.Bugs>. make: *** [http_parse.o] Error 1 

This does not always happen, so if you try a lot more, you can usually do everything, but it makes segfault an annoying big percentage of the time.

Any idea what is happening or how to fix it?

Answer 1

If standard tools fail with error, especially with such memory errors, time to suspect hardware.

Run memtest (from the grub menu it is better) and leave it to run for several cycles.

Answer 2

Douglas gave the right direction. Running memtest is the least expensive option.

Tidying up your CPU (if possible) is another option. If you have free RAM modules, try changing them to your current ones. If nothing works, and you still have the same problem, suspect the system board.

Answer 3

I had a similar problem, and it turned out that the processor fan bracket was hacked. This makes the temperature soar.

Also make sure the memory test passes. Using the ubuntu installation disk, boot the machine and select a memory test. Let it work for about an hour, if there are problems with memory, it will be displayed in the error list.

Answer 4

Software installation is likely to impose a little more on the system than "normal" use, which can lead to inherent problems with hiding. In addition to these suggestions, if you start testing / exchanging hardware components, start with a power source.

It is possible that the power supply is "immersed" under voltage under load, which leads to chaos with the system. Fortunately, PSU: s are pretty cheap, and it's much easier to swap out a power supply than a motherboard.