[TWEAKS]-Dual Core CPU- Is there anyway that i can assign each core to do specific jobs?

My System- Ubuntu 32bit, AMD Turion x2 1.6Ghz, 2G Ram, DELL Inspiron 1501

The bummer-
Very often during my transfer of downloaded files, sized about 800mb each from this laptop to the external drive, the system may freeze if i execute another program(usually just one, since i know that my processor is only 1.6GHz) in another workspace, such as system update or browsing internet, or working of text writing, or even listening to internet broadcasts... more to add.

Any suggestions for commands or programs that i can tweak the system to do better? Windows seems to have a better edge in this...

 

I copy very large 4 to 8 gig files over the network and never have issues. To me there might be a driver issue. I did have a wireless issue when i transfered big files it will cause a hard kernel lock up.

 

An operating system has something called a scheduler, which makes it able to split CPU usage among every process you have running. Data transfer involving a hard drive does not make heavy use of your CPU (in general, the CPU just triggers the data transfer "command" and quickly goes to execute something else).

It doesn't seem to me like assigning that job to a core would solve your problem; it must be something else.

 

What you can do is change the scheduler. I have actually found that the server kernels sometimes have a "nicer" scheduler because they give more priority to background tasks. It won't hurt to install the Linux server kernel on Ubuntu and try booting to that, see if it works and performs better.

 

Hi,
what you mean by 'freeze'? Complete hangout, or just slow responsiveness?
I'd try to run:
1. in terminal: tail -f /var/log/messages
2. connect external hdd
3. see what the term. windows says - should be info on connected hdd - check if there are no errors or something weird
4. try to copy smaller files - still watch messages
5. copy big file and try to run something else - still have clear view on that shell window, so in case of freeze you still see if there is something worthwhile to checkout

As guys above said, this looks like some hw/driver issue, so install of server kernel might help, or try compiling your own kernel, i'm sure, there is lots howto on ubuntu forums (how to kompile own kernel).
Sometimes, in new kernel there is support (or some fixed bugs) that solve your troubles.
Current stable kernel release is 2.6.30.x, i guess you run older?

 

First, let me thanks to fellow brudders for your suggestions and advise.
Especially on the mentioned of that scheduler thingy, made me realise that there's such program available.

When my system freezes, my touchpad/mouse can't move, my screen freezes, it's like everything goes to a total stop. If i'm to leave it, there are times that the system may go back to norm after 25mins or more...or even no response, which prompts me to hard shutdown.

 

Yeh plus how are you copying the files? Through the graphic interface or via the terminal (cp -rv file.aaa)?
Does the drive work right on other computers?
Does it also crash if you run none other program?

And yeh, I agree it looks like hw or driver issue. Even on an older standard kernel, trivial things like data transfer shouldn't have problems... It is a free try to try another kernel, though.

 

Hi there,
you could try to use hdparm command to find out more info on you hdd.
man hdparm
e.g. quick google link ...
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/how-fast-is-linux-sata-hard-disk.html

 

The external hdd works fine when i'm in Windows session. Even with other gears as well. Unfortunately it is my gear that's the only one available that runs with linux, hence i can't really tell if it's a driver issue.
I wonder is it due to the fact that my installation of Ubuntu was done thru WUBI, that have it's limitation as well.

Yes... almost forgot... when i'm doing file transfers, i usually do it graphically, you know, the "cut and paste" way...

 

hm, I never used Wubi myself... However I do have some prejudice over it, never felt like a good idea to me..

You should consider having a true partitioned install if you actually consider using Ubuntu for real. That should be your first try, and it should be very easy actually.

 

Hi,
i think your problem is related to way in which linux handles memory - i/o operations and also how it handles mapped and unmapped (disk or also page cache).
On specific HW configs you can experience troubles like you described ...
eg. this bug kernel tracker:
http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=12309

what to do depends on how you understand linux and how much work you'd like to dedicate to solving it ....

Be at your place, i'd start with new 'fresh' installation of linux (not through wubi), i'd try to use ext4 FS (dunno if ubuntu already use kernel that has it implemented?), i'd try to compile my own latest stable kernel from kernel.org and check what it does ...