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submitted 3 days ago by nootux@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml

I’m having an issue in linux mint 22.3 cinnamon where the GUI locks up but audio still plays and the mouse cursor still moves. The solution is to press ctrl+alt+f1 to take me to a terminal and then press ctrl+alt+f7 to go back to the GUI. Then everything works fine. Forgive me, I do not know what to call the terminal when accessing ctrl+alt+f1 other than tty1.

I also have an issue where when using a browser (librewolf / waterfox / zen) and using the pop out video window, sometimes over time it will lock in the main browser window and the solution is to minimise and restore the window. Sounds related.

I am new to linux and not sure where to start. I think there is something up with the cinnamon desktop environment but I do not know what. Hardware has been stress tested, multiple components, multiple days. I think it is a software issue but could be wrong, that is why I am asking for help.

Any help / thoughts much appreciated.

Thank you.

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[-] throwaway403@programming.dev 4 points 2 days ago

Could you please explain a little more on what X11 and wayland are?

Not the one you asked*.

But, to put it simply, there's a piece/suite of software that's actually responsible for displaying stuff. Even your Desktop Environment is contingent upon it. X11 and Wayland are the two most popular 'options' for that and (to be frank) the ones that are 'actually' in use. The former is the OG and was for the longest time pretty much your only option. But the latter has come a long way and is a superior option for most.

In the context of Cinnamon, its Wayland implementation is still relatively immature. Heck, only with its next release will it become non-experimental. But, even then, it is possible that switching will make a difference here.

How can I find out the information you are looking for?

Invoke echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE within a terminal. It will return whichever you're on.

[-] nootux@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

Thank you, I have done this and confirmed I am running on x11. When I have taken the necessary backups / images and timeshift backup I will test it out as from the sounds of it wayland is still in its experimental phase for cinnamon.

Thank you for all your advice though, now I am beginning to understand the picture I see why my next step is to test wayland.

[-] throwaway403@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

It has been my pleasure 😊.

this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2026
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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