This is Why Linux Can Sometimes Suck

If you thought the three-finger salute (a.k.a. Ctrl+Alt+Delete) was bad in Windows, Lifehacker says you can escape a frozen (as in locked up) Linux system by doing this:

1. Hold down the Alt and SysRq (Print Screen) keys. 2. While holding those down, type the following in order. Nothing will appear to happen until the last letter is pressed: REISUB 3. Watch your computer reboot magically.

You have got to be kidding me. As if anyone could remember all that crap.

If I can’t get out of a Linux lock-up by doing Ctrl+Alt+Backspace to restart X, I’m hitting the power button. Period.

The normal way to stop an app that goes buggy in a *nix environment is to use a “kill” command. Ubuntu for example has a “kill” icon you can set in the Application Bar. If an app locks up, you click the kill icon, point your mouse to the frozen app and click. Then it goes away (“kills” it.)

However, if that doesn’t work, Ctrl+Alt+Backspace will restart the X server, as in back out, restart the GUI and have you login again.

And if that doesn’t work.. there’s that thing you can do at the top of this document that absolutely no one will remember. Ever.

But c’mon.. instead of REISUB, how about RESTART? Wouldn’t that make more sense?

Not in the Linux world, apparently.

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c0nv1ct
Wow, yet another example of someone who doesn’t know what they are talking about.
Do you even know what Sysreq Magic Keys are?
R = Switch keyboard from Raw to XLATE mode, allowing you to interact with the system again if a program has locked up and taken control of your keyboard.
E = Sends the SIGTERM signal to all processes except init.
I = Sends the SIGKILL signal to all processes except init.
S = Sync all mounted filesystems (helps prevent data loss)
U = Remount all filesystems as read-only (another data loss prevention)
B = Reboots the system
You could just do “alt-sysreq-b” to reboot your machine, but those other commands help make it a safer procedure.
No, changing it to RESTART would not make more sense, because REISUB is doing more than just restarting, only the “B” does that.
Do some research before you write stuff, because you are just making yourself look stupid.
c0nv1ct
Oh and I almost forgot.
“Raising Elephants Is So Utterly Boring” is a mnemonic device for remembering a keystroke sequence that should be used as an alternative to hitting the power button if a Linux system should ever freeze and need to be rebooted.
People can and do remember that sequence.
http://www.frostedside.com/blog/ Rich Menga
Thanks for saying I don’t know what I’m talking about and saying that I look stupid. You always know the proper intelligent adult thing to say. You rock. No, really. Seriously. I’d never say that about you, but that’s besides the point.
And thank you so much for writing out even *more* crap that no one will ever remember (all except you apparently.)
Your comments are just so totally awesome. Truly. I mean that. Keep up the good work! And don’t forget to subscribe! Have a nice day!

TemperingPick
Ummm, that’s really how you remember it.
“A common idiom to perform a safe reboot of a Linux computer which has otherwise locked up, the QWERTY (or AZERTY) mnemonic “Raising Elephants Is So Utterly Boring”, “Reboot Even If System Utterly Broken” or simply remembering the word “BUSIER” backwards, is often useful.

Frank D
You know, if you just did a tiny-bit of research, you would have found out why REISUB is the way it is. But, unfortunately, you choose to make a snide-remark about Linux. You deserved what you got judging by your comment section.
Good luck with hitting that reset button when your being impatient. Your ignorance is showing. It’s going to bite you back one of these days.
http://www.frostedside.com/blog/ Rich Menga
Thanks, Frank D! I’ll make a mental note of that.
Must.. listen.. to.. Frank D.. to.. unravel.. the.. mystery.. that.. is.. Linux..
Wow! I feel smarter already! You’re a super-cool guy, Frank D! Seriously, I mean that. No, really. You totally win the prize for putting me in my place. I can’t even begin to tell you how better off I am just for listening to you. You so totally rock.
Have a great day!
http://www.techdrivein.com/ Manuel
OK, may be this is not everyone's experience. I have been using Ubuntu(a Linux distro) for the past three years and I don't remember a single instance where I had to restart my laptop due to a desktop freeze. If something goes wrong, CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE is all you need. Now when I had to occasionally use Windows, it feels like going back to the stone age. Now I don't at all have to care about “upgrading” the hardware to get the “upgraded” OS to work in my laptop. Linux don't SUCK. Period.