Every now and then my entire desktop will freeze with the exception of whatever window I happened to be using. For example, the last time this happened, I was searching for a file and after the freeze occurred, the only thing I could do is type in the search bar at the top of the dolphin window. If I'm using a text editor, I can still type within the editor, but I cannot access any other windows (at least not with the mouse, but I haven't tried the keyboard). The launcher window, taskbar, everything, becomes unresponsive. I can get out of this by pressing the power button, which brings up the log out dialog. I can then use the keyboard to log out. After logging back in everything functions normally. I also previously encountered this exact same problem with Mageia 3, also using KDE 4.10, although that distro is no longer installed. Reproducible: Sometimes Steps to Reproduce: Appears to happen at random. I'm using a Dell XPS L502X with an Nvidia/Intel card and optimus.
Can you please check "System Settings > Custom Shortcuts > Gestures" checkbox? If it is enabled, please disable it, and report back, if you could ever reproduce this issue again.
Bug 265734 seems to suggest the issue could be outside the scope of KDE, so maybe please also test other desktops.
(In reply to comment #1) > Can you please check "System Settings > Custom Shortcuts > Gestures" > checkbox? If it is enabled, please disable it, and report back, if you could > ever reproduce this issue again. I only have an option for Konqueror gestures. They don't appear to be active for other applications.
I am confirming this bug also and want to follow progress on it. I also reported in on a thread in the [openSuSE-kde] newsgroup and a couple other people reported seeing it as well. See the thread labeled "Partial screen lockups occurring on my laptop". I turned of the Konqueror gestures as suggested, and it did not fix the problem. (The Gesture checkbox under the Settings tab was already unchecked.)
I'd also like to add that this has only happened while I had the desktop extended to an external monitor that was larger than my laptop screen (1366 X 768). Using an external monitor of a smaller size has not yielded any problems (yet).