Ubuntu freezes. Which logs can I check out?

So my computer has lately started freezing completely when I run some programs that, in the past, would work great.

What I am unsure about however, is what logs that are available to me that could help me track down the issue after a reboot?

Thanks

check

/var/log/syslog

If you are running gnome, then you can check the logs using "gnome-system-log" tool, type

gnome-system-log

in the run dialog.

and check the syslog in the left hand side.

if you want to check the log using terminal,

then do,

tail -f /var/log/syslog

If the whole machine is locking up, off the top of my head, these are the likely causes:

• Overheating. You don't need logs to determine this, but fingers :)
• GPU lockup. Is it an OpenGL (3D) application, and you don't normally run those? While locked up you should be able to ssh into it from another machine.
• Thrashing. Does the hard drive light go on steadily when it locks up? Something is using too much RAM.
• Other hardware problem. Run a memtest and/or another OS...