DVD Shrink and WinXP = deadlock!

[Val3r10]

Hi. I would raise an "ancient" problem already described months ago here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58724) in this forum.
Well, there's no way for me to use DVDShrink !!! :angry:
I never had any problem with that software, but recently (since version 3.1.7, I guess), it started locking up my computer running WinXP Pro SP1. Then I tried using other versions, from the famous 3.0b5 to the newer ones! Now I can't figure out when it worked, how it worked... because I can't manage to do that again! :(
It simply freezes at about %20-30 of deep analysis, wether I'm reading a DVD (Pioneer DVD-107D) or HD folder ! I even tried different HD sources, with a lot of free space and low fragmentation.
Exactly the same problem: XP freezes without any message.

I looked around to search a solution, and found a couple of forum threads. I do have the NVidia card is often considered guilty for that problem.
So I completely reinstalled the operating system running it with no drivers unless the O/S base. Neither the nvidia drivers - old or new - downloaded by their site. 100% pure and just installed O/S!

Well. With only DVDShrink installed, I have the same identical problem, with different movies and different sources (DVD or HD), with different versions of DVDShrink, too!
As soon I start processing the analysis, after few minutes my pc locks. And I have to power it off.

I can't find a solution to shrink dvds !
Please, need help !

:scared:
Thnx

[quantum]

It's probably a hardware problem that manifests when you stress the system.

[Val3r10]

Thanks. I monitored the cpu temp (always around 46°C) and the O/S is fresh and clean.
What about Nero Recode 2.1 ? I heard it's very similar... so I'm trying to use it and see if the system locks same way.
Let's see... :)
I'll let you know.

For a hardware issue, any solution ?
Thanks again

[layer3maniac]

I had a similar problem, it turned out that my memory was creating errors. I got a new Kingston stick and the problem went away.

Try a memory stress test.

[Val3r10]

Thank you. I'll try.
Infact I had the same identical problem within the analisys phase of Nero Recode 2.1 ! :devil: :scared:
Are these two products so similar ? :confused:

[quantum]

Originally posted by Val3r10
For a hardware issue, any solution ?
Yes, the solution is to figure out what the problem is and fix it.

[fauxpas]

1) Mobo Drivers...

2) Bios Update

3) Screensaver?

[Greystorm]

The only crashing I've had with Shrink is when I had the wrong renderer selected in the video preview option.

Try downloading Prime 95 and running a stress test. Make sure you run the stress test for at least a few hours to prove that your machine is stable. You can also try downloading and running memtest86 to test your memory, but Prime95 does a pretty good job of testing CPU and memory at the same time.

[Richk50]

"I had a similar problem, it turned out that my memory was creating errors. I got a new Kingston stick and the problem went away.
Try a memory stress test.'

Yep, same here. It wasn't Shrink, but another program. I went over my software config about 100 times, turned out my cheap memory wasn't working right. It came out as OK on memory tests, but I changed it anyway because it was the only thing left after switching in different parts from other systems and still having the same problem.

[Val3r10]

Well. I ran Prime95 several times (burnout test) and any given time I got a number mismatch error within 2-3 minutes of testing.
I'm looking for other memory sticks. I definetly hope it's up to RAM and not to CPU or bus... :rolleyes:
Thanks for your support.

[commando57]

Try a remove and reinstall of the sticks.

[Val3r10]

Fine!
Technology is looking for VLSI... again and again, but to solve a chip problem the one solution is: Remove and put it again! :sly:
And seems workin'! My pc has been under testing (prim95) for about an hour without any symptom. Knock on wood, perhaps !
If successfull, I'll try with shrink and let you know.
Thanks for the grandma'tip!
:)

[Val3r10]

Originally posted by Val3r10
If successfull, I'll try with shrink and let you know.
:)

IT WORKS! Always, now, with 3.2.0.15 ...
:):D

Remove and restore. Turn off and on. AS USUAL!
Thnx

[Val3r10]

:(
After 1-day working of Prime95, I got new errors during self-test and torture test. So I tried to replace the 512mb stick with two x 512 Kingstone a friend gave for testing.
Please note that on his pc that RAM worked fine under torture for 12+ hours... :devil:
Well, on my pc, after about an hour, I got a new Prime95 round error.
Then they appeared continously.

I have an Athlon XP 2000+ on MSI KT3-6830E Ultra2-R Mobo.
Unfortunately RAM seems not being guilty for my problem. :mad:

Now?
Thanks

[ddlooping]

Val3r10, the memory sticks might not be the culprit after all.
Maybe it's the memory slots on your motherboard (dust, bad contact,...).

[JuanC]

Originally posted by Val3r10
... I monitored the cpu temp (always around 46°C) ... Is that the "normal" temperature or is it so high when you're stressing it (transcoding with dvdshrink or testing prime95) ?

If it's your "normal" temperature, I would say it's pretty high ...

[Val3r10]

:eek:
Actually sometimes, after few minutes of power on, the AMD XP 2000+ reaches temperatures around 65-68° Celsius, with a normally working fan at speed like 2700 rpm.
Could it be the reason ? How recover ?
Thnx

[frank]

Try Overlaymixer instaed of System Default Renderer!

[Greystorm]

Originally posted by Val3r10
:eek:
Actually sometimes, after few minutes of power on, the AMD XP 2000+ reaches temperatures around 65-68° Celsius, with a normally working fan at speed like 2700 rpm.
Could it be the reason ? How recover ?
Thnx

65 C shouldn't be too hot. It's pretty hot, but your chip should cope up to 70 or so and start to scream in pain at 80 while burning a hole through the back of the motherboard. However you might have a chip that doesn't like higher temperatures. You could try installing a better heatsink and fan combination on the chip. If possible, borrow one and try it out to test.

[ddlooping]

Val3r10, a quick test would be for you to open-up your pc, and if it's not enough to lower the processor temperature, place a fan directed towards it.

[Val3r10]

Ok. I did such a test. Sorry for this becoming off-topic thread, but it's actually an off-forum thread... :) So, I'm here. Please excuse this evolution, but could be useful for other people having similar problem with high-stressing software like shrink.

All the following measures are taken by PC-Alert 4, wich comes with Microstar drivers and utilities.
Opening the full ATX tower, the system temperature lowered from 53° to 45-48°C. The cpu's from 60° to 53-55.
On the CPU I have a pyramid heatsink with a huge fan cooler.
But running the Prime95 self test, CPU temp raised soon to 61° again.
First discover: it depends on the processor load ! :D

It doesn't change significantly putting a big room fan in front of my open mobo. Instead, the system temp decreased and stopped at 41°.
Meanwile, I noticed that the cpu fan speed raised from 2650 to 3100 rpm.

This way (61° CPU, 41-43° SYS), Prime95 run without errors for about one hour. Otherwise, it would have gotten an error within 2-5 mins!

and ... EUREKA!
I realized that the NorthBridge (VIA) fan is not working ! That fan is in direct contact of that chip, without any heatsink.
So, it isn't cooled at all. The external fan seems the solution, so the problem is probably up to that broken small fan.
Could it cause the computational problems I had (round errors and so on) ?

Thank you very much for your support.

[ddlooping]

Well, I'm glad you found the (possible) culprit, Val3r10. :)

Let us know how you get along once you've fixed/changed the fan. ;)

[Val3r10]

Of course.
Meanwhile, just a question: removing the locked/broken mini fan, I noticed that all the voltages (3.3; 5; 12) increased a little bit above their nominal value.
With the installed fan, they were just below that values.
Strange coincidence ? :devil:
Thanks again

P.S.: after stopping Prime95, with the external fan, I have now CPU=42°C and SYS=34°C ...

[maksa]

stuck fan would draw higher current than normal loading the Power Supply. When you removed it, load was lighter, so voltages went up - normal!

[Val3r10]

I replaced the northbridge fan (with one adapted...), but actually I fear some internal ventilation problem still perxists.
Infact, with closed box, while DVDShrinking the temperatures raise up to CPU=73-75° and SYS=61-63°C. I haven't the lockup problems I described above, till now! <grin>, but those temps seem too high.

What could I try ? More fans or more powerful ones usually mean a lot of noise. :(

[maksa]

Just checked my CPU/SYS temperatures - CCE Running:

CPU Core 49 C
System 35 C
Ambient - room 27 C

System P IV 3 GHz - not oveclocked
512 MB RAM
ATI9200
WD Caviar 160G