Freezing

[Andrew C]

I reformatting my pc after the freezing first started happening, but my pc is still freezing now after refomatting.
I use one click mode and do not change any settings after installing rebuilder, and my pc seems to freeze around the same time for different dvds, it is roughly about five minutes after CCE has started encoding.

I do not overclock my pc, and i am sure it is not a virus either, and i also normally have around 93% of the pc's resources free when i do start to run dvds.
I have made a few dvds over a few years and my pc is getting older and has been refomatted quite a few times.

Do the rebuilder/cinema craft encoder settings look alright in the following documents, can a file be missing from my pc that affects rebuilder and /or cinema craft encoder ?
I am beginning to think i need a new pc to be able to run dvds, as over the past few years i've never had this problem before, or could some files be missing from my pc which would cause this.
My pc is around five to six years old.

This is my systems details;
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer SOLTEK
System Model Uknown
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 1 AuthenticAMD ~2166 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. Version 07.00T, 02/04/2001
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United Kingdom
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
Total Physical Memory 1,536.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.11 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 3.35 GB

Here is the beginning of the Set Information File;
[Status]
version=v1.28.2
mode=1
MovieOnly=0
VTS_MIN_SIZE=25625
VTSM_MIN_SIZE=25625
Original_Size=3232222
NavPack_Sectors=21542
Excluded_Audio_Sub_Size=8373
Space_For_Video=1850590
MainVTS=01
minTiming=17857
Reduction=65.21
VTS_01_SIZE=721439
VTS_02_SIZE=725516
VTS_03_SIZE=686703
VTS_04_SIZE=676306
VTS_14_SIZE=28075
Progress=1
CCEType=2
Summary=- HIGH/LOW/TYPICAL Bitrates: 3,137/371/2,855 Kbs
Encode_Progress=3
[Audio]
Selected=11000000111111
[Subpictures]
Selected=10110000000000000000000000000000101101101111
[V0100001]
Last_Sector=797422
[V01000000001001]
Action=0
SCR=.000
PTS=25200.000
Frame_Rate_Code=3
Pulldown=0
Structure=3
Frames=11578
Playback=11578
First_Sector=0
Last_Sector=136691
Reduction=65.21
Aspect_Ratio=3
HalfD1=0
Pan_and_Scan=0
Convert16=0
EndPTM=41706000.000
Sequence_End_Code=0
Audio_Sub_Sectors=12131
ILVU=0
Src_Video_Sectors=123240
Video_Sectors=79795
[V01000100001002]
Action=0
SCR=41680800.000
PTS=41706000.000
Frame_Rate_Code=3
Pulldown=0
Structure=3
Frames=20362
Playback=20362
First_Sector=136691
Last_Sector=389953

And the beginning of an ECL File;

; Cinema Craft Encoder Basic -- Encoder Control List
; Created by DVD Rebuilder

[item]
title=V01000000001001
aud_out=0
vaf_file=C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ANDREW\MY DOCUMENTS\MY VIDEOS\WORKING FOLDER\WORKING 1\D2VAVS\V01000000001001.vaf
aud_file=C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ANDREW\MY DOCUMENTS\MY VIDEOS\WORKING FOLDER\WORKING 1\D2VAVS\V01000000001001.mpa
file_focused=0
packet_size=2048
width=720
height=576
frame_rate_idx=3
cbr_brate=2823
vbr_brate_avg=2823
vbr_brate_min=300
vbr_brate_max=7313
seq_endcode=0
dvd=0
half_width=0
half_height=0
lum_level=0
adjust_q_matrix=0
aspect_ratio=3
gop_m=3
gop_nm=4
gop_hdr=12
seq_hdr=1
all_closed_gop=0
fix_gop_length=0
samples_per_sec=44100
stereo=2
brate_idx=7
crc=1
progressive=0
alternate_scan=1
intra_dc_prec=2
top_first=1
offset_line=0
aud_mode=0
tc_ref_frm=0
drop_frame=0
fix_vbv_delay=0
letter_box=0
pulldown_detect=0
vid_file=C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ANDREW\MY DOCUMENTS\MY VIDEOS\WORKING FOLDER\WORKING 1\D2VAVS\V01000000001001.m2v
video_type=8
tc_offset=0
remove_vaf=0
pict_type=0
pict_complexity=2
filter_off=1
filter_on=0
pict_qchar=25
name=C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ANDREW\MY DOCUMENTS\MY VIDEOS\WORKING FOLDER\WORKING 1\D2VAVS\V01000000001001.avs
frame_first=0
frame_last=11578
encode_first=0
encode_last=11578

[setarip_old]

Hi!my pc is getting olderSounds like your system may be overheating.

You might want to open it up and clean out any and all "dust bunnies" and gunk that may have accumulated (particularly on fans).

While you're in there, you should also check to make certain that all connections are secure and all cards are properly seated.

You should also run a memory test, to make certain that RAM is okay...

[jdobbs]

I have no other reports of this, so I have to assume your computer is at fault. As setarip_old mentioned, it is most likely an overheating issue. CCE has a way of testing your system's extreme.

[Sophocles]

I reformatting my pc after the freezing first started happening, but my pc is still freezing now after refomatting.

As was already stated your system is most likely overheating and probably your processor. Have you check to see if your processor's cooling fan is working or if the heat sink is clogged with dust?

[Andrew C]

Thanks for the replies.
It sounds like CCE is a good test of a pc's stability and the replies are confirming my suspicions about my pc.

Forgot to mention i upgraded the RAM on my pc a few months ago from one 512MB stick, to three new 512MB sticks, bought from Crucial Online, the new RAM was the same sticks that were in my pc.

I had given the inside of my tower a good clean a while ago, the fans were matted then, but i will do it again, and will download and run memtest.

The worst bit is it might be cheaper to take the plunge and buy a new pc (a Dell system), than buying parts and trying to repair my existing one, then finding out the part i just replaced isn't that part that is acting up and i need to get another part, etc.

If i got myself a new tower to run dvds on and kept my existing tower for web browsing, etc, is; a good processor, decent storage and plenty of RAM the most important things to run dvds on a pc ?

[blutach]

Do an ORTHOS stress test. 12 hours. That'll tell you if you're OK.

Regards

[Andrew C]

When i searched for Orthos Stress Test all i could find was Stress Prime 2004.

So i ran Stress Prime, but i did leave Norton Antivirus and the firewall running, i would normally close Norton and block all internet activity when running a dvd.
I see that the test failed, what do the results for my pc say to you ?

Type: Blend - stress CPU and RAM Min: 8 Max: 4096 InPlace: No Mem: 1279 Time: 15
CPU: 2166MHz FSB: 166MHz [166MHz x 13.0 est.]
02/08/2008 13:04 Beginning a continuous self-test to check your computer.
Press Stop to end this test.
Test 1, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922945 using 1024K FFT length.
Test 2, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922943 using 1024K FFT length.
Test 3, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19374367 using 1024K FFT length.
Self-test 1024K passed!
Test 1, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M172031 using 8K FFT length.
Test 2, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M163839 using 8K FFT length.
ERROR: ILLEGAL SUMOUT
Possible hardware failure, consult readme.txt file, restarting test.


The errors go on for a long while as i left the pc running itself for at least three hours.


ERROR: ILLEGAL SUMOUT
Possible hardware failure, consult readme.txt file, restarting test.
ERROR: ILLEGAL SUMOUT
Maximum number of warnings exceeded.
Torture Test ran 25 minutes 12 seconds - 0 errors, 100 warnings.
Execution halted.

[setarip_old]

ERROR: ILLEGAL SUMOUT
Possible hardware failure, consult readme.txt fileAnd did you consult the readme.txt file? If so, what did it indicate?

[jeffy]

Andrew C: it might be a bad memory, though Norton (or anything else) might have affected the results. Get the bootable ISO of MemTest here: http://www.memtest.org/

[Andrew C]

That is the read me, it's called splog, the only other folders are a "local" & "prime" configuration settings documents.

I will try Memtest as well.

[blutach]

Yup - that is orthos. And you have all the possible solutions at hand. Clean out your PC and check your memory.

Regards

[jdobbs]

You may want to try removing your memory, vacuuming the slots, and reinserting. I've had that fix memory problems before (of course it may have just been the reseating alone that fixed it :)).

[Sophocles]

ERROR: ILLEGAL SUMOUT

A numerical error that doesn't necessarily mean hardware failure, it could also mean inadequate voltage settings.

When you added the new RAM was it of the same make, size, and speed?

[Andrew C]

I upgraded from one stick of 512mb RAM, to three sticks of 512mb Ram, the only difference was the maker, the original stick was made by V Data and the new sticks by Crucial, the three new sticks are the same specs as the original one.

My pc is still freezing with rebuilder.
My PC passes with BurnIn Test and Memtest86+ , but it fails with Stress Prime and also with the ORTHOS edition of Sress Prime.
It still keeps saying;
ERROR: ILLEGAL SUMOUT
Possible hardware failure, consult readme.txt file, restarting test.
Though the Orthos edition did mention something about expecting a calculation to be under 0.4 and it worked out 0.459999999 (not exact but you get the just).

So it looks like i'll need to use this pc for web browsing and get another tower to run my dvds on.

Thanks for all the help.

[jeffy]

@Andrew C: Unless done, repeat the test (Orthos) with only the two Crucial modules, or even with a single one of the two Crucial modules. This is neither normal, nor something to be left as it is. Even if you are just browsing the web with this PC, the files might become corrupt during the course of the time.

Are you cooling the CPU enough? The illegal sumout error might in *very* rare cases indicate a physically bad CPU, but I don't consider this low possibility explaining your case.

[Andrew C]

The freezing had been showing up before i upgraded the ram, i thought that reformating the hard drive and upgrading the ram would have my pc running better than ever, but it hasn't turned out like that, the freezing just started appearing more and more until thats what happens everytime i run rebuilder.

I'll try running Orthos with one stick of RAM and then two and see what happens.

[jdobbs]

What happens when you use HC Encoder?

[Boulder]

The freezing had been showing up before i upgraded the ram, i thought that reformating the hard drive and upgrading the ram would have my pc running better than ever, but it hasn't turned out like that, the freezing just started appearing more and more until thats what happens everytime i run rebuilder.

I'll try running Orthos with one stick of RAM and then two and see what happens.I strongly suspect overheating. You could try cleaning the CPU heatsink and fan so that dust won't cause any problems. I'd also download and install CoreTemp and check the CPU temperatures when the freezing occurs.

[setarip_old]

@Andrew C

Hi again!

In post #2 to this thread, 4 days ago, I suggested among other things, that:Sounds like your system may be overheating.

You might want to open it up and clean out any and all "dust bunnies" and gunk that may have accumulated (particularly on fans).

While you're in there, you should also check to make certain that all connections are secure and all cards are properly seated.You subsequently posted:I had given the inside of my tower a good clean a while ago, the fans were matted then, but i will do it againVirtually all subsequent posted suggestions propose the same thoughts. Have you as yet again cleaned your system's innards?

[Sophocles]

I upgraded from one stick of 512mb RAM, to three sticks of 512mb Ram, the only difference was the maker

the issue might have been there before upgrading your RAM, but it is never a good idea to mix RAM modules unless you know for certain that the chips used were manufactured by the same company.Mixing Samsung chips with micron chips even in the same size module is not advisable.

[Andrew C]

Setarip
Sorry for not making it clear enough.
I did give inside the tower a clean, i gave everything a good blow out with a can of compressed air and a quick vacum.
I gave inside the tower a really good clean at xmas time, removed what i could and gave it all a good blow and also a vacum, wiped what i could with cotton buds and then put everything back, that was what i was refering to when i said i recently gave the inside of the tower a good clean.

Sorry again.
It is three Crucial sticks of RAM in my pc, i removed the old V Data stick and binned it.

I will run rebuilder tonight with the hardware monitor utility i got with my pc (Core Temp wouldn't load, said my processor isn't supported), so if my pc freezes hopefully the monitor utility will still show the temperature my pc was at when it froze.
If it dos freeze tonight i will try running rubuilder with HC Encoder tomorrow.

[Sophocles]

Andrew C

I did give inside the tower a clean, i gave everything a good blow out with a can of compressed air ; Sorry again.
It is three Crucial sticks of RAM in my pc, i removed the old V Data stick and binned it.


Andrew, if you have no problem then what's the problem? We have only what you tell us to help you with?

Could you give some a run down of your computers specs, such as:

Mother board make and model
Processor make and model
memory make and model of all three individual modules.

[Andrew C]

Rebuilder froze again last night and the temperature was 54 degrees, will try using HC Encoder and see how it works.

My pc has a; Soltek mainboard, Series SL-KT600-RL, with a AMD Athlon 2700xp processor.
The motherboard manual says about memory installition;
This series supports up to 3GB ECC DDR 400/333/266 SDRAM. with 3 DDR DIMM slots on board.
The three sticks of Ram i got are made by Crucial, here is a ink to them; 512mb memory (http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT6464Z40B)

The one thing i could not find is ECC memory, but Crucial said this; NON-ECC/Non-parity — Most desktop and laptop computers take NON-ECC or Non-parity memory

[Boulder]

The temperature doesn't seem that high. My sister's computer had the exact same symptoms, and after lots of work, I discovered that the motherboard was faulty. After replacing it, the computer has been rock solid. You could try to see if there are any bad capacitors on the motherboard, that is, the top of the capacitor looks like it could burst open.

[jdobbs]

Rebuilder froze again last night and the temperature was 54 degrees, will try using HC Encoder and see how it works. Let me correct that... CCE froze. Rebuilder is happily running waiting for CCE to finish the job it was assigned.

[Andrew C]

Sorry, i should have said CCE froze instead of Rebuilder.

Well i ran two dvds with HC Encoder last night, and everything went fine, no freezing.
HC Encoder is slower than CCE, by about an hour to an hour and a half, but it's working on my pc, so i will stick to using HC Encoder now.
Thanks for the recommendation jdobbs.

It's strange how CCE dosn't work on my pc any more, and HC Encoder dos ?

Boulder, i haven't had a chance to check over the motherboard, will do so later on tonight.

One more question,
What is the best program for ripping dvds to run through Rebuilder, jdobbs told me about Imgburn, which is good for burning but Rebuilder can't read ISOs, so i am still using Shrink to rip the dvds for Rebuilder to work on them ?

[JohnGalt]

What is the best program for ripping dvds to run through Rebuilder, jdobbs told me about Imgburn, which is good for burning but Rebuilder can't read ISOs, so i am still using Shrink to rip the dvds for Rebuilder to work on them ?

You can rip to an ISO then mount the image with something like Daemon Tools (http://www.daemon-tools.cc/). I do this just so that everything remains neatly packaged in single files. Actually I use Shrink to rip as well, but I don't let Shrink do any of the copy protection circumention. I leave that to Slysoft's AnyDVD (http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html), which is a fine program that has great support and is frequently updated. Unfortunately it isn't free, however. DVDFab Decrypter has a free version (http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm) of their product -- you might check that out if you want a free solution.