Protection error: n Explorer Crash in Windows XP - is it DivX related ?

[aklendathu]

I've had this weird problem in my PC for some time now. When browsing through explorer windows displaying folders with video files, occasionally I'll get a small window that just says "Protection Error:n" and has an OK button. "n" is a number (I've seen values of 1 and 15) and when you click OK, Windows Explorer just dies - the task bar, application windows and desktop items reappear after a while, but not the folder windows. This has also happened while inspecting a file with GSpot and in that case only GSpot died. It seems to me that all these problems started after I installed DivX 5.1.1 so now I have removed it from my system and have only 3ivX and XVID installed, apparently w/o any problem.

Has anyone seen this happen ? If so, do you have an idea of why it happens and how to fix it ?

TIA,

Pedro.

[aklendathu]

I've also had AVISynth exceptions while using either DivX, 3ivX or XVID codecs to decode the AVI. Could this be a sneaky CPU feature thing ? My home PC has an AMD cpu - could it be that these codecs are Intel-optimized in such a way that an AMD cpu would occasionally misbehave ?

Still looking for a solution...

[JaTeMaTec]

I do have AMD 2700+ 400 mHz and all those upper mentioned codecs installed (+AviSynth, TMPGEnc, DVD2VCD, MPC, WinDVR3, GSpot and many many more) and no problems.

I keep the 'Detail View' at explorer, so those video-files won't try to show up any thumbnails. Then i switched one folder to large thumbnail view (128x128) and bang: i got the explorer to go down every now and then just when opening that folder...)

Cannot say any technical about this issue, but it must relate to the decoders trying to make the thumbnail like parallel (DivX 511 & XviD & 3ivx maybe all trying to catch the pic?)

Have to check more here too, but for me it's not a huge problem, because i always use the detailed view, give good explaining long filenames to figure out which is which.

Maybe you could try the explorer setting "Tools / Folder Options / View and mark "Do Not Cache Thumbnails" or if you have it marked, then take it off and then set "Apply to All Folders". Also you could try "Reset All Folders" and with TweakUi etc "Rebuild Icons"...

Just some suggestions!

JaTeMaTec

[aklendathu]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have problems even at the detailed view. I seldom use thumbnail view for AVI files. However, maybe your suggestions will help.

[JaTeMaTec]

Originally posted by aklendathu
Thanks for the suggestions.

I have problems even at the detailed view. I seldom use thumbnail view for AVI files. However, maybe your suggestions will help.

OK!

Also sometimes when Windows is tweaked, it can make annoying side-effects. Worst combination is : 'Unload unused DLL's to save System Memory' and 'Open Explorer Windows as a new Process" at same time. If those both are 'tweaked on' you could get just those results (+some more especially explorer related craches...)

One thing has caused me nightmares (and crashes) before: InterVideos producst like WinDVD4-5, WinDVR3 etc. They install (and register an uncompatible DivX decoder filter into '\Program Files\Intervideo\Common\Bin' named 'Divenc.ax' without any version info (think it's 5.0.0) and it tries to make itself decode too (with no success), but DivX 5.11 now uses the DivX.Dll for encoding and those two filters certainly misbehaves if registered at same time.

If you have this case, just find all instances of DivxEnc.ax and throw them away - i bet any of your apps will complain that situation. Also installing "Techsmith Camtasia Studio v2" will ask to fix those Intervideo Decoding problems (even the trial mode) - it's a good helper and found for me 2 errors...

With GSpot check all "Missing..." or "Incorrect..." entries, take all info to clibboard and RegEdit to find the given GUID (long number) for the given codec - export those entries with good names, delete them, reboot and try again.

These all are what i have done to get crashes off (and misbehaving encoders to work, like old Ligos Splitters making realtime TV-capturing to make Jerk & Stump...)

JaTeMaTec

[aklendathu]

I don't use the tweaked settings you mention in your post.
I have a D:\Windows\System32\Divxdec.ax and a D:\Windows\System32\Divx.dll. Are they both part of DIVX 5.1.1 ? Also, GSPOT always lists DIVX decoder twice. I've tried uninstall/reinstall but the registry entries were not cleaned.

Thanks again for trying to help!

[JaTeMaTec]

Originally posted by aklendathu
I don't use the tweaked settings you mention in your post.
I have a D:\Windows\System32\Divxdec.ax and a D:\Windows\System32\Divx.dll. Are they both part of DIVX 5.1.1 ? Also, GSPOT always lists DIVX decoder twice. I've tried uninstall/reinstall but the registry entries were not cleaned.

Thanks again for trying to help!

Divxdec v5.1.1.1031 (Build: b1031-Maupiti Pro or other build if you have older, basic or adware pro) and DivX.dll Same Version) are both part of DivX v5.1.1 (or older) and must NOT be deleted!

Have you checked all your Program Files dirs (File Finder) to be sure you do not have Divxdec.ax elsewhere - if found, that one can be first 'eliminated' with Regsvr32 /u and then moved to some other location. I think this should be your case if GSpot lists it twice.
Just take the GUID (the long number) (ctrl/c without brackets) and find it by Regedit. Maybe you find it faster that way - then export the registry part in save place and delete the entry, reboot machne, dblcheck GSpot and try apps that they are still working. They should if you really do have Divxdec.ax and DivX.dll at your system32 dir!

If something goes wrong just restore the reg entry (dblclick)...

//Edit Ok - i checked with GSpot too and found two instanses - took all to clipboard and pasted both infos to a txt-file and compared:
All the entries and the Guid were same. Must be just some mistake at GSpot - Just leave it so: you have the right situation if Divxdec.ax is NOT found elsewhere!!!

P.S. Thanks for your question(s) i just found out that some "#¤%& installation had putten version 5.05 generic as my Divxdec.ax - Thx G i keep backups of all important stuff so i put the right one back without need to install & re-register the whole codec ... :)

P.P.S. To your thread start i just did remember one thing that caused me troubles with explorer at folders with large AVI-Files (detail view). They were encoded with some old version of XviD and DivX and whatever i moved my mouse to click such file i could not get it off untill 5-10 secs AND the explorer did crash sometimes with folders of those AVI's especially when trying to get file properties...!

JaTeMaTec

[DigitAl56K]

We did have one user report problems when "Overlay Extended" was enabled in his Decoder Configuration. I'm not sure whether this was a problem in DivX, his drivers, graphics card or DirectShow, but I believe its on the QA list for the next release.

[aklendathu]

@DigitAl56K:

Thanks for your reply.

I don't have that option enabled in my decoder configuration (which is the basic free bundle). The protection error is now much less frequent since I decided to uninstall all the other MPEG-4 decoders I had in my system (3ivX, XviD) and keep only DivX. However, it still occurs occasionally while trying to open a DivX AVI in VirtualDUB or in TMPEGenc (via AVISynth).

I enabled generic MPEG-4 support, which I assume allows decoding of non DivX MPEG-4 files.