Strange windows lag when burning with DVDDecrypter

[Vapor]

Can't seem to get on the official forums, so here it goes :)

I've been suffering this for several months now, awaiting a fix. Always updated to the latest version. I mainly use dvddecrypter for burning dvdr iso's.

The majority of times I burn (regardless of write speed or media quality) all other windows and programs open seem to lag, including start menu and dialog boxes etc. You can click on them but it takes 20 secs or so for them to respond. Nothing crashes and the issue resolves immediately on closing dvddecrypter. I've tried just about every option in preferences etc. to no avail. I get no errors and all burns complete and verify fine.

Same with several dvdrw drives including Sony 500A, Liteon 811S, Pioneer 107 and 108 (current). In fact I've changed just about every card I have out for others and the problem persists. All system drivers for all components are always up to date.

File source is a raid0 of 3 x 73gb 10k scsi drives, split across 2 x 160meg channels, through a 256 meg cache hardware raid controller in a 64bit/66mhz PCI-X slot. Sustained reads and writes are on average 130-150meg a second, so I can't see that being the problem.

My PC: Win2k pro sp4, Dual AMD MP2400, Asus A7M266-D AMD760mpx mobo, 2gb (2x1) corsair ecc reg 333 ddr, Intel srcu32 scsu raid, all stock speeds, Pioneer 108 1.14 nx4all beta5 on mobo ide controller as sec slave to liteon cdrw master, pri master liteon cdrom, pri slave liteon dvdrom + nic and other unimportant stuff, feel free to ask if you think it's relevant.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, nothing rivals this software in burning iso's and this damn lag is sooooooooo annoying :S

[Vapor]

Just to answer my own question and for the archives really.

The problem only occurs after you minimise dvddecrypter. If you simply swap to another window and don't minimise dvddecrypter the lag does not occur.

[Pooka]

That is indeed strange. The strange part being that it happens only whn minimizing decryptor, If it was happening with the window open as well I would have thought it could have been some kind of IRQ sharing issue or an ASPI issue between the dvd-recorder and the RAID.

However, since it is only happening when minimizing, I would like to know a little more. Does it happen when DVD-Decryptor is minimized and idle (not recording)? does this occur when minimizing other recording applications like Nero? I'm not too familiar with what type of processor Lightning UK was using when programmed, but I cant rule out possibly some type of AMD/Athlon anomaly either.

[Vapor]

The lag only happens with dvddecrypter. I also use Nero 6.6, Alcohol 120% and a couple of other burning packages, no issues with any of these.

I admit I haven't tried minimising dvddecrypter whilst idle, I'll experiment tonight and report back.

[Vapor]

Lag only occurs during or after burning. If you simply open it and do nothing, or anything other than burn really > no lag.

If you've started a burn and minimised, it will lag, even after the burn has finished (left idle for several minutes), still lagging. Soon as closed > no lag.

Certainly not something I'd want anyone to waste any time recoding for, considering it works flawlessly as long as I never minimise it.

Cheers

[LIGHTNING UK!]

Anyone else get this lag? I don't, just checked it.

What's CPU% usage on when minimised? Does it change from when the app isnt minimised? Mine is on 0 - 3% for the DVDDecrypter.exe process.

[Vapor]

This is the only box I have where this happens and is the only dual cpu box I use dvddecryter with, all other works fine.

Cpu usage when burning or verifying is 5-9% (50% being 1 processor maxed). When idle usage is nothing. This does not change when this lag happens either, cpu usage stays normal.

First thing I checked was Cpu usage tbh, I've even tried changing dvddecrypters priority and even processor affinity, no difference.

As I said previously, with me working out a way to prevent it (don't minimise), this is more for reference really.

I'm sure there are much more important things for you to mod/add and I wouldn't want you to waste time fixing this. I'll still continue to use dvddecryter, it's a fabulous package, mad props to lightning.

Regards

[LIGHTNING UK!]

There should be no difference really between minimised and not minimised.

At no point in time does my code change depending on status of the main window.

I'd love to fix the problem if one really does exist but it's almost impossible without having the problem myself.

As you say, CPU usage doesnt change so I fail to see what's causing the lag - unless it's something local to the graphics card (not updating the screen), and the actual machine is still running just fine.

What happens if you minimise the app to the system tray? (You can do that via the program icon at the top left of the main window, or via a right click on the task bar.

[Vapor]

I can eliminate the graphics card as it happens as I've recently changed camp and gone from ATI to Nvidia, the lag happens on both.

I haven't tried the system tray, but will tonight and report back.

The machine does run fine, even when lagging. Programs all continue to work as normal and I do usually have several (5-10 on average) open and working at any one time.

Clicking on one does change the focus and makes that window active, but anything you try to do like type in a box, click a button or menu are delayed, you can click away for 20-30 secs before it springs into life. One thing I wasn't clear on, once the window clicked on does respond, from that point onwards "that" window works normally, no lag. Swapping or clicking on another app/window will again cause the lag for 20-30 secs then respond normally again until another app/window is clicked.

I'll do some additional tests this evening using a different file source (network, as I have no non-scsi hd's). I'll also use the ms tool to set the exe file as single cpu only as this has fixed a few issues with some non-smp friendly apps for me in the past. Can't see this being it though as I've used older versions on my previous 2 dual setups without issue (12 months+ ago though).

[LIGHTNING UK!]

What I also tried thismorning was enabling ALL the columns in Task Manager and looking at what happened to the various figures when minimising the app.

Does this lag happen ALL the time during the burn or is it more at the start - say perhaps during the Lead-In stage?

[Vapor]

Just had a minor disaster (raid5 rebuilding atm) and won't get chance to test the lead-in bit until the weekend.

I use Process Explorer rather than task manager, with all columns on. I've even watched the process during burns with and without lag, no noticeable abnormalities on cpu usage.

Will report back as soon as I can.

[LIGHTNING UK!]

It wasnt really cpu usage that I was worried about, you already said that stays at a constant 5 - 9%.

It's all the stuff you can 'tick' under 'Process Performance' when you right click on a column header and click 'Select Columns...'.

Or of course you could just look at the process properties, and then at the performance tab!

Clearly there has to be something that's going 'mad' or else you wouldn't experience any lag!

[Vapor]

Screenshots from processor explorer during an IFO mode stream extraction from DVDRom to HD array:

http://www.vaporised.com/images/processxmain.gif

http://www.vaporised.com/images/processxperftab.gif

If you need any other info just shout.

I've discovered a little more which may help narrow the angles. It's not the minimising that causes it, it's the act of either minimising or losing focus (clicking on another window), however it only seems to do it if it loses focus prior to completing the burn of the write-in. I've only burnt about 8-10 disks total though, but that seems to be the consensus so far. Reading of any kind seems fine (tested 3 times so far).

Just to fill you in on my progress so far:

I used to minimise almost immediately after clicking burn so basically tripped myself up every time :( Lag.

As soon as I realised that not minimising worked I never realised until now that I watched the window (in focus) until the burning speed hit 6X (start speed), then clicked off. No lag.

It was only when you mentioned lead-in that I clicked off (and minimised) prior to lead-in to test, the lag was back, hehe...

I can also eliminate media at this point, tried 6 brands of various speeds in total now, no difference.

I'll take some more measurements this weekend, comparing lag vs. no lag scenarios. I've done this quickly by hand and eye and can see no differences. I can even put my finger on the spot the lag starts (that's easy to "feel", when it happens) and at that point nothing out of the ordinary happens in any of the process explorer info columns.

Tis the weirdest thing. All I do now is wait for 6X to pop up and tada, behind something else it goes safely :) Nice as pie really.

I know it's important to bug fix but this seems so specific to my odd computer and is not even a bother now. I feel a little guilty dragging you away from more important things Lightning UK O_o

[LIGHTNING UK!]

Ahh well if you're saying it's during LeadIn burning of ISO Write mode, the next version may be better for you. I'd already made some changes to that particular stage of the burn before seeing your post.

Maybe I could mail you a copy of what I've done so far and you could test it for me to see if things have improved.

Oh... my guess is that the lag would only occur during the leadin bit anyway, so if you minimise, it should suddenly become ok once the leadin has finished. No?

[Vapor]

I've done more tests and can confirm it only happens during an ISO write. No other mode is affected (edit: see * below).

I'd be happy to test whatever you've done, I can pm you with my email address or you can pm me a link, just let me know.

Well, I did have a fun but frustrating weekend. I set out with the intention of nailing down exactly how and when this happens. I'm sorry to say I'm none the wiser. My tests were inconsistent to the point I felt "luck" was as major factor as any.

Loosing focus by any means, before the main track burn starts is the only way to cause the problem. However, doing this will not cause the problem every time. That's the part that's inconsistent. Once the lag has started though it continues regardless of everything and only stops on closing the app entirely, ie. not limited to during the lead-in.

I used to be able to make it happen almost every time, clicked burn, then minimise, 5 secs later, lag. Not now though. The only thing I had changed were the ISO's which for all previous tests came from the same source batch, in the same format, .img - I've heard a few apps use this extension (Prassi for one). I've since disposed of that batch and at the moment have a more mixed set.

I immediately thought, crappy iso of some form. After about 20 burns later I was still lacking glow. I can reproduce the lag, but now it's by luck rather than judgement. Regardless of iso format it happens when it feels like it, but only when I attempt to instigate it.

* Well, while I was writing this something odd has happened! I got lag when doing an ISO Read, now that is a first. Most likely because this is something I rarely do. Just thought it may be important and worth a mention. I'll test more on this front when things quieten down towards the weekend.

I look forward to testing the updated app, I just wish I could provide some consistent information :(

[Vapor]

Just thought I'd close this off. It's a windows thing not a duallie thing. I've defected to dual xeon nocona 3.0@3.3 on an Iwill DH800, fresh win2k sp4 install, no lag ever. Also reinstalled on the old dual MP2400 / Asus A7M266-D - no lag ever.

I therefore write this off as "one of those windows things". I must say Lightnings professional pride is a breath of fresh air nowadays and to be commended, thank you.

[LIGHTNING UK!]

Damn, you've reminded me that I never actually got around to sending you that new beta! Oh well, if the problem is fixed now I guess you dont need it anyway.

Thanks for updating the topic and saying the problem is no more. :)