Machine freezes for about an hour (1 Viewer)

[gtfreymann]

MediaPortal Version: 1.2.0 Release
MediaPortal Skin: StreamedMP/Amped
Windows Version: Win7 32bit
CPU Type: AMD Phenom II X6 1090T 3.20 GHz
HDD: 75GB WD, 1TB Hitachi, 2TB WD (all sata)
Memory: 4GB
Motherboard: ASUS M4a78
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 3300 Graphics
Video Card Driver: ATI Catalyist 2009.0614.2131.36800
Sound Card: onboard
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Hauupage PVR-150-MCE
1. TV Card Type: analog
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card: Hauupage PVR-150-MCE
2. TV Card Type: analog
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec:
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
h.264 Video Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Bell ExpressVU
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote: Microsoft MCE Remote
TV: 26" no-name LCD
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

I have a problem with two different computers, that "freeze" for a period of time, anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.

All background operations continue but you can't access the screen to move the mouse, use the keyboard, etc. Toggling the Shift lock and Num lock do nothing. Hitting the "windows" key on your keyboard does nothing.

Sometimes you can see the desktop, other times the screen is just black.

One computer is the above described server in my house. I can flip on the TV and wiggle the mouse and I get no response for up to an hour, then magically the desktop is back and everything works normally. In the meantime all the other clients in the house function normally. I usually leave this machine at the desktop.

The other computer is located at our neighbours. They only have one computer with a MP 1.2.1 setup, without the TV Server. It's running on an Acer Revo R3610-E9012. 4 GB of RAM. Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium. Nvidia ION graphics. I installed this for them about 2 weeks ago. I get frequent calls about "the computer is locked up again" but if they come back later it works fine.

I know there are lots of logs available. Which ones should I be looking at to try and figure out what is freezing the machines?

I should say in our house, that the other clients (5) all work fine and don't freeze up.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

That sounds like a driver not responding, especially if background processes continue, my suspect would be graphics related with screen freezing.

If you use the watchdog (debug mode) found under Start menu, export all files after it has happened (option 3), you are looking particularly at the system event log having details of what caused this.

upload log zip file using advanced + feature of forum

 

[gtfreymann]

That sounds like a driver not responding, especially if background processes continue, my suspect would be graphics related with screen freezing.

If you use the watchdog (debug mode) found under Start menu, export all files after it has happened (option 3), you are looking particularly at the system event log having details of what caused this.

upload log zip file using advanced + feature of forum

I did update the ATI Cataylist software on this box but the problem persists.

The other box uses the Nvidia Atom ION.

One thing I did on both boxes was to auto-hide the taskbar and I set the font size to 150% since the video was detected as 1080 the writing was very small. I put this back to 'normal' on my machine this morning.

I will flip on the debug mode on my server and monitor the situation.

Thanks.

 

[mm1352000]

Hi gtfreymann

So just to clarify: is it "freezing" in MP, or a general OS lockup?
If the num-lock light doesn't change when activating/deactivating it then the computer isn't responding to any form of I/O. It could be drivers or sleep/resume issues (if you use sleep). Ray is right - the thing I'd be looking at would be system event logs.

mm

 

[gtfreymann]

Hi gtfreymann

So just to clarify: is it "freezing" in MP, or a general OS lockup?
If the num-lock light doesn't change when activating/deactivating it then the computer isn't responding to any form of I/O. It could be drivers or sleep/resume issues (if you use sleep). Ray is right - the thing I'd be looking at would be system event logs.

mm

It would be a general OS lockup.

Yesterday I set the font size back to 100% and set the taskbar to NOT auto-hide and guess what? No freezes in 24 hours.

I am going to make the same changes to my neighbours computer today.

Both computers have all the current windows updates and video card drivers/software. Strangely enough both are connected to cheap Emerson LCD tv's.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Latest drivers are not always the best, my nvidia card (gt220) drops dramatically my Windows system rating regarding video abilities on every driver after 190.62, so I stick to that, like the last really good ATI driver with dxva working was 10.4.

Hint, If it ain't broke, don't try and fix it

 

[gtfreymann]

I just wanted to follow up on this issue.

On both of these computers, I simply set the font size back to 100% and no longer use auto-hide on the toolbar.

Both machines no longer freeze up for periods of time.

One of those strange but true things.