Unusual problem

[Crobex]

I have a very strange problem (at least it looks strange to me), several days
ago my acer notebook (Win XP SP2 home edition) started to act strange, when I
try to run WMP 11 it won't start, but the computer gets into some kind of
"loop", the LED that usually shows the computer activity lights constantly,
from this point on I can't open any new programs (but I can view pictures in
Irfanview or open MS Word, but I can't save files), all programs I had open
until this point work fine(but as I said I can't save word documents), when I
try to shut down the computer, it won't, it starts the shut down procedure
but everything takes a very long time and in the end i have to shut down
using the power button, it seems to me that this problem appears randomly as
it happened also when I used other programs (iTunes once and another program
I can't remember) not just WMP 11, it's very annoying because I don't know
what's causing this problem and I can't use my computer anymore without
knowing if I'll be able to save the work I've done.

 

[Ka2H]

I have a very strange problem (at least it looks strange to me), several days
ago my acer notebook (Win XP SP2 home edition) started to act strange, when I
try to run WMP 11 it won't start, but the computer gets into some kind of
"loop", the LED that usually shows the computer activity lights constantly,
from this point on I can't open any new programs (but I can view pictures in
Irfanview or open MS Word, but I can't save files), all programs I had open
until this point work fine(but as I said I can't save word documents), when I
try to shut down the computer, it won't, it starts the shut down procedure
but everything takes a very long time and in the end i have to shut down
using the power button, it seems to me that this problem appears randomly as
it happened also when I used other programs (iTunes once and another program
I can't remember) not just WMP 11, it's very annoying because I don't know
what's causing this problem and I can't use my computer anymore without
knowing if I'll be able to save the work I've done.

A little more information is needed to try to find the cause / give an
advice on the "funnymode":

View the Task Manager (ctrl+alt+del), Processes tab, assuming that the
CPU-load goes way high when the culprit occurs. Click the CPU twice (putting
the application with highest CPU-load on top of the list). Note the
appliciation(s) with high CPU-load.

Check Event Viewer, Start - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Event
Viewer, Application - and System logs for any errors reported / listed at the
time when the "funnymode" starts (or any other times).

Regards,
Ka2H

 

[Crobex]

A little more information is needed to try to find the cause / give an
advice on the "funnymode":

View the Task Manager (ctrl+alt+del), Processes tab, assuming that the
CPU-load goes way high when the culprit occurs. Click the CPU twice (putting
the application with highest CPU-load on top of the list). Note the
appliciation(s) with high CPU-load.

Check Event Viewer, Start - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Event
Viewer, Application - and System logs for any errors reported / listed at the
time when the "funnymode" starts (or any other times).

Regards,
Ka2H

thank you Ka2H

I did what you suggested, so I started WMP 11 to get into the "funnymode"
(although now it happens more and more when try to run iTunes), during this
time CPU usage is between 10-30%, the most CPU demanding processes are:
SYSTEM IDLE PROCESS, SYSTEM, TASKMGR.EXE, KHALMNPR.EXE

I tried to run Event Viewer, but in funnymode it wasn't possible, so
restarted my computer, then I looked under SYSTEM for errors and I found the
most frequent errors where:

NetBT event: 4311
cdrom event: 7
Service Control Manager event: 7001, 7023
a347scsi event: 9
DCOM event: 10000

I hope this information are of some help, I'm really getting desperate

 

[Ka2H]

thank you Ka2H

I did what you suggested, so I started WMP 11 to get into the "funnymode"
(although now it happens more and more when try to run iTunes), during this
time CPU usage is between 10-30%, the most CPU demanding processes are:
SYSTEM IDLE PROCESS, SYSTEM, TASKMGR.EXE, KHALMNPR.EXE

I tried to run Event Viewer, but in funnymode it wasn't possible, so
restarted my computer, then I looked under SYSTEM for errors and I found the
most frequent errors where:

NetBT event: 4311
cdrom event: 7
Service Control Manager event: 7001, 7023
a347scsi event: 9
DCOM event: 10000

I hope this information are of some help, I'm really getting desperate

The Task Manager Processes/Applications looks good, given you do have a
Logitech Mouse (which is supported by KHALMNPR.EXE) – AND the reported CPU
usage was recorded during the “funnymode†– AND you assume your Acer notebook
is not infested by any kind of malware or virus.

The Event Viewer should preferably have no errors, nor the most frequent
listed or others. Do any of the reported ones have time tags corresponding to
the (start of -) time of “funnymode�

NetBT event: 4311:
A hotfix, dated October 26, 2006 (which should have been fixed by a later
Windows XP service pack) that contains this hotfix: “Event ID 4311 appears in
the system log when you reinstall a network adapter in Windows XPâ€,
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833747/en-us

cdrom event: 7:
A Microsoft Knowledge Database Article (KB) including the issue: “Advanced
troubleshooting for issues that occur when you are installing a new CD or DVD
drive on Windows XPâ€,
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314096/en-us

Service Control Manager event: 7001, 7023:
A Microsoft Knowledge Database Article (KB) covering the issue: “Event ID
7023 When Server Service Does Not Startâ€,
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231604/en-us#top

a347scsi event: 9:
This could be caused by “Alcohol - or “DAEMON Tools†CD / DVD burning
copying backup software, in case installed on the Acer.

DCOM event: 10000:
Can be caused by any of a lot of reasons, the “Description†may point at
this particular culprit.

However do I not see that any of the listed errors are causing the
“funnymodeâ€, so a couple more steps in the troubleshooting are recommended:

Given that the CPU usage really IS low as noted when the problem persists,
heat could be an issue. Some PCs have temperature control by the CPU, i.e.
when when temperature increases above a limit, due to workload (like iTunes,
WMp11 etc?), it “slows†down the work of the computer. So check that the Acer
is free from dust, fans are working well and ramping up and the grills are
not blocked.

Booting in Safe Mode, to eliminate many drivers and note any change of the
problem. “A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XPâ€,

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/en-us

“How to boot into Safe Mode in Windows XPâ€,

http://bertk.mvps.org/html/safemode.html

“How to configure Windows XP to start in a "clean boot" stateâ€, is another
tool trying to point at a problem,

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/310353/en-us

Other issues can also be in question, like:
- Amount of RAM (and HD size versus free space), workload exceeding RAM
requirement
- Anti-virus -, anti-spyware programs and firewall, some are a resource hog
- It could as well be that to many (background) processes / applications are
running, as automatically started with boot. Check Start – Run, type msconfig
and click OK.

Regards,
Ka2H

 

[Crobex]

Thank you so much for your help,

I have checked the fans and everything seems alright, I don't think that
heat is the problem, "funnymode" occurs even right after sartup when I try to
run only WMP11 (but when I start iTunes it won't switch into funnymode, but
when I run iTunes and then try to run Firefox or Opera or IE then it gets
into funnymode)

Of all the errors I've listed it seems to me they don't have anything to do
with funnymode, most of them appear after booting

I have 1.2 GB RAM, and 3 GB HD space on one partition and 12GB on another
left, so I don't think that this could be causing the problem.

all the processes and applications I have running at startup are the same
that I had before funnymode appeared, nothing has changed in this area

The only programs I have installed in the last ten days (that's about the
time funnymode first appeared) are: Dawn of War (a game), I have installed
IE7 (I thought this might be the problem, so I removed IE7 2 days ago, but
nothing has improved), I have tough removed many programs during this period,
maybe it has something to do with this,

well it's very interesting that the problem occurs only when I try to run
WMP11 or iTunes (but with iTunes it occurs when have iTunes running and then
start a browser or when I have browsers running and I start iTunes), it's
also very interesting that all the programs (mostly browsers, word or iTunes)
I have running before funnymode occurs run perfectly it's just that no new
programs will run (browsers, iTunes, WMP11, Event Viewer)

I really don't know what to do, I tried system restore but I have restore
points set and installing windows again is not an option

 

[Ka2H]

Thank you so much for your help,

I have checked the fans and everything seems alright, I don't think that
heat is the problem, "funnymode" occurs even right after sartup when I try to
run only WMP11 (but when I start iTunes it won't switch into funnymode, but
when I run iTunes and then try to run Firefox or Opera or IE then it gets
into funnymode)

Of all the errors I've listed it seems to me they don't have anything to do
with funnymode, most of them appear after booting

I have 1.2 GB RAM, and 3 GB HD space on one partition and 12GB on another
left, so I don't think that this could be causing the problem.

all the processes and applications I have running at startup are the same
that I had before funnymode appeared, nothing has changed in this area

The only programs I have installed in the last ten days (that's about the
time funnymode first appeared) are: Dawn of War (a game), I have installed
IE7 (I thought this might be the problem, so I removed IE7 2 days ago, but
nothing has improved), I have tough removed many programs during this period,
maybe it has something to do with this,

well it's very interesting that the problem occurs only when I try to run
WMP11 or iTunes (but with iTunes it occurs when have iTunes running and then
start a browser or when I have browsers running and I start iTunes), it's
also very interesting that all the programs (mostly browsers, word or iTunes)
I have running before funnymode occurs run perfectly it's just that no new
programs will run (browsers, iTunes, WMP11, Event Viewer)

I really don't know what to do, I tried system restore but I have restore
points set and installing windows again is not an option

So: No option available with regard to restore to a point before the
funnymode appeared / the two applications were installed - that would have
been nice.

From what you have found, is the culprit repeatable, and most likely some
sort of conflict between applications / drivers. I am a little puzzled that
the Event Viewer, Application - and System logs (none of them) apparently
does not point at such kind of problem. Did you check the Device Manager:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/133240/

Don't forget on the View menu to click Show hidden devices.

Regards,
Ka2H

 

[Crobex]

I have checked the Device Manager using the instructions on
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/133240/
I have enabled Show hidden devices and everything looks alright there

When I try to open iTunes and funnymode appears, I have tried to end the
iTunes.exe process in Task Manager but it doesn't respond

The annoying thing about this problem is that I have no clue what's causing
it, it just started 10 days ago, without me doing anything special, there
where no unusual things going on, it just got weird

 

[Ka2H]

I have checked the Device Manager using the instructions on
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/133240/
I have enabled Show hidden devices and everything looks alright there

When I try to open iTunes and funnymode appears, I have tried to end the
iTunes.exe process in Task Manager but it doesn't respond

The annoying thing about this problem is that I have no clue what's causing
it, it just started 10 days ago, without me doing anything special, there
where no unusual things going on, it just got weird

SOMETHING is done, as you in a former post mentioned two programs,
installation of which MAY be the cause of the problem. The IE7 was removed,
sounds reasonable as you COULD see the cause of the funnymode as a conflict
between browsers, based on the results of the troubleshooting steps you have
performed. However could the conflict appear to be there, whereas it really
is elsewhere.

Did you remove the IE7 by using the Add / Remove programs in the Control
Panel?

Would it be an idea to remove the other, newly installed program as well?

Can you confirm that when checking the Device Manager there were no black
exclamation points (!) on a yellow field , red "X"s, blue "i"s or green
question mark "?"s listed anywhere in the hardware tree under Computer?

Given you tried Safe Mode as suggested in a former post (preferably
SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Minimal or SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Network), what was the outcome?

Start the Task Manager, open the Performance tab and "enable" the funnymode.
Note the values in the Commit Charge, values listed under Total, Limit and
Peak when the computer is "frozen". Task Manager, Performance fields overview:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...ocs/en-us/taskman_whats_there_w.mspx?mfr=true

Do you run Disk Cleanup, "Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP":

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312/en-us

and Defrag, "How to Defragment Your Disk Drive Volumes in Windows XP":

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848/en-us

Regards,
Ka2H

 

[Crobex]

I removed IE7 by using the Add / Remove programs in the Control
Panel

I'll give it a try, and uninstall the second program I've installed (a game)

I couldn't find any problems in the Device Manager, there is only a red
cross on a network adapter, but it's device I have manually disabled two
years ago, everything else is OK

While in safe mode, I tried to run the usual "funnymode" suspects (WMP11,
iTunes), but WMP11 didn't start, while iTunes (with other programs running,
like Firefoy and Opera, and this usual starts funnymode) and other programs
(word, firefox, opera, ccleaner, pinball) worked well (of course iTunes
couldn't reproduce music or video in safe mode)

while in safe mode I used ccleaner to uninstall WMP11 and roll back to
WMP10, after rebooting WMP10 works perfectley, so I started iTunes (hoping
that the problem may be solved now)...but nothing and this time (and for the
first time) it was a complete freeze, nothing worked anymore (I couldn't
start new programs, taskbar was gone), I used Task Manager to check the stats
you said:

Commit Charge values (during funnymode)

Total: 421960
Limit: 3119116
Peak: 1143260

At the beginning of funnymode CPU usage was for 4-5 seconds 100% but then it
went back to ca. 20%, I also tried to end the iTunes.exe process in Task
Manager but it didn't work (neither did it in any of the earlier attempts)

I have now removed iTunes, WMP10 works good and everything else seems fine,
later I'll reinstall iTunes and see what happens

 

[Crobex]

I have now installed Winamp 5.5 and first it worked fine, but when tried to
run the program for a second time, it was back to "funnymode", so I removed
Winamp again.

This is really getting weird, looks like my computer doesn't want to play
music anymore, at least not when I want it to do so

 

[Ka2H]

I have now installed Winamp 5.5 and first it worked fine, but when tried to
run the program for a second time, it was back to "funnymode", so I removed
Winamp again.

This is really getting weird, looks like my computer doesn't want to play
music anymore, at least not when I want it to do so

I would think one first achievement to strive for, was to try to find the
cause of the Acers problem in the configuration it had at the time when the
"funnymode" appeared, rather than add / intoduce new applications / more
conflicts to it, thus make it harder to trace the problem as it raised.

I still would work from the point that the culprit is a conflict somewhere,
caused by
the two applications installed (more than) 10 days ago. As you removed the
IE7 by the Add / Remove programs in the Control Panel, that one should be
taken care of for the moment. Did you try to remove the game? As you know is
there commonality between the music - and games in the Device Manager, Sound,
video and game controllers. In case a conflict raised here when the game was
installed, it should have been shown in the hardware tree with a
corresponding symbol for the type of problem, and you reported none. Still it
may be there, with no notification. You then have the option of open every
one of the devices, Property tabs, and check from there. Installing the game
most likely included - driver(s) (most likely sound driver), which in some
way or other may create a conflict with the music. IF this is the culprit,
then it might be hard to verify which driver is in question, and it might as
well not be removed together with the game, using Add / Remove programs.
Updating sound - and video drivers (from the Vendor of the card) is another
option, however may add new problems if not done carefully.

The Commit Charge values (during "funnymode") looks good, so no clues there.
I am still puzzled by the findings you have given from the Event Viewer,
Application - and System logs, however did you write "Of all the errors I've
listed it seems to me they don't have anything to do with funnymode, most of
them appear after booting", meaning there are more than the five given. I
think I would need to have a list of all of them, to at all be able to
proceed on this thread.

Regards,
Ka2H

 

[Crobex]

I've checked Event Viewer again and there where no other errors listed, I
have also removed the game and I'm going to install iTunes and WMP11 again to
bring the system back to the same conditions when "funnymode" appeared (minus
the game and IE7), I don't know if it's important but it's interesting that
WMP10 managed to play back music without any problems while WMP11, iTunes and
Winamp 5.5 all caused the "funnymode" to appear