Windows XP SP 2 Operating System Freeze

[Guest]

My machine is running well except for this problem. When playing media (DVD,
CD, Windows Media Player, Real Audio) the operating system freezes. Display
looks normal but no mouse, no CNTL/ALT/DEL response only RESET button will
reboot machine.

I install all windows updates as quickly as I am notified and somewhere
along the line this problem started. Nothing is written to the event logs.

I tried starting Windows in debug mode, and regenerated the error, but the
debugging messages did not write to the event log. Perhaps someone can tell
me where they get written to.

I like to watch webcasts so this problem is very annoying. It started about
6 months ago. I was hoping new updates would replace the file with the
problem but so far no luck.

Does anyone have any idea what might be happening or how to access the debug
log to see the last thing that was loaded. I don't even get a blue screen to
give a hint.

Thank you for your help.

Brian

 

[Guest]

Most likely the problem(s) are from running WMP & Real on the same OS,
thiers a conflict between the two.Try removing real & run WMP,also,in WMP
open tools,options,file types,chk all....

 

[Guest]

Thank you Andrew. I ran without Real Player installed and had the same
problem.

I tried downloading WMP 11 Beta 2. It wouldn't install (some missing
component - asked me to download again - same problem second time).

I tried playing a DVD using PowerDVD. It played for about 45 minutes but
then the freeze happened again. Usually it freezes in less than 5 minutes if
not immediately.

Thank you for the suggestion but I don't think a conflict with the real
player is the issue. Since this time I didn't use Real or WMP.

Brian

 

[Joe Wright]

Thank you Andrew. I ran without Real Player installed and had the same
problem.

I tried downloading WMP 11 Beta 2. It wouldn't install (some missing
component - asked me to download again - same problem second time).

I tried playing a DVD using PowerDVD. It played for about 45 minutes but
then the freeze happened again. Usually it freezes in less than 5 minutes if
not immediately.

Thank you for the suggestion but I don't think a conflict with the real
player is the issue. Since this time I didn't use Real or WMP.

Brian

You might run DXDiag. Couldn't hoit!

 

[Guest]

Thank you Joe. Could you elaborate on DXDiag? Is this a command prompt?
Does it produce a log file and if so where? Does it write to the event log?
I'll try to see if I can find this program tonight when I get home.

Thank you.

Brian

 

[Joe Wright]

Thank you Joe. Could you elaborate on DXDiag? Is this a command prompt?
Does it produce a log file and if so where? Does it write to the event log?
I'll try to see if I can find this program tonight when I get home.

Thank you.

Brian

The program is self contained and besides testing drivers and the like,
gives you some tests to perform, such as the graphics accelerator, sound
acceleration, etc.. You can start it by typing the filename into the
Run pane.

I just tried it, simply because I hadn't tried it yet on this XP
system.. This was the result:

Error caused by a device driver

Thank you for sending an error report to Microsoft.

Error report summary

Error type : Windows stop error (A message appears on a blue
screen with error code information)
Solution available? : No (see Next steps)
What does this error mean? : Windows has encountered an error
from which it cannot recover and needs to restart
Cause : Unknown device driver
Computer symptoms : A message appears on a blue screen with error
code information (for example: e.g. 0x0000001E, KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED)
Additional steps for you to take : Important: Please continue to
send error reports so analysts at Microsoft can study and try to correct
the problem as quickly as possible

Information about this error

You received this message because a device driver installed on your
computer caused the Windows operating system to stop unexpectedly. This
type of error is referred to as a "stop error." A stop error requires
you to restart your computer.

Next steps

We have analyzed your error report and at this time are unable to
determine the exact cause of the error. However, Microsoft will continue
to analyze this error report to try to determine the specific cause of
the error. If we are able to find the cause and correct it, and you
encounter the same problem, you will receive an updated response that
includes instructions for resolving the problem.

So, forewarned is forearmed. Shut off anything you don't want to keep
before trying this diagnostics program. I have absolutely no problem
with my graphics, sound, etc., yet I got this crash!

 

[Guest]

Hi Joe!

I ran the dxdiag and almost all the tests and it didn't find any errors.
I'm playing the movie again using PowerDVD. I expect it will freeze at some
point.

Thank you for your suggestion.

Brian

 

[Guest]

MORE INFORMATION

My hard disk crashed which forced a fresh install of everything. I
installed windows 2003 Server SP1 instead of Win XP SP2 and downloaded
Windows Media Player 9. I had the same problem except Win2003Server SP1
didn't crash when the Media Player failed. Unfortunately Media Player 9
froze playing a DVD movie.

I guess its time to get out the old VHS player from the basement. Sigh!

 

[Joe_B]

Brian,
Did you get this problem fixed? I'm having the same problem. Just did an
XP Home SP2 upgrade to an ME system. Now the system freezes when I play
media, be it streaming from the web (pandora.com), from a file, or from
the CD. Other than that the system is running fine. I'm hoping I just
need more RAM, and have ordered more. I'm also going to add a HDD so I
can expand the swap file. You never mentioned your system specs so I was
wondering if you looked at memory. Figured I might as well ask while I'm
waiting for my order to come in
Joe B

 

[Joe_B]

Thanks, and good luck!

I had given up on this, but I just recently upgraded my memory from 512mb to
2 GB, so perhaps I should try again. I'll let you know what happens.

 

[Joe_B]

Well, the RAM came in, the new HDD slave was installed, and the paging
file was tweaked. Still can't play music. All hardware drivers are
current, BIOS is current, and mobo is current. Gotta figure the sound
card. If that doesn't work I'll attach a rope to the computer and call
it an anchor.

Thanks, and good luck!

~snip~

 

[Joe_B]

I'm up and working fine

MORE INFORMATION

My hard disk crashed which forced a fresh install of everything. I
installed windows 2003 Server SP1 instead of Win XP SP2 and downloaded
Windows Media Player 9. I had the same problem except Win2003Server SP1
didn't crash when the Media Player failed. Unfortunately Media Player 9
froze playing a DVD movie.

I guess its time to get out the old VHS player from the basement. Sigh!

 

[Guest]

I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you but I haven't had much time
lately. I did play a DVD movie on the machine that was hanging but now with
lots more memory and it worked this time. When I rebuilt the machine I put
Windows 2003 Server on it. So I don't know if it is the fact I switched
operating systems or the extra memory or both.

I see you made some responses to my last post but my email never notified me
that there was a response waiting. I guess I forgot to check the "notify me
of replies" Sorry for the long wait. It looks like you did solve your
problem. What did you do?

Brian