Troubleshooting Question

[dexterdoo]

I have two different programs that I use for video conversion but when I use either of them, my computer locks up after a few minutes, although both programs work fine if I run them in “safe mode”!??? They also work fine on my laptop, just not my desktop.

Is there a way I can troubleshoot this problem using some of XP’s tools, diagnostics, logs, etc. and find out EXACTLY what file or program is causing the problem without "trying this and trying that"?? I hate to keep switching to “safe mode” every time I need to use these programs. Thanks !

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
As a first step, check the Event Log to see if any error infomation is recorded there ( both System and Application logs).

What else do you have running when using those programs, as there may be a resource conflict that is not present in safe mode.





To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[vacunita]

Look in event viewer see if there's any relevant entries there.
If you can run them in safe mode it means there's either a program or a driver loading in regular mode that's interfering with them.

You can use msconfig to limit what loads in normal mode and see if that helps the applications function.

You can then re-enable one by one until the fail again, and you'll know which one it is that's interfering.

Since you say they are video apps, perhaps they may be having an issue with your Video Card driver. Try updating it to the most current version.




----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[linney]

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560

 

[dexterdoo]

Great Advice! Thanks to all. I've never used the Event Viewer but I'll try to figure out and interpret it. Looks like this is going to be a tedious process and my biggest fear is it may be my ATI All-In-Wonder card or it's drivers (latest update is 2006 for my mine). I think before I do anything else, I'm going to load a backup that I have(onto an extra hard drive)which only contains the O/S, video and sound drivers. I'll then install the conversion program that I use and see if it will work without the need to go into safe mode? I'm thinking, no sense in doing all the other stuff and then finding out it's video card related. Sound like a good idea ?

 

[linney]

Anything that helps to solve your problem is always a good idea. It only becomes a bad one when it has the opposite effect and makes matters worse. Even then, you will have gained invaluable experience.

While you enjoying the Event Viewer, this is a handy site to know about.

http://www.eventid.net/search.asp

 

[dexterdoo]

Well, both programs still locked up,even with a clean install on a different drive with nothing else on it! As I suspected, it's definitely the video card or drivers.

Thanks for the link, linney.I'll check it out!

 

[DTracy]

Did you remember to disable the oem onboard video (built-in on motherboard) when you installed the expansion video card? See BIOS configuration during startup.

Regards,
David.

 

[bigchiefdan]

forgive me if I missed this, but have they ever worked on your desktop? if so, then I would also try to think back to that time frame and see if anything has changed.

 

[telcorookie]

From the problem he has explained, it directly points at your video hardware. Either the driver/card is not supported by the software, you do not have enough memory on your video card or the card is just bad. Good thing is you can purchase really nice video cards for fairly cheap.