94.12 Stability

[jtokach]

Sub,

Within the last, say 5 versions, stability of GBPVR has seem to have gone way down so much so that I have created a MS Backup job to backup my database at 7pm just prior to when we start viewing. I view exclusively over the MVP.

I'm now running 94.12 and was 45 minutes into a recorded show over the MVP when, BLAM!, MVP CRASH!, for no reason. We weren't fast forwarding or anything. The database was lost again but spared by a restore. =)

I've included all of the logs for a post mortem. GL. And thanks!

Jim

[krakatou]

I have been noticing the same. I upgraded to 94.12 from one that was a few months old (i cant remember the version) and I get code error messages, only in the main menu mind, usually after having used the guide during live tv mode, plus Im only running with no sevice packs on XP at the mo, with all the latest drivers.

[sub]

I upgraded to 94.12 from one that was a few months old (i cant remember the version) and I get code error messages, only in the main menu mind, usually after having used the guide during live tv mode,

This specific bug was fixed in 94.13 released a few days back.

[jtokach]

Last night the MVP crashed at about 40 minutes into viewing again. We can view 1 hour long programs during the day generally w/o issue. The DB was not lost this time.

Also, the other day, proior to my original problems, when I rebooted, GBPVR ran the Windows Installer setup again.

Another error poped up at an unknown time today. (But everything seems ok.)

[jsteele]

I've been having all sorts of strange problems with 94.12. In my configuration it seems to be very fragile. If I use Channel Updown for more than a few channels it freezes and requires a hard reset of the machine. It tends to go into reboot loops where it will reboot it self 3 or 4 times and then it will usually be fine. On extreme occasions it simply keeps rebooting and the only way to stop it is to start in Safe Mode, run chkdks and then restart.

I've been thinking about going back to 93.10, it was much more stable for me.

[sub]

If I use Channel Updown for more than a few channels it freezes and requires a hard reset of the machine. It tends to go into reboot loops where it will reboot it self 3 or 4 times and then it will usually be fine.

If your machine is rebooting or freezing, then it sound like your machine isnt stable. This is most likely caused by the drivers.

GB-PVR runs in protected user-mode (ring3), and I cant think of the single thing I could do if I wanted to reboot the machine. On the other hand, the drivers (at ring0) would have no problems locking your machine solid or rebooting.

[jsteele]

If your machine is rebooting or freezing, then it sound like your machine isnt stable. This is most likely caused by the drivers.

GB-PVR runs in protected user-mode (ring3), and I cant think of the single thing I could do if I wanted to reboot the machine. On the other hand, the drivers (at ring0) would have no problems locking your machine solid or rebooting.

I guess I wasn't clear, GBPVR isn't rebooting when changing channels --- it freezes and requires a manual reset to get out of it. My GBPVR is launched with a batch file (so I can use the command line parms to position the output on the second display) The reboot loop occurs just as GBPVR is started by the batch; the batch executes, GBPVR starts and just before it displays the main menu boom, reboot. If I remove the GBPVR batch XP starts mormally and does not keep rebooting. If I then manually start GB it will "appear" to start and several seconds later the machine reboots. One thing I have found is that starting in SAFE mode and doing a CHKDSK /F seems to stop the reboot loop. But the CHKDSK rarely finds anything to fix (But I have very little faith in CHKDSK anyway)

Another way to stop the roboot loop is to prevent GB from starting and manually compress the GBPVR.MDB database. I generally find it has grown to 50+ MB and when compressed drops back down to 10-12MB or so. The problems go away for several days and then gradually return. When they do I will invariably find the MDB has grown again. Right now for example it is at 26 MB and last night the system froze changing channels requiring a manual reset.

I've made no driver changes since the last 93.10 release I was using; it was very stable and I didn't see these stability problems*

I'm getting downright frustrated.

----------
* there were other problems but then again can someone explain to me why it makes sense to drive a TV with Microsoft Windows :-)

[sub]

The reboot loop occurs just as GBPVR is started by the batch; the batch executes, GBPVR starts and just before it displays the main menu boom, reboot. If I remove the GBPVR batch XP starts mormally and does not keep rebooting. If I then manually start GB it will "appear" to start and several seconds later the machine reboots.

That still sounds to me like your machine isnt very stable. Maybe video card? hard disk?

I've made no driver changes since the last 93.10 release I was using; it was very stable and I didn't see these stability problems*

I read every post, and I'm not seeing any other comments that sound like the problem you describe. I can only guess its something funny about your setup. The other guys comments above were about the MVP disconnecting, which is a very different issue.

I'm sorry if this doesnt seem very helpful, but I'm just basing these comments on what I've read about your problem, and what other people are saying. This seems like the most logical explanation. I really cant see anything else that would be causing these issues.

[jsteele]

Therein lies the problem, I can't make any sense out of it either. Is the database backward compatible to 93.xx? I may just drop back for a while.