Topic: MC hangs at "buffering" (Read 22750 times)

Wungun · « **on:** March 30, 2014, 05:51:07 pm »

This happens more frequently...
As soon as I select a track to play, it says buffering and MC freezes...
Any ideas?

Description:
A problem caused this program to stop interacting with Windows.

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name:   AppHangB1
Application Name:   Media Center 19.exe
Application Version:   19.0.117.0
Application Timestamp:   52fdc1ee
Hang Signature:   ab49
Hang Type:   134217728
OS Version:   6.3.9600.2.0.0.272.79
Locale ID:   1033
Additional Hang Signature 1:   ab49cb07386e45318c2ec54486f2b3c5
Additional Hang Signature 2:   7e4f
Additional Hang Signature 3:   7e4fa3cf545154e2630914f9ffaabc8c
Additional Hang Signature 4:   ab49
Additional Hang Signature 5:   ab49cb07386e45318c2ec54486f2b3c5
Additional Hang Signature 6:   7e4f
Additional Hang Signature 7:   7e4fa3cf545154e2630914f9ffaabc8c

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JimH · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2014, 05:57:54 pm »

Are the files local or on a network drive?

Wungun · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2014, 06:13:41 pm »

Local...USB drive. I'm playing from memory, and currently have page file disabled.
Possibly related?

Wungun · « **Reply #3 on:** April 03, 2014, 07:25:54 pm »

Virtual RAM re-enabled, and still have this problem.
If I load an album, it plays fine all the way thru.
If I go to play another album, it freezes on the buffering. I have to ctrl-alt-del it closed!

JimH · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2014, 07:55:44 pm »

Try turning off playback from memory.

USB drives are a lot slower than internal hard drives.

Antivirus programs can slow things down further.

Wungun · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2014, 08:13:18 pm »

I'll try disabling playback from memory...
USB drives are so, yes...but MC freezes indefinitely. It isn't waiting on the drive.
I've had the drive power down on long songs before, but when the next track is queue, it wakes up and loads and buffers and plays.
I don't know why this is happening now. :S

glynor · « **Reply #6 on:** April 03, 2014, 08:22:09 pm »

Disabling your page file is not recommended. Whomever sold you that idea was selling snake oil. Memory Playback does require fast access to the files, and could cause trouble with a slow disk. However, if you disabled both of those customizations and it is still happening, then those are likely not the cause here.

Please read through this, paying particular attention to the Drives & Locations item, and then post back:
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Troubleshooting_Guide

Wungun · « **Reply #7 on:** April 03, 2014, 08:30:05 pm »

I don't have any of the symptoms listed, in relation to drive/location.
And previously, I've never ever had any playback problems at all...
Including memory playback. Flawless....
Ugh!

glynor · « **Reply #8 on:** April 03, 2014, 08:32:40 pm »

Quote from: Wungun on April 03, 2014, 08:30:05 pm

I don't have any of the symptoms listed, in relation to drive/location.

Run the tests anyway. USB drives are extremely prone to failure. Usually it is the power supply.

And did you read the section on slow disks? Because you have one of those...

And, you aren't (from the crash information above) on the current build. That's why I linked to the guide. It isn't worth trying to fix the stuff if it is already addressed there.

Wungun · « **Reply #9 on:** April 03, 2014, 08:38:19 pm »

Yes I did...
Disable mem playback...issue happened again. Seems some folders/files more likely to cause it. But if I open MC and start if these suspect files/folders, playback is fine.
Only after playing media then trying to play these "other" music files.
Also, while MC is locked up, I'm still able to access my media drive from Explorer without issues.

glynor · « **Reply #10 on:** April 03, 2014, 08:40:50 pm »

Quote from: Wungun on April 03, 2014, 08:38:19 pm

Yes I did...

You did what?

SFC?
Chkdsk?
Cabling?
This tweak for slow disks?

glynor · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2014, 08:43:00 pm »

I should add, I'm not just deflecting... Buffering issues like you've described, especially sudden ones where it used to work right, are very often a signs of disk trouble.

Disk or Anti-Virus are my two best guesses.
Or, perhaps, problems with your Audio setup (if the driver is locking up, that could be the cause).

Wungun · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2014, 08:52:02 pm »

Doesn't explain, when MC crashes/freezes during buffering, those same files, and all files on the drive, are readily available/readable from Explorer.
The drive is barely a few months old...and it's never exhibited any warning signs/eminent failure prior.
It isn't as if MC is waiting for the disk, but rather it's locking up on loading of a song..."buffering", but the spectrum analyzer shows the beginnings of playback...but it's frozen too. And it'll stay like this forever, until I ctrl-alt-del and force it closed.
MC seems to still be "alive" when it's stuck like this....until I try to stop/skip/load another song, then it goes completely unresponsive.
If it were my sound driver, I'm sure this issue would be happening in other situations as well. However, it's the same driver I've used since I bought MC.
Was a new build released lately...?
Within the last 2 weeks maybe...?

JimH · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2014, 09:12:54 pm »

Quote from: Wungun on April 03, 2014, 08:52:02 pm

Doesn't explain, when MC crashes/freezes during buffering, those same files, and all files on the drive, are readily available/readable from Explorer.

Yes, it could.

JimH · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2014, 09:16:29 pm »

Quote from: Wungun on March 30, 2014, 06:13:41 pm

... currently have page file disabled.

Not a good idea.

astromo · « **Reply #15 on:** April 03, 2014, 11:43:43 pm »

Quote from: Wungun on April 03, 2014, 08:52:02 pm

Doesn't explain, when MC crashes/freezes during buffering, those same files, and all files on the drive, are readily available/readable from Explorer.
The drive is barely a few months old...and it's never exhibited any warning signs/eminent failure prior.

Quote from: JimH on April 03, 2014, 09:12:54 pm

Yes, it could.

Jim's got a fair point:
http://www.storagesearch.com/ssdmyths-endurance.html
Electronics failures can be quite random. Although this review focusses on spinning hard drives:
http://blog.backblaze.com/2013/11/12/how-long-do-disk-drives-last/
it does offer an insight to electronic failure behaviour (graphic to illustrate the point):

Note the comment here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_flash_drive#Longevity
with regard to connector life.

So, there are plenty of ways you can be tripped up.

Wungun · « **Reply #16 on:** April 04, 2014, 05:11:57 am »

Quote from: JimH on April 03, 2014, 09:16:29 pm

Not a good idea.

It's re-enabled since trying to diagnose the issue...

Wungun · « **Reply #17 on:** April 04, 2014, 05:19:55 am »

Are any replies here, actual official MC tech support replies...?!
Does MC do logging?
I posted the crash report in my first post...does this have any insight to my issues?

Wungun · « **Reply #18 on:** April 04, 2014, 05:26:20 am »

Swapped connectors on drive...
Ran chkdsk on drive...

Can we eliminate the drive as the issue and focus on MC now...?

eapool · « **Reply #19 on:** April 04, 2014, 05:54:40 am »

Quote from: Wungun on April 04, 2014, 05:19:55 am

Does MC do logging?

I don't think MC does any additional logging other than what is in 'Help|Logging'

Alex

glynor · « **Reply #20 on:** April 04, 2014, 06:10:57 am »

Quote from: Wungun on April 04, 2014, 05:19:55 am

Are any replies here, actual official MC tech support replies...?!
Does MC do logging?
I posted the crash report in my first post...does this have any insight to my issues?

That's included in the guide, which you didn't read (well). It tells you how to update, how to enable logging, and how to provide the info we need.

Till you do that stuff, you can't be helped.

Wungun · « **Reply #21 on:** April 04, 2014, 06:19:45 am »

Sorry...I read thru the issue on drives. I didn't know you wanted me to read the entire troubleshooting guide.
Logging enabled and issue recreated...uploading log...

Wungun · « **Reply #22 on:** April 04, 2014, 06:21:01 am »

Please see attachment....

glynor · « **Reply #23 on:** April 04, 2014, 06:22:58 am »

Quote from: Wungun on April 04, 2014, 06:21:01 am

Media Center
   Install Path: C:\Program Files (x86)\J River\Media Center 19\
   Interface Plugins: TiVo Server (not running)
   JRMark: never run
   Library: 14781 files, 2.9 MB in library, 56.1 MB in thumbnails
   Resources: 175 MB memory, 427 handles
   Version: 19.0.117.0 Registered

http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Troubleshooting_Guide#Make_Sure_You_Are_Running_the_Latest_Build

Wungun · « **Reply #24 on:** April 04, 2014, 06:30:26 am »

Updated...new log...same issue

JimH · « **Reply #25 on:** April 04, 2014, 07:27:15 am »

Both glynor and I have mentioned antivirus as a possible reason for the problem.

Hendrik · « **Reply #26 on:** April 04, 2014, 07:59:33 am »

Does it happen with any tracks you try to play, or one track in particular?

glynor · « **Reply #27 on:** April 04, 2014, 08:00:31 am »

Quote from: Wungun on April 04, 2014, 06:30:26 am

Updated...new log...same issue

Thanks for the new log on the current version. I'd hoped the issue was related to switching input formats, for which there have been a few fixes in recent builds, and I saw it doing some of that in the last set of logs you uploaded.

Can you recreate the issue and then while Media Center is hung (before ending the task) do the following:

1. Open the Windows Task Manager.
2. Find Media Center in the list of running Applications and select it.
3. Right-click and choose Create Dump File.
4. Save this file somewhere you can find it on disk. It will probably be quite large, but you can ZIP it to reduce the size substantially.
5. Then relaunch MC and gather another Log package.
6. Upload both the log package and the zipped copy of the Dump file here.

If the files are too large to add as an attachment, you can use WikiSend to create a public link to the the file so we can download it.

I can't help with this part, but if it is hanging, Hendrik may be able to use the Dump to figure out what MC was doing when it hung.

EDIT: And also answer his question.

PS. By the way, I should make clear that (despite that they made me an Admin on the forum) I don't work for JRiver. I'm a user like you. I've just been here a long, long while (and I've done technical support longer).

Wungun · « **Reply #28 on:** April 04, 2014, 09:09:13 am »

Thanks for the help...
I don't run AV on my system (but install and run a scan occasionally)
I'll follow your instructions when I get home from work. Thanks again.

Wungun · « **Reply #29 on:** April 13, 2014, 05:07:33 pm »

Quote from: Hendrik on April 04, 2014, 07:59:33 am

Does it happen with any tracks you try to play, or one track in particular?

Its not directly related to tracks/albums, per se...but, for example, album "a" is susceptible, however, if I play that album as soon as I open MC, it plays fine.
If I play album "a" after a few other albums, it hangs...
I have no other way of knowing.

I have the dump file...zipped, its still huge...157+Mb. Ill make it split volume and include the MC log...

Wungun · « **Reply #30 on:** April 13, 2014, 05:38:45 pm »

Temp Extract.part1.rar

Temp Extract.part2.rar

AoXoMoXoA · « **Reply #31 on:** April 13, 2014, 06:05:52 pm »

I have seen MC hang on 'buffering' but only when it has been sitting idle for a while. Close it and re-start it and does not hang.

rikirk · « **Reply #32 on:** April 15, 2014, 05:59:44 pm »

Hi there. I am in big trouble.

I am using and enjoying JRiver since v.18 was available even when I went through few issues all been resolved in one way or the other always in the spirit that good is better rather than perfect and always trying to fix it myself before posting here.

Not the case anymore: since the last update of JRiver (and windows 8.1 for the matter) my main system hangs at around 5 minutes playing.

I followed most of the recent guides, applied the library fixes and rules, reinstalled, tried older version, changed external driver, changed dac, changed output modes, played Audio or Video, having the PC as the only constant ... Same thing every time.

I installed the manufacturer's player for my main dac (Teac UD501 [I normally use 2DSD mode with JR]) and played any kind of format I have and it works perfectly.

The discouraging thing is that my standard home-office system using an older MoBo/lessRAM/Schiit MODI works great, while my "audiofreak" with a custom built pc (over 5k benchmark and 4k JRiver) does not.

JimH · « **Reply #33 on:** April 15, 2014, 06:05:42 pm »

What is hanging? The DAC or the PC? Any error message?

Try power cycling the DAC when it happens.

Any file type?

rikirk · « **Reply #34 on:** April 17, 2014, 06:57:24 am »

What is hanging?
Media Center and Windows error shows it as a crash app. When I close the window error, I can hear the music I was playing for a fraction of a second.

The DAC or the PC?
Both are functional when MC is hanging.

Any error message?
Yes appcrash in Windows

Try power cycling the DAC when it happens.
I tried that and changed DAC from Teac to Schiit - same story every time at around 5 min playing.

Any file type?
Any Audio (from mp3 to hi res) Video and DVD (last night I had to use VCL to watch a movie...shame on me;)

JimH · « **Reply #35 on:** April 17, 2014, 07:15:23 am »

Try DirectSound. Try an internal sound device.

Antivirus programs have been causing problems recently:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=86096.0

Make sure you have the most recent build installed. It's 19.0.128.

AoXoMoXoA · « **Reply #36 on:** April 17, 2014, 07:27:42 am »

Since I've started using 'run as administrator' to start MC I have ceased having crackling and drop-outs as well as hangs while buffering when starting playback.

Hope that is of help.

rikirk · « **Reply #37 on:** April 17, 2014, 08:12:30 am »

Thank you both for the fastest support ever. I will try all suggestions (I think I did run MC as Admin to test it already, will do more).
Here is the meaningless (to me) last report from Windows again this morning:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name:   APPCRASH
Application Name:   Media Center 19.exe
Application Version:   19.0.128.0
Application Timestamp:   53488310
Fault Module Name:   in_dsd.dll
Fault Module Version:   19.0.128.0
Fault Module Timestamp:   534882b4
Exception Code:   c0000005
Exception Offset:   000a1a61
OS Version:   6.3.9600.2.0.0.256.103
Locale ID:   1033
Additional Information 1:   5861
Additional Information 2:   5861822e1919d7c014bbb064c64908b2
Additional Information 3:   d1d9
Additional Information 4:   d1d94a13d3609d6b740644c12508f581

I will test and report in a few. Again thank you for the attention.

On a different note, I am adding my best wishes to you know who so he can get back with full strength and joie de vivre very, very soon.

Regards,

Riccardo

JimH · « **Reply #38 on:** April 17, 2014, 09:18:35 am »

Quote from: AoXoMoXoA on April 17, 2014, 07:27:42 am

Since I've started using 'run as administrator' to start MC I have ceased having crackling and drop-outs as well as hangs while buffering when starting playback.

Hope that is of help.

That sounds similar to this problem:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=88729.msg608649#msg608649

rikirk · « **Reply #39 on:** April 17, 2014, 09:46:32 am »

I tried everything in sequence:
- Admin
- Authorizing files and JRiver in Security Essentials
- Direct sound
- Last update for windows 8.1
- Play from memory (over 15 Gb available in 64bit)

NADA

I think Jim you might have the answer there with the HD4600. I am just wondering why it worked fine since I built the computer in October even recently with the driver update.
I also updated the Bios (Gigabyte G81 Amp-up) which I start to consider in the list of suspects as well.
But why the system works fine in VLC then? Should I try others?
Do I really have to buy a new Intel chip? (HD4600 does not even fit in my plasma TV, so I have a good excuse there).

glynor · « **Reply #40 on:** April 17, 2014, 11:01:30 am »

Quote from: rikirk on April 15, 2014, 05:59:44 pm

The discouraging thing is that my standard home-office system using an older MoBo/lessRAM/Schiit MODI works great, while my "audiofreak" with a custom built pc (over 5k benchmark and 4k JRiver) does not.

One thing to check, prompted by this sentence..

Is that thing overclocked?

rikirk · « **Reply #41 on:** April 17, 2014, 12:08:28 pm »

Not at all. I am abstinent in that kind of things. My quest is for the most stable and quiet platform. Meantime, I worked on HD4600 driver with no luck. Back to the latest release and same issue. It's amazing that hangs every time around 5 min playback no matter if I do cumulative tracks or single one.

Listening through Teac music player, not bad at all - despite the simple GUI

.

JimH · « **Reply #42 on:** April 17, 2014, 12:40:27 pm »

What else is happening every five minutes on that machine? Any new software or hardware?

rikirk · « **Reply #43 on:** April 17, 2014, 01:13:29 pm »

Not that I am aware of. There are very few programs installed: JR, VLC, WMC, 7Zip, Teac Asio and whatever Intel and Windows wants me to install , including Silverlight. I also uninstalled all the apps I could.
I just play without any other interaction with the system or any remote like gizmo connected.
I even tried playing a flac file from the SSD hoping in a USB driver conflict... same story... Getting crazy!

JimH · « **Reply #44 on:** April 17, 2014, 01:20:30 pm »

A firewall or other security software blocking MC might cause this kind of problem.

The five minute aspect is odd.

Uncheck play from memory.

rikirk · « **Reply #45 on:** April 17, 2014, 01:54:29 pm »

Jim, thx for keeping this under your radar.
Firewall/Anti-virus was the first thing I tried and I just did it again with no beneficial (with no play from memory).
It's not 5 minutes sharp, but in that kind of range. It's funny every time I think I got the solution I wait, wait and ...

JimH · « **Reply #46 on:** April 17, 2014, 02:07:14 pm »

Don't rule out antivirus yet. Read these posts:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=86096.0

If it is an antivirus problem, disabling it may not be enough.

rikirk · « **Reply #47 on:** April 17, 2014, 02:32:37 pm »

Yes, I noticed, but:

1. I am not incline to take this path, considering all the issues of uninstalling and eventually reinstall MS Security Essentials in the last release of 8.1 (if possible...)
2. Hard to digest that VLC has no conflict whatsoever with the AV, while JR (only now!) does not work even adding .exe and file type permissions.

I do know nothing about computers, but my guess is something is cycling in (like an Antivirus LOL) after I click play. Maybe one day it will get fixed by some gently update...

glynor · « **Reply #48 on:** April 17, 2014, 02:47:50 pm »

If you're using MSSE, then this won't cause these kinds of problems, in any case I've ever seen. If you want to be sure, here are instructions for adding exceptions for MC's processes to MSSE and Windows Defender:
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Taming_Windows_Defender

Also, worth mentioning if you didn't see it above, but please read through this:
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Troubleshooting_Guide

Aside from AV, common causes of "hanging" behavior are covered in the Disks section.

Though... The five minute thing gives me pause as well. A couple things:

Can you run CoreTemp and let us know what CPU temps you're seeing when it happens:
http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

Also, read through the guide. Most importantly, we'd like to see some logs, as is described in the guide.

rikirk · « **Reply #49 on:** April 18, 2014, 02:38:01 pm »

Thank you Glynor! I have benchmark and system in attachment.
For the Log.zip I need a valid e-mail (1.07Mb).

Few additional comments:
1) MSSE - I agree. I have the same OS configuration in the other system and I have no issue at all (Just installed the LHLabs Geek Out and works great).
2) Last night I found out that MC crashes after ~5 min even without playback.
3) Can't be the disk because it hangs in the same way with externals 3.0/2.0 USB HDs and even the internal SSD where the libraries are located.
4) CoreTemp shows 46-44. It's a Streacom 10 fanless chassis with a i3 37W 3.4GHz.

Have a great Easter!

INTERACT FORUM

Author Topic: MC hangs at "buffering" (Read 22750 times)