Topic: Apparent Memory Leak with MC12 and Windows 2000 (Read 3314 times)

jmlogan · « **on:** February 15, 2007, 11:43:47 am »

It appears that MC12 (build 157) has a memory leak of some sort. When run on my Windows 2000 SP4 system, it will use up all available virtual memory (currently set at 1.4 GB) within several days.

Any insight/diagnostic advice would be welcome. In the meantime, I will install build 164 and re-test to see if it exhibits the same behavior.

Jim Logan
15 Feb 2007

jmlogan · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2007, 06:43:46 am »

Update: build 164 appears to have the same problem.

Please let me know what additional information I can provide to help diagnose the problem.

Jim Logan
16 Feb 2007

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2007, 06:57:46 am »

Have you installed any third party plugins?

jmlogan · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2007, 09:19:36 am »

Mr ChriZ:

Only G-Force (3.60), but it isn't running.

JL
16 Feb 2007

jmlogan · « **Reply #4 on:** February 18, 2007, 09:02:04 am »

Because of this problem, as well as the issue of MC12 crashing with G-Force 3.6 in full-screen mode (which may be a Soundspectrum rather than a JRiver problem), I have been forced to revert to MC 11 (build 201). While this provides a stable environment, I would prefer to be able to run MC12 (after having paid for the upgrade).

Can someone please either confirm that this memory leak issue is already being investigated, or give me some direction as to what information I can provide to allow the diagnostic process to get started? Thanks in advance.

Jim L.
18 Feb 2007

JimH · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2007, 09:09:51 am »

Uninstall all third party plug-ins. I don't think MC12 has any memory leaks.

jmlogan · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2007, 06:53:55 am »

JimH -

Thank you for your response.

I uninstalled G-Force and SoftSkies from Soundspectrum (the only plug-ins I have ever used), uninstalled MC12 and re-booted the system. I then did a fresh install of MC12 build 164, re-booted the system again, and then started MC12.

MC 12 has been running for 12 hours, and its Private Bytes value has gone from 38MB on startup to 123MB. If I allow it to continue to run, this value will continue to increase.

I have been running MC 11 on this system since May 2006, with G-Force, and it has never exhibited this behavior. This is a whole-house music and video server that runs 24x7 and gets re-booted perhaps once every 90-120 days.

Jim L.
19 Feb 2007

JimH · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2007, 06:58:29 am »

Flac?

Are your running Library Server? Or UPnP server?

Any DirectShow filters in use?

jmlogan · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2007, 07:03:13 am »

JimH -

No, no and no.

Jim L.
19 Feb 2007

JimH · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:10:55 am »

Please double check both the third party plug-ins and the directshow filters you use.

jmlogan · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:29:17 am »

JimH -

Thank you for your continued attention to this problem.

As I said, I have no third party plugins installed, unless MC12 is distributed with embedded third party plugins. If so, please tell me how to remove/disable them.

With respect to DirectShow, I have never used this computer for DVD playback, and it has no DVD playback software (such as PowerDVD) installed. I have installed nothing that I know of that would have DirectShow filters. I will be happy to check if you can tell me where to look/what commands to use.

BTW, Private Bytes value for MC 12 is now 143M and still rising...

Jim L.
19 Feb 2007

JimH · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:02:53 am »

Under Options for Playback/DirectShow, try checking "Use Windows Media Player....". Restart MC.

Some of your videos may be using DirectShow filters that were installed by other software. And they are not always good.

Matt · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:09:12 am »

What are you doing while memory is being used? Try to pinpoint it. For example, try looking at "Start" in the tree with nothing playing and see if it still happens.

Remember that MC thumbnails files (one time) and this can take some memory until it's finished.

We test for leaks often, so I'd be surprised if you have a real leak.

jmlogan · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:11:54 am »

JimH -

Thank you again.

I have never played a video on this computer, either with MC or with other software, but I will do as you suggest, restart MC and report back with the result.

Jim L.
19 Feb 2007

JimH · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:13:33 am »

What kind of files are you playing? Please be specific.

jmlogan · « **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:16:57 am »

Matt -

Thank you also for your attention. I haven't been doing anything (user interface wise) on this computer. I simply started MC 12 last night, started 3 different playlists playing in 3 separate zones, which is the way I always use MC (it's an "always on" whole house music server), and it just keeps using more memory.

It is currently at 147M Private Bytes.

I will do as JimH suggested as well as trying what you recommended to see if it makes any difference. I will report back with the results.

Jim L.
19 Feb 2007

jmlogan · « **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:18:34 am »

JimH and Matt -

Sorry - we seem to keep cross-posting.

I am only playing music files (APE, CDA and MP3).

Jim L.
19 Feb 2007

JimH · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:29:11 am »

Try playing only APE to a single zone.

Are you using ASIO? What sound card(s)?

jmlogan · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:33:26 am »

JimH -

I am not using ASIO.

Zones 1, 2 and 3 are all on separate channels of a SoundBlaster Audigy card.

I also have a Zone 4 configured to use the RealTek on board audio, but I'm not using it.

I am restarting the machine now. I will start a list of APE files playing in Zone 1.

Jim L.
19 Feb 2007

JimH · « **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2007, 03:08:01 pm »

Check these comments about Windows OneCare:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=38188.msg265636#msg265636

jmlogan · « **Reply #20 on:** February 19, 2007, 04:28:51 pm »

JimH -

I have never used either Windows OneCare or Windows Defender. The system in question has GriSoft's AVG antivurus installed (as do 8 other computers throughout the house).

I also have not seen any evidence of MC12 using excessive or increasing amounts of CPU - only memory.

Here's an update on the APE files only, single zone only test:

As suggested, I restarted MC12 (immediately after a reboot), cleared "Playing Now" for all zones, and started a short playlist consisting of 8 APE files only (specifically 10cc's album "The Original Soundtrack") in Zone 1, set to repeat continuously. On startup, MC12's Private Bytes value was 30MB. Two hours later, 37MB. Four hours after that, 50MB.

If I'm able to let it run through the night, I will update these numbers in the morning.

Thank you again for your ongoing attention to this issue. You have a great product, and I would very much like to be able to use the latest version.

Jim L.
19 Feb 2007

JimH · « **Reply #21 on:** February 19, 2007, 04:40:16 pm »

For testing purposes, uninstall the virus checker.

Matt · « **Reply #22 on:** February 19, 2007, 04:56:52 pm »

Quote from: jmlogan on February 19, 2007, 04:28:51 pm

JimH -

I have never used either Windows OneCare or Windows Defender. The system in question has GriSoft's AVG antivurus installed (as do 8 other computers throughout the house).

I also have not seen any evidence of MC12 using excessive or increasing amounts of CPU - only memory.

Here's an update on the APE files only, single zone only test:

As suggested, I restarted MC12 (immediately after a reboot), cleared "Playing Now" for all zones, and started a short playlist consisting of 8 APE files only (specifically 10cc's album "The Original Soundtrack") in Zone 1, set to repeat continuously. On startup, MC12's Private Bytes value was 30MB. Two hours later, 37MB. Four hours after that, 50MB.

If I'm able to let it run through the night, I will update these numbers in the morning.

Thank you again for your ongoing attention to this issue. You have a great product, and I would very much like to be able to use the latest version.

Jim L.
19 Feb 2007

Disable any DSP and visualization plugin.

We'll test this same thing overnight tonight.

Thanks.

jmlogan · « **Reply #23 on:** February 20, 2007, 06:40:51 am »

JimH/Matt -

Here's an update as of 0715 ET today.

I uninstalled my AVG antivirus software (not just disabled/exited, but completely uninstalled) and rebooted the system. I then restarted MC12 and uninstalled all visualization plugins (3D, 2D and track info) using the Plugin Manager menu (I also tried to remove the DSP plug in, but the "uninstall" button for that one - I think it's called MC DJ - was grayed out).

I started the same 8 song APE playlist I was running yesterday in Zone 1. The following table shows MC12's memory usage over time (the elapsed time is in hours:minutes):

			Elapsed Time		Private Bytes
			0:00		20MB
			3:30		30MB
			6:45		41MB
			15:00		70MB

Please let me know what additional info I can provide. Thanks again for your help.

Jim L.
20 Feb 2007

Matt · « **Reply #24 on:** February 20, 2007, 08:27:20 am »

After 14 hours of APE playback:

Start: 11 M main, 40 M virtual, 449 handles
14 Hours Later: 12 M main, 42 M virtual, 448 handles
Minimize MC (after 14 hours): 4 M, 26 M virtual, 448 handles

So certainly no leak. I'm wondering if it could be your soundcard driver.

Try switching between WaveOut, DirectSound, and ASIO to see if it makes a difference. You could also try minimizing MC after that long play to see if the memory snaps back. (we do some fancy memory compacting things on minimize to provide a very small footprint when MC is used in the background)

Thanks.

jmlogan · « **Reply #25 on:** February 20, 2007, 08:43:44 am »

Matt -

Mine is up to 78M virtual (private bytes) as of right now. Minimizing doesn't seem to make any difference.

What OS did you test with? I'm using W2K SP4.

I am using DirectSound. I will try WaveOut and/or ASIO and report back.

Jim L.
20 Feb 2007

jmlogan · « **Reply #26 on:** February 20, 2007, 08:51:58 am »

All -

I just restarted MC12 with Zone 1 switched to WaveOut, and I get no sound.

Does that suggest anything?

Jim L.
20 Feb 2007

jmlogan · « **Reply #27 on:** February 20, 2007, 03:46:05 pm »

JimH/Matt -

Thanks once again for trying to help me solve this problem.

I uninstalled my soundcard driver (SB Audigy) and reverted to an earlier version. I re-ran the APE files only, single zone test, and thought I had found the problem, as the VM size for MC12 didn't increase after I let it run for 2+ hours.

So, I re-installed my virus software and re-started MC12 with all 3 zones running their usual playlists. Unfortunately, the problem is still there. The VM size started at about 40M and was over 100M within 2 hours.

There is apparently something on my system that induces MC12 to eat memory - I can actually watch its VM size increase 4-8K every few seconds, even when all zones are paused.

When I have the time (probably tomorrow) I will try removing the AVG antivirus again to see if that makes a difference. If you have any other ideas/suggestions, please let me know.

Jim L.
20 Feb 2007

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Author Topic: Apparent Memory Leak with MC12 and Windows 2000 (Read 3314 times)