I need your help with 3 technology-related questions
the_x5
the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">I don't usually ask for advice on these topics...</div><!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->1. The BSOD <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Question: <i>What's causing this? And if my hypothesis is correct, how can I convince the manufacture to update their drivers?</i>
I have an intermittently occurring BSOD issue on my full case desktop. I thinking I might have found the issue as have being related to my sound card. This would make me really sad since it was was the sound card before (a Creative one) that caused me to purchase the AC-1 with lemon money from the crappy Creative card's DEVO-ed return.
The BSOD error looks like this with dual-channel DDR2 @ 800MHz:
<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain' style='height:200px;white-space:pre;overflow:auto'>DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
*** STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x817F14A8, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0xB9DF38FC)
*** cmudaxp.sys – Address B9DF38FC base at B9D23000, Date Stamp 4577893e</div>
The BSOD error looks like this with single-channel DDR2 @ 800MHz
<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain' style='height:200px;white-space:pre;overflow:auto'>DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
*** STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x817F14A8, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0xB9DF38FC)
*** cmudaxp.sys – Address B9DF38FC base at B9D23000, Date Stamp 4577893e</div>
--And before anybody asks yes I searched device manager for conflicts & issues, yes I tried some other RAM sticks, and yes it happens in almost any program durring loading/unloading. All of the following have crashed the system when loading a file or on exit of the program or a game map: <ul><li>hl.exe</li><li>hl2.exe</li><li>wc3.exe</li><li>doom3.exe</li><li>wmplayer.exe</li><li>graw2.exe</li><li>AVSdvdplayer.exe</li></ul>This sucks. Granted it kind of rare in that doesn't seem to happen unless the computer has been on for a long time, but there is NEVER a reason a program should be able to crash a driver! A quick <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2005-01%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=cmudaxp.sys" target="_blank">google search</a> reveals I'm not alone at all.
<!--QuoteBegin-marstein on sysinternals.com forum+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(marstein on sysinternals.com forum)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I hope someone comes up with a how-to on finding the DPC offenders.
Here output from my system taken from the DPC summary table - does anything look suspicious?
<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain' style='height:200px;white-space:pre;overflow:auto'>Module Function Count Max Actual Duration [ms] Avg Actual Duration [ms] Actual Duration [ms] % Actual Duration Enter Time [ms] Exit Time [ms]
cmudaxp.sys 0x91427764 2674 1.428953 0.149021 398.483515 3.71 8734.126544 14095.438107
USBPORT.SYS
16661 0.138565 0.009748 162.414851 1.51 8742.367326 14096.813980
USBPORT_Xdpc_Worker 13345 0.138565 0.011046 147.411230 1.37 8742.373821 14096.813980
USBPORT_IsrDpc 3228 0.074520 0.004357 14.066067 0.13 8742.367326 14096.745326
USBPORT_DM_TimerDpc 88 0.027866 0.010654 0.937554 0.01 8761.127182 13924.506326
portcls.sys CServiceGroup::ServiceDpc 2674 0.255759 0.006379 17.057795 0.16 8734.336486 14095.443415
iaStor.sys
619 0.082832 0.019311 11.953546 0.11 8736.324379 14087.798100
0x82a46e2c 614 0.082832 0.019446 11.939926 0.11 8736.324379 14087.798100
0x82a2bf04 5 0.002934 0.002724 0.013620 0.00 9374.167037 13374.394441</div><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-vlacct3 on VideoLAN forums+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vlacct3 on VideoLAN forums)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Three times in a row when I started playing a DVD with VLC 86e on Windows 2003 Server SP2, about a few seconds to a few minutes into the movie, I had a BSOD saying something about the file cmudaxp.sys. I have Razer Barracuda as my sound card with most recent drivers as of 3/25/08. My speakers are Logitech z-5500.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I have that same sound card… Should I contact Razer? If so, with what argument & proof?
I could use some advice on the next course of action here.
<!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->2. The New Laptop <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
This BSOD problem may actually be even worse than what I know simple due to the fact that I spend almost all of my time currently out of the room (often at work or commuting). I <i>need</i> a mobile computer at this stage in my life (perhaps I could have used it before, but not it’s not so much of a want as it is a needed tool I’m starting to really lack at this time).
<i>Question: Why would the tech savvy x5 (if I may be so bold) ask fellow tech savvy ladies and gents here for advice on new computer shopping?!</i>
Two reasons. I need other opinions than the ones I’m hearing from manufactures wanting me to buy their product; but from people I know are generally smarter, into technology and culture, and have more respect and trust in. (talking about the NS community at large) And secondly I need to make a decision between a PC with Vista and a MacBook with Leopard.
Keep in mind I’m the investing type. I’m not loaded with disposable income (hell, let’s face it. I’m kind of poor really), but I spend it wisely. One of ways I do this is by researching products and services and then tends to going toward things that last. I buy for functional durability first. I need it to just work. Not that you all could care, but keeping track of my finances reveals this policy actually saves me money by not having to repurchase as often or get ripped-off for being a cheap ######.
Would I like to spend $450? Sure. Should I really spend more like $1100 to get a system that will run what I need to run, do it well, and not break in 3-months? *sigh* Yes, of course.
Needs are as follows:<ul><li>stable OS (includes anti-viral and security software(s))</li><li>excellent durability </li><li>long battery charge and lifespan)</li><li>wireless access capabilities with a solidly-reliable software driver</li><li>internet browser</li><li>excellent connectivity with Bluetooth, USB 2.1 (3.0?), 1394 (firewire) 800 or 400, etc.</li><li> >80GB HDD</li><li>more than enough RAM for now, adequate RAM for the future</li><li>ability to run software compilers, editors, and debuggers (includes Decoda now too!)</li></ul>Wants are as follows<ul><li>ability to run games (requires a good GPU more than likely)</li><li>best RAM in class</li><li>best CPU in class (best clock speed in mean-of-medians against L1 cache?)</li><li>wireless N</li><li>great quality screen</li></ul>Now, I have to say that my experiences with Vista thus far are fixing other people’s problems with it starting from just the first few days after its initial release until now. I think it sucks, but maybe that’s perspective. (on second thought… no, I think it still sucks) Given the above I’d prefer a MacBook because it fits a lot of the criteria for well-built hardware and a very stable and secure OS. (OS is probably the best part in my mind)
The OS could also prove to be my stumbling block as many manufactures (including UWE) don’t have programs compiled to run on OSX systems. I’m also not too happy about Apple’s price, but I know how they are built and why the costs are what they are. Heck there’s a debate right there… Is the price worth it considering that a durable, reliable system is the #1 priority for a new mobile computer to me?
Feedback <i>please</i>.
<!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->3. The 3D software <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
<i>Question: I need to know what is better between XSI, 3DS Max, and others. What do I need to know to get more in-the-loop with computer game design 3D graphics?</i>
I’m very adept at learning complex concepts and once learned I don’t forget. I need help finding resources though. Any particular books worth buying?
Question: <i>What's causing this? And if my hypothesis is correct, how can I convince the manufacture to update their drivers?</i>
I have an intermittently occurring BSOD issue on my full case desktop. I thinking I might have found the issue as have being related to my sound card. This would make me really sad since it was was the sound card before (a Creative one) that caused me to purchase the AC-1 with lemon money from the crappy Creative card's DEVO-ed return.
The BSOD error looks like this with dual-channel DDR2 @ 800MHz:
<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain' style='height:200px;white-space:pre;overflow:auto'>DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
*** STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x817F14A8, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0xB9DF38FC)
*** cmudaxp.sys – Address B9DF38FC base at B9D23000, Date Stamp 4577893e</div>
The BSOD error looks like this with single-channel DDR2 @ 800MHz
<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain' style='height:200px;white-space:pre;overflow:auto'>DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
*** STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x817F14A8, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0xB9DF38FC)
*** cmudaxp.sys – Address B9DF38FC base at B9D23000, Date Stamp 4577893e</div>
--And before anybody asks yes I searched device manager for conflicts & issues, yes I tried some other RAM sticks, and yes it happens in almost any program durring loading/unloading. All of the following have crashed the system when loading a file or on exit of the program or a game map: <ul><li>hl.exe</li><li>hl2.exe</li><li>wc3.exe</li><li>doom3.exe</li><li>wmplayer.exe</li><li>graw2.exe</li><li>AVSdvdplayer.exe</li></ul>This sucks. Granted it kind of rare in that doesn't seem to happen unless the computer has been on for a long time, but there is NEVER a reason a program should be able to crash a driver! A quick <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2005-01%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=cmudaxp.sys" target="_blank">google search</a> reveals I'm not alone at all.
<!--QuoteBegin-marstein on sysinternals.com forum+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(marstein on sysinternals.com forum)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I hope someone comes up with a how-to on finding the DPC offenders.
Here output from my system taken from the DPC summary table - does anything look suspicious?
<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain' style='height:200px;white-space:pre;overflow:auto'>Module Function Count Max Actual Duration [ms] Avg Actual Duration [ms] Actual Duration [ms] % Actual Duration Enter Time [ms] Exit Time [ms]
cmudaxp.sys 0x91427764 2674 1.428953 0.149021 398.483515 3.71 8734.126544 14095.438107
USBPORT.SYS
16661 0.138565 0.009748 162.414851 1.51 8742.367326 14096.813980
USBPORT_Xdpc_Worker 13345 0.138565 0.011046 147.411230 1.37 8742.373821 14096.813980
USBPORT_IsrDpc 3228 0.074520 0.004357 14.066067 0.13 8742.367326 14096.745326
USBPORT_DM_TimerDpc 88 0.027866 0.010654 0.937554 0.01 8761.127182 13924.506326
portcls.sys CServiceGroup::ServiceDpc 2674 0.255759 0.006379 17.057795 0.16 8734.336486 14095.443415
iaStor.sys
619 0.082832 0.019311 11.953546 0.11 8736.324379 14087.798100
0x82a46e2c 614 0.082832 0.019446 11.939926 0.11 8736.324379 14087.798100
0x82a2bf04 5 0.002934 0.002724 0.013620 0.00 9374.167037 13374.394441</div><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-vlacct3 on VideoLAN forums+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vlacct3 on VideoLAN forums)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Three times in a row when I started playing a DVD with VLC 86e on Windows 2003 Server SP2, about a few seconds to a few minutes into the movie, I had a BSOD saying something about the file cmudaxp.sys. I have Razer Barracuda as my sound card with most recent drivers as of 3/25/08. My speakers are Logitech z-5500.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I have that same sound card… Should I contact Razer? If so, with what argument & proof?
I could use some advice on the next course of action here.
<!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->2. The New Laptop <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
This BSOD problem may actually be even worse than what I know simple due to the fact that I spend almost all of my time currently out of the room (often at work or commuting). I <i>need</i> a mobile computer at this stage in my life (perhaps I could have used it before, but not it’s not so much of a want as it is a needed tool I’m starting to really lack at this time).
<i>Question: Why would the tech savvy x5 (if I may be so bold) ask fellow tech savvy ladies and gents here for advice on new computer shopping?!</i>
Two reasons. I need other opinions than the ones I’m hearing from manufactures wanting me to buy their product; but from people I know are generally smarter, into technology and culture, and have more respect and trust in. (talking about the NS community at large) And secondly I need to make a decision between a PC with Vista and a MacBook with Leopard.
Keep in mind I’m the investing type. I’m not loaded with disposable income (hell, let’s face it. I’m kind of poor really), but I spend it wisely. One of ways I do this is by researching products and services and then tends to going toward things that last. I buy for functional durability first. I need it to just work. Not that you all could care, but keeping track of my finances reveals this policy actually saves me money by not having to repurchase as often or get ripped-off for being a cheap ######.
Would I like to spend $450? Sure. Should I really spend more like $1100 to get a system that will run what I need to run, do it well, and not break in 3-months? *sigh* Yes, of course.
Needs are as follows:<ul><li>stable OS (includes anti-viral and security software(s))</li><li>excellent durability </li><li>long battery charge and lifespan)</li><li>wireless access capabilities with a solidly-reliable software driver</li><li>internet browser</li><li>excellent connectivity with Bluetooth, USB 2.1 (3.0?), 1394 (firewire) 800 or 400, etc.</li><li> >80GB HDD</li><li>more than enough RAM for now, adequate RAM for the future</li><li>ability to run software compilers, editors, and debuggers (includes Decoda now too!)</li></ul>Wants are as follows<ul><li>ability to run games (requires a good GPU more than likely)</li><li>best RAM in class</li><li>best CPU in class (best clock speed in mean-of-medians against L1 cache?)</li><li>wireless N</li><li>great quality screen</li></ul>Now, I have to say that my experiences with Vista thus far are fixing other people’s problems with it starting from just the first few days after its initial release until now. I think it sucks, but maybe that’s perspective. (on second thought… no, I think it still sucks) Given the above I’d prefer a MacBook because it fits a lot of the criteria for well-built hardware and a very stable and secure OS. (OS is probably the best part in my mind)
The OS could also prove to be my stumbling block as many manufactures (including UWE) don’t have programs compiled to run on OSX systems. I’m also not too happy about Apple’s price, but I know how they are built and why the costs are what they are. Heck there’s a debate right there… Is the price worth it considering that a durable, reliable system is the #1 priority for a new mobile computer to me?
Feedback <i>please</i>.
<!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->3. The 3D software <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
<i>Question: I need to know what is better between XSI, 3DS Max, and others. What do I need to know to get more in-the-loop with computer game design 3D graphics?</i>
I’m very adept at learning complex concepts and once learned I don’t forget. I need help finding resources though. Any particular books worth buying?
Comments
Drivers are programs like any other. Sloppy programming or mistakes will cause crashes. Since sound drivers run in kernel mode on Windows (<=XP, I think that Vista uses a user mode driver architecture for sound), they cause stop screens. In my experience, sound drivers are the worst offenders too. I just use the onboard sound, and the drivers from Nvidia for it crashed intermittently on GTA3 (and its sequels), while the drivers from Realtek (I think) lock up the system when I close VLC after playing anything with AC3 in it (using direct audio, not with other output options). It blows, but thats how it is, and I doubt the manufacturers give much of a damn.
Personally, as a poor person, I'd say that if you're considering buying a new laptop then you're not as poor as you think you are. Unless you're doing gaming, or high end multimedia, or running more than a few VMs at a time, or something else that is very resource intensive, then you should be able to get a used laptop from a buddy or friend-of-a-friend for $300-500 that will easily suit your needs for years to come. Real poor people learn to do without, of course.
So since you listed gaming as one of your requirements, and I can assume you're not talking about Nethack here, you may as well splurge because you're not poor if gaming is any kind of priority on buying a laptop.
Awesome 3D graphics are so passe in gaming nowadays. Its great for marketing and meaningless for gameplay. Now emergent gameplay, thats where its at. </Ranting Gamer>
Choose one and search for video tutorials on it. I know for a fact there is something like a 12-episode one for Maya that goes through every nook and cranny of its functionality. I would presume an equivalent tutorial arc exists for Max. Have a look at the video tutorials and see which one you like the look of most.
I have only seen them being used. This information comes from an artist working in the games industry who started with Max and now uses Maya for work.
If you've never used 3d design stuff before I might recommend something free first (if you were planning on putting down money for the big name programs). Blender is pretty nice and is what I started with before finding Max. Google has released some kind of freeware 3d modeling program, I haven't touched it yet though. I think it's pretty simple/dumbed down but it might be good for learning.
As someone else said though, tutorial tutorials tutorials. There are tons of them on the internet for free and they cover just about everything on every program. Best method of learning. iirc, max comes with a bunch of tutorials built into it, which are very nice and assume no prior 3d program knowledge. Aka, step by step/very easy. The outcomes of some of the tutorials were pretty nice too.
If I had to recommend one, I'd say get 3dsMax. There are more tutorials available for it so it will be easier to learn. After you get the hang of it you can move onto any other program, the only thing you'll have to relearn is where all the buttons/actions are.
Hope that helps.
Is that the same as the educational version? I was looking through those awhile ago because I wanted a legal copy but they were all running for a couple hundred. Max 8 educational was like 700.
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->3.<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--> So there is an affordable educational version of Maya? (if the personal learning version is free, then I wonder that the con's are about it)
Overall I'm hearing 3dsmax and Maya are equal in capability, but 3dsmax is easier to learn? That's sounds like a definitive pro to me. Does anybody here know who uses what. I had thought Blizzard used a tweaked version of 3dsmax... no idea what VALVe uses tbh...
I listening closely to what you all (TychoCelchuuu, Xyth, Crispy, Private Coleman, etc) are saying here.
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->2.<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--> Skulkbait, as much as I'd prefer to stay cheap I must have something reliable and after working in retail PC sales and repairs I can tell you that $300-$500 will cost me <i>far more</i> in the long run (not just in repair-replacement dollars either; i.e.: downtime). I'm having to view this as a capital investment. In that sense, I'm pretty much going to put gaming capability LOW on the priority list. (hence why I'm separating needs vs. wants). I'd like to get a system that will fit in with business and education needs primarily, with maybe a bit of recreational use but even then most for that system just web-based at that. Would I like a gaming system? Sure! Would I like a personal jet too? Sure! I'm trying to make a capital expenditure the yield the most powerful and reliable system for a reasonable cost.
In short, I'm thinking along these lines
existing supercomputer desktop = gaming machine running a Windows OS
new laptop = non-gaming mobile (ie: WiFi) workstation for business & educational uses primarily
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->1.<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--> As far as the BSOD issue, it's still occurring and guess what I found out? There is the cmudaxp.sys in the Razer Barracuda driver's folder and on also in the Windows' System32 folder.
I wonder if that could be causing the conflict. In anycase, it's getting <i>really</i> annoying now...
This is ridiculous. First it was ASUS sound card that came with the motherboard, then Creative sound card, now it's the high-end Razer card? <b>What the ###### am I supposed to do now?!?!</b>
Blizzard uses max I think, Valve uses Softimage (but much of the TF2 team uses Maya), Lucasarts uses Maya, Starbreeze uses Maya, etc. The split is probably APPROXIMATELY (very roughly) 60 max/40 Maya which of course leaves out all the other programs but really it doesn't matter because if you know max it's easy to pick up Maya and vice versa.
The program barely matters at all, really. What matters is the artist. Just like you can learn to paint with oil if you learned watercolor first, or just like you can draw with a pen or with charcoal or with a pencil or with whatever, the way you create something is secondary to your skills at creating.
Quite true. Goes along digitizing stuff for the portfolio. Graphite sticks and blenders have been a favored medium for me in the past.
Yeah sure, if you insist on using it in an oven or kicking it a lot. I've got a P3 laptop I pulled out of a dumpster 5 years ago that still runs flawlessly.
I started investigating for everything I could find about this system file. I started by runing an improved version of file compare while testing a few other possible issues in command prompt. Check out the highlighted/selected output.
<img src="http://xzianthia.net/images/screenshot_cmudaxp_cmd.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Not only are they exact matches (just in different folders), the md5 checksum is <i>exactly</i> the same! Why in the hell...? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
The next logical place to check would be dxdiag or Device manager.
Here's what dxdiag says...
<img src="http://xzianthia.net/images/screenshot_cmudaxp_dxdiag.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Here's what Device Manager says...
<img src="http://xzianthia.net/images/screenshot_cmudaxp_DM0.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />
...and here's Device Manager in more detail where you can see it is alone on IRQ 18 and with I/O 9C00 to 9CFF
<img src="http://xzianthia.net/images/screenshot_cmudaxp_detail.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Oh and btw the frequency of the BSOD comming up has increased.
This system is queaky clean, not even on the internet, check disked, defraged, only 129MB to 136MB RAM occupied when finished booting-up, all other hardware fine (should be it's nice hardware, lol!).
The only other weird thing I can find at all is only visible though the app Filemon (which outputs all read & write accesses to the HDD's) in which explorer.exe is accessing the D:\ drive (the one that doesn't have the OS on it) for the following two programs which do NOT seem to exist:
<!--fonto:Courier--><span style="font-family:Courier"><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->kavo.exe
o.exe<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->
That's really screwed up if that's right because this system hasn't been on the internet since that started. (it's not connected to a LAN with internet access either, in case you are thinking they came through on .net packets) Those files don't seem to exist and I don't like what google is turning up about them... Hell that's most likely completely unrelated, but still yet another issue nonetheless. The manufacture won't even remotely listen until I investigate this other issue now... !@#^&$#@!!!1
/me is upset about this system
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
If it is a worm I'm at a loss at how it could have gotten on a computer that is cut off from the net. (I know it wasn't doing that earlier, and it was just as isolated then too) Flashdrive maybe? But from what, saving text docs, UWE podcasts, html files, C# source code, and a few .gif or .jpg images? Come on...
The biggest issue is the BSOD which I don't see how the two could be related since as was said earlier, it's in the kernel layer of the OS involving a sound card .sys file.
'Is there anybody there?' said the Traveller,
Knocking on the moonlit door;
And his horse in the silence champed the grasses
Of the forest's ferny floor:
And a bird flew up out of the turret,
Above the Traveller's head
And he smote upon the door again a second time;
'Is there anybody there?' he said.
But no one descended to the Traveller;
No head from the leaf-fringed sill
Leaned over and looked into his grey eyes,
Where he stood perplexed and still.
But only a host of phantom listeners
That dwelt in the lone house then
Stood listening in the quiet of the moonlight
To that voice from the world of men:
Stood thronging the faint moonbeams on the dark stair,
That goes down to the empty hall,
Hearkening in an air stirred and shaken
By the lonely Traveller's call.
And he felt in his heart their strangeness,
Their stillness answering his cry,
While his horse moved, cropping the dark turf,
'Neath the starred and leafy sky;
For he suddenly smote on the door, even
Louder, and lifted his head:-
'Tell them I came, and no one answered,
That I kept my word,' he said.
Never the least stir made the listeners,
Though every word he spake
Fell echoing through the shadowiness of the still house
From the one man left awake:
Ay, they heard his foot upon the stirrup,
And the sound of iron on stone,
And how the silence surged softly backward,
When the plunging hoofs were gone.
I hope he doesn't play maple story.
And besides it can't be related the annoying BSOD anyways.
More interesting stuff about the ####ing BSOD by the way:
I can prevent Warcraft III from causing the BSOD by disabling 3D sound. (thus far seems to work)
No hl.exe or hl2.exe engine-based game seems to cause the crash.
GRAW2.exe now crashes on initial program load-up.
The kavo.exe spyware has been eliminated in any case. I came in via one of my flashdrives. (so it was another computer that must be using one of those programs)
Sometimes that crap ships with the flash drive. There was a news article about that somewhere...{<a href="http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/04/09/1252246" target="_blank">slashdot.org link</a>}
Flame the tech support? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
Also try get a image of hirens 9.0 or better, its got some bad ass hardware diagnostic tools on it to check memory and hard drive stuff. It will let you do a burn in also so you can check for overheating problems which might also be your issue since its only happening during games.
As far as the hardware, I've had a few issues with this system (MacBook bought summer of 2006). The plastic around the keyboard is lifted off of the side by about 1 mm. At one point the plastic was lifted up at the front right also, where my wrist rests on it while using the touchpad, and the plastic eventually chipped off there (same with my friend's MacBook). Both of those things are easy to fix by taking the laptop into an Apple store and leaving it overnight (neither problem stopped the computer from working though, so it was done at our convenience). The only other thing I've had happen is that the insulation wore away on the power cord, so I had to take that in to get replaced (for free).
That evokes interesting mental pictures.
"Okay guys? So, like, I'm just going to leave this laptop on the counter here and walk out, right?. I'm going to come back tomorrow and pick it up again. And if it so happens than anyone replaces the worn bits of cabinet, that would be just peachy. I wouldn't mind that at all."
Also try get a image of hirens 9.0 or better, its got some bad ass hardware diagnostic tools on it to check memory and hard drive stuff. It will let you do a burn in also so you can check for overheating problems which might also be your issue since its only happening during games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No it's not the memory at all as I've already tried using different chips. (and you can see above from single and dual channel that I was trying different slots)
If it was hardware it would be well in my experience to fix it. The glitch is in the kernel layer of the OS.
It happens basically for whatever reason when a game launches or exits and it switches to/away from the WindowsXP desktop environment to a full screen render of the game, any game. Actually doesn't even have to be a game (i.e.: playing a DVD movie)
Now for a reason that is beyond me in some games it doesn't seem to cause it as much (still can by rarer) but in other games they BSOD the instant they try to go full screen.
As I continue to investigate this with ProcessExplorer I'm finding that the exact moment of the crash occurs not as a result of the graphics card going full screen, but rather when the application switches control of the sound to the game. (not sure what this is technically called)
In short somehow the sound drivers and Windows kill each other during this interchange.
I didn't think DirectX or OpenGL ran in the kernel layer?
Now I'm really confused. I think I need to go to Razer about this but now I'm lost as to what to say the problem is exactly. (so I won't get hours and hours of stupid "did you try this" brush-off questions)
If it was hardware it would be well in my experience to fix it. The glitch is in the kernel layer of the OS.
It happens basically for whatever reason when a game launches or exits and it switches to/away from the WindowsXP desktop environment to a full screen render of the game, any game. Actually doesn't even have to be a game (i.e.: playing a DVD movie)
Now for a reason that is beyond me in some games it doesn't seem to cause it as much (still can by rarer) but in other games they BSOD the instant they try to go full screen.
As I continue to investigate this with ProcessExplorer I'm finding that the exact moment of the crash occurs not as a result of the graphics card going full screen, but rather when the application switches control of the sound to the game. (not sure what this is technically called)
In short somehow the sound drivers and Windows kill each other during this interchange.
I didn't think DirectX or OpenGL ran in the kernel layer?
Now I'm really confused. I think I need to go to Razer about this but now I'm lost as to what to say the problem is exactly. (so I won't get hours and hours of stupid "did you try this" brush-off questions)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
get hirens like i said, it has a mini bootable version of several os's