Full System hang when playing flash based game.

GZ · Aug 18, 2012

My thread from TSF. Posting here as well with all the amazing Windows gurus that hang about in these halls!!!!

http://www.techsupportforum.com/for...h-install-windows-7-a-661278.html#post3849001

GZ said:
My issue is a full system hang without BSOD (no mem dump). It seems to occur while playing Flash games, like Zynga Poker. Windows hangs completely, no cursor movement, no recovery. I let one hang sit for nearly an hour before hard-resetting.

O.S. - Windows 7 Professional SP1 (amd64)
HW age - Less than 1 year.
Planned reinstallation less than a week ago.
HW change previous to issue - Remove 500GB Seagate SATA drive, install 1TB WD SATA drive. Remove OCZ SSD as OS drive.

History of PC and issue.

The PC is a self built machine (specs in drop down) completed less than a year ago.

First installation of Windows ran without issue.

Second installation of Windows (to SSD) was temporary whilst I organized, consolidated and backed up my files from 4 HDDs. No issues.

Third installation (current install) on 8/13.

Starting on 8/15 the system suffered from a Hang while playing Zynga Poker with my son. Dismissed as a one-off issue.

8/16 I was spending time with my son teaching him about computer hardware and playing Zynga Poker with him the PC suffered an abrupt shutdown (immediate off).

After troubleshooting I found what appeared to be the culprit in a loose SATA power connection to my modular PSU (SeaSonic X650).

The immediate shutdowns ceased, but the hangs still occur.

What I have done (Troubleshooting and repair)
Full gamut of hardware diagnostics;

HDD0 - WD Caviar Black SATA 3 500GB (OS Drive) - Checked and passed

HDD1 - WD Caviar Black SATA 2 1TB - Checked and passed

Memory - 16GB Kingston HyperX Blu - Tested extensively and passed

CPU - AMD Phenom 1100T x6 - OCCT for 2+ hours (pass) Prime95 (DOS - pass)

Full tear-down / inspection of HW components.

Full test of PSU voltages (idle and under load) with Multimeter (Steady voltages well within ATX parameters - pass)

Software Diagnostics and Drivers;

chkdsk c: /f/r - No errors reported

SFC /scannow - No violations or file corruption found

Update Video drivers

Update Chipset drivers

Update SATA drivers

Uninstall and reinstall Flash Player (twice)

Went through Event Viewer and checked/repaired errors.

ToDo list...

Zero write and Fresh installation of Windows...

Attached are the output files of the JCGriff app... Even though there are no dumps.

All system events are post-last crash. I cleared the Event Viewer Log files earlier today.

It truly appears to me that the system hangs are only occurring when playing Flash based Apps (Zynga Poker). I have not, to my knowledge, had one single crash or hang since this computer was built. (until now)

If you need more info, please ask. If I don't find resolution soon, I am going to procede with the wipe and reinstallation.

Thank you, in advance, for your time and attention.

~GZ

GZ · Aug 18, 2012

More information...

This has been occurring with Flash 11 in IE9.

I am currently attempting to recreate the crash using Google Chrome.

Laxer · Aug 18, 2012

What browser are you playing on Bruce?

I am far from a software expert but I know some browsers have built in flash plug-ins that may also be the culprit...

Have you tried other browsers? IE9/FF/Chrome?

Edit: NVM, you responded while I was typing :lolg:

Patrick · Aug 18, 2012

Hi,

Are you currently on Flash version 11.3? If so, roll back to 11.1 or 11.2. Although it does defeat the purpose of the Flash updates, 11.3 has been causing many issues lately... and I can tell you from personal experience it's not fun (has caused me some display driver crashes, but most of time just Firefox crashes). Whether or not you're using Firefox, 11.3 is an issue in general.. here's a support article talking about it: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/flash-113-crashes

Regards,

Patrick

GZ · Aug 18, 2012

Laxer said:
What browser are you playing on Bruce?

I am far from a software expert but I know some browsers have built in flash plug-ins that may also be the culprit...

Have you tried other browsers? IE9/FF/Chrome?

Edit: NVM, you responded while I was typing :lolg:

No problem whatsoever!!! It was an afterthought!!!!

Also, it may be noteworthy that quite a few Windows updates were installed with the loose power cable... There were quite a few "Disk Errors" in Event Logs during the past week, likely due to the drives losing power. I can only presume that the PSU connection issue was the cause of the sudden shutdowns.

Perhaps the installation of IE9 was corrupted in some fundamental way due to that problem... The main reason why I ran SFC (and the main reason I am seriously considering a complete fresh reinstallation).

In fact, the only thing holding me back at this point is the fact my children are over, and I don't want to waste my time with them futzing with a Windows install.

Patrick said:
Hi,

Are you currently on Flash version 11.3? If so, roll back to 11.1 or 11.2. Although it does defeat the purpose of the Flash updates, 11.3 has been causing many issues lately... and I can tell you from personal experience it's not fun (has caused me some display driver crashes, but most of time just Firefox crashes). Whether or not you're using Firefox, 11.3 is an issue in general.. here's a support article talking about it: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/flash-113-crashes

Regards,

Patrick

I will look into this. Perhaps it is Flash causing the problem.

I just played through an entire tournament hand using Google Chrome with no system hang, or Chrome APP crash. I wouldn't expect Chrome to break Windows because, unlike IE, it isn't tied in with the Windows Kernel...

Thanks for the quick replies fellas... I will check in one more time before I "crash" for the night myself!!!! :lol: (sometimes I am so punny)

GZ · Aug 18, 2012

One more thing before I get ready for bed....

Whenever the system hangs and I am forced to restart, IE will not remember my logons or form info... These items have been saved since, just about, day 1... I have never (that I remember) have had this issue with any browser after a system crash... But then again, this is a new one for me.

Shintaro · Aug 18, 2012

Some ideas:

1/ Disable all the Add-in's in IE.
2/ If you want a crash dump during the hang, you can set a registry key to crash the system.
3/ Or use Driver verifier with Deadlock detection.

jcgriff2 · Aug 18, 2012

Is it a total system freeze requiring a hard-shutdown?

Two things I noticed in your files that would definitly contribute to an "Internet freeze" -

1. Your wifi signal is weak -

Code:

    Name                   : Wireless Network Connection
    Description            : ASUS 802.11n Wireless LAN Card
    Signal                 : 50%

2. A 2009 wifi driver -

Code:

    Driver                    : ASUS 802.11n Wireless LAN Card
    Vendor                    : Pegatron corporation
    Provider                  : Ralink Technology, Corp.
    Date                      : 6/19/2009
    Version                   : 3.0.2.0
    INF file                  : C:\Windows\INF\oem3.inf
    Type                      : Native Wi-Fi Driver
    Radio types supported     : 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n

Ralink is not an easy driver to find an update for usually - http://sysnative.com/drivers/driver.php?id=netr28x.sys

What happens if you use Ethernet?

Update your 6/10/2011 Realtek Ethernet driver first -

http://sysnative.com/drivers/driver.php?id=Rt64win7.sys

I'll keep looking....

John

GZ · Aug 18, 2012

Shintaro said:
Some ideas:

1/ Disable all the Add-in's in IE.
2/ If you want a crash dump during the hang, you can set a registry key to crash the system.
3/ Or use Driver verifier with Deadlock detection.

1. IE has no enabled Add-ins that I am aware of.
2. How do I do that? (don't worry, not a noob to the Windows Registry)
3. I am plainning on setting driver verifier....

jcgriff2 said:
Is it a total system freeze requiring a hard-shutdown?

Two things I noticed in your files that would definitly contribute to an "Internet freeze" -

1. Your wifi signal is weak -

Code:

Name : Wireless Network Connection Description : ASUS 802.11n Wireless LAN Card Signal : 50%

2. A 2009 wifi driver -

Code:

Driver : ASUS 802.11n Wireless LAN Card Vendor : Pegatron corporation Provider : Ralink Technology, Corp. Date : 6/19/2009 Version : 3.0.2.0 INF file : C:\Windows\INF\oem3.inf Type : Native Wi-Fi Driver Radio types supported : 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n

Ralink is not an easy driver to find an update for usually - http://sysnative.com/drivers/driver.php?id=netr28x.sys

What happens if you use Ethernet?

Update your 6/10/2011 Realtek Ethernet driver first -

http://sysnative.com/drivers/driver.php?id=Rt64win7.sys

I'll keep looking....

John

It is a full system hang, no response to keyboard / mouse or other input... Requires a hard restart.
I will update the WiFi driver as soon as I find one... I used the driver I was using on both previous installs. The reason the signal is so weak is the location of my computer. The electrical lines running through the house cause a bit of signal interference between the basement and first floor.
I can't use ethernet ATM... I need to run a cable down here. It is in the works, because I will be running my server down here as well. I don't think I will run out of Ethernet ports though... I have 2 Cisco 24 port Gigabit switches to utilize!!!! :lol:

jcgriff2 · Aug 18, 2012

Windows was just installed 5 days ago. msinfo32 WERCON is empty, yet I do see WER files.

Bring up an Admin CMD prompt; run these 2 commands:

Code:

xcopy "%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\WER" "%userprofile%\documents\wer" /i /s /y

Code:

xcopy "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\WER" "%userprofile%\documents\wer2" /i /s /y

2 new folders in Documents - wer & wer2

Zip them up. Zip & RAR attachment limits here = 7.5 MB

I'm not sure what, if anything, will be in those WER files. Not much info to go on here given OS is only 5 days old.

GZ · Aug 18, 2012

I cleared event viewer of logs... probably why the discrepancy exists.... will do so as soon as I get home.

jcgriff2 · Aug 18, 2012

Please also run Speccy - http://www.piriform.com/speccy
- "File" | "Publish Snapshot" | Paste URL into your next post

GZ · Aug 19, 2012

Okay, John... Here are the files you requested!

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/r8qR4i6mYj4V0oqEjSVJ45Q

I think you are enjoying this!!!!

Patrick · Aug 19, 2012

John does love his troubleshooting! :grin1:

GZ · Aug 19, 2012

I have updated everything I can think of updating... And, John... I cannot find an updated driver for the WiFi adapter... I searched the ASUS support site to no avail, and the vanilla Ralink drivers did not work. Perhaps I have to modify the .inf file.

I am beginning to suspect Flash Player as the culprit... I have been hearing about and seeing a bunch of Flash related issues with the latest updates... I am going to revert to Flash 11.2 without automatic updating and see what happens.

Patrick said:
John does love his troubleshooting! :grin1:

Yes... I suppose he does. I think he gets excited when Windows has problems!!!! I hear it in his voice!!!

EDIT: (8/19 0102)

Flash 11.3 has been fully removed and Flash 11.2 has been successfully installed... I am going to play some Zynga Poker and see if we crash out...

EDIT: (8/19 0128)
Looking promising... I played through an entire tournament table without a system crash... Going to play, at least, one more before bed...

EDIT: (8/19 0151)
Nope... Full system freeze, non-responsive had to perform a hard shut down...

There is one Error I am seeing a bunch of in Event Viewer... and almost consistently shown after a crash...

Code:

Log Name:      Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-EventTracing/Admin
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-EventTracing
Date:          8/19/2012 1:48:40 AM
Event ID:      3
Task Category: Session
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Session
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      Swansong
Description:
Session "Microsoft Security Client OOBE" stopped due to the following error: 0xC000000D
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-EventTracing" Guid="{B675EC37-BDB6-4648-BC92-F3FDC74D3CA2}" />
    <EventID>3</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>2</Level>
    <Task>2</Task>
    <Opcode>14</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x8000000000000010</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2012-08-19T05:48:40.903619900Z" />
    <EventRecordID>27</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="188" />
    <Channel>Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-EventTracing/Admin</Channel>
    <Computer>Swansong</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data Name="SessionName">Microsoft Security Client OOBE</Data>
    <Data Name="FileName">C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Microsoft Security Client\Support\EppOobe.etl</Data>
    <Data Name="ErrorCode">3221225485</Data>
    <Data Name="LoggingMode">5</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

I think I am going to uninstall IE9 and reinstall it... Just for S&G.

EDIT: (8/19 0250)
Well... I was waiting for updates to finish installing on my daughter's computer so I uninstalled IE9 and reverted to IE8. Played quite a few hands of Zynga Poker without a system freeze.
This is far from over, but I will run like this for a few days or until I have a system freeze again... Don't worry... I will keep you updated.

EDIT: (8/19 0351)
The frustration never ends... Another system hang. IE8/Flash 11.2.
I am done for the night... It is nearly 4am and I want to get up with my kids in a few hours. I am this close to a full system reinstall. I won't lose much, that's for sure.
My only problem with this is the fact that these freezes do not seem random. They only happen when I am playing Zynga Poker... I have worked on the computer, let it run, ran diagnostics and burn-in tests... No hiccups... But shortly after getting on Zynga Poker my system is locking up tighter than Fort Knox...

Well... It is off to sleep for a few hours. See you all at some point in the morrow.

jcgriff2 · Aug 19, 2012

Your last posted event contained an exception related to OOBE - 0xc000000d = STATUS_INVALID_PARAMETER = An invalid parameter was passed to a service or function.

File = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Microsoft Security Client\Support\EppOobe.etl

Try file deletion/re-name in 2nd-to-last post by Suzarin - http://social.technet.microsoft.com...y/thread/ce8f9d22-b5cc-4378-8e97-92d615030b5c

Most of the WER files are benign and related to W7 looking for a USB Device driver; an issue with xBox; and probably nothing... but what driver & device is this INF file for? -

Read More:

GZ · Aug 19, 2012

The only driver I got that error with was the NIC driver... Realtek... I tried installing it through windows DM rather than using the installer.

jcgriff2 · Aug 19, 2012

Set TeamViewer service to manual.

No voltage expert here; per Speccy -

+12V: 11.681 V
+5V: 4.872 V
CPU CORE: 1.272 V
VIN3: 1.668 V
VIN4: 2.160 V
+3.3V: 3.147 V
VIN6: 1.272 V
VIN7: 2.292 V
VIN8: 1.668 V

Can you get readings from BIOS?

Wrench97 · Aug 19, 2012

+12V: 11.681 V in spec but on the low side same for both the 5v and 3.3v where did these readings come from?

Laxer · Aug 19, 2012

Wrench97 said:
+12V: 11.681 V in spec but on the low side same for both the 5v and 3.3v where did these readings come from?

1.3v is also a bit low but probably due to being used currently...

I highly doubt the PSU is related but BIOS will be able to give us better results :grin1:

@Wrench97, these came from speccy I believe. (can't use Bruce as there are two! :lolg:)

Full System hang when playing flash based game.

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