Interrupt Storm crashes WinXP SP2

Caithleann · Jul 11, 2005, 07:54 PM

Dear Eugene, Russ et all.

Two weeks ago I reinstalled Windows XP and this time I updated it to SP2 as well.
I have used the KX Audio drivers for several years with good results although I did have the annoying screeching problems from time to time which I turned off by disabling hyper threading.

Now I have an entirely new bug to report that I don't think anyone has reported yet, namely a packet storm that actually shuts off the computer abruptly. No warning signs, it just turns off.
This has happened 3 times now, meaning it is sporadic and unpredictable.

I have send the error report to Microsoft and their solution page suggests that it is caused by the soundcard (causing a packet storm) see below:

Solution found: contact Creative Technology®, Ltd. to obtain the update

[color=#6487dc]Problem description[/color]

Thank you for submitting an error report. The error was likely caused by Creative Technologies Sound Card.

[color=#6487dc]Solution[/color]

Creative Technologies Sound Card was created by Creative Technology®, Ltd.. Creative Technology®, Ltd. informed Microsoft that they have a solution available for the problem you reported. To learn more about the solution, Creative Technology®, Ltd. recommends that you visit the following website:

[color=blue]http://us.creative.com/support/kb/article.asp?l=1&sid=6362[/color]

At Creative we find:

Solution ID # 6362

[color=white]OCA emu10km error response[/color]

"These driver files are for Creative Labs customers who have recently installed Windows XP on a system that has a Live! series sound card physically installed and have encountered a problem that caused the Windows Error Report dialog box to be displayed. "

And they want the unsuspecting user to download a rather gigantic 24+ Mb file to "fix" the problem. Naturally if the user does that, he or she will unknowingly wipe out the KX Drivers. The Driver file is the LiveDrvUni-Pack(ENG).exe at 23,879 Kb.
This is the (updated?) Soundblaster Software.

My system runs on the
ASUS P4C800 DeLuxe motherboard
512 Mb Memory
Intel P4, 2.4MHz CPU
Intel 875 Chipset
Soundblaster Live! Card
KX Driver 3537

I did not have this problem on the previous installation of Windows XP. I have not yet heard the ugly screaming sounds either but then again, Hyper Threading is still turned off in the BIOS and a reinstall of Windows does not affect BIOS settings. This means in my opinion that we have a brand new bug to deal with.
Interrupts are sent as a result of software driving it and since KX is driving it I must assume that this is the right place to report it.

I would love to hear if anyone else has (had) this problem. If there is no solution available or a soultion can not be found I will have to remove the soundcard as a spontaneous rebooting of my computer is a poor trade for ASIO enabled commercial failware. (Soundblaster card)

Thanks so much for your help,

Caithleann

Russ · Jul 12, 2005, 12:26 AM

What do you mean by packet storm? Unfortunatley, the Creative KB Solution ID that you were refered to, is very generic. It does not even contain a simple decsription of the problem, nor the symptoms (the Windows error reporting tool comes up with any problem that causes a crash, so that in itself is also generic). It just looks like it is Creative's way of ensuring that you are using the latest drivers and does not seem to be related to any specific problem. I would not come to any conclusions based on that KB Article.

Depeding on the BIOS and some settings, installing an OS can in fact change BIOS settings. I would check the resouces that were assigned to the sound card, and try (if possible) to make sure that the IRQ used by the sound card is not shared with any other hardware (you may have to move the card to a different slot, even though it worked fine previously in it's current location). Considering that it worked fine before the OS reinsintall, I would troubleshoot it with that in mind, and try and think about what could be different, and the resource mapping would seem likely.

BTW: I am not sure why you specifically mentioned me in this post. I am just a kX user like you. I (like many others) just try to help out other kX users when I can.

-Russ

Maddogg6 · Jul 12, 2005, 01:11 AM

Im sure its because hes seen you answer (and help) so many other posters...

Jul 11, 2005, 07:54 PM	#1
Caithleann HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California USA Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Interrupt Storm crashes WinXP SP2 Dear Eugene, Russ et all. Two weeks ago I reinstalled Windows XP and this time I updated it to SP2 as well. I have used the KX Audio drivers for several years with good results although I did have the annoying screeching problems from time to time which I turned off by disabling hyper threading. Now I have an entirely new bug to report that I don't think anyone has reported yet, namely a packet storm that actually shuts off the computer abruptly. No warning signs, it just turns off. This has happened 3 times now, meaning it is sporadic and unpredictable. I have send the error report to Microsoft and their solution page suggests that it is caused by the soundcard (causing a packet storm) see below: Solution found: contact Creative Technology®, Ltd. to obtain the update [color=#6487dc]Problem description[/color] Thank you for submitting an error report. The error was likely caused by Creative Technologies Sound Card. [color=#6487dc]Solution[/color] Creative Technologies Sound Card was created by Creative Technology®, Ltd.. Creative Technology®, Ltd. informed Microsoft that they have a solution available for the problem you reported. To learn more about the solution, Creative Technology®, Ltd. recommends that you visit the following website: [color=blue]http://us.creative.com/support/kb/article.asp?l=1&sid=6362[/color] At Creative we find: Solution ID # 6362 [color=white]OCA emu10km error response[/color] "These driver files are for Creative Labs customers who have recently installed Windows XP on a system that has a Live! series sound card physically installed and have encountered a problem that caused the Windows Error Report dialog box to be displayed. " And they want the unsuspecting user to download a rather gigantic 24+ Mb file to "fix" the problem. Naturally if the user does that, he or she will unknowingly wipe out the KX Drivers. The Driver file is the LiveDrvUni-Pack(ENG).exe at 23,879 Kb. This is the (updated?) Soundblaster Software. My system runs on the ASUS P4C800 DeLuxe motherboard 512 Mb Memory Intel P4, 2.4MHz CPU Intel 875 Chipset Soundblaster Live! Card KX Driver 3537 I did not have this problem on the previous installation of Windows XP. I have not yet heard the ugly screaming sounds either but then again, Hyper Threading is still turned off in the BIOS and a reinstall of Windows does not affect BIOS settings. This means in my opinion that we have a brand new bug to deal with. Interrupts are sent as a result of software driving it and since KX is driving it I must assume that this is the right place to report it. I would love to hear if anyone else has (had) this problem. If there is no solution available or a soultion can not be found I will have to remove the soundcard as a spontaneous rebooting of my computer is a poor trade for ASIO enabled commercial failware. (Soundblaster card) Thanks so much for your help, Caithleann __________________ One cannot lie unless one knows the truth! Last edited by Caithleann; Jul 11, 2005 at 08:11 PM.

Jul 12, 2005, 12:26 AM	#2
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	What do you mean by packet storm? Unfortunatley, the Creative KB Solution ID that you were refered to, is very generic. It does not even contain a simple decsription of the problem, nor the symptoms (the Windows error reporting tool comes up with any problem that causes a crash, so that in itself is also generic). It just looks like it is Creative's way of ensuring that you are using the latest drivers and does not seem to be related to any specific problem. I would not come to any conclusions based on that KB Article. Depeding on the BIOS and some settings, installing an OS can in fact change BIOS settings. I would check the resouces that were assigned to the sound card, and try (if possible) to make sure that the IRQ used by the sound card is not shared with any other hardware (you may have to move the card to a different slot, even though it worked fine previously in it's current location). Considering that it worked fine before the OS reinsintall, I would troubleshoot it with that in mind, and try and think about what could be different, and the resource mapping would seem likely. BTW: I am not sure why you specifically mentioned me in this post. I am just a kX user like you. I (like many others) just try to help out other kX users when I can. -Russ

Jul 12, 2005, 01:11 AM	#3
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	Im sure its because hes seen you answer (and help) so many other posters...