GameEx Odd Freezing Issue

[Necromancyr]

I'm having an odd freezing issue in GameEx that is seemingly random. Basically, everything just locks up. Can't do anything except hard reset the computer to get something to work again.

I've checked the logs and there's nothing in there - I'll post them, along with everything else, but I'm wondering if there was a way to activate verbose logging that I might be missing so I can grab that as well.Reason being that I've had this occur just sitting at my main menu (custom menu) and...the log just says 'going back to GameEx' (or the text used for that) after exiting MAME...there's nothing showing what's causing the freeze. I've turned off all screensavers, power savings, etc., as well since I thought that might be causing the issue.

[Adultery]

I have two thoughts on this. Either you have a failing hdd/ram module or your video drivers need updating.

That's obviously just an off the cuff guess though.

I would start with a mem test. :-)

[Draco1962]

In addition to your log files, check Event Viewer to see if there are any errors. I had a freezing issue once that turned out to be my storage HDD which was one of the WD Green drives. They will power down after about 20 mins and would cause things to slow respond while the drive was spinning back up again.

[Necromancyr]

Did a memtest and hdd scans, don't seem to be issues there...which is good and bad. It means potentially something screwed up with Windows. Doing a full reinstall won't be fun. Trying to update everything now via Windows update and see if that works. Also, going to try removing USB devices to see if that fixes things and just run super minimal.

Fun fun fun.

Ah crap...hwinterface.sys load errors coming up in the system logs (Event Viewer). No real error code/source so I don't know what's causing it...damn.

[Draco1962]

Have you recently installed a new program? Were the error messages showing the same CLSID? Here is an example of one such error where the OP had installed/ran something that had to be remedied via changes to the registry. It is possible if multiple CLSIDs that your best option will be a reinstall of Windows.

[Necromancyr]

Haha! I saw that same link! No CLSID - just the error with no info. And no software, etc. I'm trying to just remove everything except for the bare minimums and then go from there. The system is completely updated at this point except for my MB drivers...need to confirm they are updated (it's old so they should be).

I also removed the second HDD in the machine (the other is a SSD) just to see if the pagefile on that drive is causing issues as noted above. Now I need to try to cause a crash to happen.

[DazzleHP]

This is one them moments (had it been myself) that i am glad to have a dual boot system. Thing is, if you boot Windows and it's playing up, then boot Linux and that too is playing up, you can pretty much guarantee a hardware failure of some sort without the need of any real troubleshooting. But, you wouldn't believe the amount of times when windows comes up garbage, for seamingly no reason, only to boot Linux and everything is hunky dorey

By reading the previous posts i assume you're doing your best to rule out hardware failure and presumably, after much testing, you'll backup and clean install windows. Have a Linux partition and you can pretty much guarantee all the previous without any hard testing, don't even need a partition TBH. Can run it from a DVD Rom, a USB stick/Drive or an SD card of some sort - has saved my bacon far too many times that i would like to admit

[Necromancyr]

Hehe...I'm leaning towards the wipe now. I'm seeing WHEA-Logger errors that I never noticed before. It's something related to hardware but I can't figure out exactly what's causing it. It's being reported by my processor core which makes no sense at all....especially since the thing isn't hot. Unless there's some driver issue causing it related to the processor...and if that's the case...I have not a CLUE how to fix it. :/

Really REALLY don't want to reconfig/setup everything. Took so much time the first time...kind of sucks. A lot.

[Draco1962]

That sux! Hate to see ya have to wipe and reinstall. Just be sure to do a complete backup of your GameEx folder and subs (not to mention your ROMs, etc.) and, after you reinstall copy back over the new install with your backup.

[Necromancyr]

Given the errors I'm getting, it may actually be something hardware related. I just need some time to do the reinstall to test that out and then determine if I need a new PC. FUN!

[Necromancyr]

...and, with a reinstally, it appears that the old computer I was using has finally started to kick the bucket. Guess it's time to rebuild.

[Draco1962]

Ouch! So are you going to get a preassembled kit or build your own from scratch?

[DazzleHP]

Ouch! So are you going to get a preassembled kit or build your own from scratch?

Yes, do tell! Obviously if you've built your own before we already know the answer