Stabilty issues with XXHE 9y-4 on W7

[claus]

Hi everyone,

my name is Claus. I´m new to XXHE. Coming from my Linux musicserver, using mpd/ncmpc on a realtime kernel. I still prefer the simple console userinterface. But I have to admit, in my system the soundquality of XXHE is superior. So I am trying to get the best out of it - still in demo mode. Peter, you surely have done a remarkable job.

Unfortunately I have stability issues in my setup. After playing some tracks either of the following scenarios or any combination thereof appears:
XXHE stops playing
XXHE closes
Windows BSOD
FF400 freezes

Perhaps could anyone kindly comment on my existing setup or on the next steps I´m considering to overcome these issues.

My setup:
Motherboard Asus M2A-VM HDMI
2 GB RAM
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 RC1 Build 7100
RME Fireface 400 (Firmware 1.70, Driver 2.9991)
SPDIF/Coax
AQVOX USB 2 D/A MKII 24/192 DAC

XXHighend 9y-4
engine 3
device FF400 SPDIF
Double ARC Prediction Upsampling (16/44.1 files only)
Attended
Q1/2/3/4/5 = 0/0/0/0/0
No Invert
Playerprio = Low
ThreadPrio = RealTime

Playing WAV and FLAC (some with cue-files)
16/44.1, 24/96, 24/176.4

Now:
Onboard Realtek HD-Audio disabled in Windows Device Manager
Replaced Windows Firewiredriver with Legacydriver
Optimized performance for background services
Using onboard Firewireport
Using external power source for FF400
FF400 mixer closed

Considering:
using firewirecard with TI-Chip instead of onboard-port
using XXHE unattended mode after installing autohotkey
stopping services
using windows standard vga driver
disabling powersaving options
disabling Ethernet interface
upgrading RAM to 4 GB

Thanks a lot
Claus

[PeterSt]

Hi Claus - This looks like it's going to be a tough one !

Before continuing, can you tell me what this is and why you did it :

Replaced Windows Firewiredriver with Legacydriver

I'm not even aware of different Firewire drivers (but that's me ).

In the mean time, does it make a difference when you disable the HDMI driver ?

Peter

[claus]

Thank you, Peter for your quick reply.

Before continuing, can you tell me what this is and why you did it :

Replaced Windows Firewiredriver with Legacydriver

I'm not even aware of different Firewire drivers (but that's me ).

Please look here...
http://www.rme-audio.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5305

RME says, it's not necessary anymore. But in my system it is. And I'm not the only one.
http://www.rme-audio.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7112

In the mean time, does it make a difference when you disable the HDMI driver ?

Sorry, I forgot about that. HDMI Support is already turned OFF in BIOS.

Of course, I'm also considering an upgrade from W7 RC to final release.

Claus

[PeterSt]

Hi Claus,

Somehow I completely missed your last post but ... I searched for it now having problems with my Fireface myself ...

Three hours later your first link did the trick after replacing the TI driver with the "non-legacy" driver, which doesn't work also. I mean ... how could I know that "legacy" is to be translated in to "(old version)" as my dutch W7 tells me ... (and that link literally showed "(legacy)" between braces and since "(old version)" does too ...

So, great thanks for your coincidental post about this !
(using the wrong Firewire driver constantly let's the RME install hang, won't reboot with the FF powered, won't shut down after a wrong attempt etc. etc., and indeed I was using 2.9991 in the first place).

Now, only now I am up to using the FF(800) actually, but on by search for the install solution I ran into posts similar to what happens to you;
If you are using the legacy fw drivers anyway, why not try an older version ? (I used 2.89 lastly with Vista). To me it is clear there's more going on than RME tells us, just proven by the fact it really needs that legacy fw driver for some (like for you and me); I didn't see many posts about that (actually, only that one you are referring to) ...

I will let you know whether I run into playback problems, although for me it is merely about tests for device selection (for Kernel Streaming). But I will try a few tracks for you.

Again thanks; you saved my day !

Peter

[claus]

Good morning Peter,

Three hours later your first link did the trick after replacing the TI driver with the "non-legacy" driver, which doesn't work also. I mean ... how could I know that "legacy" is to be translated in to "(old version)" as my dutch W7 tells me ... (and that link literally showed "(legacy)" between braces and since "(old version)" does too ...

To be honest, I was already wondering why you aren´t using english OS versions. Would be easier for you in some respects and much easier for us users. Especially when it comes to screenshots. Maybe you would run into keyboard issues. I don´t have any clue, what a dutch keyboard looks like.

So, great thanks for your coincidental post about this !

I´m glad, if I could provide some kind of help in this case.

After reading your comments on W7, I started a new setup on my HP 6730b-Notebook. I really don´t have to stick to W7. By now, I´m not ready tweaking yet. But stability issues have decreased considerably. So my new setup...

HP 6730b Notebook
2 GB RAM
Windows Server 2008 Standard x86 SP2 engl*
Dawicontrol DC-1394 Firewire Expresscard (TI-Chip)
TI-Firewiredriver
RME Fireface 400 (Firmware 1.70, Driver 2.9991)
SPDIF/Coax
AQVOX USB 2 D/A MKII 24/192 DAC

XXHighend 9y-4
Autohotkey
engine 3
device FF400 SPDIF
Double ARC Prediction Upsampling (16/44.1 files only)
Unattended/Services off
Q1/2/3/4/5 = 4/0/0/0/0
No Invert
Playerprio = Low
ThreadPrio = RealTime

* Windows Server 2008 should be pretty much the same as Vista. I don´t have Vista installation media nor license. But I do have volume licenses of Server 2008.

I think, I will post issues and questions regarding my new setup in a new thread, as it doesn´t fit in the title of this one any more.

Claus

[PeterSt]

Hi there Claus,

To be honest, I was already wondering why you aren´t using english OS versions. Would be easier for you in some respects and much easier for us users. Especially when it comes to screenshots.

You are completely right. The problem is, though, that I once started Vista with a dutch version (wrong !!) and after that there is no way of upgrading to an english version. And, a fresh install is undoable because it will take me out for two days or more because of all the development tools that need reinstalling.

Luckily we now have the "language packs", so it is not a big deal to install that, and all will be english. I just didn't come around to that, and after installing W7 I felt I lost enough time for a week or two.

W2008 should be allright, and even better than Vista.
Peter


PS: I didn't come around to playing with sound via the FF (I play a lot without sound, haha), but didn't encounter any strangenesses anyway.

[manisandher]

I didn't see many posts about that (actually, only that one you are referring to) ...

Peter, quite a while ago, I posted this:

If you're intending to use a firewire interface with W7 RC, you'll need to use the legacy driver...

Mani.