VISTA screen saver shuts down 0.9z-4.1

[bgjohan]

Hi Pater

My laptop (VISTA 32) is now working using 0.9z-4.1 (did not work with 0.9z-4.1).

However I have a problem with the screen saver, which cuts out XX play after 15 min.
I have power saving shut off in the VISTA 32 Control panel (Power down = never, Screen saver=never).
However, the display nevertheless goes into screen saving mode after 15 min. XX play and XX sound disappears.

The problem remain the same whether I play XX;

a. Attended mode
b. Unatteneded (Stop Desktop services)
c. Unattended (Stop Desktop/Remaining Services; Do not start palyback at all).

When checking out play in a. and b. I could see an ATI Process/Service in the Control panel. This ATI Service/Process disappeared in the Control Panel after I tried playing as per c.
However, the screen still goes into screen save mode and kills XX play after 15 min.
Problem the same with desktop running VISTA 64.
I know you have said VISTA is buggy in repsect of power management . Do you have a possible remedy for VISTA, or do you suggest upgrade to WIN7 (as only) way to fix this issue?

Bjorn

[bgjohan]

CORRECTION:
My laptop (VISTA 32) is now working using 0.9z-4.1 (did not work with 0.9z-4.0).

Bjorn

[PeterSt]

Hei Bjorn,

Hmm ... what about obtaining that ATI process in the Excluded Services/Processes ? All should be related to that s/p not running anymore (well, it looks like it).

Peter

[bgjohan]

Peter

Keeping (not shuting down) the Process "ATI External Event Utility" did not help either with laptop (VISTA32) or desktop (VISTA 64). 
By shutting down the Process "ATI External Event Utility" before starting XX, I was able to keep XX working even after screen goes into sleep mode in my VISTA64 desktop, but laptop (VISTA32) still shuts down XX when screen goes into sleep mode.

I may try to upgrade laptop to WIN7 (SP1) and see if that will fix this problem (as WIN7 seems to provide other benefits as well).

Bjorn 

[PeterSt]

Thank you for the feedback Bjorn. Notice though that it would be my idea to get it solved without installing another OS, but this is up to you of course (only saying that I'm willing to help ... somehow).

Peter

[bgjohan]

Peter
Thanks for your offer to be of assistance.

One, possibly essential, piece of information that I did not elaborate on before is that I am storing the music on a central NAS and accessing the music files via LAN (both with desktop VISTA 64 and laptop VISTA32). In this respect both desktop and laptop accessing music files the same way.

However, the routing and processing of the sound differs between the desktop and the laptop.
The desktop (VISTA64) running sound (KS, engine4) thorugh an internal PCI sound card (M-Audio 192) while laptop sound (KS, engine4) sent via FW to external M-AUdio 610 DAC.

With the laptop, when no sound after screen saver engages, it seems that XX is still playing (unattended, copy to XX drove C:, all services stopped, start with ALT-P) but no sound emerges.

I can see two possible scenarios for interference from the screen saver (but willl have to do some further testing to verify) to stop sound on the laptop (VISTA32).

a. Screen saver mode interfers with LAN access (but if playing Unattended, start with ALT-P; should not all data alreday have been copied to XX disc C: ??)

b. screen saver interfers with FW sound driver and interrupts sound.

Bjorn

[PeterSt]

Maybe I know it ... (but I forgot partly also) ...

At least with Vista there's a problem with power management and engaging internal "priority stuff" interferes with that. This (if IIRC) also will never get the PC to go to sleep or something. Btw, this (or sort of this) has been described by MS as well, and is related to the clock resolution. Think something like : a too high resolution (lower number) and the "something" won't go to sleep anymore. Especially laptops, again IIRC. But, this should be solved in W7. Yea, right, but not when it's tweaked back, and XX does that (just saying, and in case you might see the problem on W7). But ...

I don't know this anymore, because or
Vista SP1 solvbed it
or
I applied different screen saver settings (I sure ever did)
or
it is pure WASAPI related (Engine#3 which you do not use).

anyway ... you may see the problem teh other way around now. Screensaver works, but affects sound production (backfires).

I'd say : remove the screen saver (deactivate it). What I do (for years by now) is just let the monitor fall asleep (45 minutes btw). This is an Energy setting.

Maybe this helps ?

Regards,
Peter

[bgjohan]

Peter

I should not have used the term screen saver, my problem is with the VISTA power saver function.
Although I have changed the VISTA power saver function from original 15 min setting (power down screen as well as shutting down computer) to "Never", the screen still goes dark after about 10 min and XX sound disappears. Yesterday I tried with settings at after "45 min" (for both) and screen still went dark after 10 min. and XX sound disappeared.

I have checked in the BIOS of my laptop and I cannot find any BIOS power savong functions to set.

I have disabled the "ATI External Event Utility" process - it does no longer appear under the Task Manager list of Processes or Services.

Yesterday I tried XX playing FLAC files from the laptop harddrive with same results - screen powers down after 10 min. and XX sound disappears. Seems that we can then rule out my thouht of interference with LAN connection when playing FLAC files stored on the central NAS.

So, central issue, how can I get laptop to not power down screen after 10 min. If not just from changing settings in the Power Options in the Contol Panel, which does not seem to work, the timing before laptop activates the Power saving functions may need to be adjusted directly in the Registry - a process that I myself is not entirely familiar and comfortable with.

Bjorn

[PeterSt]

Question in between :

Do we agree that this only happens with the Services and all shutting down ?

If so, it should be clear that too much shuts down for you. And remember, it is you who determined this one (ATI) process. Maybe there are more involved ?

But let me know the question put in bold.
Peter

[bgjohan]

Peter

VISTA screen/power saver stops XX sound in each and all of the following cases:

a. Unattended
b. Attended, shut down only desktop services (but allow LAN to run).
c. Attended, shut down both desktop and other services (but allow LAN to run).

Bjorn

[PeterSt]

Hello Bjorn,

That would mean that your Aero stuff needs to be on somehow. Or the desktop in general.

Well, obviously both can be prevented from shutting down by not shutting down the Desktop Services; At this moment I'm not even sure whether you can deactivate this while using the others "shutdown" services. Probably not.
All I can say is that it will take out an important SQ bettering appliance, and this is not so good (for you) ...

Always nice ... laptops ...

I may try to upgrade laptop to WIN7 (SP1) and see if that will fix this problem (as WIN7 seems to provide other benefits as well).

Before you waste your time ... maybe this doesn't help !

[bgjohan]

Peter

Last week the processor cooling fan in my laptop started to make loud noises and I brought it in to a repair shop to have the fan replaced.
The repair shop said that the laptop was overheating with the malfunctioning fan and suggested (in addition to the fan replacemnet) to place the laptop on a platform with a fan for improved cooling.
Following the replacement of the fan, the screen still goes into dark (sleepmode) after about 10 min., but XX is still producing sound with screen in sleep mode, so I do not really mind.   

Bjorn

[PeterSt]

Huh ?

So what you are saying is that the extra cooling solved the initial problem ?
Wild ...

If you don't want the screen saver to jump in, I guess that can be solved always (somehow -> a matter of finding *what* goes to sleep in the monitor/graphisc area).

But thank you very much for the feedback.
Peter