Steam-based games cause sound loop, crash and HDD click

Aegis · Feb 21, 2010

So far this only seems to be happening with Steam-based games. (TF2, HL2, etc.) Though I bought Bioshock 2 through Steam, it too crashes, but these are normal game crashes where the screen goes black, you crash to desktop and Windows properly reports that the game crashed, and you're back at a responsive desktop.

With the Steam games, after a random amount of time, the game's audio will loop and the frames will lock, then the hard drives will begin to click once per second constantly.

If I'm quick, you can CTRL+ALT+DEL and click LOGOFF to get to the desktop and start again, but if the HDDs begin clicking, you have to do a shutdown in time or the whole PC becomes unresponsive. After a forced shutdown, the BIOS will sometimes reports issues before being able to boot up normally.

Through the troubleshooting process, Valve requested a dump, which at that time, I performed, however that was a time when the HDD never clicked (because I had time to ALT+TAB out of the game and do the dump write) With the HDD click errors, you simply don't have the time to write a dump.

But I've hosted the dump file for review here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

zigzag3143 · Feb 21, 2010

Aegis said:
So far this only seems to be happening with Steam-based games. (TF2, HL2, etc.) Though I bought Bioshock 2 through Steam, it too crashes, but these are normal game crashes where the screen goes black, you crash to desktop and Windows properly reports that the game crashed, and you're back at a responsive desktop.

With the Steam games, after a random amount of time, the game's audio will loop and the frames will lock, then the hard drives will begin to click once per second constantly.

If I'm quick, you can CTRL+ALT+DEL and click LOGOFF to get to the desktop and start again, but if the HDDs begin clicking, you have to do a shutdown in time or the whole PC becomes unresponsive. After a forced shutdown, the BIOS will sometimes reports issues before being able to boot up normally.

Through the troubleshooting process, Valve requested a dump, which at that time, I performed, however that was a time when the HDD never clicked (because I had time to ALT+TAB out of the game and do the dump write) With the HDD click errors, you simply don't have the time to write a dump.

But I've hosted the dump file for review here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Aegis

This crash was caused by shaderapidx9.dll There are several fixes listed on this page. shaderapidx9.dll - Google Search

Let us know if you need help

Ken

Code:

Microsoft (R) Windows Debugger Version 6.11.0001.404 X86
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


Loading Dump File [C:\Users\K\Desktop\8827-PDKV-2806.mdmp]
User Mini Dump File: Only registers, stack and portions of memory are available

Symbol search path is: SRV*d:\symbols*[URL="http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols"]Symbol information[/URL]
Executable search path is: 
Windows 7 Version 7600 MP (8 procs) Free x86 compatible
Product: WinNt, suite: SingleUserTS
Machine Name:
Debug session time: Thu Jan 28 22:36:20.000 2010 (GMT-5)
System Uptime: not available
Process Uptime: 0 days 2:12:58.000
................................................................
................................................................
..
eax=0018dddc ebx=00000000 ecx=11c3e638 edx=00000000 esi=11c3e638 edi=0018dd38
eip=11ae8c35 esp=0018dc94 ebp=00000000 iopl=0         nv up ei pl nz ac pe nc
cs=0023  ss=002b  ds=002b  es=002b  fs=0053  gs=002b             efl=00000216
Unable to load image d:\Games\program files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\aegiskleais\team fortress 2\bin\shaderapidx9.dll, Win32 error 0n2
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for shaderapidx9.dll
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for shaderapidx9.dll
shaderapidx9+0x8c35:
11ae8c35 8bf1            mov     esi,ecx
0:000> !analyze -v
*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Exception Analysis                                   *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

Unable to load image C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ieframe.dll, Win32 error 0n2
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for ieframe.dll
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for Steam.dll
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for Steam.dll
Unable to load image d:\Games\program files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\aegiskleais\team fortress 2\bin\vstdlib.dll, Win32 error 0n2
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for vstdlib.dll
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for vstdlib.dll
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for tier0.dll
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for tier0.dll
Unable to load image D:\Games\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamclient.dll, Win32 error 0n2
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for steamclient.dll
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for steamclient.dll
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for tier0_s.dll
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for tier0_s.dll
*************************************************************************
***                                                                   ***
***                                                                   ***
***    Your debugger is not using the correct symbols                 ***
***                                                                   ***
***    In order for this command to work properly, your symbol path   ***
***    must point to .pdb files that have full type information.      ***
***                                                                   ***
***    Certain .pdb files (such as the public OS symbols) do not      ***
***    contain the required information.  Contact the group that      ***
***    provided you with these symbols if you need this command to    ***
***    work.                                                          ***
***                                                                   ***
***    Type referenced: kernel32!pNlsUserInfo                         ***
***                                                                   ***
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
***                                                                   ***
***                                                                   ***
***    Your debugger is not using the correct symbols                 ***
***                                                                   ***
***    In order for this command to work properly, your symbol path   ***
***    must point to .pdb files that have full type information.      ***
***                                                                   ***
***    Certain .pdb files (such as the public OS symbols) do not      ***
***    contain the required information.  Contact the group that      ***
***    provided you with these symbols if you need this command to    ***
***    work.                                                          ***
***                                                                   ***
***    Type referenced: kernel32!pNlsUserInfo                         ***
***                                                                   ***
*************************************************************************

FAULTING_IP: 
+5e41952f041cdd3c
00000000 ??              ???

EXCEPTION_RECORD:  ffffffff -- (.exr 0xffffffffffffffff)
ExceptionAddress: 00000000
   ExceptionCode: 80000003 (Break instruction exception)
  ExceptionFlags: 00000000
NumberParameters: 0

FAULTING_THREAD:  00001af0

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  STATUS_BREAKPOINT

PROCESS_NAME:  hl2.exe

ERROR_CODE: (NTSTATUS) 0x80000003 - {EXCEPTION}  Breakpoint  A breakpoint has been reached.

EXCEPTION_CODE: (HRESULT) 0x80000003 (2147483651) - One or more arguments are invalid

PRIMARY_PROBLEM_CLASS:  STATUS_BREAKPOINT

BUGCHECK_STR:  APPLICATION_FAULT_STATUS_BREAKPOINT

LAST_CONTROL_TRANSFER:  from 00000000 to 11ae8c35

STACK_TEXT:  
00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 shaderapidx9+0x8c35


STACK_COMMAND:  ~0s; .ecxr ; kb

FOLLOWUP_IP: 
shaderapidx9+8c35
11ae8c35 8bf1            mov     esi,ecx

SYMBOL_STACK_INDEX:  0

SYMBOL_NAME:  shaderapidx9+8c35

FOLLOWUP_NAME:  MachineOwner

MODULE_NAME: shaderapidx9

IMAGE_NAME:  shaderapidx9.dll

DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP:  4b295636

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  STATUS_BREAKPOINT_80000003_shaderapidx9.dll!Unknown

BUCKET_ID:  APPLICATION_FAULT_STATUS_BREAKPOINT_shaderapidx9+8c35

WATSON_STAGEONE_URL:  [URL]http://watson.microsoft.com/StageOne/hl2_exe/0_0_0_0/4b2956ff/unknown/0_0_0_0/bbbbbbb4/80000003/00000000.htm?Retriage=1[/URL]

Followup: MachineOwner

---------

Aegis · Feb 21, 2010

Zigzag, thank you for discerning the faulting file. I am looking through the Google links you linked too; with the initial problem that most link to other forums where people are merely providing guesses for fixes, or steps that end up not resolving the OP's problem.

If I run TF2 in DX10 (I think I'm using a switch right now to run in DX9, "-dxlevel 90") then I wonder if this'll fix the issue, since it seems to be linked with the DX9 file.

*EDIT*

Nevermind. Seems the Source engine does not support DX10, just 9.0c.

Aegis · Feb 21, 2010

OK, well a guy said that what I was supposed to do was run a CMD prompt as admin and issue the following order:

net localgroup administrators networkservice /add

I did this and it reported that the command completed successfully, so I guess the next thing to do is play some TF2 until I get this crash again.

Assuming shaderapidx9.dll is at fault here, would this be moreso Window's responsibility, nVidia for it's drivers, or Valve, for how its game is utilizing the file?

After going into MANAGE > USERS & GROUPS, I found that the above command merely added the NT Authority\NetworkService to Administrators account. Someone also recommended adding LocalService as well, so I did.

usasma · Feb 22, 2010

More info on this error here: Steam Users' Forums - View Single Post - Steam Online games crash with Vista and here
Steam Users' Forums - View Single Post - Fatal Error - Source Startup

Wait to see if your previous "fix" has fixed things. If not, then try the stuff in the links - one at a time.

Aegis · Feb 22, 2010

I played 3 hours of TF2 last night. No crashes. But I'd like to give this a good 20-30+ hours of play (I do that in a week, easy!) to ensure the problem is resolved.

Actually found some steam pages requesting the same actions for shaderapidx.dll (adding local service to administrators account)

On a side note, do my memory usages sound right? Is Win 7 all that memory hungry at desktop? I have:

12GB total physical RAM,
3GB cached
9GB available
6GB free

MDeth · Feb 22, 2010

...you have 12 GB? Are you using the machine as a server?

usasma · Feb 22, 2010

I've got 12gB also - it was fairly cheap when I built the system.
Now tho', I find that I'm wasting all above 6 gB - so the wife gets 6gB of mine when I build her new system

Where are you getting your RAM numbers from?
In Task Manager...Performance tab I've got:
12279mB total physical RAM,
1655mB cached
8016mB available
6502mB free

Your readings will vary depending on what you've got running and how it handles memory.

Aegis · Feb 22, 2010

mdeth-

I run a local copy of IIS and CF9 (not hosting for anyone publicly, for internal web development only) but the reason why I have this much memory is because when Adobe CS5 comes out, Premiere, Photoshop and After Effects (at least) will have full 64-bit support, and be able to address up to 128GB.

Right now, the CS3 copies I have are limited to a measley 4GB, which they eat up in no time.

Aegis · Feb 22, 2010

usasma said:
I've got 12gB also - it was fairly cheap when I built the system.
Now tho', I find that I'm wasting all above 6 gB - so the wife gets 6gB of mine when I build her new system

Where are you getting your RAM numbers from?
In Task Manager...Performance tab I've got:
12279mB total physical RAM,
1655mB cached
8016mB available
6502mB free

Your readings will vary depending on what you've got running and how it handles memory.

Yeah, that's where I got my numbers from - I estimated them, but we seem to be on par with each other.

Aegis · Feb 22, 2010

OK, for an update. TF2 did sound loop lockup again. However the HDDs did not click. I let it loop for 20 seconds, and it go nowhere, so I just CTRL + ALT + DEL and told it to end the HL2.exe process, which was at a whopping 1.3GB in size. Don't know if that's normal or not, just sounds like a LOT of memory to be held up for a game.

I'm not sure how to make a dump of a process that is locked or if its possible or even helpful, but if someone lets me know, I'll try to make a dump files when it next locks up and see if it's the same error or different. This lockup did not result in constant HDD clicks or a forced hard shutdown like the original thread states.

usasma · Feb 23, 2010

Here's a link on how to make a dump for a hung process: http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-lo...-nov-generating-memory-dump-hung-process.html

Aegis · Feb 23, 2010

Thanks usasma-

I have to commit those steps to memory so if I get a sound-looping lock (but not an HDD-clicking lock) then I can run that dump, upload, and have you pros re-analyze it to see if a different component is at fault.

Appreciate that. You guys are freaking fantastic.

Aegis · Feb 23, 2010

Just an update-

Valve responded after I re-opened a ticket with them and wants me to run TF2, press SHIFT + CTRL + ESC to open the Task Manager, and from there goto PROCESS TAB, right click on the HL2.exe process, and SET AFFINITY, unchecking all but 1 core.

I guess this means they want me to forcibly limit the game to only utilize 1 of my 4? cores (I have a i7 920, but my task manager shows 8 CPU thread graphs).

If this ends up resolving the issue, I hope it doesn't drop performance significantly; a lot of people tell me TF2 is very CPU-dependent, and even though Valve announced a while back that they added multi-core capability to the game, they announced it as 'beta' and not finite, indicating if it was problematic, to go back to single-core functionality.

I will add this to the list of steps taken in hopes of resolving this issue. Problem is, I think AFFINITY is forgotten each time a process closes. So I would have to take this step each and every time I run the game.

Aegis · Feb 23, 2010

lol. As is my eternal problem with Windows, I don't seem to have the rights needed to do the last step.

When I try to set affinity on the HL2.exe process, I get back:

The operation could not be performed: Access is denied.

....You know, they should call these "Network wrongs" rather than "Network rights".

usasma · Feb 24, 2010

Try running Task Manager as an Administrator.
Go to Start and type in "taskmgr.exe" (without the quotes)
Then right click on the taskmgr.exe in the upper part of the search box and select "Run as administrator"

Aegis · Feb 24, 2010

That did it, usasma, thank you.

I have finally had it with UAC and have disabled it completely. So tired of being asked to do what I just told Windows to do. If I was a user, that would be fine, but I'm supposed to be an administrator.

OK, so this means I will have to run the taskmanager as admin then set affinity to try it. Oi! So much work, lol. But I'll do it in order to help get a resolve here. You guys have been fantastic.

Aegis · Feb 25, 2010

Wow. The game ran like crap with just 1 CPU....but.....no crashes so far...

I don't know how much I can stand. 2 or 3 people on screen is fine, but as soon as there is more, I start dropping to like 20-30FPS... Ah well, all in the name of science.

Aegis · Feb 27, 2010

Just a status update. So far, while setting affinity on the game, it has not crashed/locked up once. Problem is, of course, this game is very CPU dependent, so running it on 1 core leads to some very poor performance.

Troubleshooting is continuing behind the scenes with Valve, I will keep all informed on what I find.

Steam-based games cause sound loop, crash and HDD click

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