Routine "Not Responding" Errors

[strobe]

I've had a new laptop for over a year now and have experienced problems since the very beginning. At first it was issues with changing/deleting files on the desktop or in windows explorer and not being able to see the changes without doing a manual refresh. Then I would sporadically and spontaneously get errors that Windows explorer, IE, or some Office product was not responding, Windows was checking for errors, then it would force a restart. I typically wouldn't lose anything but the crashes started to happen more and more frequently. I originally suspected some bug since every now and then something would be running at shutdown even though all applications I started were shut down. Toshiba support forced me to go through a drive config before additional support. The drive has now been replaced, but still the same problem with "not responding". I suspect it is an issue with cache/SSD - a technical glitch versus a true hardware problem. I've read several threads and other information on the web but nothing seems to scratch the right itch - close but not quite. Sure would appreciate any thoughts.

 

[Dave76]

To ensure minidumps are enabled:
Go to Start, in the Search Box type: sysdm.cpl, press Enter.
Under the Advanced tab, click on the Startup and Recovery Settings... button.
Ensure that Automatically restart is unchecked.
Under the Write Debugging Information header select Small memory dump (256 kB) in the dropdown box (the 256kb varies).
Ensure that the Small Dump Directory is listed as %systemroot%\Minidump.
Click OK on each window to get out.
Reboot if changes have been made.

A forced restart is usually a BSoD, change the setting listed above so the dump files can be made.
After the next crash follow these instructions:
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions

 

[strobe]

Thanks! Had to uncheck "automatically restart" and switch the "write debugging header".

I'll follow those instructions. I assumed BSOD was the classic Windows BSOD - the actual blue screen and system lock. But, it sounds like a program not responding and restarting is the equivalent in Windows 7.

One quick other side note, I certainly thought I was buying a higher end computer at the time (with the theory that it would still be a good system for at least three years). I am basically running out of the box Toshiba settings and don't have much else installed besides Windows, Office, NAV, and Acrobat Standard (not like I should be pushing the processing limits of the machine by any means).

 

[Dave76]

Welcome, you will usually get the blue screen but, not always. The automatically restart will not allow the crash dump files and it's not unusual to skip the blue screen.

That's a good computer, work out these bugs out and you'll get a few more years out of it.

Let us know if you have any questions or if you get another crash.

 

[strobe]

Yeah, I guess I am lucky then... never got to the point of an actual BSOD. Just frustrating when programs spontaneously crash for no reason - never know when you are going to lose something. I'd bet that now that I am ready for the next crash, it'll not happen for awhile (Murphy's Law). I'll keep you posted. Thanks again (I'd be one happy camper if the bugs get worked out and my laptop works in a normal fashion)!

 

[Dave76]

I hope brother Murphy is in a good mood today.

Let us know if you have another crash.

 

[strobe]

Well, the Murphster delivered... as expected - just when I wasn't expecting it. I think this is the first time I recall the failure happening to Acrobat. Zip file is attached.

I think you can see the system information on my account. If not... x64, original and OEM, a little over 1 year. Side note, originally had 7 32-bit but switched to x64 when the new drive was put in. Hoped it would help... no go.

 

[strobe]

PS Forgot to mention that it was interesting that the Resource/Performance Manager stated that I don't have a anti-virus program. That's might interesting since NAV is running.

 

[Dave76]

No crash report, the other information is helpful.

Uninstall Acrobat 9.4.2.220 and install the new version Adobe Reader X (10.0.1)

Event[6]:
Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 2011-05-27T21:01:58.000
Event ID: 1000
Task: Application Crashing Events
Level: Error
Opcode: Info
Keyword: Classic
User: N/A
User Name: N/A
Computer: David-PC
Description: 
Faulting application name: [COLOR=red]Acrobat.exe[/COLOR], version: 9.4.2.220, time stamp: 0x4d467491
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7601.17514, time stamp: 0x4ce7ba58
Exception code: 0xc00000fd
Fault offset: 0x0002deb9
Faulting process id: 0xb54
Faulting application start time: 0x01cc1cdb2a878d59
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 9.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe
Faulting module path: C:\windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
Report Id: 77d7e2c6-88ce-11e0-988b-002318c7a156

The Toshiba Service Station app has crashed many times, you should remove it.
Uninstall the program from the control panel. It is not an essential utility. It simply provides notifications of updates from Toshiba. You can achieve the same result by registering your computer on the Toshiba site and signing up for email alerts.

Event[15]:
Log Name: Application
Source: [COLOR=red]TOSHIBA Service Station[/COLOR]
Date: 2011-05-27T21:00:56.000
Event ID: 0
Task: N/A
Level: [COLOR=red]Warning[/COLOR]
Opcode: Info
Keyword: Classic
User: N/A
User Name: N/A
Computer: David-PC
Description: 
Error checking dependency [e4b859d8-de3c-4f9a-b55d-cdc1253ccbdb]: Unable to retrieve registry value!

Run the system file checker
How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker

Event[583]:
Log Name: Application
Source: Windows Error Reporting
Date: 2011-05-25T15:17:39.000
Event ID: 1001
Task: N/A
Level: Information
Opcode: Info
Keyword: Classic
User: N/A
User Name: N/A
Computer: David-PC
Description: 
Fault bucket 34738567, type 4
Event Name: APPCRASH
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 1222765518
Problem signature:
P1: [COLOR=red]Explorer.EXE[/COLOR]
P2: 6.1.7601.17567
P3: 4d672ee4
P4: ntdll.dll
P5: 6.1.7601.17514
P6: 4ce7c8f9
P7: c0000024
P8: 00000000000cd7d8
P9: 
P10: 
Attached files:
C:\Users\David\AppData\Local\Temp\WERFA6B.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
C:\Users\David\AppData\Local\Temp\WER415A.tmp.appcompat.txt
C:\Users\David\AppData\Local\Temp\WER418A.tmp.mdmp
These files may be available here:
C:\Users\David\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\AppCrash_Explorer.EXE_09032155f8dec35474bee713f11b24e3ad02c_cab_1743aa97
Analysis symbol: 
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: eddfcd3e-870b-11e0-8fe7-002318c7a156
Report Status: 8

This is your CD ROM, check Toshiba's site for a driver update.

Event[1777]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Disk
  Date: 2011-05-24T15:30:13.169
  Event ID: 11
  Task: N/A
  Level: Error
  Opcode: N/A
  Keyword: Classic
  User: N/A
  User Name: N/A
  Computer: David-PC
  Description: 
The driver detected a controller [COLOR=red]error on \Device\Harddisk1\DR1[/COLOR].

 

[strobe]

No crash report

Interesting - it definitely stopped working... even did a screen grab of the error stating such.

Uninstall Acrobat

Uninstalled the reader. I have Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard installed. I would have thought this would have superseded the reader that was OED installed, but the reader is gone now in any case.

Toshiba Service Station app

Gone. Also killed the "Toshiba on-line back-up". In hindsight, I could have probably found the property to turn it off (the reminder), but I really don't intend to use it, so it is gone likewise.

Run the system file checker

Ran it - everything stated as fine after one run.

driver update

No driver update to be had.

To me, it sounds like Toshiba has a lot of things messed up. So, what's next - wait for the next piece of software to crash?

 

[Dave76]

Enable driver verifier, this will shows us if there is a faulty driver.

Driver Verifier runs in the background, "testing" drivers for bugs. If it finds one, a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) will result; the corresponding dump file will hopefully show the faulty driver.

Driver Verifier - Enable and Disable

After you enable this, use the computer normally.
If it crashes post the zip file with the complete files.

 

[strobe]

Done. Note, after restarting, seems like everything is running very slow - at least for the moment. Should I turn verifier off if no problems in 24 hours as noted, or keep running?

Thanks!

 

[strobe]

No crash yet, but things are running really slow. It takes eight seconds for Firefox to start up. Last night I was running Outlook, PowerPoint, Windows Explorer, and Firefox and it would bog down all the time. I think a Commodore 64 would be faster.

By the way, here are some changes that were made based upon the suggestion of Toshiba tech support to optimize the SSD with Windows 7:

Disable indexing
Description: Indexing creates and maintains a database of file attributes. This can lead to multiple small writes when creating/deleting/modifying files. Searching for files will still work.
Instructions: Start Menu -> Right-Click [COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important]Computer[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] -> Manage -> Services and Applications -> Services - > Right-Click Windows Search -> Startup type: Disabled -> OK

Disable defragmentation
Description: Defragmenting a [COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important]hard [/FONT][COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important]disk's[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] used space is only useful on mechanical disks with multi-millisecond latencies. Free-space defragmentation may be useful to SSDs, but this feature is not available in the default Windows [COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important]Defragmenter[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR].
Instructions: Start Menu -> Right-Click Computer -> Manage -> Services and Applications -> Services - > Right-Click Disk Defragmenter -> Startup type: Disabled -> OK

Disable Write Caching
Description: There is no cache on the [COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important]SSD[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR], so there are no benefits to write caching. There are conflicting reports on whether this gains speed or not.
Instructions: Start Menu -> Right-Click Computer -> Manage -> Device Manager -> [COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important]Disk [/FONT][COLOR=#3b5f7e !important][FONT=inherit !important]drives[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] -> Right-Click STEC PATA -> Properties -> Policies Tab -> Uncheck Enable write caching -> OK

Firefox - Use memory cache instead of disk cache
Description: If you use Firefox, there's a way to write cached files to RAM instead of the hard disk. This is not only faster, but will significantly reduce writes to the SSD while using the browser.
Instructions: Open Firefox -> Type about:config into the address bar -> Enter -> double-click browser.cache.disk.enable to set the value to False -> Right-Click anywhere -> New -> Integer -> Preference Name "disk.cache.memory.capacity" -> value memory size in KB. Enter 32768 for 32MB, 65536 for 64MB, 131072 for 128MB, etc. -> restart Firefox

 

[Dave76]

Yes, after 24 hours, if you don't get a BSoD, then disable Driver Verifier.

Were the settings suggested by Toshiba tech support all changed, they were not initially set as they recommended?
Those should be pre-set by Toshiba when you bought the laptop, especially the defrag.

Have you noticed any improvement?
Probably have to disable Driver Verifier before you can tell.

 

[strobe]

Will do. Still no BSOD, nor program stopping in my case.

I did all of the changes - they were not preset by Toshiba. They were actually a recommendation by Nexicore - their tech support contractor for field service work and based upon improvements listed online for a Dell mini. After 100 hours jumping through hoops and going in circles, I never received any real support from Toshiba - just headaches. After a decade and a half of being a satisfied Toshiba customer, this experience has been so atrocious that I will never buy another Toshiba again. The changes were done before I found this forum and it certainly don't seem like they resolved the issue. Although not disabling the defrag on a SSD for a stock setting by Toshiba leads me to believe that my issue is related to Toshiba/SSD/Windows 7, but I wonder if I will ever find the right key to unlocking the power of what these should all be capable of.

Is it worthwhile to run another report or anything? Just wondering why everything seems to be slow. If not, wait for the next program to spontaneously stop responding and run another report then?

 

[Dave76]

Yes, if you have a crash OS or APP, run the report again and post here.

 

[strobe]

Will do. Thanks!

 

[Dave76]

Your welcome.

 

[strobe]

Well, this was a funny session (if I didn’t laugh at it, I would cry). I've put my laptop into hibernate a couple of times over the weekend, which shouldn’t pose an issue but maybe that led to the problems. First I attempted to eject my SD drive of pictures and I get the error that it can’t be stopped since something is still using it (even though everything is shutdown that was accessing it so there really isn’t anything using it). Then, I saved some files to the desktop and I couldn’t see them. First, the F5 (refresh) made them appear. Then, when it happened again, it didn’t work and I had to right click on the desktop and select refresh that way to get them to appear. Neither one of these was an app crash but I thought I would run the report to post with my message just for kicks if it would help. Then, in the process of saving the system health report, that app crashed. I had to rerun the system health report several times before I could actually get the file to save. So, I’ve zipped the data files, the report that I was finally able to save, and a screen shot with the system health app crash message and for kicks the error message of trying to stop the SD drive. In the process of trying to get this out, I also had an initial Word “not responding” in the top bar of the document when I tried to save a file, but then it eventually clicked and saved the doc.


[FONT=&quot]So, what do you think – is this computer just junk or what? Why does the perfmon report state that I don’t have antivirus software? And, if you don’t see a crash of an app this time around, why is it failing to capture the crash? Thanks in advance![/FONT]

 

[strobe]

I ran the EXE and sys health rep before shutting down and after... see attachment. Don't know if it will help you make an assessment. After shutting down, things with auto-refresh are working normal again.