Computer restarting on its own while recording MIDI

Sometimes - computer restarts on its own while recording (MIDI in my case).

Is it a Sonar X1d Exp issue or Windows 7 (64 bit) or its updates?
I'm blaming updates because sometimes the problem vanishes for a while. Then it updates this restarting business rears its head up again.


I already had a discussion about the DAW being connect to internet and Win updates doing them manually (or not at all if the system is working ok, etc).

Now it's disconnected from internet.

But this problem started again around mid-August.

Anyone experiencing the same issue? I'd be recording some MIDI part then the computer just dies like someone pulled out the plug and reboots.

Sometimes it happens during boot-up. Windows is starting up, and when the logo appears for a few seconds (before the password screen thingy), instead of the password, it just reboots on its own like a loop - but it happens once then it boots normally (asking if I want to reboot normally or in safe mode).

Any ideas?

P.S. System Restore is turned off so resorting to that is out of the question I guess. I turned it off following the advice of my brother-in-law who is a computer genius and says that it does more harm than good.

John


You have a bad driver somewhere on your system or some other device that is not functioning as it should.  Check your system log under performance information and tools advanced tools. Open the event log and see what is causing the problems. X1 is not the cause.  Now I am on Vista I hope Windows 7 has the same tools.

Also check that your memory modules are seated well. It wouldn't hurt to check your memory too.

Thanks a bunch John. Will look into that and report back. Thanks again!

Maybe is the CPU overheated?
Try to check the CPU temperature. I had this problem with some video renderings (and CPU unfriendly games) on my older PC. It was the CPU fan issue. (the fan was too weak to do his job done)
Maybe this isn´t that problem - but if you check you won´t do anything wrong i guess. :)
Pavel

Your computer may also be experiencing a "browning out" problem.
A computer needs a steady voltage supply to keep running. So in the USA for instance, the utility supply is 115AC, but can vary plus-minus some (the exact value I don't know, not an electrical engineer). Your computer's power supply has a built-in voltage regulator to keep this voltage and current steady.
The "browning" can be internal; like your CPU over charging or some other component, the mother board itself, and the like, drawing a power surge.
External; might be something on your AC line in your building, to the utility company itself or electrical thunder storms, causing high voltage supply variances.
 
But, as others has said, when in Sonar and doing MIDI, your CPU begins to run at full throttle.

larrymcg


+1 to  (btw, turning off SYSTEM RESTORE is a TERRIBLE IDEA)


I've used it more than once to get me out of trouble over the years.

Roger to that.


Turn it back on !!!!

Check the inside of your computer for a dust buildup. When was the last time you cleaned it out?

Check also that everything is seated properly, especially your RAM chips

samhayman


Hey guys,

Thank you so much for your suggestions. Will try them all - including cleaning the PC from the inside 


One thing I noticed is the USP, sometimes makes clicking noises. So after reading a bit about it yesterday, I think it could be the USP being unable to handle the load.


It's odd though - I have a Mustek 1400 (rated 840W). But I do think it's voltage / supply related.


I work on very heavy projects - I start off with a project template that has around 1.5Gb of samples loaded. Apart from this problem, the system works like a charm, CPU meters in Sonar barely moving etc... no clicks no pops.

However I'm aware that there is still a huge load on the system. In fact when I freeze tracks for mix down, I never experience this problem so far.

Will try out your suggestions later on and report back.

Thanks once again!
Sam

That can cause all sorts of symptoms. The right power supply for your system is important but 840 watts seems plenty. As pointed out heat can also be a problem. Good ventilation is vital.

You have your work cut out for you so let us know how you get along.

Theres no reason what-so-ever to turn it off.

If it saves you once or a hundred times then why turn it off?

Tweakberry


youre getting good advise on what to check.. but..

IMO, NEVER RELY ON MICROSOFT SYSTEM RESTORE TO SAVE YOU FROM ANYTHING, I ALWAYS TURN IT OFF

it may save you once, it may save you a hundred times, i still would not rely on it

consider using the imaging tool built-in to Win 7 if its available in your version, or even better....

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

markyzno


Theres no reason what-so-ever to turn it off.

If it saves you once or a hundred times then why turn it off?

Tweakberry


youre getting good advise on what to check.. but..

IMO, NEVER RELY ON MICROSOFT SYSTEM RESTORE TO SAVE YOU FROM ANYTHING, I ALWAYS TURN IT OFF

it may save you once, it may save you a hundred times, i still would not rely on it

consider using the imaging tool built-in to Win 7 if its available in your version, or even better....

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

sure there is, there are better more reliable methods available for recovery, and if your
system/data are worth it then why not use a better solution?, and if you want to use a
better solution then you should turn off MSSR
 
i just know because i have seen where MSSR can make a problem a nightmare, besides
the fact that a 3rd party recovery solution will most likely have far more options available
for users as well, so if im thinking the 101st time, or just 1%, its because ive worked with
enough systems where ive seen what can happen
 
i just dont have a great deal of trust in MSSR, or MS update services as well for that matter,
MS updates can  screw things up too
 
Acronis is just a better solution for recovery IMO, thats why i say turn off MSSR and use
another tool
 

samhayman


Sometimes - computer restarts on its own while recording (MIDI in my case).

Is it a Sonar X1d Exp issue or Windows 7 (64 bit) or its updates?
I'm blaming updates because sometimes the problem vanishes for a while. Then it updates this restarting business rears its head up again.


I already had a discussion about the DAW being connect to internet and Win updates doing them manually (or not at all if the system is working ok, etc).

Now it's disconnected from internet.

But this problem started again around mid-August.

Anyone experiencing the same issue? I'd be recording some MIDI part then the computer just dies like someone pulled out the plug and reboots.

Sometimes it happens during boot-up. Windows is starting up, and when the logo appears for a few seconds (before the password screen thingy), instead of the password, it just reboots on its own like a loop - but it happens once then it boots normally (asking if I want to reboot normally or in safe mode).

Any ideas?

P.S. System Restore is turned off so resorting to that is out of the question I guess. I turned it off following the advice of my brother-in-law who is a computer genius and says that it does more harm than good.

I had this a while back and eventually it led to a problem with re-booting too. Nothing to do with internet/updates as this PC was never connected. Beyond me, so I took it to a techie and had it checked out - he re-installed the OS and checked the hardware and said it was ok - said it might have something to do with the HD being pretty full, which it was, so I removed some stuff to be in the safe side and all was good. A month later it did the same, but wouldn't re-boot at all - said that there was no HD installed. Turned out that both HD and mobo had died - HD wouldn't even power up, so no saving the data without v. expensive recovery services. No need in my case as I have anything important backed up in duplicate, but I have seen many who don't and trust their pc waaayyy tooo much.  I have no idea if this has anything to do with what you are experiencing, but just a heads-up to make sure that you have everything backed up just in case.