Trying to track down random lockup of Sonar. Sometimes while working, sometimes just idling, the whole system locks up, forcing reboot. Normally stable i5 laptop, 8gb, 250gb ssd, Win10. All the latest patches (been doing this thru several patch Thursdays), most recent drivers for everything down to board level, power options set for no sleep all around. Other words, been through all the normal optimization steps. Using Helix as interface. Korg nanoKontrol2 as control surface.
 
VSTs in use:
DimPro
True Piano
EZKeys
EZDrummer2
S-Gear
BIAS FX
TH3
Amplitube4
 
Resources/Performance showing under 50%.
 
Any suggestions as to cure or how to troubleshoot - with the system locked up there's not much can be done after the fact, and normal Windows error logs aren't showing anything, but I could be looking at the wrong logs - much appreciated!
 
 
 

Exactly how does the lockup manifest?.  Does the screen just freeze and the mouse pointer cannot be moved and the numlock light does not change status?  Did these lockups just suddenly start happening?

Any clues in the Windows system event logs (I know You say you have already looked there, but just in case Start-run "%windir%\system32\eventvwr.msc")  You might have to filter information events so that you only see errors and warnings.

Total freeze, nothing to do but reboot. Been happening for a long time. Next time I'll try filtering the event log, I do seem to remember the last time I looked thinking "TMI!".

I've been having issues also with hangs and bad oddities of audio hardward hickups...
been troubleshooting since win 8.1 dawn...with below specs...might have to update those a bit.
 
Seems Anti virus if installed can cause problems with such things.
 
MS tech tier is saying to me, to uninstall all third party anti virus...as this is one sign of some causes for.
 
Not saying it is yours or anyone else ...having.
But it could be ..something to look into...and get the latest build for that...while testing the uninstalled setup of...
 
You can always reinstall if it is not the case.
 
Also some wired way to get windows 10, if updating drivers need be checked...to make sure it is using the right driver installed...
 
That being said...something of note, MS WIN 10 is pure crap...it only uses your system to gather intel..use for test bata updates...and cause issues...to make money off of updates..and newer more tech support plan a b and c ...paid to get the finger pointing going again....it is not MS..it is your third party gear and add ons.
 
Thanks MS for putting a bunch of games on my machine of third party people....so Tech of MS and MS in truth, can point the finger for doing it....at something else other than themselves...to make tech support necessary to be paid.
 
 
Nice plan.
 
 
Cheers!
 
Sir Les

Thanks Sir Les, BUT...
 
Totally disagree that Win10 is pure crap. It's been a major improvement over 8.1, under which I had the same problems. MS Tech support, on the other hand is pure crap. Boilerplate reply to most any problem "uninstall third party anti-virus". That's actually good advice, as Windows defender is quite capable, uses few resources and non-intrusive. Which is what I use. What Win10 did break is my hardwire adapter, forcing me to use wireless, a known problem for audio apps. I'll try shutting it off and disabling Defender, though I think I've done that before with no success at eliminating the lockups.
 
Sounds like you hate Microsoft....have you tried LINUX? (JUST KIDDING!)

A total system freeze is not likely to be written to an event log.  If your system is no longer responding to the mouse or keyboard, such as the caps lock will no longer toggle, reboot is the only option.
 
Unless it's hardware (like a bad RAM stick, or something), the cause is most likely a driver, because a user mode application should not be able to crash Windows.  I would run a memory test first to rule that out.
 
The audio, video, or network drivers are the most likely suspects that should be ruled out.
 
Try removing the Helix and temporarily use the on-board audio device, to eliminate that.
 
Since you are using a laptop, you are probably stuck with the on-board video device.  Try using the WHQL tested video drivers from your laptop OEM, not necessarily the newest ones from the GPU manufacturer, but the most stable.
 
Try disabling the network adapter to eliminate that as a possible cause.
 
All I can suggest is to take one thing at a time and eliminate it, until you isolate the cause.  Good luck!

All other ideas here are good! but for me....
Not enough info... What i5 chip? what brand laptop? Normally running a DAW? With version of Sonar?
Have you looked into the buffer settings? you have an i5, is it one that need a turbo boost to run on the high end?
Check your BIOS and make sure it's set to Max Turbo or over clocking? I don't know what the Helix interface is.
Does it draw CPU to run it? is preference/ driver settings / buffers for midi interface should be set to fast...
 
peace
 
 
 Edit: BTW in win 10 you need to set all the power options, even if you're using high performance, it may still
go to sleep if balanced is set to sleep. using a custom power may work as well.
 

Well, To my eyes, ...A Major improvement to win 8.1...means what to me?/...win 8.1 was also crap?...I agree ...and before that, win 8, 7, vista...crap also...surely is it getting better if said by whom?...so crap crap crap....want to go back more so....?...xp was ok...7 not bad but surely not perfect....and by removing the ability to do irq settings and or make exclusive setups with in the OS....when things turned off were off...or if turned on were on....Then, and if I may add setting set stayed set to those settings...and updates if needs be updated when the system was made stable with the parts put in, and drivers installed...and all winks and knodds it is working, if so, to its best abilities to do...X....that was ok.
 
This win 8.1 and 10 bash ...is just mistrust put in..users being used, and user paying for the RND of MS...and how to soak more of money out of the people for paid technical support for...and a constant ramming of updates into machines that do not need them....screwing up settings, turn things back to defaults and not resetting as was set.
Forcing all developers to constant recodes and recodings...never stable eh?...well if you were stable, now your not....Says something about that process forced by...MS and its rule over your needs...to put in their wants onto you and your machines, machine meaning PC with PC third party parts supposed to be following a protocol of user code standards..(ISO?..under Agreements signed).....Sales/store..and adverts., and now games put in with spying and lying..Pointing fingers at third party developers to solve, what they keep changing... via MS OS..and spooling or track or trace policies...taking info...to benefit them, not you!
 
That is the deal you pay them...to RND their benefits....and you get the other end of the stick..../...to solve for them..not you?....So if it is getting better, then why is hanging us up with tech support and user forums to solve issues that...to my understanding have already been solved in win xp and 7....to some degree...right?...
 
 
That being said...if a MS tier 2 tech, runs a migration setup of windows 10, from a exisiting system desktop setup, with multiple devices attached....as is mentored by MS teachings to do to those paid for in support, and they do not read into the news of what is causing issues to need technical support, or what was told the other tech whom elevated to tier 2.......Like bad management of disks of either ssd, or HD or Optical workings..or functions for, or trim or defrag set to...proper...or system mamagement oddities of events of error detected in event viewer or logs written too much..causing cpu hickups also memory issues and bad cache sizes being over flowing with intel not sent?...or too much audio and video taken into not being accounted for being done with said systems to overload the intel taking caching and sending program going on behind the vail in background.....Then your going to have issues if done by load of..and reinstall or migration...As read on MS forum .....if you put a anti virus into the soup base mix...you add more services running on the background....if anti virus puts a shell around a codex...it is always in play around that....So, if ms wants to make secret changes to something....the third party anti virus blocks....more hickups!
 
So with all the intel being gathered by MS and third party info getting by.....Why is it hanging now , if this info taken  by them off of us users and payers of the machine and gear,..is suppose to make things work better for us......why the hanging and crashing and need for constant updates?
 
 
I told you, it is not about us...it is about them.
 
 
Good song!
 
Pink Floyd...US and Them....those who help life be life living...are those who put it out for free...to make a better earth be alive and multiplied...You only need...A helper of it...doing it every day!....Care!...Sow seeds, be Good, no sin...holy ground is made....And if he comes...would he not lead the truth to know....it is the only way to everlasting life.
 
 
Cheers.
 
Sir Les.
 
.
 
 

So what breeds crap?...crap...surely....so if crap is being improved upon over time...what is the outcome of it being manifested now....Pure Crap?,,,ok.

Just saying...I believe in good people doing Good for the lords works needs be done...by hand of man or woman..and helping us and them others not human live in peace shared and kept good or made very good by intent over put the best for the whole...Not the self....in this...we remove greed.