SonicStage startup problem

[yaluen]

Ok, here's the deal. When I start SonicStage, the program loads but when the window shows up, the control bar looks like it's flashing or continually refreshing itself and the main part of the window where you should be able to see the contents of My Library, the sidebar, the "My Library"/"Transfer" buttons comes up blank sometimes. While the control bar still works somewhat, the rest of SS is totally nonfunctional, as in it won't respond to me clicking any of the buttons. Also, it seems SonicStage is taking up all the CPU resources. If I continue to fiddle around with it, SS gives me the "has encountered a problem, needs to close" error. I've tried uninstalling using the method in the pinned thread, uninstalling through the "add or remove programs" tool, reinstalling SS20 from a disc and upgrading that to SS43, reinstalling just SS43 through the downloaded installer, and any combination of these. The problem occurs no matter which version of SS I have installed.

Anybody have any idea what is going on and how I can fix this?

I'm suspecting the problem has to do with something wrong with my winxp cuz this problem started around the time when AutomaticUpdates started being unable to download and All Programs fails to expand in the winxp start menu, though the classic start menu still works.

edit: wont be here for the coming five days but once i get back, i can try to resolve this problem and post

Edited April 19, 2007 by yaluen

[A440]

Something serious may be going on if you can't make Windows work normally.

Press CTRL-ALT-DELETE to look at Task Manager and see (under Processes) if some program is gobbling up processing speed. There will be a long list of Processes--don't worry about that--but if something is taking 70 or 80 or 90 percent of your processing, you should know about it.

Do a virus check. If you don't have antivirus, try

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

It will take a while--do it overnight--but it will find problems if there are any.

Also install Spybot S&D

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Dest...tml?tag=lst-0-1

and run it every week or so.

One thing that interferes with SonicStage loading is skinning software, like Windowblinds or other programs that customize your desktop. If you have something that's changing your basic desktop GUI--graphical user interface--then turn it off.

[yaluen]

I've looked at the Task Manager and that's how I figured that SS was using all the CPU, which is @ 50. I'm guessing it's at 50 because the Task Manager says I have two CPUs (under Performance/CPU Usage History there are two graphs), which I actually don't not even dual core. Virus and spyware shouldn't be a problem, I had F-Secure when this problem started and have since switched to KIS and have done a couple of full pc virus scans. I don't use skinning software either, just the VS codename opus...

o, and does the web installer delete the downloaded files after installation? i'm noticing my hd space is going down

Edited April 19, 2007 by yaluen

[A440]

The web installer should delete the files after installing. But you could also uninstall again and try one of the full installers from Downloads, or (huge download, 244 MB) this copy of the RH1 disc of SonicStage 3.4

http://s15.quicksharing.com/v/8783199/SS3.4RH1.iso.html

You need to install with Administrator privileges.

And really, you need to find out what's going on with your Windows XP. How about a registry checker, like

http://www.ccleaner.com/

If anything is in the slightest bit off about Windows XP, SonicStage gets touchy.

[Avrin]

I'm guessing it's at 50 because the Task Manager says I have two CPUs (under Performance/CPU Usage History there are two graphs), which I actually don't not even dual core.

You probably have a Pentium 4 with Hyper Threading, which looks like 2 CPUs to the operating system.

From what you have written, it seems like you have some serious problems with Windows, not SonicStage. A complete clean Windows reinstall will solve this.

Edited April 20, 2007 by Avrin

[yaluen]

Ok, thanks for the advice guys. I guess I'll try and find time to reinstall windows sometime then.

[Strungup]

Ok, thanks for the advice guys. I guess I'll try and find time to reinstall windows sometime then.

go to Grisoft and download AVG it will be the best bet as far as AntiVirus goes , especially on a Hyperthreaded machine,

AVG in concert with Spybot search and destroy is the best combo there is for XP

[djjosh]

Hey. I have the same problem. I only figured out one thing: if you move any "stay on top" window straight over the menu names (try Winamp or task manager) SS is fully functional and does not flicker.

I reinstalled WinXP because of the thing. once after install it worked fine, but after installing K-lite (and possibly few other things) it happened again. Too bad I didn`t try "install one thing and see if it's still working" method, so I can't surely blame K-lite.

Uninstalling K-lite didn't help, just as reinstalling SonicStage.. I'm stuck with covering the menu bar with Winamp in windowshade mode..

For the record:

Hardware:

Compaq Presario R3000 (AMD) laptop

Sony MZ-NE410

Software:

WinXP Home SP2

SonicStage 4.3

K-lite MEGA 2.01

P.S. uninstalling K-lite and installing earlier version does not help either.

Hope this helps anyway, if you find any way to work it out and it's better than mine let me know, I'd be grateful!

Cheers!

P.S.2 forgot to mention that this is my first post here

Edited April 25, 2007 by DJ Josh

[A440]

You should uninstall the K-Lite Codec pack anyway. You don't know (and neither do I) how current any of those codecs are, and any of them might be interfering with codecs in SonicStage.

It's always best to download codecs as needed, preferably from original manufacturers or where Windows wants to find them. That way you get the most current versions.

Have you tried CCleaner? It might get rid of things that K-Lite leaves behind.

http://www.ccleaner.com/

[djjosh]

Well.. don't mean to argue, but:

I never had any problems with K-lite interfering with SonicStage in the matter of codecs. Except one time, when I've set gain in audio mixer (it was Matrix Mixer if memory server me right) and music to my MD was loud and distorted. Besides that and this last problem everything was always working just right.

Also, the refresh problem doesn't seem to interfere with the functionality of SonicStage - I am able to send music, organize it, even use the menus pressing alt (they drop down from beneath the window that covers them). So, everything works fine, except for that little inconvenience..

As for now I found another way to transfer music to my MD - the "Nero-ImageDrive-SimpleBurner" combo. Just the same for me, as in SonicStage I imported only music files that I wanted t have on my MD - never entire music collection. SimpleBurner isn't so picky about other programs

Cheers!