Blue screen of death

[Greg Bock (Greg Bock)]

Hi guys,
thanks for an informative and useful post here which may have solved a long term problem I have had with BSOD'd since last July.
My scope control system at home consists of a laptop connected to a 7 port Belkin USB hub, then to a Keyspan USA-19HS USB High-Speed Serial Adapter, then to an Astrometrics Skywalker on a G11 mount.
The Belkin USB hub also connects to an ST10XE, and an Orion SS Auto-guider, and a Prolific 2303 USB to serial adaptor to control the long exposure input of a Canon 450D.

The same system is relocated to Leyburn for a night or 2 each month, weather permitting.

Since July 2011, BSOD events occurred both at home and at Leyburn randomly, sometimes more than once per night, on 2 separate HP laptops both with XP. A third laptop, an ASUS F3 with Win7, was also affected but not a frequently as the XP machines. Sometimes, the F3 can operate without a BSOD over several nights of imaging, but eventually crashes.

Brendan's post (thanks muchly) lead me to WhoCrashed which also showed that the Keyspan USB adaptor was the BSOD culprit on the XP laptops, and on the Asus F3 Win7 laptop.

So, I updated the driver on the ASUS laptop last night and imaged with it for 3 hours without a problem. Only time will tell if the problem has now been fixed.

Once again, thanks guys. (Doh,....now, why didn't I think of posting my BSOD issues here ages ago??)

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

The BSOD is not limited to computers. It happens to the TV (digital) every time there is a bad storm. Usually just before you find out "whodunit"

Barry

Your TV runs Windoze?

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Greg Bock

So, I updated the driver on the ASUS laptop last night and imaged with it for 3 hours without a problem. Only time will tell if the problem has now been fixed.

Once again, thanks guys. (Doh,....now, why didn't I think of posting my BSOD issues here ages ago??)

Greg, does that mean with the rig running more reliably you'd be finding more supernovae?

[Greg Bock (Greg Bock)]

HI Andrew, hmm, I wish the BSOD's were the only things stopping me from discovering more, but sadly, no.

The main problem that limits my discoveries of course is the weather here in SE Qld.
After that, I have had 4 annoying issues that have slowed me down over the last 2 years as well:
1. occasional crash and freezes that I suspect were caused by a particular USB to VGA converter,
2. The BSOD issues described above,
3. pointing accuracy - mostly improved now by recent mount error analysis and error correction,and
4. occasional non-round stars caused by OTA out-of-balance once a meridian flip is done. Also mostly improved by more careful attention to PEC, and balance.

Issues 3 and 4 would probably be eliminated by spending many more $$$$ than I can justify, so I just chip away at the problems instead.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

My gear ran happily for three hours last night without any BSOD following updating the keyspan driver.

I did have an issue when I went to shut everything down where the Keyspan Serial Assistant prompted me to save changes to the configuration on exit. I stupidly clicked yes and it reverted to the wrong com port assignment for the two keyspan adaptors. When I tried to change them back to the correct numbers the Keyspan Serial Assistant was reporting "com port in use" (when I know they are not). I had a look at the windows device manager advanced settings and it is also reporting them "in use".

I assume there is a way to get XP to realise they are not really in use? Any help greatly appreciated.

[Greg Bock (Greg Bock)]

Peter,
FWIW, using Windows device manager, I normally get the message 'com port in use' if i try to change my Keyspan from Port 13, say, back to port 2 for any reason. I just ignore its protest, and then change it to port 2 and everything is OK.

Also, I didn't have the Keyspan assistant intervene, it all shut down nicely, no questions asked. Now, will it all start up normally tonight...who knows?? I'll find out tonight.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Thanks Greg - does it then remember the correct (com 2) assignment next time or does it keep reverting to com 13?

Peter

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

Your TV runs Windoze?

As a matter of fact it does Win 7 premium. With a wireless keyboard and mouse. Good for checking emails during commercial breaks.

The blue screen is the standard view when there is no input to the set. It just has a floating sign that says "No Signal".

However I was just giving a bit of cheek to liven up the thread.

Barry

PS before I put a new faster computer last week It also ran XP and Linux as well as Win 7 64bit Ultimate.

[Greg Bock (Greg Bock)]

Originally Posted by peter_4059

Thanks Greg - does it then remember the correct (com 2) assignment next time or does it keep reverting to com 13?

Peter

Yes peter it does remember port 2, until something curls the toes of the USB port for some reason and then it forgets, but that doesn't happen too often.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Thanks Greg - tried it and it is all happy again! I'm now running everything inside again tonight (taking more darks) for a few more hours to see if it is going to behave. Fingers crossed.

Peter

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

I also tracked down a couple of web pages that go into what to do to clear up the com ports.

This one explains how to show the hidden devices:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315539

and this one talks about how to uninstall them:

http://www.ifamilysoftware.com/news33.html

I assume this it the way it is meant to be done?