Computer Crashes and the file ati2evxx.exe

[nigelgrant]

My problems were originally posted in the message “Computer Crash/ReStart in Full Screen mode” but I have started a new thread on this subject since the findings are significant, and could be missed if buried too deeply.

For the past couple of months I have had computer crash/restarts about 10 minutes into a flight, but only in full screen mode and not in Windows mode. I have spent many frustrating hours testing and updating and finally did a complete uninstall/re-install of FSX, but even then in pure default, I was still getting these crashes.

One potential culprit looked like the power supply, notwithstanding that it is 600watts, but power supply requirements now and in the future are becoming a lot more sophisticated, ie the individual voltage levels and their amperage need to be factored into the sizing. For example my Sapphire ATI X1950XT 512mb video card calls for 30amps on the 12 volt rail - that’s a heckuva lot of amps and my 600 watt was only delivering 18 amps each on two 12 volt rails, and it still had all the other peripherals and CPU to supply. There is lots of discussion on this issue and its symptoms at the Sapphire forum (http://www.sapphiretech.com/en/forum...isplay.php?f=4), but in the long run I don’t think this was the prime cause of my crashes.

When I was about to invest in a new PSU, I tried EndItAll to terminate any programs running in the background and to my surprise I flew from CYVR to CYWG for two hours and landed – no computer crash. So I analysed the programs being terminated and I eventually isolated the problem to two copies of the same file – ati2evxx.exe. I tried renaming these and that appeared to stop the computer crash/restart problems in FSX.

I have been told that ati2evxx.exe is used by x1900 cards and above, and if disabled, you will possibly lose the ability to use some ATI services, viz: HotKey Poller, VPU Recovery, Overdrive/Temp Monitor. How important these services are I don’t know. But it does use a lot of resources.

So I have disabled ATI HotKey Poller in Computer Management/Services and Applications/Services, which in effect disabled the ati2evxx.exe file, and so far so good.

Purchase of a new PSU is temporarily on hold now that I am flying again, but I suspect I will be heading in that direction in the not too distant future.

Nigel
Vancouver

My System:

Intel Core2 Duo E6400
Gigabyte GA 965G DS3 mobo
Sapphire ATI Radeon X1950XT video card PCI-e 500MB
2GB Transcend 800Mhz DDR2 RAM
Maxtor 80GB 7200rpm hard drive
Maxtor 200GB 7200rpm hard drive
Western Digital 250GB 7200rpm hard drive
Creative Sound Blaster Live! with latest drivers
NEC FE950+ crt monitor
CHProducts USB yoke and pedals
Windows XP Home edition with SP2
DirectX 9.0(c)
Cooler Master 600W power supply
Five case fans – four intake, one exhaust

[vanmulken]

Good thing you found that out, Nigel!

I have always had that service disabled permanently and still have no idea what I have been missing. Now I know at least one!

I use EndItAll all the time; it frees over a 120 MB and the corresponding processing power on my machine; mostly through unloading the real time antivirus programs.

Enjoy your crash free flights!

Bruno

[nigelgrant]

Yesterday, I installed a new 650 watt SilverStone Olympia OP650 power supply with a single 12V Rail delivering 54A, and no problems in installing. Fired the computer up and all appears well. I feel more comfortable now, in that it should be eliminating possible damage to my X1950XT because of low amperage supply. FSX is performing okay.

But today I re-instated the ATI HotKey poller program, ie the two ati2evxx.exe files, which appeared to be the culprit before and were causing my computer to crash within 10 minutes of my flight in FSX, when in full screen mode. I flew for over an hour today without the computer crashing.

I am now presuming that it was a combination of these two factors, each on their own insufficient to crash the computer in FSX, but when combined, to cause a crash – ie the ATI HotKey poller program in conjunction with a shy power supply.

I will de-activate the ATI HotKey poller program since I don’t know what it does for me, and it seems to be demanding a lot of resources.

Nigel
Vancouver

My System:

Intel Core2 Duo E6400
Gigabyte GA 965G DS3 mobo
Sapphire ATI Radeon X1950XT video card PCI-e 512MB
2GB Transcend 800Mhz DDR2 RAM
Maxtor 80GB 7200rpm hard drive
Maxtor 200GB 7200rpm hard drive
Western Digital 250GB 7200rpm hard drive
Creative Sound Blaster Live! with latest drivers
NEC FE950+ crt monitor
CHProducts USB yoke and pedals
Windows XP Home edition with SP2
DirectX 9.0(c)
Silverstone Olympia 650W power supply with 54A on the 12v single rail
Five case fans – two intake, three exhaust

[nigelgrant]

Contrary to the last para in my previous message, it has been recommended that I leave ATI HotKey Poller activated if it's not causing any trouble, which I have now done.

I am told at the Sapphire forum that ATI2EVXX.EXE is used by x1900 and above to change from 2D to 3D clocks. My card is on 2D clocks when in desktop mode, but when starting a game, ATI Hotkey Poller changes the clocks to 3D clocks. Apparently, if I disable this service I will may lose the ability to use the following ATI services: Hot Key Poller, VPU Recovery, Overdrive/Temp Monitor.

In effect it was the inadequate 12v supply of my PSU that was the cause of my problems

Nigel
Vancouver