Avis played across network cause restart

[Elstree]

I capture and encode to xvid several different television shows and store them in a shared folder on my computer so that my family can watch them on their computers. In the last couple of weeks, whenever one of these files is selected, my computer restarts. I'm not even sure how to search for a solution to this problem. I suspect a MS update since nothing else has changed and these files were always playable up until a few weeks ago. By the way, all the files play fine on my computer. On the other networked computers, I can't even run gspot on the files without causing my computer to restart. All boxes are winXP SP2 and this is also happening to a lesser degree with mp3s, and other video files. But no xvid avis will play. Help!

[guns1inger]

I would start by updating the network drivers for your NIC. It could be failing under the load of the video traffic.

Do you get any error messages, or anything left in the XP logs ?

[Elstree]

Thanks, I'll try upgrading drivers. I had wondered if the NIC might be failing. As far as messages, I get no indication that there even was an error. Just a reboot.

[fLYtRap]

You know what there is something about a network and rebooting. I have a simillar problem. My computer is restaring since I set up network beetween my desktop and laptop. Laptop is working fine. I'm running network through 1394. When the IEEE card is removed the desktop shuts down just fine. When the card is put back in a slot it is restarting everytime, no matter what I choose. Its kinda weird, because 1394 works just fine. I didn't found any solution yet, but I bought a new IEEE 1394 PCI card and I am wondering if this is going to change anything.

[Elstree]

Well, no luck. New NIC with latest drivers and no change. Anyone have any ideas?

TIA for any help.

[Soopafresh]

I'd try a different player altogther. Download MPUI at http://mpui.sourceforge.net/ It's very good and compact.

It doesn't use any of the standard windows decoders (which is a good thing for testing). Try playing your AVIs through MPUI. If that works, there's probably a DirectShow codec that is creating your reboot proble.

[redwudz]

Networking problems can be a pain. I store my videos on a server PC and access them from a couple of computers. No problems with playing, though. I use VLC and Zoom player most of the time.

I'm not clear on one point.

I can't even run gspot on the files without causing my computer to restart.

I assume you mean when you access the file from the other computer, it causes your computer to restart? I say this since you say playing the files with your computer is not a problem. If it causes the other computer to restart, then that's different.

I don't think it's a problem with the NICs. They usually work or they don't. And it's unlikely you have changed their settings. So that leaves it down to the networking software on both computers or something else that's involved. Second, if the problem is the same on more than one computer, then that points back to your computer or the computer that is hosting the files.

Do other files transfer between computers or are you able to access other programs or files from the networked computer from yours? Or is video access the only problem?

The first suggestion, if you haven't tried it, is to use VLC to try to play one of the files from your remote computers. This avoids a lot of codec problems. VLC can also stream video, so it works well with networks.

Sorry, that's a lot of info, but you need to pin down where the problem really is.

And welcome to our forums.

[Nelson37]

Check the logs in Event Viewer for any items at the time of reboot.

Do you see any msg on the host PC screen?

How long does it take to cause a reboot, and is it consistent, either in minutes or in (rough estimate) total bits of file played?

Definitely copy LARGE files around the network, make an attempt to create as much traffic as possible for roughly the time period it typically takes to reboot, adding some for fudge factor.
Like all three clients copy a couple GB of different files at the same time.

Very odd that the host PC reboots. Lost connection, sure, but reboot the HOST and not the client? Try opening the case and listen carefully to the hard drive, possible overheating or bad spots?

One other possibility, try pointing the IP DNS Server on the client to the Host PC. Which brings up How is your network laid out? Router, switch, wireless, DHCP or static IP, etc. These are in play but I can't see causing the host to reset like that.

I do know that something in a recent MS update can cause some clients to periodically disconnect from the host unless the DNS server is set to the host's IP address. Peer to peer with an XP pro host this is not usually necessay. The only client affected is a Win2k machine.

[Elstree]

Thanks for all the suggestions. The problem seems to have gone away. I started getting machine check exception BSODs and cleared the bios via motherboard jumper. Now everything's back to normal. Thanks again for the help.