DVD Shrink 3.2 lockup/freeze while encoding!!

[Krazykevin]

I did a search on google and found a few others with this problem but found no solution. I have a P4 2.8ghz with 1gig of memory and a 120gig Western digital 7200rpm hd. My system is rock solid stable, until a fire up DVD Shrink 3.2. While encoding, shrink seems to freeze up. It freezes at ramdom percentages. Sometimes at 20, other times at 50%. It doesn't do it all the time though. Its almost like when I start the backup process and walk away, it will lockup/freeze. If I start multitasking while its encoding, it seems like it does better. (The few times of tried this). The only wierd thing is after I reboot and try again it may work. Its totally random. I can rip disks, use VOB programs and other programs that tax the system and the system is fine. My next step when I get home will be to go to 3.1 and see if that fixes anything. Is 3.2 that much better than 3.1? thanks

[mats.hogberg]

Do you rip/shrink with DVDShrink, or do you rip first with ie DVDDecrypter, then shrink with DVDShrink?
If you haven't done so, try the latter method.

/Mats

[golfnut]

I have the same problem and I rip with Decrypter to hard drive first and still have the freezing problem, using latest version of both Shrink and Decrypter but earlier versions do the same thing. I too would like to know how to correct this. Thanks.

[cd090580]

I saw you overclock your cpu from 2.8 to 3.2 Ghz.

Maybe your CPU is overheating and freeze your system.

[Krazykevin]

Same as golfnut. I use DVD Decrypter to rip the dvd to my hd. Then I've tried it 2 ways. I've went straight to shrink and burned from there, and I've used a VOB editor, then to shrink and burn. Shrink locks both ways. I have Win XP Pro and a pretty new version of Nero if that makes any difference. Seems like there is a hand full of people with this issue. The only fix I saw was one person went to a earlier version of shrink, I think 3.1. I've yet to make a coaster with my Lite On 812>>>832 drive and my computer runs everything rock solid. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[GKar]

As cd090580 stated you, try setting your CPU to it's normal speed (non-overclock), also it's possible your power supply is inadequate, especially when overclocked (5V-12V rail). You can try eliminating hardware as a problem by downloading another transcoder and trying it, if it freezes up again, then look towards a hardware problem.

[golfnut]

I am not sure who you are referring to regarding overclocking but I can assure you I am not overclocking. My power supply is 450 which should be plenty. As everyone else having this problem my computer is rock solid on every thing I throw at it except this freezing problem with shrink. Completely buffaloed on how to correct this problem. Thanks for everyone's comments.

[GKar]

I am not sure who you are referring to regarding overclocking but I can assure you I am not overclocking. My power supply is 450 which should be plenty. As everyone else having this problem my computer is rock solid on every thing I throw at it except this freezing problem with shrink. Completely buffaloed on how to correct this problem. Thanks for everyone's comments.

This was aimed at krazykevin who is overclocking..I was looking at his computer configuration.

Golfnut have you tried a different transcoder? Overall power supply wattage is not indicative of how much rail current you have (5V and 12V). If you try a different transcoder and it still locks up it may indicate a hardware problem like insufficient power or poor CPU/System cooling.

[golfnut]

Gkar thank you for the reply. The only other transcoder I have used is CloneDvd which I have no problems with but I just like the quality of Shrink better so I am trying to get Shrink to work properly. It will freeze maybe 6-8 times then it will complete the encoding properly, strange. One thing it does do sometimes after it freezes I have to defrag the hard drive. I also have to do this after it completely encodes and burns, why should that be? I have a 3 month old 160GB Western Digital, 7200rpm hard drive so it should not be the hard drive. I think it may be the CPU is not cooling properly? Thanks again for your help.

[SCDVD]

Video processing is one of the most severe applications for a system. It loads the CPU very heavily and it is non stop. If you have any borderline issues with power, heat and system stability, it is much more likely to show up when doing video processing than just about any other application. Shrink is a stable piece of software. If you are seeing system instability when running Shrink, the most likely reason is a system issue. There are many possible reasons so it is best to do a logical process of elimination. The logical first step is heat. A stock CPU fan may work just fine except under extreme conditions. You may need a bigger CPU fan. Another heat issue is the case cooling. If you don't have adequate case cooling, the ambient heat in the case may become too hot during prolonged heavy use. The list of possible reasons for the problem is pretty long so it is best to do a step by step process of elimination starting with the most likely, which is heat.

[mats.hogberg]

You say "Shrink freezes" - not "The computer freezes". If this is correct, I'd doubt hardware/cooling problems, which would lock up the whole computer, not just the "offending" application...

/Mats

[golfnut]

When Shrink freeaes it does lock up the computer also. I have to reboot to get computer back up.

[Krazykevin]

Same here also. Shrink freezes and/or at the same time the whole system locks up. I'm not throwing out the heating issues, but its odd that if I run another program at the same time it seams to help. But the last statement I made hasn't been truely put to a test. When I get home, I'm going to back my cpu down to 3ghz and go from there.

[GKar]

Here's a few more dopey thoughts:

1) reseat your ram
2) blow dust out your system and cpu hsf
3) run system at lower then spec (underclock)
4) clear as many tsr's out of your system as possible before transcoding (win98 days)
5) don't discount power supply inadequacy or problems
6) reapply heatsink compound to cpu hsf

End of dopey thoughts...

[golfnut]

Thanks guys, all good suggestions and I will try all and see what happens. I really appreciate the input. Have a great evening.

[golfnut]

Can anyone recommend a good, quiet cpu fan? Thanks guys.

[e404pnf]

Can anyone recommend a good, quiet cpu fan? Thanks guys.

Zalman produce some nice & quiet HSFs. Where are you in the world? If in the UK there are some Socket A HSF from Overclockers here...(towards bottom of page)

-e404pnf

[golfnut]

In the USA.