Challenge: Win2K+SMP+DVD problem

[Matthew Everet Kieren]

Greetings everyone, I have a problem playing DVD movies on a dual processor Win2K system. I'm a computer technician with A+ certification, so I'm not a newbie. But this has me stumped..
What happens is whenever I try to play a DVD movie it COMPLETELY locks up my system. Even the mouse locks up, Caps lock doesn't work, etc.. This is the only time my system ever locks up (I've found Win2K to be a very stable OS for me otherwise). It happens the moment right before the video comes up. I don't have a hardware decoder card (nor do I have the $$$ for one), so I'm stuck with software DVD playback. I've tried *several* soft DVD players, including Cinemaster, WinDVD, PowerDVD, and SoftDVD. They all do *exactly* the same thing.
Now here's the really strange part: This only started after upgrading my system to dual PIII-550MHz (Katmai/512k L2) processors. If I take one of them out, it works fine. This ONLY happens in an SMP set-up. It should work fine, especially Ravisent Cinemaster which has a seperate display thread option just for SMP. And yes, I've updated the HAL driver to reflect SMP.

Here's my current system configuration:

Windows 2000 Professional
Dual Intel P3-550MHz 512k L2 Katmai
256MB PC100 SDRAM
10.1GB Western Digital - Primary IDE drive 0
6.4GB Western Digital - Primary IDE drive 1
Creative 2X PC-DVD Dxr2 (w/o HW-decoder) - Secondary IDE drive 0
Hewlett Packard CD-Writer 2X - Secondary IDE drive 1
Elsa Winner II Savage4 AGP 32MB
Aureal Vortex2 PCI reference sound card (OEM)
Zoom 2925 PCI v.90 56K modem


Anything else you need to know? Just ask. The only thing I'm really trying to avoid is re-installing the OS and starting from scratch. It would be more trouble than it's worth. That and having to remove the second processor whenever I want to watch a DVD movie, heh.

Thanks in advance! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif


+ :.Matthew Everet Kieren.: +

[BBA]

Win2K works fine with WinDVD and dual processors.

PowerDVD causes system stability and performance problems and should never be used with W2K, the only fix I have found is reloading the OS...uninstalling it causes other problems.

If you use Windvd, you have to unregister the audio codec it loads or wav playback will be distorted in other apps.

Your vid card might not like DVD with W2K drivers either, mines a Geforce and a TNT2U and a G400DH.

[Nathan]

Sometimes it gets more and more difficult with this stuff doesn't it?

[Nathan]

Have you tried these pages yet?

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q227/6/51.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0


Type in "DVD" at this page. It has some interesting things on this page.


http://search.support.microsoft.com/kb/c.asp?DU=C&FR=0

[Matthew Everet Kieren]

Yepyep.. I use the Knowledge Base religiously. That was one of the first places I checked after trying common troubleshooting techniques.

I'm playing it in a window, it doesn't change my resolution. However, I have tried switching to different resolutions (such as 800x600x16bpp) just to see if it would be any different - nope. I've also tried switching between Win2K and NT 4.0 display drivers. No difference whatsoever. Still completely locks up the computer.

I've tried different DVD discs. One DVD actually got to the copyright screen, but it still completely locked up the computer before getting any further.

Any other suggestions??


+ :.Matthew Everet Kieren.: +

[Nathan]

I figured you've been there. I really have my doubts as to 2000 having compatiablity with DVD. All this is still too new yet...if you know what I mean.

[Matthew Everet Kieren]

True, but it works fine with just 1 processor.. argh, so frustrating..

Other than this problem, I love Win2K.. It kicks major *** for web design, image editing, and sound production. I never have any system crashes (with the DVD problem being an exception of course) and I absolutely love those pointer shadows and window fades! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif


+ :.Matthew Everet Kieren.: +

[jman01pa]

I am having the same problem using Creative Labs 6x DVD w/dxr3 decoder card and Win 2000. I believe my problem is my video card (Voodoo 3/2000). I just updated my video drivers with alot of fixes. I havn't had a chance to check it yet. Did you try emailing Creative Labs. I did but my drivers are beta only but yours are suppose to be good. I was trying to get you a link but it seems they are down for the moment. I will check back later.

J http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif