Playing iTunes = Death

Alonzo Mosley · Aug 16, 2023

Well that was a Charlie Foxtrot.

Thank goodness for System Restore.

zbook · Aug 16, 2023

Nice.

Please post a new V2 share link into the newest post.

Which group of customized tests in post #39 had you used in the latest crash?

Post images or share links that include "'Add currently not loaded drivers"'

Please run Tuneup plus again.
It will modify the settings.
Maintain these settings during the troubleshooting.
Once the troubleshooting has completed please modify to your preferences.

Normally Microsoft wants insiders to use the insiders feedback hub for BSOD troubleshooting.

zbook · Aug 17, 2023

Please contact Microsoft using the feedback hub for troubleshooting insider builds.

Alonzo Mosley · Aug 17, 2023

Post 39 had these settings (attached: querylisting.txt), your first set in Post 37 (same querylisting report as in Post 38).

Your second set is what caused the green screen of panic.

Here is the V2, post-green-screen.

Also attached is the second Tuneup log file, just run.

I think I mentioned in the OP or an early post that I also put this in the Feedback Hub, but as of yet have had no traction.

Thanks,

zbook · Aug 17, 2023

Reinstall:

fxvad FxSound Audio Enhancer c:\windows\system32\drivers\fxvad.sys

Driver C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\FXVAD.SYS (14.1.0.0, 319.00 KB (326,656 bytes), 5/30/2022 08:53)

Wed Mar 17 10:48:36 2021 (605240F4)

Restart WDV with these customized test settings:

Code:

    [X] (0x00000010) I/O verification
    [X] (0x00000080) DMA checking
    [X] (0x00000200) Force pending I/O requests
    [X] (0x00000400) IRP logging
    [X] (0x00002000) Invariant MDL checking for stack
    [X] (0x00004000) Invariant MDL checking for driver
    [X] (0x00008000) Power framework delay fuzzing
    [X] (0x00010000) Port/miniport interface checking
    [X] (0x00040000) Systematic low resources simulation
    [X] (0x00200000) NDIS/WIFI verification
    [X] (0x00800000) Kernel synchronization delay fuzzing
    [X] (0x01000000) VM switch verification
    [X] (0x02000000) Code integrity checks

zbook · Aug 17, 2023

When you retire (go to bed) please run:

Fix common Surface problems using the Surface app and Surface Diagnostic Toolkit - Microsoft Support

Access, download, or run the Surface app and the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit to help find and solve Surface problems.

support.microsoft.com

Post images or share links displaying the tests performed with results.

Code:

Event[21080]
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-WHEA-Logger
  Date: 2023-08-16T17:55:25.6620000Z
  Event ID: 3
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info  a
  Keyword: WHEA Error Event Logs,
  User: S-1-5-19
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
  Computer: RJB-1EK4KNSG
  Description:
A hardware event has occurred. An informational record describing the condition is contained in the data section of this event.

Event[21081]
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-WHEA-Logger
  Date: 2023-08-16T17:55:25.6620000Z
  Event ID: 3
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info  a
  Keyword: WHEA Error Event Logs,
  User: S-1-5-19
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
  Computer: RJB-1EK4KNSG
  Description:
A hardware event has occurred. An informational record describing the condition is contained in the data section of this event.

Event[21082]
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-WHEA-Logger
  Date: 2023-08-16T17:55:25.6630000Z
  Event ID: 3
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info  a
  Keyword: WHEA Error Event Logs,
  User: S-1-5-19
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
  Computer: RJB-1EK4KNSG
  Description:
A hardware event has occurred. An informational record describing the condition is contained in the data section of this event.

Event[21083]
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-WHEA-Logger
  Date: 2023-08-16T17:55:25.6640000Z
  Event ID: 3
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info  a
  Keyword: WHEA Error Event Logs,
  User: S-1-5-19
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
  Computer: RJB-1EK4KNSG
  Description:
A hardware event has occurred. An informational record describing the condition is contained in the data section of this event.

x BlueRobot · Aug 17, 2023

It looks like your BSOD was caused by the code integrity option which is typically only really useful if you have memory integrity enabled. Many machines do not have this enabled by default due to not having compatible drivers so you might want to check that if it has been enabled:

Enable memory integrity - Windows Security

This article explains the steps to opt in to using memory integrity on Windows devices.

learn.microsoft.com

I believe it is running on your machine though.

Rich (BB code):

0: kd> knL
 # Child-SP          RetAddr               Call Site
00 fffffd8f`ea184fe8 fffff800`0aad73d1     nt!KeBugCheckEx
01 fffffd8f`ea184ff0 fffff800`0a5e11f2     nt!VerifierBugCheckIfAppropriate+0x14d
02 fffffd8f`ea185090 fffff800`0aacd980     nt!VfReportIssueWithOptions+0x102
03 fffffd8f`ea1850e0 fffff800`0aaca06e     nt!VfCheckPoolType+0x90 << Driver Verifier checks pool type when driver requests an allocation
04 fffffd8f`ea185120 fffff80c`6397669d     nt!VerifierExAllocatePoolWithTag+0x9e
05 fffffd8f`ea185180 00000000`00000088     fxvad+0x669d
06 fffffd8f`ea185188 00000000`00000000     0x88

That fxvad.sys driver seems to belong to Fx Audio Enhancer? I'm not completely sure what it belongs to unfortunately. You may want to check for an updated version but if you can't find one, then for testing purposes, you may want to disable memory integrity (reboot) and then try iTunes again. If iTunes still crashes, then you know that the issue lies elsewhere.

To answer your question from earlier, all of the strange freezing and things not displaying correctly would have been due to Driver Verifier. I would disable it for now though.

Alonzo Mosley said:
I think I mentioned in the OP or an early post that I also put this in the Feedback Hub, but as of yet have had no traction.

You did, but I doubt it will get much attention unfortunately unless others users are having the same problem and have the foresight to report it in the feedback hub.

zbook · Aug 17, 2023

Please follow the instructions in posts #45 and #46.

1) Continue / complete WDV testing

2) Run the surface diagnostic tests

jimbo45 · Aug 17, 2023

I thought "ichoons" was deprecated. So many better players out there including vlc which can play almost any sort of track -- (and video too) . Even Winamp. Not sure why you still need "ichoons" -- unless some tracks might be riddled with DRM. It's often feasable to "de-drm" those older tracks too. Modern stuff especially if it's only .mp3 can be easily captured by any sort of analog capture device even -- at quality of capture even at mp3 compression of 256 or 320 kbs is perfectly OK -- especially if listening on cheap speakers or those hideous bud earphones.

foobar, media-monkey and vlc seem to be the most popular players on these forums by far though. vlc can also be played in linux and mac/os as well as on most phones.

Cheers
jimbo

x BlueRobot · Aug 17, 2023

All the suggestions about using a different media player aren't actually answering the question of why does iTunes continously crash?

Alonzo Mosley · Aug 17, 2023

x BlueRobot said:
All the suggestions about using a different media player aren't actually answering the question of why does iTunes continously crash?

Right? One of my least favorite parts about the internet. "Hey I'm having trouble doing this thing." "You shouldn't do that thing. You should do my thing."

MM, VLC don't support playlist folders on iPods, which is a deal breaker. And WinAmp?

Alonzo Mosley · Aug 17, 2023

An Incomplete Response:
I've run the Surface Diagnostic before. It's not an overnight cook - it's very active (e.g.,, touchscreen accuracy, stereo separation). Nevertheless, it didn't help.

The FX Audio is a graphic equalizer - basically a pre-amp. It's been running since I bought this PC (June 2022) and I first started having this iTunes problem ~two weeks ago (been using iTunes since 2007).

I UNINSTALLED it completely. I didn't load any of the WDV options - I'm way behind on several other projects! - but tried to run iTunes. At 29 minutes or so, the system became really sluggish - Firefox couldn't load pages, when it came back from blank-screen, iTunes showed songs playing but no other graphics (e.g., sidebars, toolbars). At at just over 30 minutes, the entire system crashed.

Here is the V2 following that event.

I'm going to have to ignore this problem for a while. But I will be back!

(And, yes, the first rule of troubleshooting is, If there is a workaround that's as effective and efficient as the work, don't bother finding a solution... But I don't have a good workaround, yet!)

Thanks everyone for their help so far.

Hate to leave this on a cliffhanger...

x BlueRobot · Aug 17, 2023

Rich (BB code):

Event[12889]
  Log Name: Application
  Source: Windows Error Reporting
  Date: 2023-08-17T09:26:23.6310000Z
  Event ID: 1001
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information 
  Opcode: Info  a
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-21-3024936345-1746127980-2610149996-1003
  User Name: RJB-1EK4KNSG\Robert J. Binney
  Computer: RJB-1EK4KNSG
  Description: 
Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: GDIObjectLeak
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: iTunes.exe
P2: 12.12.9.4
P3: 786444.589828
P4: 1
P5: 9ffc4c3ef06c5
P6: 
P7: 
P8: 
P9: 
P10: 

Attached files:

These files may be available here:
NULL

Analysis symbol: 
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: 46c88b92-1e73-4493-8a87-b1233cf4301f
Report Status: 1074003968
Hashed bucket: 
Cab Guid: 0

There seems to be a possible object leak with the iTunes application, which would explain why it takes a little while for it to eventually crash. The GDI objects are basically all your GUI controls like buttons, icons, text labels etc. You can display the count in Task Manager by following instructions which are still applicable to Windows 11: GDI Leaks: How to identify and fix them? – Deleaker Blog

Once the count has been displayed, open iTunes and then keep an eye on the count while the application is running, it begins to get exceedingly high, then you definitely know that is the issue. There seems to be a possible band-aid fix but if it is leaking then it will eventually crash again, please see here: How to increase the maximum amount of GDI Object for Windows 10?

Alonzo Mosley · Aug 17, 2023

Oh, my. That sounds... tremendous.

I will say, one piece of software I've added in the last few weeks was PowerToys, and since that runs in the background, I uninstalled it "in case".

If it is leaking, why would it start two weeks ago and never before?

Also, why don't I see a puddle anywhere?

x BlueRobot · Aug 17, 2023

Alonzo Mosley said:
If it is leaking, why would it start two weeks ago and never before?

Good idea in removing anything that suspect might be causing problems, I'm not completely sure why it would suddenly happen, unless they've pushed a buggy update recently? I was thinking - I haven't used iTunes in years - are you queuing up a very long playlist? I was wondering if you did, is there a strange chance where it continuously creating new GDI objects for each song in the playlist?

It might be worthwhile having a look at any applications with GDI object counts from Task Manger too.

Alonzo Mosley said:
Also, why don't I see a puddle anywhere?

You can't see a puddle when you're in a lake :wink:

zbook · Aug 17, 2023

If you replaced the misbehaving driver then restart WDV with the same settings to test the new driver and other drivers.

Alonzo Mosley · Aug 17, 2023

Thanks, @zbook . I uninstalled and didn't reinstall yet. Same issue.

@x BlueRobot , iTunes hasn't pushed an update in years; but Windows has. I'm not playing lists any longer than I ever have; even if it's just one album, just hitting the Songs inventory, or a playlist.... That 30 minute limit seems to be pretty hard and fast.

x BlueRobot · Aug 17, 2023

I'm assuming that iTunes version is given as the second parameter in the event log entry, so 12.12.9.4 yet the latest version on the Apple website seems to be a couple of versions back?

iTunes 12.10.11 for Windows (Windows 64 bit) - Apple Support

iTunes is the easiest way to enjoy your favorite music, movies, TV shows, and more on your PC. This update allows you to sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch on Windows 7 and Windows 8 PCs.

support.apple.com

I wonder if it is worthwhile giving that version a go? I would check your current version beforehand though, make sure it I'd actually newer than the one on their website.

You could try increasing the GDI object limit but ultimately it will just delay the crash.

zbook · Aug 17, 2023

Uninstalling and not reinstalling makes it easier to test other drivers.

Alonzo Mosley · Aug 18, 2023

x BlueRobot said:
I'm assuming that iTunes version is given as the second parameter in the event log entry, so 12.12.9.4 yet the latest version on the Apple website seems to be a couple of versions back?

iTunes 12.10.11 for Windows (Windows 64 bit) - Apple Support

iTunes is the easiest way to enjoy your favorite music, movies, TV shows, and more on your PC. This update allows you to sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch on Windows 7 and Windows 8 PCs.

support.apple.com

I wonder if it is worthwhile giving that version a go? I would check your current version beforehand though, make sure it I'd actually newer than the one on their website.

You could try increasing the GDI object limit but ultimately it will just delay the crash.

There's an iTunes available from the Windows Store (auto-installs) and one from Apple's website. The only functional difference I can see is that the taskbar icon is slightly different. I tried "clean" installs of both before starting this thread, and had the same issue.

I am going to add the information about the leaks to my Insider Feedback ticket; anything else in any of these diagnostics y'all recommend I share?

And I'm too buried with deadlines to monkey with this the next few days - looks like it's CD Boombox in the office this week!