ActiveMovie window pops up (case 3712)

[rbvance]

Several experiments used to run perfectly on our laptop. Recently, when we try to run them, the message "ActiveMovie Window" shows in the task bar (next to the DirectRT). Actually, there is a second DirectRT icon without the words, then "ActiveMovie Window." If you click on one of these buttons, the screen goes black and the program crashes. We have to end program ("Execute DirectRT not responding") and log off. It happens randomly across several experiments that are identical in format. It doesn't seem to matter whether or not the button box is plugged in. Thoughts?

I just tried running these experiments on my desktop--no problems. The laptop has an XP operating system.

[jarvis]

Becky--since it works fine on your desktop can you check two things? 1. That the version of DirectRT on your laptops match the version on your desktop, and 2. That the version of the Windows Media Player on your laptops also match the version on your desktop? Are these the same machines as you used before when the experiment worked fine? Do you happen to know the exact version number you were using then? Is it XP on your desktop also?

[jarvis]

[additional info from other post]

...Back to 2008 version of DirectRT that used to run this experiment. Tried launching the program from different trials (e.g., 129- instead of "all"). The program seemed to run smoothly from different start points, but consistently crashed when I tried to run "all." I use a lot of .gif files and thought maybe a .gif in the first row was resulting in the crash/failure to launch, so I took it out. That allowed the program to launch and it ran perfectly for about 20 trials until I had to use the Tab key (after a programmed stop). Then it crashed again. It seems that a second Execute DirectRT (that pops up the ActiveMovie tab) is causing the problem, but I have no idea how to fix it. I'm really confused because I collected data using these programs on over 100 subjects, same laptops, everything, but I simply can't get things to work now. We would like to compare new data to data we have already collected, so I don't want to change the programs too much (e.g., take out all .gif files). Any suggestions?

[rbvance]

Hi Blair,

I've worked on this problem for several more hours and have additional information for you. You had asked about the operating systems on our machines and what version of media player we use. I checked the desktop and all laptops. All have XP operating systems, DirectRT version 2008.1.0.13 and media player 11.

When working on the program, I had a crash on my desktop for the first time. Now it’s crashing more often, which is what happened with the laptops. Once the program started to crash, the crashes occurred more frequently and seemingly more randomly.

So this is what I know:

-The problem occurs on multiple machines (now the desktop as well as the laptops)

-I thought the problem was predictable, but it’s not. When I run different versions of the program (the only difference is in some of the sound files), the crashes occur in different places. Just when I think I’ve gotten past the “usual crash point” (first trial with a .gif file) the program will run another few trials and then crash.



-There is predictability in terms of what is included in the trials where the program crashes, and there is always a .gif file. All trials that have only sound files and .bmps run smoothly. This makes me think it may have something to do with memory. I don’t know enough to understand how this would trigger a second “execute directRT,” but that always causes the crash. I’ve noticed that sometimes the screen flashes before the crash, like it’s trying to upload the files but can’t.


-I looked at the properties of all of the .gifs and they are pretty consistent in terms of size, dpi, color, etc. I don’t see how the images, etc. could be the problem because as I’ve said, these experiments used to run with no problems at all. It’s almost like the program is aging with new bugs or something???


-The 2012 version of DirectRT doesn’t run these experiments at all. Everything crashes immediately (at least on the machine I used).


A few other observations:
-My oldest computer seems to run the programs the best, but everything crashes at some point.
-Sometimes the experiment will run once, but I when I try it again, it will crash. Once the crashes start, they occur more frequently to point that I can’t even launch an experiment.


I hope this new information helps. I simply don't know what to try next...

[jarvis]

These machines may have had an earlier version of the Windows Media Player on them when they were working. IS it possible you could uninstall the WMP and install an earlier version such as version 9 and see if that resolves it? I assume you haven't installed newer versions on most of these machines and then uninstalled them in order to v2008? Also, if you want to zip and attach the experiment, I'll try to run it here. It makes sense that it would only happen with gif studies because bmp's and sound files don't use the "active movie" components.

[rbvance]

Hi Blair,

I'll try installing the old WMP and see what happens. I'm attaching the experiment file. Let me know what you find. Thanks so much! I can't tell if my file is uploading or not--nothing seems to be happening. Please let me know if you don't get it.

Becky