Winamp Crashing After Specifying Images Folder for G-Force

[Flashpaper]

Winamp Version 5.623(x86) - Dec 9 2011
OS: Windows 7
SoundSpectrum Product: G-force Gold 4.3.2 (4133)
Description: Product was working perfectly, but then I specified an alternative folder for images / movies from within the Toolbar. Once I did that the product crashed Winamp. Restarting Winamp resulted in Winamp immediately crashing. Repeated attempts failed to start Winamp succesfully. Specific Error Message:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: winamp.exe
Application Version: 5.6.2.3199
Application Timestamp: 4ee2440b
Fault Module Name: G-Force.dll
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 4edbb514
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 0012352a
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 0a9e
Additional Information 2: 0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789
Additional Information 3: 0a9e
Additional Information 4: 0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789

Uninstall / Re-install of Winamp allowed me to run Winamp again, but upon selecting G-force for visualization it immediately crashed with the above error message.

Other Visualizer Plugins Installed in Winamp:
Advanced Visualizer Studio (Stock with Winamp) 2.81d
Aeon free version. Version 2.0.1
Milkdrop version 2.24v
Nullsoft Tiny Fullscreen (stock with Winamp) v2.12
SoftSkies free version v.1.7 (4139)
WhiteCap free version v.5.7.1 (4139)

I have confirmed that selecting any of these other plugins does not cause a problem.

[juxtiphi]

Hello Flashpaper .

Hmmmm, I went to my winamp to see if I could recreate the problem and what do you know? Neither G-force nor Aeon is installed as a plugin in winamp!

this is weird, I know I selected winamp for install so whats going on?

dont have time to do an uninstall reinstall right now but as soon as I do I will report back .

[jerohm]

I have seen a similar issue if the files included in the Sprites folder (path) are *.png files created using the G-Force '`' snapshot command. My first suggestion is removing/converting *.png image files to '*.jpg' or '*.bmp'.

'*.png' sprite files DO WORK under most circumstances. It is also probably wise to convert image files to B&W and keep the size of the files less than 200K (better yet 100K)....
j

My premise is based on the assumption that the external path setup works just fine, but the contents of the external Sprites folder is the real issue... You could test this theory by creating a copy of the Distribution Sprites folder and assigning the external path to it... Of course you [might] have to empty the contents of current external Sprites folder to bootstrap the whole operation (or mess with the application data files I suppose )

[Flashpaper]

l am grateful for the incredibly kind and detailed replies, and on a Sunday too. My hope is that I can be equally helpful to someone else who might be searching the forums with a similar problem. I will try to be thorough in my writing to that end. I apologize in advance if I am too verbose.

I decided to install Winamp on my XP SP3 box and then install GFORCE there. Upon launching the plugin for the first time, it Crashed Winamp there too, though no detailed error message is available...odd. The only message I got was that the plugin performed an illegal action and to restart Winamp. Fortunately, I did not experience instant crashing on Winamp startup in this case as with the Windows 7 laptop. Taking the advice on the Windows 7 box I inspected the contents of the default sprites folder, and it appears to only contain the stock images. If I could access the plugin I could perhaps rectify any issues I caused by selecting an images folder with the problematic file types in them, but my short term memory being about 1.4 seconds long I can no longer remember what directory I chose.

I also double checked my video drivers, and throttled back performance to a very basic level, but no luck. Both the Windox XP and Windows 7 Home Edition operating systems are updated with the latest from Microsoft. I am now suspecting a DLL incompatibility with something on both machines...though I have no idea how to backtrace such a problem. The fact that nobody else seems to be having this issue leads me to believe this. If this is the case, diagnostics will be extremely problematic. Is there a "safe mode" for this plugin (I'm sure that's a long shot, but thought I'd ask).

With gratitude. _Flashpaper

[BTT]

Hello Flashpaper

I recall this type of problem occurring in the past, the cause was a corrupt download of G-Force. To resolve the problem it was recommended to uninstall WinAmp and G-Force making sure you delete all related folders which will be in more than one location. Re-start the PC, download and install WinAmp then download and install G-Force. It would be best to leave everything G-Force related at the default settings until you are sure it's running as it should.

If you have the same problem after doing the above then click on the link below which will put you in contact with SoundSpectrum, they will contact you direct in a few days.

http://www.soundspectrum.com/support/contact.html


Regards BTT

[Flashpaper]

On my Windows 7 box (ultimately I will actually only run this one machine...just needed to get it working first) I ran through the normal uninstall routines, then re-downloaded both Winamp and G-Force. I implemented the above suggestions from BTT (thanks!), making sure to seek out all external folders where Winamp and G-force install other resources (including the Windows 7 junction point AppData "folder"). I then installed Winamp First and tested to make sure than Milkdrop2 worked fine. It did. I then installed G-Force and tested with no changes. Worked fine. I specified an empty alternate directory for Images and Video. I placed a single 32mb 256 x 256 image in that folder and G-FORCE updated the Images and Video list within the Control Toolbar correctly. I activated the image in question and it appeared normally.
Conclustion: Either or both Winamp and G-force downloads were corrupted, though that was not readily apparent because they both behaved correctly initially. I will continue to monitor and report any further problems within this specific forum post.

With gratitude: _flashpaper

[Flashpaper]

On my Windows 7 laptop I selected "Allow Non Local G-force Toolbar control" and restarted Winamp. Now I cannot run Winamp again. It crashes at startup. The detailed error message is identical to that I experienced at the beginning of this post. At this point I think I'm going to call it an experience and see if I can get SoundSpectrum to port my license over to Aeon instead. That plugin doesn't experience issues and it's quite a different, and nice looking, visualizer.

[BTT]

Hello Flashpaper

So, following my suggestions WinAmp and G-Force worked fine up to the point where you specified an alternative folder for Sprites, could you not live with that?


Information published by SoundSpectrum

G-Force is having problems running on my computer! What do I do?

If G-Force is having a problem running on your computer, the first step to resolve it is getting SoundSpectrum engineers technical information about your computer. Our software contains functionality to automatically write out your system's hardware profile to a text file, but it must be manually activated. This allows you to simply copy and paste this information into a SoundSpectrum support ticket, making it possible for SoundSpectrum to troubleshoot your problem.

Please follow the below steps to ensure that your support ticket gets the best analysis possible:

1.If you haven't already, open a new SoundSpectrum support ticket and thoroughly describe the problem you're having. Be detailed. The more details and information you provide, the more likely SoundSpectrum will be able to assess your problem.

2.Start G-Force in your media player (or G-Force Standalone).

3.Press SHIFT+i. You should see several lines of small white text appear within G-Force. If you don't see this text, ensure that G-Force has keyboard focus. If you're using Windows Media Player, enter full screen mode while G-Force is running in order for your key presses to be effective.

4.On your desktop, you should now see a file named "SoundSpectrum Log.txt". Open this text file, select all (CTRL+A on Windows and Command+A on OS X), and copy its contents to the system clipboard (CTRL+C on Windows and Command+C on OS X).

5.Paste the text to your support ticket (CTRL+V on Windows and Command+V on OS X) and submit it.

Hope the above helps.


Regards BTT

[Flashpaper]

Thanks BTT! I will check that out. The problem is no longer with defining an external folder for images. Your solution for that worked beautifully. The problem is now what I described in the most recent post of selecting the option that allows GForce to be controlled remotely. But no, it would be difficult for me to live the previous problem when Winamp's Milkdrop2 performs such an operating seamlessly (and it's free). I really needed to have that functionality (well, "NEED" is a somewhat interesting word here since this really is just for entertainment). I will perform your suggested actions, however, as you have been spot on. Thank you so much for your continued help.

[BTT]

Hello Flashpaper

Your welcome....If you decide to go down the route of submitting a report to SoundSpectrum and, they resolve the issue would you be kind enough to post back here with their solution. It's always good to learn.


Regards BTT