M$ Streets and Trips Crashes randomly

I already posted over at laptopgpsworld, and didn't get any resolution.

I have S&T 2007 running on an CF29 MK4 Panny Toughbook, and it hangs/crashes quite often, and seemingly randomly. I drive around installing signs on convenient stores, and use a panny dock to mount my laptop in the rental car. I setup my maps by importing an excel spreadsheet of 20-100 poi's (sometimes more), and sometimes everything works perfectly, and sometimes not (crashes the program). Never to start, always at some point during use. Sometimes it will be when I zoom out, sometimes it will be after running "create gps trail" for a while, and sometimes it will be with a virgin map that I didn't do anything but "turn on GPS tracking", and manually pan to follow my location. Very frustrating. In fact, I thought it was a ram issue with my MK1, so I upgraded to an MK2, and then, incidentally, to an MK4, just because the opportunity presented itself (3 separate computers). I ran memtest on the MK1 and MK2, twice, and they both passed.


RIght now, I'm using a CF29 MK4, 2gb ram, 160gb hdd, petium M 1.6ghz, serial touch screen, OEM bluetooth with toshiba drivers, and an internal aftermarket Customtoughbooks Ublox 6 (?) GPS kit, curioustech xport, Win XP (Panny OEM Image), upgraded to sp3, Senao 8602+ with WLAN client, and softrightclick (little app to simulate tap and hold right click for TScreen).

I have also ran into this same problem on an CF29 MK1, MK2, MK3, and with SP2, AND a different internal GPS unit (holux GR87), AND with different RAM and HDD's for over a year now. My GPS units are seen as GPS units in the BIOS.

I'm a pretty simple guy, and tend to run the same software over and over: office xp, winrar, cutepdf writer (pdf printer), foobar2000 (audio), firefox, autocad 2k, power menu (adds extra functions to taskbar icon context menus), vista switcher (shift+tab vista like preview interface), glary utilities, ccleaner, tagscanner, curioustech xport (creates multiple virtual com ports for nav programs to share 1 actual gps device), utorrent, vlc, truecrypt, silverlight, and a few others. I tend to run older software, without all the updates because they are bloaty and generally unnecessary. I have automatic updates turned off, and haven't had a virus or malware infection in years. I can't say all my software is %100 legit, but I have tested it all thoroughly, For a year or so, it ran perfectly on my MK1.

I'll be driving along and it will hang/crash. and then keep on hanging and crashing randomly. And sometimes, not; it will go all day with no issues. I have tried stock maps with no custom poi's, and only 20 custom poi's, or 1200 custom poi's

I have checked eventvwr.msc, and see it in the software section and drwatsn32 (screenshots attached)I have also tried different print drivers, no print driver, reinstalled whatever engine the MS KB article had said to, and it doesn't make a difference. Even reinstalling the program doesn't really help.

How do I figure out why it's crashing so i can fix it? (it's really pissing me off)


I don't want to upgrade to ST2013 because it's new and bloated, but I"m looking into it.
Or going to Ubuntu, but that's a whole other setup I"m not sure I want to tackle.

Thanks, again, guys!

 

Very detailed post..:thumbsup:

What the baud rate of the GPS set at? Ublox come with it set to 9600. Most software doesn't like that speed.
Is the 160gb drive a Samsung? Is it a IDE or a SATA with an adapter?
I would do a fresh install of the operating system on a clean drive...What OS are you running?
Only install the needed drivers and S&T's...Nothing else....See what happens then.


I read this in the decription..

M icrosoft Streets & Trips 2007 software now integrates with Windows Live Search, Microsoft's answer to Google....

.........Possibly S&T's is trying to connect to the internet? Try to disable that, If you can..

 

You know…back when I was using a 29 MK2 it would run great….fire up Street and Trips…ok….then the second I started moving it would BSOD.

It turned out to be a wifi driver update was needed ….ICS_Dx32.exe. This fixed it. Maybe you are having a similar driver issue. BTW….Nothing wrong with ST 2013 even with over 6000 POI’s

It seems to be the best version to date. I cannot use 2007 the map data is around eight years old.

 

I have never had any issues with S & T. I'm currently using 2013 because I get it for free but I don't worry much about the age of the maps. We aren't doing much road changing/fixing since the current crop of nitwits in the House took over and the roads don't change that much anyway. I have never had any kind of stability issues with any version and I started with 2000. 2007 is is supposed to work with Win 2K and I know it worked perfectly for me on CF-27-M34-28-29-30-51 & 52 so I would look to something other than S & T as Shawn suggested. If it sees your GPS it shouldn't crash as a result of anything the GPS sends it. S & T has been around since 1988 in one form or another so it's pretty mature software.
CAP

 

Indeed, the gps is on com 3, 9600 baud, but xport repeats the output to virtual com ports. I've always ran xport, so I could run multiple map programs simultaneously.
S&T won't take com3 9600, but it does great on xport virtual com2
I don't recall which drive it is, but it is SATA, and running on one of andre's adapters. I don't think that's the issue as I have *not had that problem with this setup.
It was a fresh install, Panny OEM disks, but not virgin (I installed everything I usually install).

My issue with 2013 would be that it will require 40 other program updates that will screw up my other already great running older software that works great.
I'm probably going to free trial 2013. It's onyly $40 to dl/activate.

Perhaps there would be another mapping software to do what I need. I don't care about POI's preloaded. I need to locate myself, pan and zoom, pick a spot and see it's address, and be able to load custom POI lists (different icons would be good for different poi sets).
S&T is the main tether keeping me in MS windows. I wouldn't be opposed to going to Ubuntu, but I need a mapping program that does what I need. I have some reading to do tonight to see what progs are out there for linux (or windows for that matter).
I don't want to run it in wine, that requires too much going on in the background.

Thanks, guys!

Aye, Shawn ;D
I knew it was not an easy question, and not telling what minute detail would make a difference.

 

The wifi driver is one key... The other os the baud rate... I have mine set to 4800 baud and never had an issue... But I don't run XPort...

 

Hmmm.
When I point S&T right to the actual com port, I get a baud rate error.
When I run it through xport, it runs great (except for the really random crashes that may or may not have anything to do with baud or xport )

And the wifi driver is the same (literally) file I have installed for the 8602+ from day one (the most recent version).

I'm giong nukin futs here. I found GPSDrive, Roadmap, and RoadNav for linux...Gonna check out S&T2013 in a sec....
Bleh.

 

It's ....possible.....that S&T 2007 doesn't play well with Atheros based cards...

standard Atheros drivers.
Qualcomm ATHEROS Wireless drivers for Windows

Newer HI power driver...I used this before and it worked great.
It's actually for a SMC2536-ag2.It lists it as version 7.4.211 from 2008.
http://www.edge-core.com/temp/edm/old_downloads/dr/DRV_SMC2536W-AG2.zip

Download the Ublox utility and change the baud rate.........I will cut and paste the instructions..



You must download U-Center from Ublox and install it first.

*Just follow this simple instruction.

UBLOX baudrate (how to change). This receiver has a default baudrate of 9600

In U-Center, select "View" , then "Configuration View" ....(or just press Ctrl + F9)

Then move down to the line that reads PRT (Ports)

Change the baudrate to your desired value, and then press "Send" in the bottom of the Configuration View" window...

Then close that window only not the u center window and it will pop up a new window. Point to load configuration, then hit again the "send" button and again close that small window.

Now! go to "receiver" tool bar of the utility center and manually change the baudrate. Then again to “receiver” again scroll down to “action” then “save configuration” close everything and your good to go*

One thing here... You need to have the GPS in "operational state" PRIOR to trying these switches! This means that you need to see data feed from the GPS. So you can select Auto or 9600 Baud to get it working and THEN follow above instructions.



Oh..and go here for Linux.......Join if you're not already a member..Sadlmkr's our resident Toughbook Linux GPS guy....

~Toughbook Talk~ Toughbook Discussion • View forum - The LINUX forum!!!

 

I agree with most here, wifi could be the problem. But I suggest you try GpsGate (trial version 14 days) to emulate your virtual COM ports.
I'm using it with success since 2010.

 

Absolutely Franson GpsGate and IIRC it is free now. I tried XPort a long time ago with disastrous results, it mucked up everything. I don't have any experience with GPS engines other than the BU-353 and some that you never heard of and don't need. I haven't felt the need for non-Intel wifi cards since I stopped adding wifi to CF-28s but given M$'s penchant for adding a lot of extraneous "functionality" to S & T, all of which requires gobs of extra junk on your hard drive, I wouldn't be surprised if conflicts showed up.
CAP

 

You should go into the setups of S&T and change the baud rate to 4800... Then try without XPort.

Atheros cards are fine... I had mine running fine with the same card... But at 4800 baud.

 

Agree with Cap that XPort is problematic. I tried it and even when not using it to connect I still had trouble, couldn't get rid of it and finally had to reload the OS as I recall.

 

Huh. I trust your opinions, but unless xport is causing the issue with S&T2007, then it's always been great for me. We'll see how it does.

I installed 2013 trial.
So far, so good. It required and automatically upgraded access database engine, .net4, and ms tts engine.
I think 2013 feels leaner and faster than S&T2009.
I'll report back tomorrow

 

Hey...

Net4 will make your system slow to a crawl as it is working in the back ground for some time at boot...
Read this http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/709806-cf-51-mk3-xp-sp3-feels-sluggish-2.html

-Nick

 

Next time it BSODs, take a picture of the screen.. I think the top left corner contains the most important info - whether it was a driver that crashed or something.

Random crashes are horrible to diagnose. Could be hardware? Bad RAM causes BSODs too - maybe loading S&T uses up just enough memory to require the corrupted bit or something...? Had that happen twice to me now on other computers. Took out one SODIMM, no crashes. Replaced, crashes. leave only suspected bad DIMM in, crashes everytime on bootup. Replaced both DIMMs, smooth sailing.

 

Wrong thread maybe???

 

Yes wrong thread. I just moved it to where I think/hope he wanted it .... http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/756252-friggin-function-keys.html

 

Canuckam, no bsods; just S&T freezing/crashing.


I didn't notice much difference in boot times or sluggishness with .net4, but then again, the only thing that requires any .net on my system is S&T13. I run all old software, uninstall/take out anything I don't need/use, turn off all non essential services/driver duplicates...I'm kinda OCD when it comes to keeping the system lean. But I will be keeping an eye out for that sort of thing.

No problems with 2013, so far. 2007 and 09 both ran great until 3 or 4 days after install, though. I'm anxious to see how 13 turns out.

 

Sounds like they downloaded an update that screwed them up...

 

Maybe it's related, maybe it's not but I've found recent MS updates seem to have screwed up a few computers.

The USB mouse on my CF-19 mk3 stopped working after rebooting for a Windows Update. Only a system restore to a previous point worked. Curiously though, I did a Windows Update again, and it was fine afterwards... ?!!

Seems as if it's not an isolated incident, my friend's parent's two HP computers running Windows 7 did the same thing! On a desktop it seems as if only the keyboard worked (so happy to keyboard-navigate to system restore!) ... but on their laptop, just like my CF-19, the trackpad worked but any USB mouse didn't.

And again, after system restore to previous point then continue a Windows Update, everything is still working. Wierdness.

 

I have a CF-30 with Win7 that the touchpad stopped working. It was going thru the usual updates after initial install -- maybe I should try a Restore point.

 

I have noticed that there are some MS updates that cause general weirdness and loss of some functionality... Then the next update fixes it. This was particularly true with wifi a while back. We won't even talk about what they did to this computer...