Eratic TIR4 behaviour, and TIR shut down problem

[Fish]

Recently upgraded to TIR4 from &VE3, and having 'stability' issues. Wont go into details yet, but im trying to be able to 'restart' TIR without re-booting. But after 'corruption'I cannot shutdown TIR, im using EndItAll, and even task manager processs wont allow it to shut down.
What gives?
Im constantly re-booting, and disconnecting, reconnecting to get the problem solved. If I could completely deacitvate the backround file, then i might be able to restart it successfully. This i can only do when i 'disconnect' or reboot.

I will post more detail of the 'exact symptoms' when ive done more research.

PS. TIR3 was very stable with all these applications, and never hat it 'stop' responding, when it failed to see the reflectors, or when they went out of range. Also tried it with the current approved software, and am experiencing same problems with the latest beta.

[VincentG]

What other applications are you running in the background?

Are you plugged directly into the system, or are you using a hub?

System manufacture?

Motherboard?

USB Chipset?

[Fish]

Hi, here are my system specs

P4/3.0Ghz, prescot.
2x1024 Mushkin 3500 ddr, Dual channel mode
abit IC7g (pheonix award bios v6.00pg 10.3.03)
Chipset intel i865P
USB Controller intel 82801
Radeon X850XT PE AGP @475/490
Ati Catalyst 5.11 Video Drivers.
Antec TruePower 380w
WINXP SP2
Intel Pro/1000 CT Lan card (onboard)
Matrox 300gm Sata1 HD,
Maxtor 6L40J2 40mb HD (2 partitions)
DSL 3024/384

TIR is connected directly to USB port (not shared, or hubbed).

The photo shows the applications running when i encountered this problem. (the PSP program is the screen captrue program)

http://homepage.eircom.net/~fish44/Pictures/tir_tm.gif

Here is exacely what happens

Start TIR
Start sim
run sim for a while
Loose and regain track lots of times no problem.
Then might turn away, and when i turn back, green and red lights go off.
Now TIR is not working
end sim
check in TIR for heads, Empty window
close the software
Try to restart software, but cant
Go to tsk mgr, (see photo) try to end the TIR process,
Cant end it,
(there might be a feint green light flashing periodically)
disconnect USB. Still See tir in tsk mgr.
Reconnect USB, now blue light flashing.
Re run TIR software,
All is well.
End TIR,
Check tsk mgr, and aplication is not present, as it should be.

If tried with (130) and without light filtering.

Software version says 4.1 build 29.

Hope this info helps.

[VincentG]

Is this happening with the latest version of the beta software posted on our website, or with the alpha software?

PSP takes up 50% of system resources?

[Fish]

Thanks,
No i hadent tried the latest, think i was on version 4.1. 28 alpha 03. Installed 4.1.29 beta 4 now and will report back when ive tested it out


The PSP (paint shop pro) is using the resources cause it is making the screen capture? I don't run it with my games.

[VincentG]

OK, let me know.....

[Fish]

OK, let me know.....

Well ive installed the latest software as recommended, And have been trying it since then, with different sims. Still getting the problem of TIR getting confused when it looses sight of the reflectors (not always, but often enough to make online flying a non starter). Either one of two things happen. One, the led's go out completely, and ive gotta disconnect/reconnect the device. Two, the centering and enable switches become inactive, and ive got to unload and reload the software (and obviously the sim....).

Either way, this was never a problem with TIR3 and VE,(or so infrequently as for me not to notice it.) so whats changed? If this is a feature of how TIR works, perhaps the 'centering' button could be used to 'reset the software, without disconnecting it from the game......

[VincentG]

OK, so using the 4.1.029 build of the software.....

System still hangs on exit?

Does the USB reset every 10 seconds?

USB on the system? no hub?

Latest chipset and bios?

Can you try it on another system?

[Fish]

Thanks for the reply Vincent,

Its not 'hanging on exit'. It crashes during normal tracking, generally if the line of sight is broken between the TIR and reflectors. But only occasionally.

USB is same as it was with TIR3, its direct to sinle port on MB.

Im not sure what you mean by usb resetting? I don't have any problems im aware of with my USB's. All the other stuff works flawless, Cougar, P8000 and mouse.

Bios and chipset above, i believe its the latest.

Think it would be easier to try TIR3 again on my machine than to try TIR4 on another machine.

Thanks,

[VincentG]

The TrackIR 4 requires slightly more power than the TrackIR 3, so it might be causing the USB to behave erratically. I would make sure you have the latest chipset drivers, and bios update.