Digital Workshop

Since Opus Pro version 2000b I have run into this problem:

While working happily in the Editor, particularly after switching between "normal" and full screen modes, the Format Toolbar disappears.

This has happened in Win 98SE and Win 2000 Pro SP4. I have changed computers twice -- new motherboards, CPUs, graphics and sound cards. The only constant has been Opus in its various versions.

This is not a problem of major proportions. It's just any annoying little glitch.

I've reported this to DW more times than I can remember, but here we are in version 04.5, and the problem persists. Can it not be fixed?

Ray --

On my old Windows ME I occasionally had a similar problem after working in OPUS for extended periods. I would exit OPUS and re-start gain, sometimes re-starting my PIII 800MHz 512MB RAM computer also. This would always solve the problem.

Since switching to my new PIV 3.2GHz 1GB RAM XP Pro computer, I have not had the problem. As an aside, I resisted switching to a new computer because of all the files and programs I had on the old machine. I had a technical type friend network all my computers together, so I can easily move files as needed. I'd suggest you help the economy (ha ha) by buying a new, high powered computer and fancy LCD monitor. You know you want one!

Hi Fred

I appreciate your concern for the economy.

My computer is getting a little long in the tooth these days, but still has reasonable specs: AMD XP 2100, 512 DDR 400 RAM, 80GB HD, 2 x 52 CD burners, 21-inch monitor (definitely NOT flat screen).

The strange thing in this issue is that the only constant over the years has been Opus.

The problem could be the long periods of use. I often load Opus at 7am and close it down about 6pm, after a day of pretty intensive work. The tool bar disappears (always the Format bar, and never anything else), I restore it, and then a little later it's gone again. Next time I'll try a restart of Opus and see what happens.


I'm just surprised that no one else has reported it.

The main problem is that we have never been able to reproduce this issue on our test machines. As you can imagine, we run Opus pretty much constantly on several different machine configurations, so these conditions sound ideal for this glitch to be observed. However, none of our support or development teams have encountered this problem and we can only assume that the problem is system-related.

More often than not, this kind of unreproducible glitch is caused by problems communicating with a system driver, and some user have found that updating the mini-IDE and chipset drivers (from their motherboard manufacturer's website) has resolved these kinds of problems.

Kind regards,

Thanks Robin.

I'll have a look at your suggested fixes.

After having done more years of software support than I care to admit to, I understand the frustrations of having something that won't replicate.

The thing I find really strange about this is that over 4+ years, I have run various versions of Opus on 2 completely different machined: different mother boards from different manufacturers; different CPUs; different graphics and sound cards; and different memory chips; different everything else. Despite these differences, this one tool bar has persisted in randomly disappearing.

I can live with it -- guess I have no choice

Ray --

I was re-reading the thread and noticed you have an AMD processor. I had one along time ago. It was in a no-name computer which failed, and the company had already gone out of business. Since then, I ONLY buy INTEL Pentium processors. I know I can save money upfront by buying AMD or getting one of the other INTEL processors, but over the years, I have had fewer problems than anyone else.

I turn on my computers at 6:30am and run them at least 14 hours every day. My old P3 Windows ME computer has never had the problem you are experiencing. If we keep trying to eliminate what's different between all of our systems and yours -- possibly it's an AMD "problem." I'm just trying to think of a reason...

This was an absolutely true & accurate glitch that I ALWAYS experienced under Opus Pro XE 2.81, running on a Win2kPro machine with 512MB of RAM and plenty of disc space, current Dx drivers, etc. (And yes, it has Intel inside.)

I haven't noticed it when using Opus Pro XE 4.5, but there's still time (heh).

Hi Fred

Re AMD vs Intel.

Many years ago I found that for the way I work, and with what I work, AMD outperformed Intel. The only apps where Intel won was on games, and IMHO, AMD handles Solitaire OK.

Seriously, I currently have 100+ icons on my desktop, and many more waiting in the background. Many I run simultaneously.

The only time any problem arises is with Opus -- and that is restricted to the vanishing Format Toolbar. Strange, isn't it? I run my system similarly to the way you run yours, and since I changed to Win 2K a couple of years back, I have never had the system hang or fail.

I regard the Toolbar problem as being a minor annoyance -- certainly not enough for me to even remotely consider making a major change to Intel. Incidentally, I have my AMD processor throttled back to 1300 MHZ although it is capable of running at about twice that speed. I don't do a lot of work with video-type "things" so speed has never been a problem.

Regards

Hi Robert

It's comforting to know that I am not alone

When I have a bit of time to spare, I might try constructing a custom toolar and see if I can encourage the gremlins that haunt you to transfer to me.

BTW -- in the light of what Fred said about processors, what do you use: AMD, Intel (or something else)?

As the labels all proclaim: Intel inside.

I confess to harboring a semi-conscious fear of AMD chips ever since they had some problems long, long ago -- stuff related to not correctly (or perhaps just not efficiently?) processing certain internal Windows functions due to differences in the architecture between Intel & AMD. Those issues are probably long in the dim distant past, however, so my reluctance to go with AMD is most likely a dysfunctional vestige from that era.

Robert

I have used AMD for many years now and have had no real problems -- or none that I am aware of.

Before I upgraded to the Athlon XP range, I did a lot of research and looked at every review I could find. For what I wanted to do, the experts came down heavily in favour of AMD, so I went for it.

There is one factor that might worry ex-Intel users. AMD processors run HOT -- and I really mean HOT! With an ambient summer temperature around 40C, my AMD runs regularly at 60+C. This is not a problem as AMD rates the chips at 90C before any damage is done. My problem is that my motherboard shuts down when the CPU temp hits 65C! I cannot change that in the BIOS.

I bought a more efficient heat sink and added a 20cm fan to the side panel of my case and directed the airflow onto the CPU. I also added an extractor fan that takes hot air from the immediate CPU surrounds.

These days my CPU temp rarely goes above 46-47, which is great for an AMD, but still looks high for Intel fans.

Just thought I'd post this because someone might be interested.

Our development and support teams use a variety of Pentium 4 and AMD Athlon processors, so I am not entirely sure that this is CPU-related (although reports that this problem has disappeared after changing processors are certainly very interesting).

Are there any background applications or services running which could possibly affect Opus' registry settings? I'm thinking along the lines of Norton Systemworks or registry optimisation tools which could possibly be identifying Opus' registry entries as redundant and deleting this information from the system registry.

If so, I would recommend temporarily disabling these services, then trying to reproduce the problems previously experienced.

Kind regards,

Hi Robin

I do not use any of Norton's applications and I do not use registry cleaners or optimisers -- learnt my lesson about those many years ago .

I think I might just put this down as "one of those things" and forget about it.

Cheers