x16 or not?

BlueMak

I was looking for an option to make it stop creating dxva_sig.txt files in my folders, when in the details of the ATI card had this info:

BUS type PCI Express x16
Current Bus Setting PCI Express



Is this normal?

Tipstaff

I take it you are talking about whenever you play a video file (usually WMV) that you get a file being created, sometimes right on the desktop called that? If so, that's an error log. It's Media Players way of telling you that you are missing some vital codecs. If I remember correctly it has to do with one specific audio codec that is missing from Windows Media Player 9 and 10.

There are 2 ways to fix this:

1) Install the latest Windows Media Player (not necessary though), and afterwards do any updates for it. Also, don't block any updates that Windows Media Player requests when you try to run a file. If you have a software firewall active, such as XPs one, disable it temporarily so that Windows Media Player can update as they can automatically block codec downloads.

2) Install the missing codecs. Your best best would be to use a codec pack such as the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack.

BlueMak

I do use the k-lite pack. I have no problems running any video files that I have on any of my players, that include media player classic and videolan.
I have no desire to install or update the main windows media player, never liked it, never will
Thank you for your post.
Funnily enough I am more interested in the x16 thing :-p

Tipstaff

The x16 is reference to the PCIE graphics slot speed. The log is just indicating what speed it detects is possible, and what speed it's running at. It's not necessarily telling you that this is the error, but the fact that the file is there is an indication that there was "some sort" of error.. even minor.

What I should have said was that Windows Media Player, or rather part of Direct X is creating them to alert you to a possible error, that the creation of that file is a known issue with an non-updated Windows Media Player 9/10 install on XP SP2 (it especially rears it's head on a system with an ATI grapics card), and that the remedy can come in one of 2 forms: by updating the WMP itself (which could fix an app to driver issue, or a missing codec issue), or by installing a codec pack that has the required missing codec (if it's a missing codec issue). If you can play the files fine, with no graphical glitches, than that would indicate that the player is having some sort of issue talking with Direct X (most likely DirectDraw). It may not effect the playback of videos, but Direct X is reporting an error of some kind even if it's minor. Even if you use a different video player, such as videolan, since they all go through DirectDraw, Direct X will report an issue.

There are 2 more suggestions:

1) you could follow the advice on THIS page as a way to "hack fix" the problem. This might be the best solution for you if you don't want to update WMP (personally, I don't like WMP either).

2) Windows Media Player 11 doesn't have this issue, so installing WMP11 will also correct the problem.

BlueMak

I will try to install wmp 11 to end with this. Still, Id on't know if I will manage to do so since windows update has stopped working for me for a while now.




[Error number: 0x8DDD0018]
The site cannot continue because one or more of these Windows services is not running:

Automatic Updates (allows the site to find, download and install high-priority updates for your computer)
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) (helps updates download more quickly and without problems if the download process is interrupted)
Event Log (keeps a record of updating activities to help with troubleshooting, if needed)
To make sure these services are running:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type services.msc and then click OK.
3. In the list of services, double-click on Automatic Updates and then click Properties.
4. In the Startup type list, select Automatic and click Apply.
5. Verify that the Service status is started, if the Service Status is Stopped click on the Start Button.
6. In the list of services, double-click on Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and then click Properties.
7. In the Startup type list, select Manual and click Apply.
8. Verify that the Service status is started, If the Service Status is Stopped click on the Start Button.
9. In the list of services, double-click on Event Log and then click Properties.
10. In the Startup type list, select Automatic and click Apply.
11. Verify that the Service status is started, If the Service Status is Stopped click on the Start Button.




Am I missing speed because of the 16x or not issue?

BlueMak

Well, I manualy downloaded wmp11 and installed it.

Tipstaff

My first guess would be no, even though it's not repeating the x16 listing. However, if you want to be sure then I would try running a system information tool that will tell you what PCIE speed your card is running at. Personally I like RivaTuner which you can get HERE. To find out your particulars, here's what to do:

1) Run the program, and be sure that the "Main" tab is the one selected.

2) In the first set of drop down boxes you will see your video card, and what monitor it's attached to. Be sure that the main adaptor, not the secondary one, is highlighted. *Of note: if you use the drop down box you will see the secondary adapter, with a default monitor.*

3) In the drop down box below that you should see some basic info on the adapter itself (such as ram size, speed, and so forth). Click on it, and a window should appear that has 6 small icons (less if it's not the primary adaptor). You want to choose the 4th one which will bring up a "Graphics Subsystem" window. The 2 listings to pay attention to are: Bus Type, and since you have a PCIE card, PCIE Link Width. The PCIE Link Width should have 2 parts to it: supported speed, and the speed it's actually using, or "Selected" speed.

For more, take a look a the pictures below (of note, since I have a Crossfire setup my PCIE Link Width is x16, and actual speed is 8x due to it being split, and even if I don't have Crossfire enabled, it still splits it due to the second card being installed).

BlueMak

Thanks man. I have riva tuner installed since well, a long time now (even installed the 2.0 final, and didn't know of this window. According to it supported and selected are at 16x, so it looks ok

One last question, irrelevant, can the ATITools be used in place of the CCC because I can't accees the CCC?

Tipstaff

Yep. Although, if you ever decide to use Crossfire, then you'd have to resort to the CCC as you can only activate (for now that is) Crossfire within the CCC panel.

As for not being able to access the CCC, there are 2 more options to consider: 1) Just incase, be sure that you have Dot Net installed (the link is for 3.0) as it's needed by the CCC to run (which you probably already knew), and 2) you could try using the X-TremeG WarCat drivers as they use the old ATI Control Panels. Same Crossfire rule applies with these too as there is no option in the old CC for enabling it.

BlueMak

I decided to remove the CCC and since there is no plan on getting on the crossfire stream, I am using the Atittools and they apparently work great. The Catalyst 6.10 also look like they work with Rainbow Six vegas since I have HDR enabled, very low shadows and getting fps (according to the weird new number on the top right) on average 40something. But more importantly, no BSOD anymore with this game. Well, for now :-p

Thank you again.

Tipstaff

Hehe.. no problem.

BTW, getting back to the topic, what happened when you updated to WMP11? Did it do the trick for you, or do you still have dxva_sig.txt popping up?

BlueMak

I have no idea. Too busy with playing Rainbow Six Vegas to notice! I will look for it later today.
What I did notice though, not sure when it started, thumbs.db (hidden) files appear now, perhaps after the wmp11 installation, but not sure. They appear even in folders that have only video files, so I don't know.

Oh, I will probably get a 8800 GTS today, so eh, yeah!
I wonder if it would be possible to have both 8800gts and my current one installed and choose which to work...hmm.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta

Tipstaff

WTH? That fix is for the same thing we're talking about? I thought that was to fix a different issue that was specific to DRM and WMV files?

Thanks, Pimpsta.

Edit: Now I know why I have never a problem with this. It's because I use Autopatcher. Up until the November 2006 version (which now has Windows Media Player 11), Autopatcher XP has always included Windows Media Player 10 for install, AND this patch (KB888656) as an automatic "recommended update".

Just another reason why Autopatcher continues to be one of my favorite tools.