Suddenly SS 4.3 has just stopped working on my computer. I am running Vista. Have uninstalled and reinstalled SS 4.3 several times but it hasn't fixed the problem.

Get error message "Sonic Stage Has Stopped Working. Window will search for solution." And then windows just shuts the program down.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions on fixing it? I can't seem to find any information.

Thanks for your help.

Welcome to the Forums!

I have no idea about what Vista is all about (still using Windows 2000), but the above problem sounds to me like SS has either trouble accessing its MDB databases, or its internal XML files.

Have you tried adding Sonic Stage to the DEP exclusion list in the system properties? I had a similar problem with the Connect software for the Sony Reader and this solved it.

Computer => Properties => Advanced System Settings=> Advanced => Performance Settings => Data Execution Prevention.

Add the Sonic Stage Executable to the list of programs to be excluded.

Yeah , if he recently Updated Windows , then the security settings of Vista may have changed the access protocol for SS , and Rich is right , you would have to add SS to the DEB to , "TELL " Vista that the prog is OK to use

I have exactly the same problem!
So I added the "SonicStage Application to DEP and it still doesn't work.
Also, SS is now the only program in my DEB list. That can't be right right?

I hope you can help.

well that says something about Vista doesn't it, SS had it's own inherent problems , but everyone was happy to work around them , along comes "Vista "

Vista= "View " ........To see or Not to see ,..... That is the question .!


I am on a Mac , but I know windows , and XP was fine , they shouldn't have messed with it , nor discontinued it .

Sorry your having this issue . But now it sounds like driver corruption , and or Conflict , and that could take awhile to sort out

I recall Avrin mentioning selfmodifying code (a common technique in graphics). Maybe some of the algorithms for encryption and/or filtering/conversion in SS involve selfmodifying code. This would lead to the DEP violation, correct?

Damn. Tried adding to DEP list as well and like the other user, it didn't work fr me either. I'm surprised that more people aren't having the same issue and that SONY or MS have yet to even identify the problem.

Thanks for your suggestions thus far! This problem is incredibly frustrating.

OK, roll it back a ways..... can some Vista afficionado tell us, isn't that message just a good old GPF? Ie something crashed or couldn't be found. If so, which?

IF it is "couldn't be found" (my specialty as it happens), try downloading depends.exe from MSDN. You can find depends here:

http://www.dependencywalker.com/

This should give clues on missing modules.

If the crash was a simple ERROR (gpf) try to identify the module in question and whether it has changed recently.

One way or another, given that OP seems to imply it worked before (and we know it supposed to work on Vista), now it's time to try rolling back to the last system restore point (or the one before that....., etc etc etc). Presumably something got automatically updated in a way that SS didn't appreciate.

Well, I downloaded the depends.exe from the site, and consequently opened SS with it.
I'm sorry, I don't really understand the program but there was one line in red: Warning: At least one module has an unresolved import due to a missing export function in a delay-load dependent module.
If this isn't enough info, I can always make a screenshot and post it here.

Thanks a lot for the help so far!

That could be something dumb like a printer. Probably best to email me something. Start with a PM and I will exchange real email addresses with you.

Let's see if I can partially reproduce your setup. I don't have vista running but I do have 4.3 SS.

I did the same and got the same warning/ error message - "Warning: At least one module has an unresolved import due to a missing export function in a delay-load dependent module."

The two modules that show errors are - (1) SHLWAPI.DLL - shows a module warning; and, (2) IEFRAME.DLL - shows a delay load module warning.

Hope that helps.

I'll be curious to know if you all work out a resolution.

Question - if I go back to an earlier restore point, but have automatic updates turned on, will those not just override that restore when they update again? (Sorry - not very tech savvy... lol)

Thanks for the help!

That warning is quite normal even on installed version 4.3 under XP. Don't worry about it.

If you sort the modules (used by omgjbox.exe) by Version Number, by clicking on the column marked "File Ver ^" you will see all the SS modules together, all numbered 4.3.1.14020 (at least on mine, you might have an update).

Here is what the list looks like (the left hand part of the display).

Click to view attachment

Are any of the lines in your display different (eg red)?

Assuming not, let's see what happens if we start the program by pressing function key F7. Accept the defaults by pressing OK.

There are some errors (even in a working version of SS) but lots of useful information. When the program loads it adds lots of other modules it needs. You will see many of them.

Your mission is to figure out what errors you see in the log around the time you find the error that stops you doing what you want.

Hi,

I seem to have the exact same problem

i hope theres a solution for this

If it happened recently (and was fine until now), sounds like Automatic Updates may be the source of this. A nightmare. I don't have Vista, so someone should send me the complete log (from depends) up to where it crashes, and I'll try to interpret it.

here's what i get - (sorry if screen shot is gigantic)

the red module - NTDLL.DLL - is where it seems to stop working -


Click to view attachment

other interesting notes -

LoadLibraryA("C:\Windows\system32\DLAAPI_W.DLL") returned NULL. Error: The specified module could not be found (126).
LoadLibraryA("C:\Windows\system32\TFSWAPI.DLL") called from "VXBLOCK.DLL" at address 0x046C12A4.
LoadLibraryA("C:\Windows\system32\TFSWAPI.DLL") returned NULL. Error: The specified module could not be found (126).

And this first chance exception occurs in many different addresses throughout the boot-up of SS -

First chance exception 0x80000004 (Single Step) occurred in "SALWRAP.DLL" at address 0x651523C8.

For screen shots, pls use Paint and select JPG, or all our connections will die trying to download this!

NTDLL is "just" Windows itself

DLAAPI_W.DLL sounds interesting, but in fact I get the same error on working version on XP.

However TFSWAPI.DLL sounds like the culprit as that one gets successfully loaded here.

**** whoops I'm wrong ****
(bad explanation deleted)

****

We are back to Sonic DLA (Drive Letter Access) which a number of products use.

Of course in Vista the way that drive letter are used is entirely optional.

You might, as a first attempt, try putting everything to do with Sonic Stage on a drive that has a letter name.

sorry about that - i'm using pccillin - could that be the culprit?

how do i get rid of TFSWAPI.DLL?

thanks again...

Read my modified post. DLA has something to do with Sonic (not Sony) which is buried somewhere in this large piece of software. DLA stands for Drive Letter Access.

I don't think pccillin or other virus checkers are responsible.

It's been noted here before that Sonic's DLA was underneath some other weird problem.

Does SonicStage actually boot, or are you just trying to start the program (when it crashes)?

this did happen quite recently... about two or three days ago..

This may sound really odd, but do you have a new printer? Do you have a default printer?

I just looked at my XP version and it is showing some but not all of the errors you have. In particular the last one.

There's a misunderstanding a couple of posts back - The problem is NOT that there is anything wrong with TFSWAPI.DLL The problem appears to be that it's not being found! Odd, because TFSWAPI.DLL on my system is in the Windows system directory.

We are back to wondering if Microsoft's latest updates are getting rid of this file. Can you check and see if it's there

(in XP its at C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TFSWAPI.DLL even if you didn't install SS)

It boots and then crashes almost immediately.

This started occurring about 2 weeks ago - that I noticed anyway... hadn't opened the program for a while.




not there.

Then you have a bit of a problem, I strongly suspect. Can anyone else with Vista confirm or deny that this system DLL is installed? (remember on Vista the system may be laid out a bit different since it doesnt really use drive letters except as an external option).

What u mean by "immediately"? Before the blue "Sonic Stage 4.3 CP" thingy? Or exactly when?

by immediately i mean the sonic stage blue rectangle does it thing - the program opens up - and then before i can do anything in the program it shuts down...

thanks again for all your help.

So i need the log. Please zip it and attach to a PM. If that doesn't work, I will give you my email. Sorry, late out the door, will check later.

Bump... I am still interested and willing to analyze the "depends" log if someone will read this thread and send me the log showing where Vista crashes.

Or maybe everyone got it working? Or abandoned Vista?

Stephen

I don't know about the DLL, but my puter had similar problems last year with SS, ended up my memory wasn't fully seated, caused all sorts of problems, try for simple firts
Bob

I'm sorry Stephen but I haven't had the time to send you the log thing. And to be honest, I would not know how to do that.
But I was wondering if there is some other program to transfer music to my Sony Walkman? Just for a simple short-term solution.

Thanks a lot

It's either Sonic Stage, or straight time, still have a couple of hundred 7" reels full of stuff transferred while I listened to it, old is best sometimes
Bob

You got as far as running the program under depends. You can see the log

This will probably help lots of people using Vista, I encourage you to give it a try. The bottom portion of the depends screen has a lot of text. That's what I want.

You can either cut and paste it into notepad or work out where depends.exe wants to put this file.

To cut and paste just highlight all the text (Ctrl-A should do that) and press controlC or Control+Insert. Then ShiftV or Shift+Insert into notepad, or word, or whatever.

It probably needs to be attached as a file but it's ok if you email it to the email address I gave you. Best if you can zip it first, but if that is not possible, ok.

Good, thanks for the log, can read it. Not making a whole lot of sense to me right now.

Couple of silly questions:

a. It sounds like you are in England. Have you tried changing locale to United States?
b. can you undo the last Windows Media Player update? (if it is part of the Service pack this might take some fancy footwork)

I sincerely hope you saved extra copies of restore points! Presumably the SP install somehow does this so it can be uninstalled.

It looks like the failure is in SALWRAP (Secure Application Layer), and that something with that technology just changed in the update. I wouldn't worry about the TFS and DLA errors, they smell like optional components missing, such as stuff needed to burn CD's. It could even be something silly to do with certificates expiring, but that wouldn't explain why it apparently happened after the update. *that* would be relevant if someone who turned off updating is also getting the same problem. Sigh, I really don't want to install Vista again.

Stephen

I am in US. Why did you think UK? Change locale of what exactly?

Not sure about undoing the last Windows Media Player update.

Unfortunately not sure what restore points have been saved...

Mixed you up with someone else. Is your computer set to US English?

If you cannot undo an update you have applied, I really cannot help. Too bad because now enough time has gone by that automatic saves will have written over anything dating from that release. Maybe there is a way to uninstall the software though.

Another thing you might want to do is to see if there is a registry entry for

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Salwrap.dll

I've no clue why it shouldn't be there but I have a feeling some "ill-behaved" (ie close to the metal) libraries have to be entered in here in order to do certain brutal things that applications normally cannot. I could easily be wrong about this, someone with Windows expertise might have a better description.

I am using SS 4.3 since November 2007 in Vista Home Premium.

Contrary to some posts i red here, i have zero problem with SS 4.3 under Vista. One month ago windows automatically upgrade its system to Vista SP1 and SS show no problem adapting with it.

Only one time, it is almost crashed, when i want to move my library to different directory in harddisk. But appear it only need more time to complete the moving process. I think this is the only problem i experenced with this software.

I checked in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ and there is no TFSWAPI.DLL anywhere. Even Windows cannot locate it in my computer.

I checked also in,
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
which is empty, but i found many *.dll files in,
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\DIINXOptions\
and there is no Salwrap.dll.

NOTE : I never use SS 4.3 to transfer to any MD devices though. I only use it to transfer songs to NW-S705F, NW-A800 and create ATRAC CD to play with D-NE20. So technically, i never use any MD modules in SS.

IF TFSWAPI isn't required, what about changes to DLA then?

Many people seemed to have issues with CD burning, and Nero changed some things for Vista (eg DriveImage doesn't work).

Could it be our friend Nero is responsible, even if only indirectly?

Seems like having the same problem with SS in Vista home premium. If somehow i can help you solve this problem, then tell me what to do.
While searching about solution to this problem, i found a new small program which can replace SS in dropping files to Sony walkman.
voidMP3FM-1.10
But then i suddenly found out that this program also suddenly closes the same way SS did, when i already want to drop files to my Walkman?. Is there any connection between these sudden errors in both programs????
And if anybody knows any other program which can replace SS, please tell me. I need only to drop music files to my Walkman, i don't need any other functions of SS

1. I need someone with a working SS on Vista (Clearly there were lots), to send me the log from depends. exe showing the startup of the SS program.
2. I can see the errors that are currently being experienced by everyone and for now I am assuming they are the same. Almost certainly because some component of Windows had a security thingy made "more secure" by Microsoft and breaking SS.

To get #1 *you* are welcome to go back to pre-Service Pack %%%% (last time I checked XP service packs they were always uninstallable). This would also confirm the suspicion that something in the SP is responsible. Lets ASSUME that worked and SS now runs again.

Having done that, now one is going to have to walk through all the updates in the SP one by painful one, checking if SS died at the last step until we can point the finger. I cannot do it, since I don't have a machine I want to install Vista on.

Stephen

%%%% it appears some people may be immune. Two possible reasons (this is mostly speculation since I cannot see or touch it): 1. they didn't update 2. They didnt install some add-on component which SS uses/allows for (eg Nero drivers, or Roxio) that others did, and the upgrade interferes with that.

Still, you are using the SonySDK2.sys driver, which is used to control Hi-MD devices.

STiil can't anyone say how to drag and drop files to NW-E015F Sony walkman ??? what ANOTHER alternative program exists for Vista Home Premium??

If I had to guess I would say that it will turn out nothing is missing, but that some aspect of the way SS encrypts data has fallen afoul of tougher security restrictions on Vista, in turn caused by people trying to hack it.

For example maybe the RunAs feature Microsoft is increasingly encouraging people to use. It works like this: you log on as an unprivileged user, and when you want to run some program ***known to Windows*** the system is able to Run that program with increased (Admin) credentials. Naturally this involves security issues. Evidence supporting this guess - SS has always been promised that it will run IF AND ONLY IF YOU ARE AN ADMINISTRATOR.

If the last SP for Vista defaulted certain users to less privilege (and the users in question may not be the guy you log on as, but some system account that gets used temporarily during program startup), this would cause the kind of stuff we are seeing. I'm not clear whether your user type, or the presence of add-on modules like Roxio or DLA is enough to cause the problem. The other possibility is that you need to run Sonic Stage from a proper shortcut that increases the credentials of the running program. It occurs to me as I type, that Sony's installation provides such a shortcut, but that those of us who are accustomed to making our own shortcut, or "double-clicking" omgjbox.exe might be out of luck.

But to solve this, I need someone with a version that works to do a little helping for the diagnosis, so I can detect the differences between working and non-working as the program loads.

just wanted to bump this up. still haven't gotten this issue resolved. i'm surprised that apparently only one other vista user is having this problem...

In another thread someone just pointed out they got some action by "run as administrator". Please someone with vista explain how to do this properly. This is just what I was starting to wonder about.

It looks as if the problem is the *enforcement* of UAC as of SP1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Account_Control

You may need to reconfigure Vista to enable the Administrator account, though I think this likely only applies to corporate machines on the corporate LAN (could be wrong though).

Here's a useful link for the nerdier of you.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinte...s/cc300361.aspx

So my Sonic Stage started working again suddenly yesterday. Not sure why but here are the things that I did:

Created new shortcut on desktop.
Checked Run as administrator.
Clicked run in XP Compatibility mode.
When it didn't run - SS tried to go online to fix the problem.
I canceled the fix. Went back in and unchecked the XP Compatibility, kept Run as Administrator checked though.
Opened program and it worked.

I haven't had the nerve to shut it down and try to open the program again though...

Hope this helps someone else...

I think the RunAs administrator is the beginning and the end of it.

Stephen

I did not read all of 4 pages dedicated to this topic but i deleted SS 4.3 and downloaded SS 3.3
All the music is there and it seems to work fine so far