More crashes than a motorway

[Nelson]

Hi, I purchased the premium version of this software but it keeps crashing. My laptop is a few months old and Marybeth I have done something wrong. Can anyone tell me why it keeps crashing. When it crashes I get a message that says ‘program not responding close program’. Why?

Do I need to reinstall and if so what do I do, don’t want to make any mistakes.

[astroman133]

Please tell us which version number (for example 3.1.18) of BYE and what model of camera you are using with BYE. Also "it keeps crashing" is a pretty vague description of what is happening. It would be useful if you can provide a series of steps that describe what you were having the program do immediately before it crashed. For example it was imaging or LiveView was on during Frame and Focus.

By far, loss of communication between the camera and the PC is the most common cause of BYE becoming unresponsive. Reasons for this can be one or more of the following:

1) Cable too long

The USB spec for cable length is 5 meters (16.5 ft). Test at the kitchen table with the camera connected to the PC using a short USB cable that is known to be good.

2) Cable is faulty

Try a different cable.

3) Cable not completely plugged in 

Make sure that both ends of the cable are completely inserted into the camera and the PC.

4) USB connector bad, at either end (camera or PC)

Try a different USB port on the computer or try a different camera for test purposes.

5) Overloaded USB hub

A PC has one or more internal USB hubs. Each hub typically serves only some of the ports that are available on the PC. Try a different port, especially try a port on the opposite side of the case. When testing, do not use any more ports than necessary. For example, do not autoguide while testing the PC to camera connection.

6) Camera is malfunctioning

Temporarily try a different camera. 

7) Windows goes into power saving mode.

If this happens, BYE will work for several minutes and then quit working when Windows powers down the USB ports. You should be able to prevent this by changing the power saving settings for the PC.

If the BYE starts up and connects with the camera then it is unlikely that re-installing the software will fix anything, unless your version of BYE is out-of-date. So I would not expect that re-installing BYE would fix anything based on your description of the symptoms, unless you are running some version that is older than 3.1.18.

You might also look through old posts on this forum to find what solved similar issues for other BYE users.

[Nelson]

Hi thanks for the answer. The camera is a Canon 600d, the version, I believe is the latest one but without starting up the laptop again, not sure which version number. It happens to crash in Imaging, frame and focus in fact even when I’m not doing anything specifically. The cable I have been using varies between two meters and five meters. It crashes which ever one I’m using. I have not tried using a port on the other side of the laptop but I will. The battery I use was topped up after being on charge for hours, even tried different batteries. I Haagen a ZWO 120 camera that I could try, does bye support ZWO?

[s3igell]

Other Issues to exclude:

• AntiVirus Software - sometimes the PC AV will mark an Executable as "Malicious" for no reason.  Try to test BYE with your AV turned OFF. 
  • If this is the Issue, you'll have to tell your AV Software that BYE is "Approved". (Varies per AV Software.)
• Windows .Net Runtime Library Issue - over time the various Windows .Net Runtime Libraries stand to be Corrupted (Bad Upgrade, File Mistakenly Deleted, etc)
  • If this is the Issue, you'll need to either find and Reinstall the .Net Runtime Libraries, or try "SFC /scannow", or you can research this approach: Microsoft .net Framework Repair Tool
  • Of these 3 actions, the center one is "safe" even if you don't have much PC Software Management Skill.  The other two take some skill.
• Corrupt Windows Privilege System for one or more of the Directories involved in your BYE Installation.
  • Best recourse is to 1) Uninstall BYE; then 2) Install latest BYE version in a New Directory such as C:\BYE

None of these are FUN.  But none of these are really BYE's Fault.

[astroman133]

A 2 meter cable should be fine, but a 5 meter cable is definitely as long as you can go without an active extension cable even if the cable is a good cable that is working perfectly. Also, these cables do go bad...more often than we would like.

Does BYE crash in Imaging or Frame & Focus, or both?

Have you checked that Windows is not shutting down parts of the computer, for example the USB, ports to save power?

BYE is only for Canon cameras. It will not control a ZWO camera.

[Nelson]

Hi, my cable is an active repeater and is 5 m long. The program crashes not matter which page I am on, frame and focus as well as Imaging.

How do I turn my antivirus off and then back on after checking things?

my camera is a Canon 600d.

[s3igell]

Like all the Canon DSLR Manuals state:  Use the USB Cable that Came with the Camera (standard short 2-3ft cable).

At least for starters...  Until you can get a Good Installation that runs with your PC and your Camera.

All you need is your 600D, with it's Kit Lens attached, set on your Desk or Kitchen Table. 

Set the Lens to AutoFocus and Press the Shutter halfway - just to get it into rough Focus of your Wall - then set the Lens to Manual Focus and leave it.

Now try BYE - one step at a time.

Make notes of what you are doing, and what are the results.

And if it crashes, note what your last action was and what the Error Message is (try a Screenshot).

Follow these instructions for capturing and submitting the Log File...

[astroman133]

There are many anti-virus programs for Windows. We can't know how to use all of them. You should be able to figure out how to turn it off and back on again from reading the documentation or some simple experimentation.

[admin]

4 hours ago, Nelson said:

Hi, my cable is an active repeater and is 5 m long. The program crashes not matter which page I am on, frame and focus as well as Imaging.

How do I turn my antivirus off and then back on after checking things?

my camera is a Canon 600d.

Did you try a re-install? 

If not please re-install in a new folder and try again.

If it crashes again, please send the full log file and I will take a look.

 

 

[Nelson]

Hello there thanks for your replies. 

Idid as s3igell suggested but sadly the program crashed after a time maybe a few hours.

I have tried to send a log file but as usual I can’t, so.

my camera is a Canon 600d it was set on M with iso 200 bulb and f/5.6. I used the short cable that came with the camera, from the camera to the laptop. The laptop is a Dell 1500. The version of bye is 3.1.17. Premium edition

I had live view active and after about 1hour I swapped from frame and focus to Imaging then after about another hour I swapped back.

I looked at the laptop at 7.29 and the program had crashed as I had a message that said ‘program not responding’ 

I am not sure what to do if I need to reinstall !!!

[admin]

Why can't you send the log file?  I can't help you beyond this point without them.

I think your hard drive, or usb ports, or both, are going to sleep after a period of time.  I suspect this is the root cause. I need the log files.

Regards,

 

[s3igell]

49 minutes ago, Nelson said:

I had live view active and after about 1hour I swapped from frame and focus to Imaging then after about another hour I swapped back.

Wow!!  An Hour running LiveView??  And then duty running Frame & Focus (which is actually LiveView on the Camera).  And then MORE LiveView??

Most DSLRs would be Near Meltdown by that point!!  LiveView constantly activates the Sensor and Electronics - generating HEAT in those Electronics Chips.  DSLRs really are NOT made to take that sort of "Abuse" - even Video Capture Modes have Maximum Durations of 15 or 30 Minutes built-in.  Designers figure that Videographers will take Breaks or Change Camera Angles or Fill a Card or...  And they don't figure any Photographer will stare at the LiveView on the LCD for nearly that long...

Are you sure that your Crashes aren't actually cases where the DSLR Thermal Sensors triggered Self-Shutdown??

[s3igell]

While it may not make any additional difference, the current Released version of BYE is 3.1.18.  It can be found on the Downloads Page, and will work with your License Key.

The older v3.1.17 was released in early 2018.  Guylain has worked hard to update BYE since then.

[admin]

1 hour ago, s3igell said:

Wow!!  An Hour running LiveView??  And then duty running Frame & Focus (which is actually LiveView on the Camera).  And then MORE LiveView??

Most DSLRs would be Near Meltdown by that point!!  LiveView constantly activates the Sensor and Electronics - generating HEAT in those Electronics Chips.  DSLRs really are NOT made to take that sort of "Abuse" - even Video Capture Modes have Maximum Durations of 15 or 30 Minutes built-in.  Designers figure that Videographers will take Breaks or Change Camera Angles or Fill a Card or...  And they don't figure any Photographer will stare at the LiveView on the LCD for nearly that long...

Are you sure that your Crashes aren't actually cases where the DSLR Thermal Sensors triggered Self-Shutdown??

This is why I need the log file.  I don't think we can assist any further without the log file.

Indeed, if the OP had live view activated for an hour this may have damaged the camera. As you pointed out most camera will automatically shutdown to prevent physical damage to the camera. I suspect this may be what it happening.

[astroman133]

You said: I have tried to send a log file but as usual I can’t, so.

Providing the log files is an important step for the authors to investigate your issue without looking over your shoulder. It would help if you could provide information on why you are not able to email the logs to them. This is not a problem that anyone else has had and the BYE community should be able to assist you.

 

[Nelson]

Hi, today I have uninstalled the version I had and installed the latest version in a different folder. I will give that a go.

My apologies for being computer illiterate I do my best which all to often is not good enough. I looked around on my laptop and found, what I think, the way to send log files, maybe I will need to try that in the future. Also after delving into my AV software I think I have found a way of turning either one or more of the four things that are running in that AV software. 

Something I may have back to front is the length of time I can leave my camera turned on, it may be that I would need to leave things running all night.

Thank you for your help and understanding.