New computer and now win 8.1, a bit buggy...

Barnys

New Member
Messages
6
Hi
We have a new desktop and a new OS.
Our old vista machine has been retired and we have moved up to some modern hardware with a 64 bit Win 8.1, yay :)


The thing is 8.1 is proving to be a bit buggy.
It periodically (twice in two weeks) changes our keyboard language from German to English. Its not a huge problem to correct but why is it happening.
It periodically (twice in two weeks) completely loses the keyboard... uh oh this is a problem, the only fix I have found is to close all work and restart the computer.
It periodically (again twice in two weeks) loses the Start button and Charms bar. This is weird, the start button is visible but not accessible and the charms bar is unaccessible. The only solution is to close and restart explorer... Um what's going on here?
Apparently a SM Bus Controller needs to be installed. Well OK then, but where from, this is a bit of a head scratcher.
And finally, if I unplug the headphones with the sound running the sound is correctly transferred to the speakers, however when I reinsert the headphones plug the sound doesn't return from the speakers unless I restart the app running the sound. Ironically if I start a second simultaneous sound source then that will come through the headphones while the first/original continues to be played from the speakers.

I would appreciate input from others, so if more information is needed and / or anyone has a suggestion, hint or fix for any or all of these bugs then please post a reply.

Thanks.

P.s. the faults occurred at different times, no two bugs were evident at one time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    000001
    CPU
    I5 4590
    Motherboard
    Asrock
    Memory
    yes lots
    Graphics Card(s)
    no :-(
Sounds like either faulty RAM or faulty motherboard.

I see in your system specs that you have an AsRock board. It is common for ASRock boards to have problems. I've never personally had an asrock board, but I had a friend that had an asrock board that kept failing, and after 3 rma's he was unable to get a board that would last more than a week. So I stay away from AsRock motherboards. Although not everyone's experience is the same.

I have an ASUS M5A99FX Pro R2.0 with an AMD FX-6300 and I have no issues whatsoever with it. The board is solid and very stable.

However, have you tried to remove any RAM sticks, like leave one stick in it, and try to duplicate the issue? Go ahead and check the memory first, make sure you power down and unplug the computer before removing any hardware, and then test.

If that don't work I'll help as best as I can. That's an awkward issue.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40 ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5K PRO
    Memory
    2 GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    PNY NVIDIA Geforce GT 630
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
If it is new, was it purchased pre-built? If so, I'd return it, in case there are more underlying hardware issues.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z77-UD3H
    Memory
    16 GB Patriot Viper 3 DDR3-1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 470 GTX
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 256 GB, WD WD20EFRX 2 TB
    PSU
    OCZ 700W
    Case
    Corsair 300R
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo
It would be hard for me to believe that the problems are attributable just to Windows 8.1, as I've tested it in Beta and now running it on multiple PC's and it's solid as a rock. But then, I'm Old School, and have to use the Classic Shell with 8.1 to make it do the things I need it to do.

For many problems, I'd be looking at the ram, and probably take it out and clean the edge connectors before reinstalling it.
but I doubt that RAM would cause any Keyboard problems.

If that were my own PC, I'd check out all the hardware first, to make sure all connectors were seated properly, and then if problems persisted, I'd back up my data, wipe the HD and reinstall Windows.

Many times, I've done a clean install of an OS, to find it not working properly. A subsequent RE-Install of the OS solved all the problems.
I've had to do that twice now, while testing Windows 10. I suspect some kind of failure in the Installer itself. Maybe a timing problem.
Not uncommon in OS installers.

Good Luck, and let us know if you solve the problem.

TechnoMage :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win-8.1/Pro/64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer X-1200
    CPU
    AMD 2 Core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    Crucial, 4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDEA GeForce 9200
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Acer
    Hard Drives
    Sandisk, SSD 500GB
    PSU
    Acer
    Case
    SFF Slimline
    Keyboard
    emachines 101 key
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    5 Meg
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Using Classic Shell on Win-8.1 /pro/64
Apparently a SM Bus Controller needs to be installed. Well OK then, but where from, this is a bit of a head scratcher.

I typically get these from the CD that comes with a motherboard, then perhaps update from the site once I get its proper name. Alternatively, go to the manufacturer's official website and download the latest drivers there. If you're unsure and want to Google for the name yourself, go into the Device Manager, open up the properties for the device in question, click the Details tab, then type some of that info (Hardware IDs is the most useful one from the drop-down menu, I've found) into Google and away you go.

And finally, if I unplug the headphones with the sound running the sound is correctly transferred to the speakers, however when I reinsert the headphones plug the sound doesn't return from the speakers unless I restart the app running the sound.

That actually sounds kind of normal, albeit inconvenient and strange; not sure why it does it, though. It might be a "feature" to prevent accidentally removing the headphones causing the [DEL]porn[/DEL] media to play super loudly, disturbing everyone else at night; if so, kudos to MS.

It periodically (twice in two weeks) changes our keyboard language from German to English. Its not a huge problem to correct but why is it happening.

I dig a bit of German! O7 But yeah, there's a keyboard shortcut (at least one) which can change this on the fly, so it's likely that you're just unknowingly using this shortcut. I can't remember what the shortcut is, but a quick Google will show you. Oh, I think it's Ctrl and Shift together, which I believe is easily done by accident.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Intel i5 4690K @ Stock
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z97-K
    Memory
    Corsair XM3 DDR3 1600MHz @ 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS 760 OC @ Stock
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    [1] ASUS, 23", AH-IPS, 16:9 [2] Samsung TV, 20", LCD TFT, 16:9
    Screen Resolution
    [1] 1920 x 1080, 60Hz [2] 1680 x 1050, 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Internal: 500GB, 1TB, (plus SanDisk, SATAIII, 120GB SSD)
    External: 250GB USB2, 1TB External USB3
    PSU
    Corsair TX750 Enthusiast Edition
    Case
    Zalman Z11
    Cooling
    Air - 9 Total Fans
    Keyboard
    Xebec Media Line
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical
    Internet Speed
    Approx. 550KBps DL, 100KBps UL (EE)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Internet Security
    Other Info
    It's "tower," not desktop!
Hi
Thanks for all of the replies, hopefully it isn't a hardware issue.

I have found the Win 8 keyboard language shortcut, it is Windows & Shift, so it is entirely possible we have been inadvertently changing it.

In an effort to minimise my work load I have chosen to use the Asrock website downloads to reinstall the drivers.
Good news, the SM Bus Controller issue is resolved, I don't know why it didn't work the first time but it is all good now. I will wait and see if any other issues are also resolved/influenced... Fingers crossed :) .

Ironically it would have been a relatively easy fix if the chip set controllers were called the same thing in all interfaces... i.e. the chip set controllers are referenced by Windows as "SM Bus Controller" and Asrock calls them by the unhelpful and (for me) completely ambiguous name "INF Drivers".

So, now it is a case of (very hopeful) wait and see, I will report back with any future news.

Thanks for the input-
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    000001
    CPU
    I5 4590
    Motherboard
    Asrock
    Memory
    yes lots
    Graphics Card(s)
    no :-(
What kind of sound card is on your AsRock board?

On my board, I have the Realtek High Definition Audio, and in the control panel, there is an option to allow 2 different audio streams, or only allow one stream. I only allow one stream.

That's good you were able to get some issues fixed. Glad we could help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40 ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5K PRO
    Memory
    2 GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    PNY NVIDIA Geforce GT 630
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Hi, thanks for the post Imaneke;

I opened Realtek High Definition Audio and had a look at the settings (didn't change anything), all was as it should be so I closed it and just for a laugh tried unplugging-reinserting the headphone jack. Guess what, it now works correctly!
Strange outcome, I will put that in the "well they do that sometimes" file... I guess it just wanted some attention, I wish everything was that easy. Beeping computers... :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    000001
    CPU
    I5 4590
    Motherboard
    Asrock
    Memory
    yes lots
    Graphics Card(s)
    no :-(
Glad that fixed the issue. I know the realtek chip set has problems on some motherboards, so yours was one of them perhaps. We all learn new stuff everyday
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40 ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5K PRO
    Memory
    2 GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    PNY NVIDIA Geforce GT 630
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Hi
An Update.
It looks like most issues are fixed... except the random keyboard failure.
I went through all of the MB websites drivers and reinstalled each one, this appears to have solved most of the bugs, it is a little weird because they are the same drivers I used when I loaded windows.

For others reading this thread;
with respect to the periodic loss of the Start button and Charms bar function it appears this isn't unusual. Fortunately it has a simple enough fix, the solution is to close and restart explorer... for more detail see the following short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KY3y3SdPWg

Now all I have to do is figure out why the USB keyboard occasionally quits on me.

Thanks for the input
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    000001
    CPU
    I5 4590
    Motherboard
    Asrock
    Memory
    yes lots
    Graphics Card(s)
    no :-(
I find the keyboard thing is cured by disabling fast start up. The clue is if the keyboard comes back after a restart. It just means the keyboard is being missed out during fast boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 update
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Compaq
    CPU
    Pentium duo
    Motherboard
    Custom
    Memory
    4 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NEC 1980sx
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Browser
    IE 11
    Antivirus
    Defender
This is so strange, as I've never encountered the freezing of the start and charms bar on my system. Now, I have seen it on my friends computer, which is an older AM2+/AM3 system with 4gb DDR2 RAM with an AMD Phenom II x6 1045T 2.70 ghz AM3 processor. The freezing of the charms bar and start button happens when he doesn't use his computer and it sits in idle for about 2 hours or so. It got annoying. Although we did do some testing, and found some errors in Windows, using SFC and DISM.

SFC found system integrity problems, and DISM said that the Windows Component store was corrupt, but repairable.

Here are the commands.

Start an elevated command prompt as administrator
Type SFC -scannow

This process will take 15 to 20 minutes to complete.

If there are integrity violations that it was unable to repair, run this command

Chkdsk C: /F

This will check for system file corruptions and check your file system.

After reboot. Start elevated command prompt

Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /Scanhealth

This will check your Component store and will let u know if its repairable. If there are issues and you want to fix type

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth

This will download good Windows files and replace the corrupt ones.

This fixed the problem, but the file corruptions kep coming back, unsure if its a hard drive problem or other hardware problem. He went back to Windows 7, and now has no issues whatsoever, so he thinks Windows 8 didn't like his hardware.

Not saying you need to do all of this, but its something you can look into for additional troubleshooting if you haven't already done this.

The keyboard issue is strange for sure.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40 ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5K PRO
    Memory
    2 GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    PNY NVIDIA Geforce GT 630
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
This fixed the problem, but the file corruptions kep coming back, unsure if its a hard drive problem or other hardware problem. He went back to Windows 7, and now has no issues whatsoever, so he thinks Windows 8 didn't like his hardware.

Thanks for the input Imaneke,

I am not sure about the hardware being the/a cause, it appears a number of people with different hardware are having the same problem, e.g. my win 8.1 machine is a new (clean install) 64bit Asrock/Intel desktop with DDR3 ram, SSD C drive and some HDD drives.

The next time the start button and charms bar freezes, I will note how/if the computer was being used before the freeze.

Edit,
R.e the HDDs, they are all Seagate Barracuda 1TB, 64MB, SATA3, 7200rpm
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    000001
    CPU
    I5 4590
    Motherboard
    Asrock
    Memory
    yes lots
    Graphics Card(s)
    no :-(
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