Major concerns regarding Trainz background processes

[shaneturner12]

Moderators - if this is in the wrong place, please put it in the right place.

Hi Trainzers,

I did originally put this in Suggestion Boxcar, but it appears to have been rejected for some reason, so I've decided it's probably better here.

My concerns relate to the two Trainz background processes in TS2009 SP4 and later versions - TADDaemon and TrainzUtil.

I've noticed that with some downloads, especially involving the Content Updates feature in-game, which at times seems to stall. I have identified the fault as being in the background processes, and especially in TrainzUtil which has been known to fail to compress textures correctly, as it appears to stall during that part of the process, and occasionally even before it starts compression of textures (during committing).

One of the symptoms of this is that TADDaemon is stuck waiting for TrainzUtil to do a job that it will never finish.

Has anyone else come across this issue? I believe it is what is partly responsible for the 'stuck downloads' issue, where the asset downloads correctly in Content Manager but fails to install.

Shane

 

[dnevans8]

Shane - I have had this occur on a few occasions and I have seen a number of posts in the forum by people who have also experienced the problem. A lot of the "experts" say it is because people do not have a FCT but I am sure this is not the case.

I have got round the problem by finding the downloaded cdp file in the Userdata/Cache/Internet folder and after copying it to another folder or the desktop have then imported the cdp into CM.

 

[shaneturner12]

I've also used the workaround, but N3V really need to sort the main problem out (which I believe is TrainzUtil) as issues also crop up when committing CDP files, from what I've noticed.

I was previously thinking it was due to not having a FCT, but the evidence I've seen tells me that's not the case.

Thankyou for your comments though.

Shane

 

[dnevans8]

I agree with you that a proper fix always beats a workaround every time.

 

[shaneturner12]

Indeed. I'd also like to hear from any other users who have had similar issues, as I believe quite a few database-related issues are related to either TADDaemon or TrainzUtil.

Shane

 

[sniper297]

I've been assured by all the experts that there's nothing demonic about TADDaemon.exe, it's not a resource hog, it doesn't do anything while Trainz is running to cause problems. However.

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/show...mance-and-pauses-sometimes-quot-freezing-quot

No explanation for why it jumps up to grab half the CPU cycles when driver is running, it's either cause or effect of the freezes and pauses. If there's nothing wrong with it, which they all insist is the case, then there's some other software that some people have installed which TADDaemon doesn't get along with.

Benchmark;

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?59346-System-hangs-when-painting-ground

To work around that I created a "palette" route, frantically painted as many different swatches of textures on the ground as I could in 5 minutes, save, exit, reboot, paint for 5 more minutes, repeat until I had all the textures I might use. Then I start with the palette module, open the paintbrush and type "ZX" into the search - no textures starting with ZX so the display menu is empty, then I can use the pick tool to select textures from the ground. With the display window empty I can paint all day without it freezing, if one single texture, built in or otherwise, is showing in the display menu it will freeze every time.

What does that have to do with this topic? I bought TS2009 to see if I would get better framerates, and tested this issue - which happens in all builds of TS2010 and TS12 for me - and found that TS2009 original, SP1, SP2, and SP3 DO NOT have the same problem, I can paint all day with as many textures showing in the selection window as I want. TS2009 SP4 has the same symptoms as 2010 and 12, any texture showing in the menu window makes it freeze every time.

So. Refresh my memory, what is it that TS2009 SP4 has in common with TS2010 and TS12 that previous builds of TS2009 do not have? :hehe:

 

[shaneturner12]

That would be TADDaemon and TrainzUtil.

Shane

 

[belgian46]

Moderators - if this is in the wrong place, please put it in the right place.

Hi Trainzers,

I did originally put this in Suggestion Boxcar, but it appears to have been rejected for some reason, so I've decided it's probably better here.

My concerns relate to the two Trainz background processes in TS2009 SP4 and later versions - TADDaemon and TrainzUtil.

I've noticed that with some downloads, especially involving the Content Updates feature in-game, which at times seems to stall. I have identified the fault as being in the background processes, and especially in TrainzUtil which has been known to fail to compress textures correctly, as it appears to stall during that part of the process, and occasionally even before it starts compression of textures (during committing).

One of the symptoms of this is that TADDaemon is stuck waiting for TrainzUtil to do a job that it will never finish.

Has anyone else come across this issue? I believe it is what is partly responsible for the 'stuck downloads' issue, where the asset downloads correctly in Content Manager but fails to install.

Shane

Hello Shane,

I don't know if Trainzutil plays a part in the problem I'm having.

Whether I use Trainz 2009,2010 or TS12, every time when I import large content ( more than 500Mb ) the taddeamon error appears. I have the same taddeamon error whenever I merge two routes and the size of route goes over the 500Mb.

I did create a helpdesk ticket - but no solution is available at this moment.

Best regards

Kurt :wave:

 

[shaneturner12]

It may well be.

Shane

 

[RRSignal]

Hello Shane,

I don't know if Trainzutil plays a part in the problem I'm having.

Whether I use Trainz 2009,2010 or TS12, every time when I import large content ( more than 500Mb ) the taddeamon error appears. I have the same taddeamon error whenever I merge two routes and the size of route goes over the 500Mb.

I did create a helpdesk ticket - but no solution is available at this moment.

Best regards

Kurt :wave:

Are any of the files 500Mb? I believe the CDP format is limited to 512Mb or so. If not, then I have to wonder if this "limit" isn't really a limit of the format, but some issue with Taddaemon itself.

Just curious.

 

[kd7eirjim]

I have noticed the exact same issues as Shane described. I have a FCT, so that is ruled out as the cause. I have procmon logs and event viewer logs that can prove that TrainzUtil is becoming catatonic. Sadly, based on my previous attempts to bring database related issues up, I am certain that regardless of the amount of evidence and the number of people affected by this issue, it will be summarily ignored, and I will castigated as a malcontented "newcomer" to Trainz.

 

[RRSignal]

My concerns relate to the two Trainz background processes in TS2009 SP4 and later versions - TADDaemon and TrainzUtil.

I've noticed that with some downloads, especially involving the Content Updates feature in-game, which at times seems to stall. I have identified the fault as being in the background processes, and especially in TrainzUtil which has been known to fail to compress textures correctly, as it appears to stall during that part of the process, and occasionally even before it starts compression of textures (during committing).

One of the symptoms of this is that TADDaemon is stuck waiting for TrainzUtil to do a job that it will never finish.

I've had this happen from time to time, including last night. I don't use the Content Update feature though - this is just during normal asset installation or when saving out a CDP.

 

[shaneturner12]

Thankyou for all the comments so far. It seems to confirm my concerns, and I am intending to take N3V head-on with this issue as it is getting annoying (which I had to do not too long ago with the station loading issue)

Shane

 

[VinnyBarb]

I don't know if this is related to the problem Shane outlined. I normally use only FireFox 13.0 for my Internet browsing and I ONLY use one of my PCs (always the same PC) to go online and/or to d/load from the DLS. On that online PC I have TRS04, TS09, TS10 and TS12 installed but not for running any trains on it, this is only for the DLS to see I have these Trainz versions installed on my PC although the DLS should know via my "Profile" with AURAN N3V/N3VGames that I have all Trainz versions registered and theroretically I should be able to d/load via FTP without having TRS or TS installed on my Internet PC. I have a "live long" FCT, I have had FCT tickets before that one for many years.

My problem is, when trying to d/load via CM, more often then not the damn thing freezes on me and no d/load usually takes place. Hence I d/load ONLY (when bl**dy working) via FTP, where 80 % of d/loads start to d/load and just after some 100 kb the d/load stops and does not proceed any further. Sometimes in FireFox 13.0 in its d/load manager one can stop the already stopped to d/load CDP and restart it where usually the same bl**dy scenario repeats itself and the d/load stops again after d/loading some more 100 kb of data. It does not matter if a CDP is 3MBs large or 30 MBs, only VERY tiny and small CDPs (100-300 KB in size) more often will d/load completely.

Sometimes, some 10% of d/loads do finish finally so treated that way (stop and start in FF's dl/manager), the others that failed to d/load via FTP will get an error message of "can not read from the source file" and usually after one of these error messages appears, NO MORE d/loads from then on.

My TaddDeamon tells me I am successfully logged in, cookie is set etc. and all is AOK to d/load but which it apparently is not.

Also, when running Trainz, it hogs and takes over any Window Version (XP Pro or Win Ultimate) I have on my PCs, so much so, that if I do not want my Monitor to cut out if unattended for, say, 10 minutes, I just open the first opening menu of either TS09, 10, 12 and leave that menu page open. It will not let my monitor switch off to standby or my Windows Versions to power down into standby mode or log off (not switch off) into standby mode but my monitor is supposed to power down after 10 minutes, as is also my PC, which, if unattended for some 10 to 15 minutes should also go into standby "sleep" mode. Standby will happen without Trainz running. Why the hell would a bl**dy Trainz program trying to do this, hogging most resources (if not all) when I have any of the last 3 TS versions running offline on my other PCs.

Another beef of mine is, WHY the blazes does Trainz try to go online every time IF THERE IS NO CONNECTION to go online as 2 of my PCs NEVER EVER go online and therefore are NOT configured to look for a modem or what have you. Why can it not do a quick check when starting, to say to itself, Okidoki, there is no Internet connection there, so I will not bother you again for looking for one but it does so checking for one time after time after bl**dy time?

The above is with FireFox 13.0. With "Internet Exploder", as soon as a d/load stops after some 100-130 kb, that is it, no more d/loads from then on, PERIOD. Google Chrome does similar but every now and then, after initially stopping to d/load, I can manage to restart this but only sometimes UNTIL the threaded error comes up: "can not read from the source file" and then I might as well switch off my Internet PC. This has been going on for the last 18 months or so and it is driving me Bananas, especial when some of you say "There is nothing wrong with my d/loads", they all do fine" or such. But reading here how many others have similar DLS hickups, there IS SOMETHING WRONG somewhere and you wonder WHY this happens to me and not to others?

After the "White Pages" DLS recently opened up, DLoads "seems" to have improved a little bit but still, every so ofter, more often than not, the bl**dy D/load stops again after just a few bytes d/loaded. This might just my imagination playing tricks, that this is a shade better now with the WP DLS but as said, the d/loads still stop every so often.

*Edit: I forgot to say, it makes NO DIFFERENCE if I deactivate my Anti Virus program and also deactivate my FireWall. I even uninstalled these once to see if that would make any difference. It did not, freezing d/loads kept on happening.

Frustrated

VinnyBarb

 

[sniper297]

"I am intending to take N3V head-on with this issue"
May THE FORCE be with you. TADDaemon is the most efficient software in the history of programming and is not responsible for any of my problems. Allegedly. What I see is trainzutil.exe resident in memory using no CPU cycles at all, it's TADDaemon.exe that jumps up from 10 to 50 percent CPU usage when I get the pauses from changing tabs, and it has a spaz attack when I open the terrain painting tool, goes back to sleep if I set "ZX" to clear the selection menu.

Vinny, no problem with content mangler in TS12 or TS2010, downloading from there nearly always works fine for me. I have different problems, but I suspect from the same cause, I also completely uninstalled and removed every last trace of McAfee to see if that was the problem, no difference. Set default browser from Firefox to internet exploder to giggle chrome, no difference. Upgraded assorted hardware, updated to XP SP3, only thing on my system that's the same as last year is the mobo, tower case, and DVD - CD drives.

Oblivion
Quake 4
Silent Hunter 4
Half Life 2
Deus Ex series
Thief series

Those are the only other installed games which might or might not be a factor, some of them have obnoxious copyguard stuff like StarForce and SecureRom, which might be a problem for TADDaemon even if they're not loaded in processes. If we could just find a common denominator with the people who ARE having problems we'd be halfway to solving it.

 

[Enzo1]

Freezing downloads seem to be becoming more and more of an issue for me... Also note something else... When Installing 3rd party assets (Sherman hill, Jointed rail stuff and etc...), I get an error telling me that texture compression failed and that TADDaemon shut off unexpectedly and the asset failed to commit... I have it un-checked so it wont do texture compression..... but its still doing it?

EDIT: Oddly enough my CMP keeps enable texture compression... I have no idea why, but that issue is fixed...

EDIT: No it didnt, I get this,
Error: TADTextureConvert> TrainzUtil command host terminated unexpectedly
Message: TADInternalCopyAsset> fatal error during texture compression
Error: Failed to commit changes to asset <kuid2:334896:200010:1> due to file access error

 

[RRSignal]

My problem is, when trying to d/load via CM, more often then not the damn thing freezes on me and no d/load usually takes place. Hence I d/load ONLY (when bl**dy working) via FTP, where 80 % of d/loads start to d/load and just after some 100 kb the d/load stops and does not proceed any further. Sometimes in FireFox 13.0 in its d/load manager one can stop the already stopped to d/load CDP and restart it where usually the same bl**dy scenario repeats itself and the d/load stops again after d/loading some more 100 kb of data. It does not matter if a CDP is 3MBs large or 30 MBs, only VERY tiny and small CDPs (100-300 KB in size) more often will d/load completely.

I had a rather unique problem with one TS2010 installation only. I had copied this installation from my old gaming PC to my new one. Yet, 1 out of 3 times, this particular installation would lock up on my new machine. It ran fine 100% of the time on the old machine and runs fine 100% of the time on the new machine now that I've reinstalled Windows. There are no bad sectors on the disk and the new installation is identical to the old one. The moral of the story is, sometimes, stuff just happens, but an OS reinstallation can do wonders.

Also, when running Trainz, it hogs and takes over any Window Version (XP Pro or Win Ultimate) I have on my PCs, so much so, that if I do not want my Monitor to cut out if unattended for, say, 10 minutes, I just open the first opening menu of either TS09, 10, 12 and leave that menu page open. It will not let my monitor switch off to standby or my Windows Versions to power down into standby mode or log off (not switch off) into standby mode but my monitor is supposed to power down after 10 minutes, as is also my PC, which, if unattended for some 10 to 15 minutes should also go into standby "sleep" mode. Standby will happen without Trainz running. Why the hell would a bl**dy Trainz program trying to do this, hogging most resources (if not all) when I have any of the last 3 TS versions running offline on my other PCs.

I'm glad for that. Trainz is a big program that requires a lot of power to run. I'm glad it "takes over" Windows; it would run like a slug if it didn't. Also, I'm glad it doesn't permit monitors and drives to shutdown. Again, that would hurt performance, not to mention the screen might shut off on long runs in which one does not work the controls very often.

 

[sniper297]

I have screensavers and power schemes disabled anyway, If I'm gonna be away from the computer for a while I shut down or turn the power off to the monitor and peripherals. Running something like EndItAll or GameBooster does zilch for me since anything not necessary to run games is already off by default.

One thing might help since we seem to have so many different problems that might or might not be related;

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb795533

Run Trainz or CM in a window, have something like the process explorer utility running at the same time, set for CPU usage at the top and stack the windows like this;

Should give you an idea of what it is that's using up clock cycles. Again, TADDaemon is my most likely suspect, on my system trainzutil.exe hardly ever pops up anywhere near the top unless there is an actual problem with some assets or the database.

 

[shaneturner12]

Thankyou for the responses so far, it's helping me strengthen my case that there are fundamental issues with TADDaemon/Trainzutil.

Shane

 

[sniper297]

We haven't actually proven that yet, it may be something as idiotic as;
We all have XP media editon
We all have a flawed version of .NET Framework 2.0
We all had Ubisoft Silent Hunter 3 installed at some point in the past and can't remove it from the add/remove program lists.
We all got rid of the Microsoft Word reader or Adobe reader, using something like FoxIt reader instead.
We all had Netscape Navigator back when it was popular and there's some part of it remaining.
etc,etc, etc could be almost anything.

There has to be a reason why they can't duplicate some of these gripes in house, most evidence points to some kind of software that doesn't get along with Trainz.