Invalid Memory Read Error

[Neutronman]

I have been using PixInsight for several months on my Windows XP64 machine with no problems at all.  Suddenly I get this error that forces me to shut down.  I just updated to the newest version, but got the error again.

It happens at random times, but always when closing a tool window.  I cannot use the program for more than a few moments without experiencing this now

The error reads:

PCL Win32 System Exception
At address 0000000078656D96 with exception code C0000005:
Access violation: invalid memory read operation at address FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

I have restarted my machine, still no luck.

Any ideas?

JOhn

[Nigel Ball]

I get a similar error but only after running the CalculateSkyLimitedExposure script

It is reproducible, open the image, run the script, close script, close image, get error

Windows 7 64-bit, latest version of PI

[Neutronman]

I am getting this whenever I close a window, then I have to click through the error message about 50 times, then I can work for a few minutes, then it will happen again.  What is the fix?  Should I go back to an earlier version?

JOhn

[Juan Conejero]

Hi John,

I have just made a thorough test of PixInsight 1.6.9.652 on Windows XP 32-bit (I don't have XP 64-bit, but I don't see why that should make any difference), and everything works without problems --faster and smoother than previous versions, in fact.

To understand what happens, I need you to verify a few things:

- Make sure you're running build 652, as build 651 had a nasty crash bug that seems very similar to what you're experiencing. Please select Resources > About; it should show version 1.6.9.652. If you are using build 651, then you should select Resources > Check for Updates and install the update to build 652.

- If you are running 652, then select the Plastique style from Window > GUI Style and exit PixInsight. Then run it again and check if the problem persists.

Finally, it is of crucial importance knowing if other users also have the same problems with Windows XP 64-bit. In case we have an incompatibility, I need to reproduce the bad behavior in order to find a solution.

In the meanwhile, do you still have the installation archive for version 1.6.1?

[Juan Conejero]

Hi Nigel,

I get a similar error but only after running the CalculateSkyLimitedExposure script

Now this is also really strange. I can't see this behavior on any Windows machine I've tested PixInsight 1.6.9. I've also checked the script's source code and there is nothing at all that could cause any problems.

Can you reproduce this problem with a different script?

Anybody else can confirm this problem?

[Nigel Ball]

Juan

It only seems to happen with the CalculateSkyLimitedExposure script

It's not a show stopper so don't treat it with high priority 

Nigel

[Gary]

Hi  i also get this error. To reproduce it all i have to do is load a colour fits or cr2 file, clone it right click the original file goto mask /select mask select the original file as the mask and up pops the exact same access violation error. It only pops up when i move the mouse over the image with the mask, to get rid of the error i have to drag the message off the image then i can close it. This only happens on colour images not greyscale. I can say CalculateSkyLimitedExposure script works fine for me. Im running on windows 7 64 bit i7 920 processor. Hope this helps narrow down the problem.

[Juan Conejero]

Hi Gary,

Thank you for the information. It has allowed me to reproduce the problem, which I'm going to fix quickly.

The bug only happens on Windows. When a color image is selected as a mask for another image, then moving the cursor over the masked image causes repeated read access violations. Note that this only happens wit color masks; there's no problem at all with normal grayscale masks.

Workaround:

- Select Edit > Readout Options

- On the ReadoutOptions tool window, uncheck (deselect) the Include mask channel option.

- Click the blue circle button or press F6 to apply globally.

Now the problem no longer will happen. However, you won't have direct mask readouts from masked images.

Thank you again and sorry for the inconvenience. This bug will be fixed in the next update to the PixInsight Core application.

[Gary]

Hi Juan
Thx for the quick reply and work arround works fine. And also thx for providing such a marvelous program as Pixinsight which imo was and is the only astro image processing program i felt was worth spending my hard earned cash on. Loved it so much i told my brother who also baught a copy  Take care and sorry for giving you more work lol.
Gary

[Neutronman]

Thanks Juan, the problem has been fixed -- I was indeed running 651, updating to 652 gets rid of the problem.

Best,

JOhn