Windows Box freezes randomly but often

[TechnoMax]

I run a Windows XP Home SP3 box on a host with Windows XP Pro running VirtualBox 3.1.2.
Several times a day, the guest freezes on a sudden. I can return to the host but the box remains dead, and I have to restart the box, which is annoying but not serious per se. I noticed no specific reason, the app used most in the box is Firefox 3.5.7.

[Perryg]

Make sure that screen savers and all power management features are shut off in the guest. Let the host handle these.
Also there are some reports that powering down the HDD in power management of the host can cause this, but I am not sure about that.

[TechnoMax]

I already have no screensaver enabled. The Monitor and the Harddisk are on "never" in Power Management. As the freeze is random, I doubt, that these parameters had any influence.
This is the Rest of a typical log file:

Code: Select all

"02:46:57.740 TM: Giving up catch-up attempt at a 60 000 427 721 ns lag; new total: 60 000 427 721 ns
02:47:09.029 Changing the VM state from 'RUNNING' to 'SUSPENDING'.
02:47:09.211 Changing the VM state from 'SUSPENDING' to 'SUSPENDED'.
02:47:10.347 Console::powerDown(): A request to power off the VM has been issued (mMachineState=Stopping, InUninit=0)
02:47:10.347 Changing the VM state from 'SUSPENDED' to 'POWERING_OFF'.
02:47:10.347 ****************** Guest state at power off ******************
02:47:10.347 Guest CPUM (VCPU 0) state: se
02:47:10.410 eax=00001400 ebx=00000009 ecx=82b924b7 edx=0000d030 esi=f7968f5c edi=806f56b8
02:47:10.410 eip=806f56c2 esp=f7968f24 ebp=f7968fa8 iopl=0         nv up ei pl zr na po nc
02:47:10.410 cs={0008 base=0000000000000000 limit=ffffffff flags=0000c09b} dr0=00000000 dr1=00000000
02:47:10.410 ds={0023 base=0000000000000000 limit=ffffffff flags=0000c0f3} dr2=00000000 dr3=00000000
02:47:10.411 es={0023 base=0000000000000000 limit=ffffffff flags=0000c0f3} dr4=00000000 dr5=00000000
02:47:10.411 fs={0030 base=00000000ffdff000 limit=00001fff flags=0000c093} dr6=ffff0ff0 dr7=00000400
02:47:10.411 gs={0000 base=0000000000000000 limit=0000ffff flags=00000000} cr0=e001003b cr2=01aa3054
02:47:10.411 ss={0010 base=0000000000000000 limit=ffffffff flags=0000c093} cr3=1ab1b000 cr4=000006d9
02:47:10.411 gdtr=000000008003f000:03ff  idtr=000000008003f400:07ff  eflags=00000206
02:47:10.411 ldtr={0000 base=00000000 limit=0000ffff flags=00000000}
02:47:10.411 tr  ={0028 base=80042000 limit=000020ab flags=0000008b}
02:47:10.411 SysEnter={cs=0008 eip=804de6f0 esp=f7969000}
02:47:10.411 FCW=027f FSW=0020 FTW=0000 FOP=0000 MXCSR=00001f80 MXCSR_MASK=0000ffff
02:47:10.411 FPUIP=00000000 CS=0000 Rsvrd1=0000  FPUDP=00000000 DS=0000 Rsvrd2=0000
02:47:10.411 ST(0)=FPR0={5f4c'00000004'0001eb99} t0 +0.0000000000017179995033 ^ 24396
02:47:10.411 ST(1)=FPR1={5f4c'00000004'0001eb99} t0 +0.0000000000017179995033 ^ 24396
02:47:10.411 ST(2)=FPR2={5f4c'00000004'0001eb99} t0 +0.0000000000017179995033 ^ 24396
02:47:10.411 ST(3)=FPR3={5f4c'00000004'0001eb99} t0 +0.0000000000017179995033 ^ 24396
02:47:10.411 ST(4)=FPR4={5f4c'00000004'0001eb99} t0 +0.0000000000017179995033 ^ 24396
02:47:10.411 ST(5)=FPR5={5f4c'00000004'0001eb99} t0 +0.0000000000017179995033 ^ 24396
02:47:10.411 ST(6)=FPR6={5f4c'00000004'0001eb99} t0 +0.0000000000017179995033 ^ 24396
02:47:10.411 ST(7)=FPR7={5f4c'00000004'0001eb99} t0 +0.0000000000017179995033 ^ 24396
02:47:10.411 XMM0 =00697000'00697000'001264e0'00697858  XMM1 =77fe5268'00126560'00000374'00126064
02:47:10.411 XMM2 =00000002'10008044'001264a8'7c809f08  XMM3 =00000000'00000374'0000037c'00000003
02:47:10.411 XMM4 =00000000'00000000'001264dc'1000805c  XMM5 =006e0069'00740074'00650053'001264a8
02:47:10.411 XMM6 =0077006f'0044005c'00790000'00730067  XMM7 =00000000'00730064'0061006f'006c006e
02:47:10.411 XMM8 =00000000'00000000'00000000'00000000  XMM9 =00000000'00000000'00000000'00000000
02:47:10.411 XMM10=00000000'00000000'00000000'00000000  XMM11=00000000'00000000'00000000'00000000
02:47:10.411 XMM12=00000000'00000000'00000000'00000000  XMM13=00000000'00000000'00000000'00000000
02:47:10.411 XMM14=00000000'00000000'00000000'00000000  XMM15=00000000'00000000'00000000'00000000
02:47:10.411 EFER         =0000000000000000
02:47:10.411 PAT          =0007010600070106
02:47:10.411 STAR         =0000000000000000
02:47:10.411 CSTAR        =0000000000000000
02:47:10.411 LSTAR        =0000000000000000
02:47:10.411 SFMASK       =0000000000000000
02:47:10.411 KERNELGSBASE =0000000000000000
02:47:10.411 ***
02:47:10.412 Guest paging mode:  32-bit, changed 2241 times, A20 enabled
02:47:10.412 Shadow paging mode: PAE
02:47:10.412 Host paging mode:   PAE+G
02:47:10.412 ***
02:47:10.412 Active Timers (pVM=02a00000)
02:47:10.412 pTimerR3 offNext  offPrev  offSched Clock Time               Expire             State                     Description
02:47:10.412 02e75910 00008510 00000000 00000000 Real  000000000021669683 000000000021668310 2-ACTIVE                  VGA Refresh Timer
02:47:10.412 02e7de20 00000000 ffff7af0 00000000 Real  000000000021669683 000000000021668316 2-ACTIVE                  EMT Yielder
02:47:10.412 02e7bbf0 fffff280 00000000 00000000 Virt  000010023633655034 000010023447824783 2-ACTIVE                  USB Frame Timer
02:47:10.412 02e7ae70 ffffee60 00000d80 00000000 Virt  000010023633655034 000010023447832485 2-ACTIVE                  USB2 Frame Timer (no sync)
02:47:10.412 02e79cd0 000004a0 000011a0 00000000 Virt  000010023633655034 000010023451682429 10-PENDING_RESCHEDULE     PCNet Poll Timer
02:47:10.412 02e7a170 00000000 fffffb60 00000000 Virt  000010023633655034 000010023449336013 2-ACTIVE                  Audio timer
02:47:10.412 02e6fdb0 000003a0 00000000 00000000 VrSy  000009958919451878 000009958920455078 2-ACTIVE                  i8254 Programmable Interval Timer
02:47:10.412 02e70150 0000d2c0 fffffc60 00000000 VrSy  000009958919451878 000009958990000000 2-ACTIVE                  MC146818 RTC/CMOS - Second
02:47:10.412 02e7d410 00000000 ffff2d40 00000000 VrSy  000009958919451878 000010798776284409 2-ACTIVE                  ACPI Timer
02:47:10.412 ***
02:47:10.427 Shadow GDT (GCAddr=ff4c8000):
02:47:10.427 ffd8 - 80d80087 ff008900 - base=ff0080d8 limit=00000087 dpl=0 TSS32Avail Present 16-bit  HyperTSSTrap08
02:47:10.427 ffe0 - 80500087 ff008900 - base=ff008050 limit=00000087 dpl=0 TSS32Avail Present 16-bit  HyperTSS
02:47:10.427 ffe8 - 0000ffff 00af9b00 - base=00000000 limit=ffffffff dpl=0 CodeER Accessed Present Page 16-bit  HyperCS64
02:47:10.427 fff0 - 0000ffff 00cf9300 - base=00000000 limit=ffffffff dpl=0 DataRW Accessed Present Page 32-bit  HyperDS
02:47:10.427 fff8 - 0000ffff 00cf9b00 - base=00000000 limit=ffffffff dpl=0 CodeER Accessed Present Page 32-bit  HyperCS
02:47:10.427 ***
02:47:10.427 ************** End of Guest state at power off ***************
02:47:10.427 Changing the VM state from 'POWERING_OFF' to 'OFF'.
02:47:10.483 SharedFolders host service: disconnected, u32ClientID = 1
02:47:10.489 Changing the VM state from 'OFF' to 'DESTROYING'.
02:47:10.489 ************************* Statistics *************************
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit0/AtapiDMA        0 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit0/AtapiPIO        0 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit0/DMA        85631 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit0/PIO         4593 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit0/ReadBytes 887104000 bytes
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit0/WrittenBytes 1031578112 bytes
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit1/AtapiDMA        0 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit1/AtapiPIO        0 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit1/DMA          357 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit1/PIO           16 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit1/ReadBytes  1052672 bytes
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA0/Unit1/WrittenBytes   605184 bytes
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit0/AtapiDMA      355 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit0/AtapiPIO     9933 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit0/DMA            0 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit0/PIO            0 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit0/ReadBytes  2727936 bytes
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit0/WrittenBytes        0 bytes
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit1/AtapiDMA        0 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit1/AtapiPIO        0 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit1/DMA            0 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit1/PIO            0 times
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit1/ReadBytes        0 bytes
02:47:10.489 /Devices/IDE0/ATA1/Unit1/WrittenBytes        0 bytes
02:47:10.489 /Devices/PCNet0/ReceiveBytes     296113991 bytes
02:47:10.489 /Devices/PCNet0/TransmitBytes     2898385 bytes
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/EMTs                              1 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/HaltBlocking            4430591 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/HaltCalls              863034627 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/HaltNotBlocking        858604036 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/HaltTimeouts            1890898 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/HaltWakeUps                   0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/PokeCalls                     0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/PokeNotBusy                   0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/PollCalls                 83206 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/PollHalts                     0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/PollWakeUps                   0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/WakeUpCalls            16108165 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/WakeUpNotHalted        15886145 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/Sum/WakeUpWakeUps                 0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/HaltBlocking             4430591 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/HaltCalls               863034627 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/HaltNotBlocking         858604036 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/HaltTimeouts             1890898 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/HaltWakeUps                    0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/PokeCalls                      0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/PokeNotBusy                    0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/PollCalls                  83206 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/PollHalts                      0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/PollWakeUps                    0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/WakeUpCalls             16108165 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/WakeUpNotHalted         15886145 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VM/WakeUpWakeUps                  0 calls
02:47:10.490 /GVMM/VMs                               1 calls
02:47:10.490 /MM/HyperHeap/cbFree              1044208 bytes
02:47:10.490 /MM/HyperHeap/cbHeap              1310464 bytes
02:47:10.490 /PDM/AsyncCompletion/File/cbCached        0 bytes
02:47:10.490 /PDM/AsyncCompletion/File/cbCachedFru        0 bytes
02:47:10.490 /PDM/AsyncCompletion/File/cbCachedMruIn        0 bytes
02:47:10.490 /PDM/AsyncCompletion/File/cbCachedMruOut        0 bytes
02:47:10.490 /PDM/AsyncCompletion/File/cbMax   5242880 bytes
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/ATA0/ContentionR3        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/ATA0/ContentionRZLock      804 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/ATA0/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/ATA1/ContentionR3        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/ATA1/ContentionRZLock       84 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/ATA1/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/EM-REM/ContentionR3        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/EM-REM/ContentionRZLock        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/EM-REM/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/IOM EMT Lock/ContentionR3        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/IOM EMT Lock/ContentionRZLock        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/IOM EMT Lock/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/MM-HYPER/ContentionR3        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/MM-HYPER/ContentionRZLock        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/MM-HYPER/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/PCNet#0/ContentionR3        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/PCNet#0/ContentionRZLock       93 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/PCNet#0/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/PDM/ContentionR3         0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/PDM/ContentionRZLock        0 times
02:47:10.490 /PDM/CritSects/PDM/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/PGM/ContentionR3         0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/PGM/ContentionRZLock        1 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/PGM/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/PS2KM#0/ContentionR3        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/PS2KM#0/ContentionRZLock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/PS2KM#0/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/REM-Register/ContentionR3        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/REM-Register/ContentionRZLock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/REM-Register/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/TM Timer Lock/ContentionR3    42926 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/TM Timer Lock/ContentionRZLock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/TM Timer Lock/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/TM VirtualSync Lock/ContentionR3        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/TM VirtualSync Lock/ContentionRZLock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/TM VirtualSync Lock/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/VGA/ContentionR3         0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/VGA/ContentionRZLock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/VGA/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/VMMDev/ContentionR3        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/VMMDev/ContentionRZLock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/CritSects/VMMDev/ContentionRZUnlock        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/DevHlp/AllocFailures         0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/DevHlp/Flush                 0 calls
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/DevHlp/FlushLeftovers        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/DevHlp/Insert                0 calls
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/DevHlp/cItems                8 count
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/DevHlp/cbItem               32 bytes
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Keyboard/AllocFailures        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Keyboard/Flush               0 calls
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Keyboard/FlushLeftovers        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Keyboard/Insert           8429 calls
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Keyboard/cItems             64 count
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Keyboard/cbItem             16 bytes
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Mouse/AllocFailures          0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Mouse/Flush                  0 calls
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Mouse/FlushLeftovers         0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Mouse/Insert             39223 calls
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Mouse/cItems               128 count
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/Mouse/cbItem                32 bytes
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Rcv/AllocFailures        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Rcv/Flush              0 calls
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Rcv/FlushLeftovers        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Rcv/Insert        123584 calls
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Rcv/cItems             1 count
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Rcv/cbItem            16 bytes
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Xmit/AllocFailures        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Xmit/Flush             0 calls
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Xmit/FlushLeftovers        0 times
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Xmit/Insert        26070 calls
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Xmit/cItems            1 count
02:47:10.491 /PDM/Queue/PCNet-Xmit/cbItem           16 bytes
02:47:10.491 /PGM/CPU0/cGuestModeChanges          2241 times
02:47:10.491 /PGM/ChunkR3Map/c                     769 count
02:47:10.491 /PGM/ChunkR3Map/cMax             4294967295 count
02:47:10.491 /PGM/Page/cAllPages                205007 count
02:47:10.491 /PGM/Page/cHandyPages                  46 count
02:47:10.492 /PGM/Page/cMonitoredPages               0 count
02:47:10.492 /PGM/Page/cPrivatePages            204913 count
02:47:10.492 /PGM/Page/cReadLockedPages              0 count
02:47:10.492 /PGM/Page/cSharedPages                  0 count
02:47:10.492 /PGM/Page/cWriteLockedPages             0 count
02:47:10.492 /PGM/Page/cWrittenToPages               0 count
02:47:10.492 /PGM/Page/cZeroPages                   94 count
02:47:10.492 /PGM/cRelocations                       0 times
02:47:10.492 /PROF/CPU0/EM/ForcedActions      20723730 times
02:47:10.492 /PROF/CPU0/EM/Halted              8336595 times
02:47:10.492 /PROF/CPU0/EM/RAWTotal                  0 times
02:47:10.492 /PROF/CPU0/EM/REMTotal                  0 times
02:47:10.492 /PROF/CPU0/EM/Total              18900529110873 ticks/call (18900529110873 ticks,       1 times, max 18900529110873, min 18900529110873)
02:47:10.492 /PROF/VM/CPU0/Halt/Block            12579 ticks/call (10856380421066 ticks, 863034621 times, max 408946788, min    4709)
02:47:10.492 /PROF/VM/CPU0/Halt/Timers            2102 ticks/call (1895912680866 ticks, 901679623 times, max 207657262, min    1285)
02:47:10.492 /PROF/VM/CPU0/Halt/Yield             7773 ticks/call (   646800398 ticks,   83206 times, max   1495566, min    4677)
02:47:10.492 /REM/TbFlushCount                       0 times
02:47:10.492 /REM/TbPhysInvldCount              218596 times
02:47:10.492 /REM/TlbFlushCount                1664418 times
02:47:10.492 /TM/R0/1nsSteps                       707 times
02:47:10.492 /TM/R3/1nsSteps                   1404875 times
02:47:10.492 /TM/TSC/offCPU0                         0 ticks
02:47:10.492 /TM/VirtualSync/CurrentOffset    64527681591 ns
02:47:10.492 /TM/VirtualSync/GivenUp          60000427721 ns
02:47:10.492 /VUSB/0/cUrbsInPool                     0 count
02:47:10.492 /VUSB/1/cUrbsInPool                     0 count
02:47:10.492 ********************* End of statistics **********************
02:47:10.687 Changing the VM state from 'DESTROYING' to 'TERMINATED'.

[Perryg]

I put your log in code blocks.
Please send the entire log (as attachment)

[TechnoMax]

Attached are the latest three log files.

[Perryg]

Important part of the log that reflects the problem

Code: Select all

00:00:02.090 Host RAM: 1918MB RAM, available: 1119MB
 RamSize         <integer> = 0x0000000030000000 (805306368)

You should not assign more than 50% of the available RAM to the guest.
Try it at 528MB and see if it will help the issue.

[TechnoMax]

The memory size allotted does not change things. I remember starting very low and encreased it after the first freezes, but unfortunately memory size is not the problem. (This morning the box survived only 1,5 h.) When it freezes I cannot even send ctrl-alt-del. Resetting gives a reboot that freezes in the middle. Only a shut down gives back a running box. For a while.

[Perryg]

System freezes are not common and if you have the ram at the lower setting and it still freezes I would suggest that you post a ticket in bugtracker (link is below my post)
Send the log file with your ticket.

[TechnoMax]

I would do it if I could. But Bugtracker tells me, that I cannot do it:

"403 Forbidden (TICKET_CREATE privileges are required to perform this operation)"

[Perryg]

You need to sign up there for a login. It is on a different system. You can re-use you login here but you must still sign up.

[TechnoMax]

Well, I hope I did it correctly. To my surprise the attachment of my logfile ended in the offer to download it! (I am not used to semiautomated forums, if this is a valid excuse)