I Need Your Help - SysCtrlService.exe - Application Error At Shutdown.

Hello. I have an issue I hope someone has an answer for or at least a good possible solution. I am running Windows XP Media Center 2005 with SP3. For a long time (several months) now, when I either select "Restart" or "Turn Off" my computer and my computer is at the final phase of turning off the computer (My screen says, "Windows XP... ...Shutdown" on that splash screen.) , I get a message on the Windows XP splash screen that states:

SysCtrlService.exe - Application Error

The instruction at "0x0012e7f8" referenced memory at "0x00000000". The memory could not be "written".

Click OK to terminate the program.
Click on CANCEL to debug the program.

Now, this occurs when I most of time of the final phase of Windows XP "Shutdown". When I say most of the time, I mean that when I have had my system running for many minutes and I have used the computer to perform many personal tasks with its programs this message appears in the final phase of Windows XP "shutdown". Most of the time, just simply starting Windows XP and then quickly shutting down/restarting the system will not produce this message.

If I leave the message up while Windows XP is in "shutdown" (I do not click OK or CANCEL.), after approximately 3 minutes; the computer will indeed shutdown/turn off on its own. However, the message will not go away on its own if I do not interact.

I have tried doing a Google search to try to find a solution to this issue. I have not found any. Maybe someone here can tell me what is going on and what I need to do to get rid of it.

Thank you!

 

I recommend you download memtest 86+ and burn it to disk, then allow it run overnight. This will test to see if you have any memory errors which could be affecting the operation of your system. Memtest is designed to run until stopped, so I suggest your run it overnight. To stop it just hold in the power button on your computer.

Download link: http://memtest.org/

 

Thank you for your prompt response.

I just tested with memtest86+ v. 4.10 and after 2 passes, no errors were reported.

I assume you thought there was a memory issue or some memory failure causing this issue. Good guess. I would of thought of that too, but you beat me to the punch.

If you can think of anything else, please reply.

Thanks!

 

Hello. I have submitted a support request to ASUS for help with this one. Thanks for some direction with this issue, plodr. I will let you know what they tell me after they respond.

 

I am still awaiting response from ASUS. I am adding that I want to thank plodr for correcting me on the message title I received and accidentally mistyped in my posting. He caught my mistake. It is AsSysCtrkService.exe and NOT SysCtrkService.exe. I accidentally left out the "As". Thankfully, I added that image screen photo to my posting for clarification that is correct.

When ASUS Tech Support returns my request for assistance, I will let you know. They have the correct spelling.

 

First, I want to apologize to plodr, I am sorry for calling you a "he". Please accept my apology. I am a male, and it seems that most people I talk technical with are mostly males in my area. In all honestly, I have not interacted with a techo savvy woman before when it comes to computers face-to-face in my area. They have been men. It is cool to see a woman for a change. It comes out naturally for me because I assume they are all males. I often don't realize that there is another savvy gender that is also into the computer technologies. I guess I need to be open-minded on chats and forums.

Okay, with your questions. Yup, still awaiting for response from ASUS. Yah, it may take a little while from them to reply as I can see. I do have an ASUS motherboard. It is the P5Q (regular version since there are many varities of the P5Q). The computer is custom-made.

The Belarc Advisor being quite a comprehensive little stat of one's computer is an understatement!!! WOW! If you need to know anything about your computer, it WILL TELL YOU and THEN SOME!!! I think it works a little TOO GOOD! :eek It provides excessive personal information! I will keep it in mind if I loose a license key for a program someday.

I have provided some of the info from Belarc Advisor that may of be some use with my issue.

Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States) No details available

Processor
2.85 gigahertz Intel Core2 Quad Q9550
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
12288 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (4 total)
Not hyper-threaded

Main Circuit Board
Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5Q Rev 1.xx
Bus Clock: 333 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 1004 07/10/2008

Memory Modules
3328 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM0' has 2048 MB (serial number SerNum00)
Slot 'DIMM1' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM2' has 2048 MB (serial number SerNum02)
Slot 'DIMM3' is Empty


If any of this information can help you, please let me know. I am thinking using the ASUS forum instead of a ASUS form request. See if I can get anyone there to get me some suggestions or pointers. If they do, I will let you know.

Thank you!

 

From my quick glance, it is related to Turbo V. Do you overclock? If not, then, I'd just uninstall it, if you can.

 

For theefool:

Thanks for your reply. May I ask what exactly is Turbo V? I cannot recall reading about it when I built my computer. I didn't see it addressed anywhere in my ASUS motherboard manual. I have done a look into it online and I see it is some sort of utility or feature that is part of ASUS motherboards. In my P5Q motherboard, I have a utility called the EPU-6 Engine that is an "energy efficient tool that satisfies different computing needs. The utility provides four modes that you can select to enhance system performance and save power. Selecting Auto mode will have the system shift modes automatically according to current status. You can also customize each mode by configuring settings like CPU frequency, cCore Voltage, and Fan Control." If it is similar? I do not know. I do have it set to Auto mode. I however do not think this is the answer. Why? Because the EPU-6 Engine is already shutdown long before this message appears when the system is shutting down. I wouldn't think it would not impact it?!? Right?

ASUS did get back in touch with me, this is what he said:

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service.

My name is <xxx> and it's my pleasure to help you with your problem.

Hi, yes, I have seen the picture. I want to know if you choose "OK", can the computer shutdown? Otherwise, please try again with only one memory since there maybe has a compatibility problem between the memory and motherboard. also can you change a memory to make a test?
Thank you for your cooperation and sorry for any inconvenience.

Welcome to refer Troubleshooting & FAQ for ASUS products in ASUS website:
Troubleshooting - http://support.asus.com/troubleshooting/troubleshooting.aspx?SLanguage=en-us
FAQ - http://support.asus.com/faq/faq.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

If you continue to experience issues in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us.



...so he thinks there is a compatibility issue with the memory cards and the motherboards? Hmmm... The system has run fine for some time in the past before this issue appeared a few months ago. If it were a compatibility issue, the system should of had issues from the beginning? Right?

Yes, clicking OK will close the window, but the system will eventually shut down on its own.

I need your opinion, testing with only one memory card work for me nor not? One card is only 2GB. Why? ...can system system handle just 2 GB to test this out?

Also, if I use only one memory card and I do not get the message means that there is something wrong with the other memory card?

In the message, it states, "terminate the program" and "debug the program". Is it a program that is running that is at the late stage of shutting down when the entire system is shutting down?

I will reply back to him. It appears like the kind of e-mail that they are brushing me off.

Any fact/opinions/thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Hello again.

plodr, thank you! I appreciate your interest in helping me. There may be no need for you to contact your friend...

I finally decided tonight to give a direct phone call to ASUS Tech. Support since their e-mail was so generic.

I spoke to a man that was very quick and decisive on what was going on. I had confidence in what he said. He told me that it is either a slot in the motherboard or a memory stick (card) that is faulty. I will have to further test each stick in each slot to determine by process of elimination what the fault is coming from. That is my next test tomorrow. This will take some time to rule out. Either I will get a motherboard replacement if it is the motherboard's slot that is at fault or I have to see if I can get a memory stick replacement or have to buy another one. I will see.

Anyways, I have found out what that AsSysCtrlService.exe is per the ASUS Tech. Rep.:

This is a program built into the ASUS motherboard that monitors what is running and makes sure components within the motherboard are running correctly. It will report with messages when things are not running properly. The Tech. Rep. said it has nothing to do with the Windows operating system..

The ASUS Tech. Rep. asked me to try to run a test with that Memtest86+. I told him I already did when collinsl asked me to do that. I told him after 2 passes, there was no error reported.

I will let you know what I find when I test the memory and motherboard slots.

See ya soon.

 

Hello. I have a couple questions:

I have not done the test yet for the memory stick/card and the slots in the motherboard yet. It will be a "few" days before I can get to it.

MY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ANSWER:

IF I find that it is INDEED "my motherboard" slots that are the issue, then I will need the "SAME" "new replacement motherboard". Here is the thing, will I HAVE TO CLEAN REINSTALL MY WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM AGAIN WITH THE "SAME REPLACEMENT MOTHERBOARD" OR NOT???

Likewise, IF I need to just "replace for the memory" with the "SAME MEMORY", will I HAVE TO CLEAN REINSTALL MY WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM AGAIN WITH THE "SAME REPLACEMENT MOTHERBOARD" OR NOT???

I NEED HONEST AND TRUE ADVICE!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me that I do NOT have to CLEAN install again!!! BUT PLEASE BE HONEST!!! I am cringing at the idea if I HAVE TOO!!!

I will tell ya, I am NOT in the mood to re-install all my programs again, all my settings, special changes to registry my links in each of my programs, and the many other things that I need to do. I'll be honest, it is sheer hell for me to have to do with a clean installation! I totally cringe at the idea of a clean install. It literally takes MONTHS to get back to where I was!!! Please give me good news!!!

PLEASE REPLY!

THANK YOU!

 

montecarlo, the good news is NO, you will not need to do a clean re-install. Utilizing the same hard drive even on a new board is going to be like you never changed the board to begin with. Same with the memory. This is the difference between hardware and software.
What I mean is, your problem you originally had should go away but you computer will boot up as it did before you replaced either the MOBO or the Memory.

Good Luck, this is a great learning experience.

 

Thank you for the reply, ichase!!! I was ABSOLUTELY NOT looking forward to a clean install!!!

I will further test this issue in over a week when the time is right. Too busy right now to tear apart the computer now.

I will be in touch later on and let you know what I found out.

Thanks again!