Knowledge Base

Computer Slows or Hangs Playing MIDI File Repeatedly

Article ID: 190927

Article Last Modified on 1/23/2007

Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

This article was previously published under Q190927

SYMPTOMS

If a Musical Instrument Device Interface (MIDI, or .mid) file is played continuously, your computer may eventually stop responding (hang). Or, your computer may seem to perform sluggishly for a short time after you stop playing the MIDI file.

Some third-party programs (such as screen savers and games) invoke repeated MIDI playback and are susceptible to this problem.

CAUSE

The MIDI sequencer (Mciseq.drv) loses a small amount of memory for each successive playback of a MIDI file. Note that closing and then reloading a file releases the lost memory.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition.

MORE INFORMATION

If an application performing continuous play on the same MIDI file is allowed to run long enough, it may stop responding (hang). If the operating system is close to hanging, it may not be able to release resources after closing the application. In either case, restart the computer.

Keywords: kb3rdparty kbprb kbsound KB190927