[Bug Report] wallpaper64 ended unexpectedly

[BigHia]

This is a fourth time Wallpaper Engine crashed. I hope this get fixed soon or I could get a solution. I don't want to uninstall Sonic Studio because I'm using it and I think it's good.

Environment:

1. Windows 10 Pro 64 bit with latest update
   
2. Wallpaper Engine 64 bit
   
3. Sonic Studio 3 version 3.6.26.48019

Pre-condition:

1. Have screen saver (Mystify - come with Windows)
   
2. Screen saver option "On resume, display logon screen" checked

Steps:

1. Turn off the monitor and go away for about 30 minutes.
   
2. Come back, open monitor and logged in

Result:

See the Error window

Link to Error screenshot[prntscr.com]
Link to mdmp files - Google Drive[drive.google.com]

[Biohazard]

First please verify if this is really related to Sonic Studio or maybe not at all. Just close Sonic Studio temporarily and see if the crash still occurs. The warning merely proves that Sonic Studio is hacking into Wallpaper Engine. But the 'faulting module' (MMDevAPI) is a Windows audio device module and Sonic Studio is hacking the audio devices - so it's very likely, yes.

Let me know if the crash is gone then or if it still occurs without detecting the Sonic Studio DLL hack at the bottom (SS3DevProps.dll). If it still crashes without their hack, please share the new mdmp from that too.

[BigHia]

Thank you for your reply. I come back with a new result.

Today it's crashed again. This time without Asus Sonic Studio 3 running.

Error screenshot [prntscr.com]
New mdmp file withou SS3 [drive.google.com]

[Biohazard]

Thanks, but it looks like it was still running. The mdmp shows it and the screenshot too if you look at the bottom, it detects 'SS3DevProps.dll' being forced into Wallpaper Engine and changing the program on the fly at the time of the crash. I do not know how Sonic Studio works, but what's possible to say is that this file comes from there and it does something unknown to Wallpaper Engine. My guess is that it has several background applications that are loading this DLL file, otherwise it would not show up in the crash box.

If Sonic Studio has no settings to disable the 'SS3DevProps' file, you could try to rename or move the file. If that file cannot be injected into Wallpaper Engine anymore, it cannot have any effects on it anymore and it will either stop crashing or the file will at least stop showing up in the crash dialog: C:\Program Files/ASUSTeKcomputer.Inc/Sonic Suite 3\Foundation\x64\SS3DevProps.dll

Sonic Studio has probably injected this file into a number of applications. In order to rename it, you will have to close those applications, or you could use a tool like lockhunter to help: https://lockhunter.com/

If you rename it to SS3DevProps.dll.OLD you can always restore it later. Renaming it should suffice to stop Sonic Studio from loading this file into everything.

[BigHia]

I have renamed SS3DevProps.dll and after a few days there is no more error popup. So we can safely assume that Sonic Studio 3 and it's SS3DevProps.dll is the cause of this issue, right?

[Biohazard]

Originally posted by Meo:

I have renamed SS3DevProps.dll and after a few days there is no more error popup. So we can safely assume that Sonic Studio 3 and it's SS3DevProps.dll is the cause of this issue, right?

Yes. If renaming it fixes this for you, that's probably your best option to use both at the same time.

[BigHia]

Thank you. Unfortunately, Sonic Studio 3 can not be run without SS3DevProps.dll. So I hope that you would find a way to fix this issue.

Best regards

[Biohazard]

I'm afraid I've exhausted everything I can do from my end. The error truly is in SS3DevProps.dll and I cannot fix that file. It intrudes Wallpaper Engine with the same methods that game cheats hack games, there is sadly no way for me to 'defend' from that kind of program.

ASUS needs to hear from their customers that there is a problem. The issue is that their program is crashing other applications and most people end up contacting the developers of the application that crashes and not ASUS. That's only natural, but it leads to ASUS easily ignoring these kind of errors with their program. I'm more than happy to assist in whatever way I can by providing Steam keys or information about what I believe they could do, but only they can fix the actual problem.

If Sonic Studio has any built-in support links or e-mail addresses, that would be the best way to get in touch with them directly. Otherwise I'm just seeing this generic support page with an e-mail option at the bottom: https://www.asus.com/us/support/

Please get in touch with them as one of their customers, that would have the best chance to get it truly fixed. You can refer them to this thread of course or the e-mail [e-mail] if they want any technical details or tips from me about what they could do.

[BigHia]

It's sadly to hear that. Thank you for your support. I'll see if I can find out anything from ASUS forums.

Hoping this problem would be solved in the future. Peace.