Affinity Designer (Windows) Crashes on Export

[Garret Rain]

Version 1.10.5.1342

When exporting (File>Export) Designer will crash about one out of 10 times. The crash will sometimes take place when changing the JPG Quality slider other times when in the process of exporting. Often the crash will be Designer. On occasion, Windows (11) will crash - get the blue screen of death. In one Windows crash received the System Service Exception file: win32kbase.sys.

[walt.farrell]

6 minutes ago, Garret Rain said:

On occasion, Windows (11) will crash - get the blue screen of death. In one Windows crash received the System Service Exception file: win32kbase.sys.

The Affinity applications run as user-level applications, and should not be able to cause Windows itself to crash. That would require errors in kernel-level applications, such as GPU drivers.

[Garret Rain]

I only and ever see the blue screen of death when using Designer and only when exporting in Designer - more than a coincidence. 

[Dan C]

Hi @Garret Rain,

This would only indicate that Designer is attempting to use/access specific system files that other applications may not use - Walt is correct above in the statement that Affinity cannot cause BSODs on Windows.

17 hours ago, Garret Rain said:

System Service Exception file: win32kbase.sys.

From a Google Search, this usually indicates System File corruption, so I would recommend following the suggestions below -

 https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/win32kbase-sys-blue-screen-error-fixed/

I hope this clears things up!

[GarryP]

In addition to the advice above, to which type of storage did you last export from Designer? Local hard drive, network storage, cloud service, etc?

If the storage ‘location’ no longer ‘exists’ – e.g. disconnected NAS, etc. – then that could cause a problem if Designer is trying to access something which isn’t there.

[Garret Rain]

Dan C, 

I did the recommended services. No errors found. Also, we are missing half the point. The blue screen is the occasional event on Designer export, but Designer crashing. 

GarryP,

I am exporting to the same drive where my program files are C-Drive.

Thank you,

Garret

[Dan C]

Thanks for confirming that for me - it's very likely the crashing in Designer upon export is caused by the same issue that triggers the BSOD, but we can certainly double check for you.

Firstly, can you please open Windows Run (Windows Key + R) then paste the following string and press OK:

%AppData%\Affinity\Designer\1.0\CrashReports\reports

In the window that opens, please select the 3 most recently created .DMP files, then upload these to your reply here.

Secondly, we're aware of the latest Windows updates causing crashing in WPF apps, including Affinity - please check the following FAQ for more information and steps on how to remove this update to stop the crashing -

Many thanks in advance!

[Garret Rain]

DanC,

Than you. I attached the 81f497de-1a39-4cb4-a257-0f09f198d106.dmpfile with the change date of 9/27/22.

[Garret Rain]

DanC,

I had crashes (several) yesterday. So, not sure why the file date is not current.

[walt.farrell]

20 minutes ago, Garret Rain said:

So, not sure why the file date is not current.

Crashes don't always produce crash reports, unfortunately.

[Garret Rain]

The Windows crashes tend to follow this Designer exportation pattern. I am working on marking up photos in Designer. The process will be working fine and then Designer will crash on an export. I will reopen Designer and get back to work. Then after an export or two Designer will crash. This will happen a time or two more and then Windows will crash with the blue screen. The blue screen will take some time to close noting it is gathering/saving a crash report. But alas, this must not be true...

[Dan C]

Many thanks for providing this crash report for me!

I can see the Affinity app is crashing whilst rendering, which may indicate an issue with your GPU drivers, and this could also explain the BSODs you are seeing.

I'd recommend fully removing all installed GPU drivers using DDU (https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html) then installing a newly downloaded version of your GPU drivers, directly from your manufacture.

Can you also please open the Affinity app and navigate to Edit > Preferences > Performance and provide a screenshot of your settings here for me?

[Garret Rain]

Dan C,

Many thanks. Here are the screen shots. I will follow the GPU driver advice in a bit. Waiting to join a Zoom meeting.

Thank you again.

Garret

[Dan C]

Thanks for providing these for me! I'd recommend unticking Hardware Acceleration in the Preferences dialog, as well as removing and reinstalling your GPU drivers, then try exporting once again - does this stop the crashing behaviour please?

[Garret Rain]

Dan C.

Here are the dump files you requested. I crashed on me again today, but not with the blue screen. Now, I had not been using this process on this PC. But when I did today, Designer took a dump.

Also, I followed all of the previous direction on un-installing and then re-installing the AMD video drivers.

I see the note on the Hardware Acceleration, I will untick it. 

Thank you!

Garret

b85dbfc7-1cee-4cd6-a470-4ded9c5e35ec.dmp 81f497de-1a39-4cb4-a257-0f09f198d106.dmp fac5dcd8-5849-4515-9322-f8dddf7d6759.dmp

[Garret Rain]

Dan C.

I unchecked/ticked (for those in the UK) Hardware Acceleration and did a test. When doing a JPG export and slide the % of resolution down from 100% Designer crashed.

Good try, but not the issue.

Thank you,

Garret

[Garret Rain]

All,

Here is a strange note. If I export from Affinity Photo there are no issues. This issue only presents in Designer.

Thank you,

Garret

[Garret Rain]

Dan C.

I looked at the post (

) RE: the removal of Windows updates. Looking down the list of "suspect" updates I compared with my Win 11 update history and found no matches. 

Screen shot attached.

[carl123]

7 hours ago, Garret Rain said:

Looking down the list of "suspect" updates I compared with my Win 11 update history and found no matches. 

You have at least this one "KB5018546", which is on the list

[Garret Rain]

Carl123,

Thank you, uninstalling now...

[Garret Rain]

All, 

I removed update "KB5018546" did a reboot and ran a test. In the text Designer crashed when moving the JPG resolution slider.

Thank you,

Garret

[carl123]

I guess you can try a CTRL runup, which means keep the CTRL key held down then start Affinity Designer.

In the dialogue that appears keep the first 3 selected and also select "Reset File Export Presets" then click the Clear button

[Garret Rain]

Carl123,

Gave the reset file export presets a try. Did the export test and Designer crashed on moving the JPG quality slider.

Thank you,

Garret

[Dan C]

Apologies for the delayed response here @Garret Rain - I've double checked your crash reports provided and these all appear to be crashing within the AMD drivers for your GPU.

I appreciate you have installed the latest drivers already, so I'd like to try removing all GPU drivers currently installed, then re-installing the latest AMD driver only, so that you have a 'clean installation'.

You can do this easily using 'DDU', found here - https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html

Once removed, install the AMD driver once more, restart your system and try in Designer once again.

If this doesn't resolve the crashing, please check your Crash Reports folder and attach any new logs generated here.

Many thanks once again

[Garret Rain]

Dan C,

Thank you. I followed the guidance. The GPU drivers were removed and new AMD drivers were reinstalled. 

I did my export to JPG test and this time Designer crashed upon clicking File>Export.

Today's crash file is attached.

Garret.

0294695f-0e69-499d-a7b5-3b06b7026ea6.dmp