Random crash with Onebox recordings around 30 min into the recording

[Darkweiss]

Describe the bug
A clear and concise description of what the bug is.
Random crash at around 30 min of recording on Neuropixels 2.0 with Onebox.

Versions:

• OS: Windows 11
• GUI version: 1.0.2
• Plugin version: (if applicable): Neuropix-PXI 2.0.3

Additional context
The same signal chain has worked perfectly fine for weeks. Now for the 2nd time in 3 days it has crashed exactly around 30 min of recording (not sure if it's connected but strange it happend both times at this mark).

[anjaldoshi]

Hi @Darkweiss,

Thanks for reaching out.

When the GUI crashes, it usually displays a popup window stating that “Open Ephys has stopped working.” It also generates a crash log file, which is shown in the pop-up window along with its location. Have you encountered anything similar? If you can check whether a crash log file is generated, please share it with us so that we can understand the reason behind the crash. The log file should be named activity_<crash_timestamp>.log and can be found in the C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Open Ephys\configs-api10 directory.

Since the crash started occurring suddenly, it could be due to a USB communication issue, which is a common problem with the OneBox. Here are a few things to check:

1. Ensure that the OneBox is connected to a USB3.0 or higher speed USB port on your computer. If the USB port was switched recently and the port it is now connected to is not fast enough, it could cause random crashes.

2. Another potential cause of communication errors is PC power management settings. These settings can often interfere with USB communication during long recordings. To prevent the USB connection from entering sleep mode, please configure your computer’s power settings as described in this troubleshooting guide: https://open-ephys.github.io/acq-board-docs/User-Manual/Troubleshooting.html#usb-configuration

This troubleshooting guide is intended for the Acquisition Board, but the same applies to the OneBox, as both use USB for communication.

Lastly, I recommend updating to the latest version of the Neuropixels plugin v2.1.1 to get the latest bug fixes.

After updating the plugin and adjusting your USB power settings, run a few long test recordings and let us know if the issue persists.