"Sniffer_GPU.exe" Has stopped working... AE crashes on start

Report · Mar 21, 2009

Hey guys, finally got around installing the AE CS4 trial to test this baby out but... keep getting this problem.

As soon as I click on the after effects icon windows gives me this error about "sniffer_gpu.exe", and AE crashes away into oblivion. So I am assuming this is an openGL thing. I have tried renaming the sniffer_gpu.exe to see if AE will just skip it but then AE just doesn't even really get into the splash screen and hangs.

I am on Vista x64 and I have an ATI video card with the latest drivers (pretty high end, the name escapes me but its an X2 so it has basically two video cards pre-sli'ed). I see that there have been a few people with this problem but no one ever had a fix.

Thanks!

Report · Mar 22, 2009

Yeah, it's definitely OpenGL, but without further detsails, it#s impossible to advise. Please generate a dump of your graphics card stuff using GLView (http://www.realtech-vr.com/glview/download.html) and provide it for download or send it via mail to mylenium<|>at<|>mylenium<|>.<|>de. Also include a generic dump from your System Information Utility (Start Menu --> Programs --> Utilities --> System) for comparison.

Mylenium

Report · Mar 22, 2009

b sniffer_gpu.exe

pretty scary name for a service in the task manager, don't ya think? ;)

Report · Mar 22, 2009

Thanks Mylenium, here is a link to the two dump reports you asked for:

http://www.brandonmiletta.dreamhosters.com/files/reports.zip

Also, Thomas. Lol yeah kind of a scary name but I knew it was nothing bad.

Report · Mar 23, 2009

Well, I could not see anything that would explain the crashes, but that must not mean anything. Apparently the GLViewer itself recognizes all features correctly, but the Adobe tools may not. however, I seem to remember some people having trouble with 4870 cards on the Photoshop forum. From what I gather, some special thing with Catalyst Desktop, so maybe look over there. Sorry not to be of more help...

Mylenium

Report · Mar 23, 2009

Okay thanks, I will check over there and see what I can do with the Catalyst software, maybe try and go without it or something. I will post here if/when I find a fix so if anyone runs into this they can know what I did.

Report · Mar 24, 2009

Eck, I have tried all kinds of things with drivers and such guys.. I am getting pretty discouraged right now, anyone have any suggestions?? I can't find a solution anywhere.

Report · Jul 24, 2011

If you have ATI card, simply update you drivers using this (http://www2.ati.com/drivers/auto/amddriverdownloader.exe) AMD program and make it works! (It worked at me)

Report · Sep 03, 2011

I'm having similar issues. AE CS5 crashed all the time when I used sliders to resize items so I had to disable OpenGL in preferences.

Now AE stops crashing (but obviously screen draws slower) and I get the Sniffer_GPU.exe error on start up every time. The "Enable OpenGL" is also now grayed out as a result.

I am using nVidia Quadro 2000M on a ThinkPad with the latest drivers installed v8.17.12.8026 (dated 8/3/11). Nothing so far has fixed this. Would love to have OpenGL enabled and work without crashing.

Report · Sep 15, 2011

Hi, I have a similar issue, though I started it in the PS forum because that's the first software I opened but it extends to AE also. Anyways, if anyone knows what's going on with the OpenGL issue on the AMD 6950 video card on CS5.5, please let me know.

Here is my thread: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/902265?tstart=0

Thanks.

Report · Sep 15, 2011

See "Troubleshoot OpenGL problems".

Report · Nov 24, 2011

Hopefully the OP found the problem to the issue but I was having the same issue sniffer_gpu.exe stopped working and then After Effects crashed. In my case the problem was that I had disabled some of the Adobe services through "msconfig". I re-enabled those services and voila! After Effects started working again. Hopefull that helped some of you

Report · Apr 16, 2014

Right click on Computer, Properties, Device Manager. Disable your video card. Open After Effects, ignore the Sniffer_GPU.exe (click x, ok , cancel, whatever you get the point). After AE will be opened, you can reenable your video card.