MCintosh MA7900 USB Driver causing Windows10/11 Crash

@awpsome 

Tahnks for confirming that you are also experiencing the same problem DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION timeout  with your McIntosh equipment connected to a Windows 10/11 system.

I experience that same problem for over tow years with a MC7900 connected to two different laptops or a desktop PC running Windows 10/11. I talked to the McIntosh suppor team for over three weeks doing things and nothing fixed the problem. I am convinced that this is a driver caused problen in Windows. I believe that the driver developer is no longer working with McIntosh. As a result, I gave up and decided to live with the intermittent problem as is.

Fortunately, I decided to upgrade the desktop PC with a MSI Z170A Gaming 5 motherboard, Intel i7-6700 3.4 Ghz and a Samsung SSD980 boot drive. Also, upgraded to Windows 11 Pro Build 22621. The goal was to use the PSDIF digital channel connected to the MC7900 instead of the USB channel.

I performed a test to compare the sound quality of the SPDIF digital to the USB channel. The USB sound was better than the SPDIF digital. As a result, I decided to continue using the USB channel to play music with Spotify or music video with Youtube.

I was suprised to notice that the system only failed once in 30 days or so where before it was failing every day. The system is now running fine for about two months.

I don't have time to go back and reproduce the problem using any of the two different laptops. Also, I found a Microsoft article indicating that the new Windows 11 supports using the USB to play music without the need of the OEM USB driver as required with Windows 10 and they provided instructions to enable this feature using the device manager. app. However, I don't have the time to test this feature.

Summary:

It seems that the DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION timeout problem is a driver or Windows timing issue which went away after doing the motherboard, SSD boot drive and Windows upgrades with the same old McIntosh USB driver installed.

@jmiqui - Interesting info, thanks for sharing about USB over SPDIF. As of last night I tried uninstalling the drivers for it and having it re-recognize itself but instead use the ’windows’ drivers over the mcintosh.

To my surprise, the PC did NOT BSOD with the watchdog error at all. I’ll continue testing today and we’ll see if any changes come about.

Interesting point about upgrading your PC, I also upgraded recently, MB, CPU, GPU, all while keeping the same SSD. I still get the error.

It is what it is, ive considering getting a bluesound node if it ever drives me to the point. The only missing key feature is that if I get a streamer, it only takes care of my music and i lose the ability to hear any PC noise, browser, youtube, movies, etc.

It is what it is.

@awpsome 

I agree with you "It is what it is." Otherwise, it can be frustrating.

I am glad to know that you are making progress by using Windows 11 without the McIntosh driver.

BTW: When my system was failing every day, I replaced the USB cable and then the system was failing maybe once a week. That is another indication of a timing problem in the driver and Windows.

I purchased from amazon.com the "Analysis Plus Purple Plus USB Audiophile Quality USB Cable 1m NEW A-B". That is what I am using now.

Connecting the MC7900 USB to the PC also allows one to use the Pause/Play/Forward/Backard buttons on the MC7900 remote control.

It is what it is. Enjoy the Music!