DaVinci Resolve 17 stuck "Looking for control surface”

I just tried to upgrade to DaVinci Resolve Studio 17. It works fine on my Desktop Computer (Threadripper 2950X, 32GB, Geforce 2080TI). But on my Laptop (Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14 with 16GB and Ryzen 4800U) it opens up the Splash Screen and then hangs displaying "LOOKING FOR CONTROL SURFACE" (even with the newest Version 17.1.1) forever. The previous Version 16.2.8 worked (and still works) on the same Laptop (no USB Devices addes) without any problems. What can I do?

Thanks in advance!

Gerd-Uwe Neukamp

I've also had similar issues. There was another post here where a guy talked about renaming a folder where the projects are kept. Doing that allows me to load it ONCE, but after that, I'm stuck again.

I have found a temporary work-around is to right-click on the Davinci icon and open it as a Windows 8 legacy program in Windows 8 mode. It runs there, albeit a bit more slowly than it should.

I hope a fix comes soon, and I am really disappointed to see that my render times in Davinci 17 are about half of what they were in 16. I would counsel anyone on the free version to NOT upgrade to 17, yet.

Thank you for your answer, Derek. I have tried the compatibility mode for Windows 8, but DaVinci Resolve still doesn't start on my Lenovo IdeaPad 5-14. It ist still hanging displaying "LOOKING FOR CONTROL SURFACE"

What does it say in the log files? That's always the first port of call with crashes and startup failures as they'll show what it was trying to do when it crashed / failed.

As an aside, whilst 16 ran well on my Lenovo laptop, 17 doesn't. It needs a new version of the Nvidia display driver and unfortunately Lenovo have decided that this model is too old to support so there isn't a newer driver available.

What does it say in the log files? That's always the first port of call with crashes and startup failures as they'll show what it was trying to do when it crashed / failed.

Here is the crash-dump that I found in the logs:

==========[CRASH DUMP]==========
#TIME Fri Apr 2 12:45:28 2021 - Uptime 00:00:01 (hh:mm:ss)
#PROGRAM_NAME DaVinci Resolve Studio v17.1.1.0009 (Windows/MSVC x86_64)
#BMD_ARCHITECTURE x86_64
#BMD_BUILD_UUID 25881761-5068-469f-b647-bc51ab2718e0
#BMD_GIT_COMMIT 0789840c2ac307541ca233d76f787b9bbbf2013d
#BMD_UTIL_VERSION 17.1.1.0009
#OS Windows

00007FF6DF499489
00007FF6DF405573
00007FF6DF4046C5
00007FFE2062C247
00007FFE22BF5070
00007FFE22BDC776
00007FFE22BF1F6F
00007FFE22BA1454

================================
[0x000044d4] | SyManager | WARN | 2021-04-02 12:45:29,622 | socket failed to connect to server, error: 10061

[0x000044d4] | SyManager | ERROR | 2021-04-02 12:45:29,622 | DRIVER: panel connection failed
[0x00001e48] | Fairlight | INFO | 2021-04-02 12:45:32,094 | 00.00.02.901(000): Running Fairlight (384284cc1ff7695c153bb21751b057c010af60bc)
[0x00001e48] | FairlightLoader | INFO | 2021-04-02 12:45:32,094 | Fairlight lib loaded in 3409 ms.
All textures are loaded : 1.
[0x00001e48] | Fusion | INFO | 2021-04-02 12:45:32,328 | Fusion Build: 6554b257_0010 (Mar 30 2021 06:55:31)
[0x00001e48] | Fusion | INFO | 2021-04-02 12:45:32,328 | fusionsystem: = "C:\Program Files\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\fusionsystem.dll"
[0x00001e48] | Fusion | INFO | 2021-04-02 12:45:32,372 | FusionLibs: = "C:\Program Files\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\"
[0x00001e48] | Fusion | INFO | 2021-04-02 12:45:32,372 | UserData: = "C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\Fusion"
[0x00001e48] | Fusion | INFO | 2021-04-02 12:45:32,373 | Profiles: = "UserData:Profiles\"
[0x00001e48] | Fusion | INFO | 2021-04-02 12:45:32,393 | Module Handle 000001D324BB0000 fusiongraphics
[0x000030e4] | UI.GLContext | INFO | 2021-04-02 12:45:32,496 | Creating shared OpenGL context for this thread (3 total).

==============================

Unfortunately, this does not help me either, does anyone here have an idea?

As an aside, whilst 16 ran well on my Lenovo laptop, 17 doesn't. It needs a new version of the Nvidia display driver and unfortunately Lenovo have decided that this model is too old to support so there isn't a newer driver available.

I am using the integrated RADEON graphics of my AMD RYZEN 7 4800U with the current driver Version 21.3.2 from March 26, 2021. The program does not start with this either. It seems to me that DaVinci Resolve is looking for a control panel, which of course is not installed and then crashes.

Thank you for your answer, Derek. I have tried the compatibility mode for Windows 8, but DaVinci Resolve still doesn't start on my Lenovo IdeaPad 5-14. It ist still hanging displaying "LOOKING FOR CONTROL SURFACE"

I hope you can get it working.

I'm just a teacher, and I have other editing options (but I MUCH PREFER Davinci). I am highly suspicious that NVidia updates or Windows have broken things... can't remember if I mentioned it in this thread or another, but this problem actually began on Davinci Resolve 16, which made me assume I was being nudged into an update due to incompatibility. My problems began after I completed both an Nvidia driver update on my 1650 Super, and updated Windows to the newest 1202 (I believe that's the version). Seeing as you are on a Radeon card, I will bet it is the Windows update -- did you update Windows at the time this problem began?

Was absolutely in love with version 16, and look forward to new things on 17, when it's all working again. Really bummed that I've gone from rendering about 120fps to about 55fps, though. I hope that loss in speed on the free version was not by design. If so, that will mean Davinci will no longer be of interest to me. That's just too slow, given that my videos are hours-long class videos. I don't have time to render that long, given that my 2nd free editing choice renders more than 3x faster than Davinci now does, because it also makes use of my GPU. The gap is now too big to ignore. But I prefer Davinci.

Interesting thing here...

I have discovered, through various trials, that if I remove the GeForce Studio driver, then reinstall it, I can then load DaVinci Resolve 17 and use it until I reboot my machine. Once I reboot my machine, I am back at square 1 again, and Resolve 17 will not start... it just cycles through the splash screen thorough Loading Waveform Monitor, where it hangs a few seconds, then sometimes gets to the next splash page about audio drivers for about a tenth of a second, then the splash goes away and it fails to start.

Oddly, I have noticed that when DaVinci is LIKELY (but not always) going to work, I get a black edging around the splash screen rectangle. If I don't see that appear on the splash screen, I know it's not going to work. This is just a "sometimes only" indication that it's going to work.

SO at the moment, I can use 17 without "the slows" involved in running as a Windows 8 Legacy program -- still find my render times have gone from 120fps to about 55fps.

What does it say in the log files? That's always the first port of call with crashes and startup failures as they'll show what it was trying to do when it crashed / failed.

As an aside, whilst 16 ran well on my Lenovo laptop, 17 doesn't. It needs a new version of the Nvidia display driver and unfortunately Lenovo have decided that this model is too old to support so there isn't a newer driver available.

You don’t need to wait for Lenovo. You can install the official Nvidia drivers instead.

You don’t need to wait for Lenovo. You can install the official Nvidia drivers instead.

Interesting. I did look on their site but they said there wasn't one available and I had to use the vendor supplied one.

Here is the crash-dump that I found in the logs:

==========[CRASH DUMP]==========
<snip>
==============================

Unfortunately, this does not help me either, does anyone here have an idea?

The davinci_resolve.log file is usually more useful - it shows all the steps that occurred since the moment the software started trying to start. Most recent at the bottom.

You don’t need to wait for Lenovo. You can install the official Nvidia drivers instead.

Interesting. I did look on their site but they said there wasn't one available and I had to use the vendor supplied one.

On my Lenovo Thinkpad P51 I am using the official Nvidia drivers only.

Here is the crash-dump that I found in the logs:

==========[CRASH DUMP]==========
<snip>
==============================

Unfortunately, this does not help me either, does anyone here have an idea?

The davinci_resolve.log file is usually more useful - all the steps that occurred since the moment the software started trying to start. Most recent at the bottom.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, but so far they have not solved my problem.

I looked at the davinci_resolve.log file, it shows it shows on its last lines the same error as the crash dump:

[0x000044d4] | SyManager | WARN | 2021-04-02 12:45:29,622 | socket failed to connect to server, error: 10061
[0x000044d4] | SyManager | ERROR | 2021-04-02 12:45:29,622 | DRIVER: panel connection failed

I suppose DaVinci is looking for an attached command panel (there is not any USB Device attached at my LENOVO IdeaPad 5 14 AMD) and then crashes doing this. I have updated the drivers of my integrated RADEON Graphics and Windows 10 20H2 Pro to the actual state. As I mentioned above, DaVinci works without problems on the same hardware with version 16.2.8, so I think it's a bug that will hopefully be fixed soon. But I am still grateful for tips on how to get version 17 running anyway.

I got the same problem as you, under win 7. try to update last nvidia driver didn't solved it. so updated to win10 and they farewell to a lot of my tools. It worked.
hope it will help you.

I got the same problem as you, under win 7. try to update last nvidia driver didn't solved it. so updated to win10 and they farewell to a lot of my tools. It worked.
hope it will help you.

I already use Windows 10 20H2 pro with all current updates, as I mentioned above, and it does not work.

[Shrinivas Ramani]

Hi Gerd-Uwe

Please take a look at this post to see how you can generate a resolve log archive and an NFO file and include them as part of your report.

A couple of things to check:
• For your laptop you may want to try this AMD driver cleanup utility and reinstall the AMD recommended drivers. It will require a couple of restarts.
• Do check if Windows update is set to update drivers directly - since their driver updates have frequently caused problems, we recommend to users that once they're on a stable working driver, they turn this setting off.
• if your laptop has a dock with Display link or a similar display connection device built in, it is possible that external monitor connections through this may cause an issue.
• From what I can find, your system does not have an Nvidia card - if you have an nvidia driver installed, please look for the free software "Display Driver Uninstaller" and follow the instructions to clean your system of the existing driver set.

Derek, Please look at my point above on turning off Windows DCH driver updates. Please download the latest Studio drivers from Nvidia, and during install, please select Custom > Clean Installation. After restarting your system, please check Resolve without compatibility mode. If it still does not work, please provide a log archive, and a fuller description of your system (see FAQs). Given the minimum requirements state Windows 10, launching in compatibility mode is neither supported nor recommended.

Jean, as stated above, Windows 7 is not supported.

Regards
Shrinivas

Many thanks for the numerous tips, but unfortunately none of them led to success. However, the hint from Shrinivas Ramani regarding the graphics card drivers has helped me to find a solution - thanks for that!

My problem was an installed Citrix graphics driver (Citrix Indirect Display Adapter), which I sometimes need for remote access to my workplace. When I disable the driver in Device Manager (I don't need to uninstall it) DaVinci Resolve Study 17.1.1 finally starts without any problems. Maybe this hint will help other people too.

Thanks again for all the help!

[Rohit Singhal]

Hello. Can you please post a captured log for the startup crash when you have citrix enabled?

Hello. Can you please post a captured log for the startup crash when you have citric enabled?

I have sent you the link to the file via PM.

I have just updated to DaVinci Resolve 17.2 Studio and now everything ist working, even with an activated Citrix Graphics driver.

Thank you very much!

Hello. Can you please post a captured log for the startup crash when you have citrix enabled?

Hi, I have the same problem an all worked fine once I disable Citrix Indirect Display Adapter

this is crash log:

Code: Select all

[0x00004428] | UI.GLContext         | INFO  | 2021-06-07 08:13:23,731 | Creating shared OpenGL context for this thread (3 total).
[0x00000694] | SyManager            | WARN  | 2021-06-07 08:13:24,149 | socket failed to connect to server, error: 10061

[0x00000694] | SyManager            | ERROR | 2021-06-07 08:13:24,149 | DRIVER: panel connection failed



The disabled citrix controller is:

Code: Select all

Citrix Systems Inc.
Date: 23/01/2019
Version: 12.40.44.247


If you need the complete log package only need to ask for it and i can send it to you

Thanks a lot
Rafael Reina

[Shrinivas Ramani]

Hi Rafael

We will need a log archive zip file as captured from the Help menu. Snippets or single text files are reasonably useless for us.

Thanks
Shrinivas

I thought I'd share my solution to a similar problem.
I have Windows 10 on a Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 laptop with a gpu: 4GB GDDR6 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650.
It took 40 minutes to load Studio until I unplugged my external screen. Then it loaded in about 20 seconds. Since this implicated the GPU, I contacted the GPU folks (NVIDIA at 800 797-6530,2 and nvidia.com) and downloaded the most recent STUDIO (studio is their grouping label for their drivers that are dedicated to graphics workstations) version of their drivers for the GeForce GTX.

After downloading this new driver and rebooting a couple of times, Resolve now works and comes up in 20 seconds or so.

Having similar problems:
Windows 10 PC (no laptop).
No USB devices (only mouse and keyboard), 1 monitor (DVI), 1 HD, Audio output checked with both options on my PC.
Newest updates for Windows and Radeon.
No control panels or boards, only Resolve Software 17.3 without options installed.
Installed and unnistalled Resolve several times.
Resolve 15, 16 run always fine. I used 17.1 only for a short time but it startet without problems.

During starting the Resolve window freezes at "loading fairlight engine". No chance to go further.



Here are the last lines of ResolveDebug.txt with these both WARN and ERROR lines which could be the problem during starting the software:

[0x00000588] | SyManager | WARN | 2021-10-13 10:57:49,491 | socket failed to connect to server, error: 10061

[0x00000588] | SyManager | ERROR | 2021-10-13 10:57:49,491 | DRIVER: panel connection failed

**************************
LAST LINES:

Mem Data Transmitter Thread ----- (916)
Mem data transmitter thread starts: 00000394
[0x000014a4] | GPU.MultiBoardMgr | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:47,450 | Let There Be OpenCL Light!
[0x00000c6c] | IO | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:47,456 | Kdu ctx(0), bundle(0), thds(1)
[0x00000c6c] | IO | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:47,456 | Kdu ctx(0), bundle(1), thds(1)
[0x00000c6c] | IO | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:47,456 | Kdu ctx(0), bundle(2), thds(1)
[0x00000c6c] | IO | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:47,456 | Kdu ctx(0), bundle(3), thds(1)
[0x00000c6c] | IO | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:47,459 | Setting codec capacity (0)
[0x00000c6c] | IO | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:47,459 | IO codec initialization completed in 15 ms.
[0x00000588] | SyManager | WARN | 2021-10-13 10:57:49,491 | socket failed to connect to server, error: 10061

[0x00000588] | SyManager | ERROR | 2021-10-13 10:57:49,491 | DRIVER: panel connection failed
[0x00001304] | UI.GLContext | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:50,112 | Creating shared OpenGL context for this thread (1 total).
[0x00001304] | UI.GLContext | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:50,150 | Initialized OpenGL 4.6 (requested 2.0) on device 'ATI Technologies Inc. AMD Radeon (TM) R7 360 Series'
[0x00001304] | Main | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:50,150 | Show splash screen message: Loading Fairlight Engine
[0x000014a4] | GPU.MultiBoardMgr | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:50,150 | Initializing OpenCL board manager for Main Display GPU gpu:2533b0d9.f91e8f0c.
[0x00001874] | UI.GLContext | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:50,151 | Creating shared OpenGL context for this thread (2 total).
[0x00001874] | DVIP | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:57:50,200 | Created OpenCL context for devices gpu:2533b0d9.f91e8f0c


==========[CRASH DUMP]==========
#TIME Wed Oct 13 10:57:50 2021 - Uptime 00:00:03 (hh:mm:ss)
#PROGRAM_NAME DaVinci Resolve v17.3.2.0008 (Windows/MSVC x86_64)
#BMD_ARCHITECTURE x86_64
#BMD_BUILD_UUID 09d47428-cf97-4c52-88d9-270f628a2e7c
#BMD_GIT_COMMIT e322500e024a303d7f5856b949300bfd21ecdede
#BMD_UTIL_VERSION 17.3.2.0008
#OS Windows

00007FF6386DC84C
000001B635450324
00007FF9BBDBB86B
00000000000F000D
0000000000000056
00000012623FDA50
00007FF6386DC7A0
00007FF9B634E6E0

================================
[0x00001304] | Fairlight | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:58:00,013 | 00.00.09.746(000): Running Fairlight (a4afceb121d747afd5ed42c213fa8ae8b8098a5e)
[0x00001304] | FairlightLoader | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:58:00,013 | Fairlight lib initialized in 9861 ms.
All textures are loaded : 1.
[0x0000042c] | UI.GLContext | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:58:00,815 | Creating shared OpenGL context for this thread (3 total).
[0x0000042c] | DVIP | INFO | 2021-10-13 10:58:00,847 | Re-using OpenCL context for devices gpu:2533b0d9.f91e8f0c