Hi Geoffrey,
When MATLAB stops responding while using Psychtoolbox, especially on specific computers, it can be due to a variety of reasons, including hardware incompatibilities, graphics driver issues, or problems with the MATLAB or Psychtoolbox installation. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:
1. Update Graphics Drivers: Ensure that the graphics drivers on the computer where MATLAB is freezing are up to date. Psychtoolbox heavily relies on advanced graphics features, and outdated drivers can cause issues.
2. Check Psychtoolbox Installation: Verify that Psychtoolbox is correctly installed on the problematic computer. Reinstall Psychtoolbox if necessary.
3. MATLAB Version: Check if the version of MATLAB you are using is compatible with your version of Psychtoolbox. Sometimes, newer or older versions of MATLAB may have compatibility issues.
4. Operating System Compatibility: Ensure that the operating system on the problematic computer is compatible with both MATLAB and Psychtoolbox.
5. Test Psychtoolbox: Run the Psychtoolbox tests (e.g., `PsychtoolboxPostInstallRoutine`) to check if there are any obvious issues with the Psychtoolbox installation.
6. Reduce System Load: Close other programs that may be running on the computer to reduce system load. Sometimes, heavy background processes can interfere with MATLAB's performance.
7. Check MATLAB Preferences: Sometimes, MATLAB preferences can become corrupt. Try resetting MATLAB's preferences by renaming the `matlab.prf` file located in the preferences directory (you can find the preferences directory by typing `prefdir` in the MATLAB command window).
8. Console Output and Error Logs: Look at the MATLAB Command Window or the console output for any error messages or warnings that could give clues about the issue.
9. Run MATLAB in Debug Mode: If the issue occurs when clicking on specific boxes, place breakpoints in your code to debug and see if there are any specific lines of code that are causing MATLAB to freeze.
10. Hardware Issues: Check for any hardware issues on the problematic computer, such as insufficient memory (RAM), slow or failing hard drive, overheating, etc.
11. Alternative Input Methods: If the issue is related to mouse clicks, try using alternative input methods such as keyboard inputs to see if the problem persists.
12. Isolate the Issue: Try running a simplified version of your experiment that only includes the functionality for clicking and typing in boxes. If the simplified version runs without issues, gradually add back other parts of your experiment to isolate the problematic code.
Remember to back up your work before making any significant changes to your system or software.
I hope the above steps resolve your issue.
Thank you.
