M-Box 2, Pro Tools 7.4 Won't Launch

[croSSeduP]

I know you all get this stuff a lot, but there it is. The funny thing is my system used to work just fine. It suddenly stopped working. Somehow in a Windows update IE8 sneaked in. I uninstalled it, but ProTools still won't launch, and by "won't launch" I mean NOTHING happens when I try to start ProTools, no matter which launch icon I use. The task manager shows it is running, but nothing is happening beyond that. I read about the "Sandra" report. I downloaded the program, but I don't know how to use it. It can generate several types of reports. Which one do you need? Besides all this, ProTools USED to work just fine. Besides getting IE8 on the system, uninstalling it, and adding another hdd, nothing on my system has changed. I really need to get this up and running. I have an important project to do and I have not found the help I need. I've tried everything I have found to try, even uninstalling, and reinstalling ProTools. Don't know what else to try. Any help appreciated.

[SSE4.2]

I use ProTools on a dedicated machine and would NOT plug it into the internet, because I know when a windows system is running well, the last thing I need is a windows system update. I also keep an image file of the system drive so I can restore to an exact copy of a working system, should I need to do a manual install / upgrade.

I quote from a helpful DUC member:
“After installing Sandra, click on the 'Hardware' tab and run the 'Computer Overview', then copy and paste into your post here on the DUC.”

[albee1952]

If you review the required system tweaks, turning OFF the auto updates is in there(or should be)

[croSSeduP]

Thanks for the replys.
Will post the Sandra here as soon as I get to that machine.
I do not have the resources to have a dedicated machine to only run ProTools. I wish. I do have auto updates turned to manual install, but this machine is a multi-tasker, and more peeps than just me use it. What probably happened is that someone who didn't know any better clicked on "install updates". So, I guess I'll just turn auto-updates completely OFF. Be back here soon.

[SSE4.2]

Yeah “…turning OFF the auto updates…” is an idea, however if this is your only machine and you connect to the internet, it might not be too clever. Plugging a windows machine into the internet that isn’t fully updated with security patches, risks virus/worm attack.

[croSSeduP]

Originally Posted by SSE4.2

I quote from a helpful DUC member:
“After installing Sandra, click on the 'Hardware' tab and run the 'Computer Overview', then copy and paste into your post here on the DUC.”

Hate to seem obtuse, but... How do I copy and paste this report? There doesn't appear to be any options for doing this. So far, not impressed with the user-friendliness of "Sandra". Lack of intuitiveness is apparent....

[croSSeduP]

I just tried following the instructions in this post. ProTools still won't launch. What next?

http://duc.avid.com/showpost.php?p=1452646&postcount=4

[SSE4.2]

Originally Posted by croSSeduP

... How do I copy and paste this report?....

Asked ’n’ Answered HERE!

[croSSeduP]

Alrighty then! Thanks for the help. Below is my machine's Sandra report. Still don't have ProTools running.


SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Model : Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H
Workgroup : MSHOME
Host Name : Office


Processor
Model : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5600+
Speed : 3GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Dual-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 2x 64kB, Synchronous, Write-Back, 2-way, Exclusive, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 2x 512kB, ECC, Synchronous, Write-Back, 16-way, Exclusive, 64 byte line size

Computer
Platform Compliance : AMD LIVE!
Mainboard : Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H
BIOS : Award (Phoenix) F2 01/02/2009
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 2GB DIMM DDR2

Chipset
Model : AMD RS780 Host Bridge
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 1GHz (2GHz)
Channels : 1
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 100MHz (200MHz)

Chipset
Model : AMD Athlon 64 / Opteron HT Hub
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 1GHz (2GHz)
Total Memory : 2GB DIMM DDR2
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 363MHz (726MHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : PNY 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-23-6-3)
Memory Module : PNY 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-23-6-3)

Video System
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS (96 SP 1.25GHz, 320MB DDR3 1.67GHz 320-bit, PCIe 1.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL Processor : NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS (96SP 12C 1.35GHz, 320MB DDR3 1.67GHz 320-bit)
CUDA Processor : NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS (96SP 12C 1.35GHz, 320MB DDR3 1.67GHz 320-bit)

Storage Devices
WDC WD1600JS-56MHB1 (160GB, SATA150, 3.5", 7200rpm, 8MB Cache) : 149GB (C:)
WDC WD1600AAJS-00L7A0 (160GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 8MB Cache) : 149GB (J:)
IOI MediaBay 7 in 4 (USB) : N/A (F:)
IOI MediaBay 7 in 4 (USB) : N/A (G:)
IOI MediaBay 7 in 4 (USB) : N/A (H:)
IOI MediaBay 7 in 4 (USB) : N/A (I:)
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L (ATA100, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (D:)
CD-RW 5232IA (ATA66, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (E:)

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk (C:) : 149GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD1600JS-56MHB1 (160GB, SATA150, 3.5", 7200rpm, 8MB Cache)
Hard Disk (J:) : 149GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD1600AAJS-00L7A0 (160GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 8MB Cache)
Optical Drive (D:) : N/A @ PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-118L (ATA100, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Optical Drive (E:) : N/A @ CD-RW 5232IA (ATA66, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
3.5" 1.44MB (A:) : N/A
Removable Drive (F:) : N/A @ IOI MediaBay 7 in 4 (USB)
Removable Drive (G:) : N/A @ IOI MediaBay 7 in 4 (USB)
Removable Drive (H:) : N/A @ IOI MediaBay 7 in 4 (USB)
Removable Drive (I:) : N/A @ IOI MediaBay 7 in 4 (USB)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Giga-Byte IXP SB600 SMBUS Controller
LPC Hub Controller 2 : ATI (AMD) SB700 LPC host controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : ITE IT8718F
Audio Device : Giga-Byte IXP SB600 High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semiconductor Realtek 885 High Definition Audio
Serial Port(s) : 1
Parallel Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : Giga-Byte SB700 SATA Controller [IDE mode]
Disk Controller : Giga-Byte SB700 IDE
USB Controller 1 : Giga-Byte SB700 USB OHCI0 Controller
USB Controller 2 : Giga-Byte SB700 USB OHCI1 Controller
USB Controller 3 : Giga-Byte SB700 USB EHCI Controller
USB Controller 4 : Giga-Byte SB700 USB OHCI0 Controller
USB Controller 5 : Giga-Byte SB700 USB OHCI1 Controller
USB Controller 6 : Giga-Byte SB700 USB EHCI Controller
USB Controller 7 : Giga-Byte SB700 USB OHCI2 Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Giga-Byte TSB43AB23 1394a-2000 OHCI PHY/link-layer Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : ATI SB600 SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC - Packet Scheduler Miniport (Ethernet, 1Gbps)

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP Home 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 3)
Platform Compliance : x86

Performance Enhancing Tips
Warning 100 : Large memory sizes should be made of Registered/Buffered memory.
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

[croSSeduP]

Well, here's the latest with my dilemma here: I purchased phone support for $14.95. Called the number, waited on hold for probably 20 minutes, got a guy who's native language was obviously NOT English and within the first two minutes I discovered that I had purchased support for M Audio. Well, that starts with an "M" so I thought that this was support for Mbox. Not so. Now I'm waiting on hold again trying to get my money refunded. Avid should change the name of "M Audio" to, oh why not "N Audio", hell, why not "Z Audio"? WTH???? Did they really think that people wouldn't get "M Audio" and "Mbox" mixed up? My assumption was that the Mbox fell under the catagory of M Audio. <insert many expletives here>
I ******* HATE Avid.