MBox External Disappeared

[bluestudio]

I have been using Pro Tools 10 daily for the last 7 months on a home built Windows 8 PC with no problems. This week, the “MBox External” disappeared in the MIDI enable list and as an option on MIDI tracks.
“Mbox Control” is still there. I have also been using the freeware MIDIOX program for the last 3 months for sysex data filing. (I don’t know if that had an effect and caused the problem).

I tried the forum search and didn’t find this problem.
I need to know the procedure for restoring the MBox External for MIDI tracks. Do I have to uninstall, then re-install the MBox?

My last resort is to restore the hard drive from an image created a month ago.

Thanks

Sandra Report:

SiSoftware Sandra

ID
Host Name : Producer-PC
Workgroup : STUDIO

Computer
Model : MSI MS-7751
Serial Number : To be fille***********
Chassis : MSI Desktop
Mainboard : MSI Z77A-GD65 (MS-7751)
Serial Number : To be fille***********
BIOS : AMI (OEM) V10.5 04/27/2012
Intel vPro : 8.00.10.1464
Total Memory : 15.89GB DIMM DDR3

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4C 8T 3.5GHz, 3.5GHz IMC, 4x 256kB L2, 8MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC LGA1155

Chipset
Memory Controller : MSI Core (Ivy Bridge) DRAM Controller 100MHz, 2x 8GB DIMM DDR3 1.6GHz 128-bit, Integrated Graphics

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : G.Skill F3-12800CL9-4GBXL 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (11-11-11-29 5-40-13-6)
Memory Module : G.Skill F3-12800CL9-4GBXL 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (11-11-11-29 5-40-13-6)
Memory Module : G.Skill F3-12800CL9-4GBXL 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (11-11-11-29 5-40-13-6)
Memory Module : G.Skill F3-12800CL9-4GBXL 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (11-11-11-29 5-40-13-6)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : ViewSonic VX2703 SERIES (1920x1080, 33.1")
Video Adapter : Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 (16CU 16SP SM5.0 350MHz/1.15GHz, 32MB DDR3 1.6GHz 128-bit, Integrated Graphics)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL GP Processor : Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 (16SP 16C 350MHz/1.15GHz, 1.6GB DDR3 1.6GHz 128-bit, Integrated Graphics)
Compute Shader Processor : Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 (16SP 16C 350MHz/1.15GHz, 64MB DDR3 1.6GHz 128-bit, Integrated Graphics)

Storage Devices
Seagate ST1000DM003-9YN162 (1TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm) : 932GB (E:)
KINGSTON SH103S3120G (120GB, SATA600, SSD) : 112GB (C:)
Seagate ST2000DM001-1CH164 (2TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm) : 2TB (M:)
PLEXTOR DVDR PX-L890SA (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
General (E:) : 932GB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST1000DM003-9YN162 (1TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
System Reserved : 100MB (NTFS)
Spare (M:) : 2TB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST2000DM001-1CH164 (2TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
Hard Disk (C:) : 112GB (NTFS) @ KINGSTON SH103S3120G (120GB, SATA600, SSD)
Optical Drive (D:) : N/A @ PLEXTOR DVDR PX-L890SA (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : MSI Panther Point LPC Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : T0 10-05
Audio Device : MSI Panther Point High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semi High Definition Audio
Disk Controller : MSI Panther Point 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
Disk Controller : MSI Asmedia 106x SATA Controller
USB Controller 1 : MSI Panther Point USB xHCI Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : MSI Panther Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #2
USB Controller 3 : MSI Panther Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #1
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Send To Microsoft OneNote 2010 Driver (1200x1200, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer v4 (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer : HP Photosmart 5520 series (600x600, USB, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Intel(R) 82579V Gigabit Network Connection (Ethernet, 100Mbps)

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows 8 Professional 6.02.9200
Platform Compliance : x64

[Emcha_audio]

Try reinstalling the drivers for the MBox first.

[bluestudio]

Today I uninstalled the drivers, downloaded from Avid the most recent drivers, then installed them. After restarting, the problem is still there.

Thanks for your reply Manny.

[Emcha_audio]

Hey no problem, I understand how frustrating these things can be. Alright, last thing before you try the image. Try uninstalling midiox and then launch pro tools. If that works then there might have been an update that you didn't know about.

[bluestudio]

I uninstalled MIDIOX, tried Pro Tools, problem still there. I also tried the repair function for the Pro Tools MIDI driver in Programs and Features (Add/Remove in Win 7,8).

I would like to find the procedure to completely uninstall then reinstall the MBox, not just the driver. I would like to know if there is considerable risk if I just do that through Programs and Features, by uninstalling "Avid MBox Pro 1.0.19 (x64)" then reinstalling, considering that Pro Tools likes to see the MBox installed before a Pro Tools installation. (if I am correct).

This is weird. I just found out that the MBox External functions normally for the JV-1010 Sound Module configured in MIDI studio, while the MBox itself does not show the MBox External as an option for MIDI track input and output (just MBox Control).

Thanks again Manny. Your reply is much appreciated.

[albee1952]

I would probably do a new drive image before changing anything(you can always choose to delete it later). Go to Control Panel(Category view) and select uninstall a program. Select Avid Pro Tools with a right-click and select Change. On the next window, select Remove, and on the next windows, select to also remove the HD drive, database, prefs, etc. This will remove everything Avid(any 3rd party plugins should remain intact). Reboot and install the Mbox driver, then PT(or restore from your earlier image). You might also take a look in DeviceManager to make sure the Mbox shows up where it should, and that there are no yellow "exclamation" symbols(indicating a hardware/driver issue).

[Emcha_audio]

Yep the hardware manager was going to be my next suggestion.

But if you want to save yourself some hassle you can just go ahead and do the image. If it was working properly back then, it will most likely work properly now, unless it's a hardware problem. That will be the definite test to see if it's software or hardware related.

[bluestudio]

Gentlemen, thanks for the thoughtful replies.

My last Acronis image failed. I am eliminating Acronis from my life and I am switching to Macrium. It appears to have better Win 8 support. Now, I could try an older image, but at this point I would like to know more about the Pro Tools 10 re-installation. There is too much to reinstall if I go back further. Mine is an upgrade from Pro Tools 9. Does the ilok handle all the licensing for a re-install?

This may be important, but I converted Win 7 to Win 8 after my Pro Tools installations. Pro Tools 10 was installed last October. Win 8 in November. It was an experiment that proved to be successful for over 5 months. While I can't predict how Win 8 will respond to a new Pro Tools installation, in all cases thus far it acts just like Win 7.

This is an excellent forum.

Thanks

[bluestudio]

Problem solved! I uninstalled and re-installed Pro Tools using the procedure that Dave describes here.

Thanks again gentlemen.