New Dell Laptop hangs on "DAE Loaded" PT8 Vista

[Neil Miller]

Hello,

Just received my new Dell Studio 1537 this morning.

Have spent the last several hours trying to overcome a hang on loading.

I have performed ALL the general and Vista specific optimizations with no luck.

MBOX 2 running on USB 2.0

Pro Tools 8.0 running latest February update. Using an external WD MyBook eSATA for Audio. I tried unplugging during load. NO effect.

Saw in answerbase, known issue in Vista, use Administrator Account. I was, but created a new per the advise, no effect?

Here is my Sandra report. Any help would be apprciated!!


SiSoftware Sandra
System
Host Name : NEIL-STUDIO-LT
User : Neil
Workgroup : MSHOME
Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8400 @ 2.26GHz
Speed : 2.39GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Dual-Core
Internal Data Cache : 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 3MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 12-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
System
System : Dell Inc. Studio 1537
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Pro Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Dell Inc. 0P132H
Bus(es) : PCI PCIe IMB USB i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
System BIOS : Dell Inc. A07
Total Memory : 3GB SO-DIMM
Chipset
Model : Dell PM45 Mobile Controller Hub
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 266MHz (1.06GHz)
Total Memory : 4GB SO-DIMM
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 399MHz (798MHz)
Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Hyundai HMP125S6EFR8C-S6 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5.0-6-6-18 3-24-6-3)
Memory Module : Hyundai HMP125S6EFR8C-S6 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5.0-6-6-18 3-24-6-3)
Video System
Adapter : ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series (256MB, PCIe 2.00 x16, SM5.0)
Storage Devices
Hitachi HTS723225L9A362 250GB (SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 15MB Cache) : 233GB (C:) (H:)
WD My Book 500GB (SATA300, NCQ) : 466GB (D:)
Optiarc DVDRWBD BC-5600S (SATA150, BD-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (E:)
Logical Storage Devices
RECOVERY (H:) : 10GB (NTFS) @ Hitachi HTS723225L9A362 250GB (SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 15MB Cache)
OS (C:) : 223GB (NTFS) @ Hitachi HTS723225L9A362 250GB (SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 15MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (E:) : N/A @ Optiarc DVDRWBD BC-5600S (SATA150, BD-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
WD Audio (D:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ WD My Book 500GB (SATA300, NCQ)
Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Dell ICH9M LPC Interface Controller
Audio Device : Dell (ICH9) HD Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Integrated Device Technology 7675h
Audio Device : Dell RV620 Audio device [Radeon HD 34xx Series]
Audio Codec : AMD (ATI) AA01h
Disk Controller : Dell (ICH9) Mobile SATA AHCI Controller
USB Controller 1 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 3 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 4 : Dell (ICH9) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 5 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 6 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 7 : Dell (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 8 : Dell (ICH9) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
System SMBus Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus
Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft Office Document Image Writer Driver (300x300, Colour)
Printer : HP LaserJet 1100 (MS) (600x600, USB)
Network Services
Wireless Adapter 1 : Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 (802.11g (ERP), TKIP, 54Mbps)
Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Battery No 1 : 100%
Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows Vista Home 6.00.6001 (Service Pack 1)
Platform Compliance : x86
Windows Experience Index
Current System : 4.0

[sunburst79]

Originally Posted by Benoni

So you have turned off your WIFI?

Also try plugging the Mbox in a different USB port.

I had this issue with my 003R and when I switched Firewire ports it loaded up fine.

Have you deleted your prefs? first place to start.

[Neil Miller]

To provide a greater level of detail as to steps taken:

1. Enable DMA
2. Disable Network adapters
3. Adjusted Power Options
4. Disable Clear Type Font Smoothing
5. Turn off UAC
6. Adjusted Processor Scheduling
7. No Screen Saver
8. Disable Startup Items
9. Adjusted Display Performance
10. Modified Other Vista Config Items
11. Disabled DEP System wide
12. Deleted Databases and Preferences
13. Created alternate Admin Users
14. Tried reinstallation x 3
15. Tried multiple USB ports
16. Disconnect eSATA drive
17. Disable Firewire port
18. Downloaded PACE drivers

All comes back with same hang after "DAE Loaded"??

[Neil Miller]

I had been running PT8LE on an IBM T30. I had copied all my audio files to the WD MyBook eSATA drive. I also used the Windows file transfer wizard to migrate my files from the T30 to the new Dell.

I am simply stating I went thru all the steps outlined in the Vista and general optimization postings.

Thanks for your reply.

Neil

[Neil Miller]

I wanted to provide an update to my resolution efforts.

I spent a few hours downloading and iinstalling all Dell driver updates, about 14 in all. So all Microsoft, Dell and PACE drivers have been updated.

I have used both the utility and manually removed database/preference files?

Always the same result, an immeadiate "not-responding" after "DAE Loaded"

I am so bummed as I bought this laptop specifically to support PT??

I even attemped to install XP only to get blus screen of death, so I assume my hardware is not compatable with XP??

I sure could use a revelation!!Any help would be appreciated!!

[TOM@METRO]

Dell Studio 1537… Have you knowledge of anyone running Mbox 2 successfully on this computer with a hub?

[Neil Miller]

Well, after working from 9am to 3am with no effect, I hit the sack.

When I got up at 8, I finished loading the last of the Dell driver updates with no effect.

I had been using a self powered USB hub on my IBM T30 with the MBOX2, MOTU Micro Express, and M-Audio Axiom 25 hooked to it. It has a 1500ma power supply and worked flawlessly on the T30 with only USB 1.0.

I decided to try to direct connect the MBOX2 this morning, bypassing the hub and BINGO it loaded!!

I then updated the drivers for the Axiom 25, thinking that was really the issue, but NO, it is the direct connection of the MBOX2!

I copied over my past project databases, and with the exception of all the missing plug-ins, they loaded fine.

I am going to undo a lot of the changes I had made over the last few hours, reinstall PT8, all the plugins and then test again. I will post a final result!

I must say so far the loading time is 500% faster than on the T30 P4M 1.8GHz w/1gb RAM.

[Neil Miller]

Thought I would put out a final update.

I did a fresh reload of PT8LE along with all the plugins, restored all normal startup items, etc and the system works great!

I loaded a robust project, and while I did have to adjust H/W buffer up to 1024, it ran it just fine, with CPU cores at running at 50%.

The eSATA drive works great, which is why I vought this particular laptop in the firat place. It is the only Dell I could find with an integrated eSATA port.

Not really sure why the self-powered USB hub would work on one PC and not the other?? Maybe the USB 1.0 vs 2.0??

All's well that ends well!!

[sw rec]

"Ha ha, yeah its always simple things. Hubs are not supported by Digidesign."

True BUTI've seen more than once instance where there just wasn't enough current on the USB to drive the Mbox, and using a powered hub actually solved the problem. We've even eliminated annoying random noise with a hub.

[JMS40]

True.