Extream trouble with normal opperations

[emersonrailroad]

I recently purchased Pro tools M-Powered version 7 and an M-audio Firewire 410 interface. I have installed the program on my computer, but I'm having a number of problems that are making it impossible to use the program at all.
1) the click track is erratic, not keeping any sort of beat.
2) I have to press space bar multiple times for the tracks to start playing or recording.
3) The worst problem of all is that after a few seconds of recording I often just start getting a buzz or nothing on the incoming track, (The interface still registers incoming frequency).
4) After about 5 minutes of trouble, the whole program sometimes freezes and I have to restart the computer.

I am using Windows XP, and I'm recording to an external USB drive. The computer is brand new, but I got the interface off of ebay.

HELP PLEASE!!!

Thanks, Nat

[Hardin]

I would start with 2 things -

First, USB isn't supported with Pro Tools. They outwardly have to intention of supporting it. Try running a session from the internal drive. If everything works fine, there's your answer and SATA or firewire is your new friend for externals.

If it is USB, I would think you would get DAE errors or crashes, so it seems it may somehow be proc related. What's the proc speed and RAM on your machine? Increase the H/W Buffer in the PLayback engine and see what changes you get. Especially with PCs you must go through the entire "read me" you got with Pro Tools on setups and system settings.

Make sure you have the latest driver from M-Audio's site for the 410 on XP. It's probably not the one on the driver disc you received with it.

guess that's 3 things...

[emersonrailroad]

Thank you for your response. First of all, the problem persists even when recording to the system drive so I don't think that's the problem. I'll try your other suggestions and let you know how it turns out. Thanks again.

[emersonrailroad]

My problems continue, even after calling the customer service hot line for digidesign.

I'm beginning to wonder if my computer can run Pro Tools M-powered at all, so I'll give my computer stats and see if anyone knows.

System:
Windows XP (media center edition) Version 2002,
Service Pack 2

Computer:
Genuine Intel(R) CPU
T2060 @ 1.60 GHz
1.60 GHz, 2.00 GB of RAM

Can anyone see any reason why my computer may not run the program? I read somewhere that Windows XP (Media Center) might not support Pro tools... They only said might not... does anyone know if this is true or if it sounds like a potential culprit? Viewing my system properties, are there any other guesses as to what the trouble might be, before I go spending a bunch of money on new hardware.

[spkguitar]

Yes, it is true; Pro Tools is not compatible with XP Media Center. That's problem #1.

For the rest, we need alot more information than you are providing to give you any comprehensive information and/or advice about whether your computer is compatible.

Please follow the directions at the end of the General Troubleshooting post for posting detailed specifications of your computer.

[emersonrailroad]

Yes, it is true; Pro Tools is not compatible with XP Media Center. That's problem #1.

For the rest, we need alot more information than you are providing to give you any comprehensive information and/or advice about whether your computer is compatible.

Please follow the directions at the end of the General Troubleshooting post for posting detailed specifications of your computer.

heres my system info:


Processor
Model : Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2060 @ 1.60GHz
Speed : 1.60GHz
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, Inclusive, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 1MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 4-way, Inclusive, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

System
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Dell Inc. 0XD720
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
System BIOS : AT/AT COMPATIBLE DELL - 27d60c12
Total Memory : 2.00GB DDR2

Chipset 1
Model : Dell 955XM/945GM/PM/GMS/940GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 133MHz (532MHz)
Total Memory : 2GB DDR2
Memory Bus Speed : 4x 133MHz (532MHz)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Default Monitor
Monitor/Panel : Default Monitor
Monitor/Panel : Default Monitor
Monitor/Panel : Default Monitor
Adapter : ATI Mobility Radeon X1400

Physical Storage Devices
Hitachi HTS541680J9SA00 80GB (SATA150, NCQ, 7MB Cache) : 74.53GB (C:)
Memorex Mini TravelDrive 2GB (USB) : 1.86GB (E:)
SONY DVD+-RW DW-Q58A (ATAPI33, 24x CD-R, 24x CD-W, 3x DVD-R, 3x DVD-W, 2MB Cache) : N/A (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk (C:) : 74.52GB (62.25GB, 84% Free Space) (NTFS) @ Hitachi HTS541680J9SA00 80GB (SATA150, NCQ, 7MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (D:) : N/A @ SONY DVD+-RW DW-Q58A (ATAPI33, 24x CD-R, 24x CD-W, 3x DVD-R, 3x DVD-W, 2MB Cache)
Removable Drive (E:) : 1.86GB (1.05GB, 56% Free Space) (FAT) @ Memorex Mini TravelDrive 2GB (USB)

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 1 COM / 0 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C8
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C9
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CA
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CB
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 27CC
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Mass Storage Device
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : PS/2 Compatible Mouse

Communication Device(s)
Device : Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Battery No 1 : 75%

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP (2002) Professional Media Center 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)
Platform Compliance : Win32 x86

Network Services
Network Drivers Enabled : No


i know my hardrive is not fast enough, so i'm wondering what i need to get protools running:

-windows xp professional
-a firewire PCMCIA card for 6 pin firewire
-a 7200 rpm firewire drive that is oxford 911 compliant

anything else? any particular pcmcia laptop card that is good?

thanks!!!

[spkguitar]

Physical Storage Devices
Hitachi HTS541680J9SA00 80GB (SATA150, NCQ, 7MB Cache) : 74.53GB (C:)
Memorex Mini TravelDrive 2GB (USB) : 1.86GB (E:)

As has been mentioned in this thread before, USB drives are not supported as audio drives for Pro Tools.

As has been mentioned in this thread before, the system drive (the C drive) is not supported as an audio drive for Pro Tools.

You need a separate, qualified hard drive for Pro Tools sessions.

[Pigcat]

The magical application is the Windows XP multi core CPU hotfix...Which you should already follow absolutely every step in the pinned troubleshooting guide thread...