ProTools got very laggy

[paintballnsk]

I apologize if this is in the wrong forum. The reply link in the "post your configuration" thread wasn't working. Also I did search "midi playback" "click not working" and similar ideas, but found no solutions.

SiSoftware Sandra

System
Host Name : DELLXP
User : Dell NSK XP
Workgroup : MCSLAB

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7700 @ 2.40GHz
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, Inclusive, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 4MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, Inclusive, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

System
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Dell Inc. 0UK437
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 - 27d70b05
Total Memory : 3.00GB DDR2

Chipset 1
Model : Dell Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz)
Total Memory : 3GB DDR2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 333MHz (666MHz)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor/Panel : Default Monitor
Monitor/Panel : Default Monitor
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
Imaging Device : Laptop Integrated Webcam

Physical Storage Devices
ST9160823ASG 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 149.05GB (C:) (D:) (E:)
TSSTcorp DVD+-RW TS-L632H (ATAPI33, 24x CD-R, 24x CD-W, 3x DVD-R, 3x DVD-W, 2MB Cache) : N/A (F:)

Logical Storage Devices
RECOVERY (E:) : 10.00GB (5.47GB, 55% Free Space) (NTFS) @ ST9160823ASG 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
OS (C:) : 36.82GB (22.35GB, 61% Free Space) (NTFS) @ ST9160823ASG 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Hard Disk (D:) : 102.14GB (51.55GB, 50% Free Space) (NTFS) @ ST9160823ASG 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (F:) : N/A @ TSSTcorp DVD+-RW TS-L632H (ATAPI33, 24x CD-R, 24x CD-W, 3x DVD-R, 3x DVD-W, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2830
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2831
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2832
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2834
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2835
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 2836
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 283A
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 Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Composite Device
USB Controller/Hub : USB Composite Device
USB Controller/Hub : Digidesign Mbox 2 Firmware Updater
USB Controller/Hub : USB Composite Device
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Keyboard : HID Keyboard Device
Mouse : Dell Touchpad
Mouse : HID-compliant mouse
Human Interface : USB Human Interface Device
Human Interface : USB Human Interface Device

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : Off-Line
Battery No 1 : 93%

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

Network Services
Adapter : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection


Protools has just completely stopped working. This isn't the first computer I've had this problem with. At first I had an Acer laptop, come to find that it was completely unsupported.

So I bought a Dell.

Protools worked great for about a week or two. Recently the playback would barely function, almost exactly as it acted on the acer. The click track doesnt click, the scroll bar skips, BFD and Sampletank hit notes sparatically, the clip bars lag. The analog audio guitar tracks play back fine. When this happened I would turn my computer off, let it cool off until morning. And when I booted it up in again things worked fine. Now it simply does it all the time, and I can't fix it.

I would really love some support on this. I've had the MBox2 for over a year now, and I was just starting to get really comfortable with ProTools. I havn't been able to use it until now, and now it's even more frustrating having it go dead again. We're having a recording session tomorrow, and I'll have to tell them to await some help.

Thanks a lot,
Nick

[albee1952]

Since the system was working and the problem is new, look at a few things right off here. First, is the computer connected to the internet? If yes, you have several possibilities. If you have Windows automatic updates turned on, an update may have reset some system tweaks(so recheck all listed in the Getting Started Guide). Or an update may be screwing you and you need to find a way to roll it back with System Restore or deleting it from Add/Remove Software. You could have a virus, spyware or some other trojan or worm(why I keep my computer off the internet). A few freebies that may help are; SpyBot Search and Destroy, Ad-Aware, AVG Anti-Spyware, AVG antivirus or AntiVir PE Classic(google any of those to find where to download for free). Once these things do their job, I recommend uninstalling them(maybe keep them on an external backup drive for future use). If you are not connected, what software or hardware has recently changed or been added? Don't know if this helps but maybe it will steer you in the right direction by eliminating

[paintballnsk]

Protools is the ONLY program that has any problems whatsoever.

I reinstalled protools completely and it didn't help.

I reinstalled quicktime.

I'm currently reinstalling BFD and Sampletank

I'm running the anti virus/ anti-spyware right now, but I really doubt that is the problem. The computer is pretty new. I do little surfing and just play a lot of COD4.

I appreciate the fast response. I'd love to get some more input.

Thanks

[paintballnsk]

I vaguely recall this happening soon after installing Xpand!. So I completely removed Xpand!, reinstalled BFD, and repaired Sampletank2.

This seemed to fix the problem for the time being. 10 minutes before

I would really appreciate anyone that might have ideas why this is happening. Does anyone know from looking at my system specs if something is incompatible? My computer is dual booted with Vista: Will a 7.4 upgrade fix any of these problems?

[albee1952]

Hope you get it sorted out. As for the comment about only doing a little surfing, I have read that any machine is a target within 30 seconds of connection. FWIW, I have a friend that is running 7.4 and Vista and he says the cpu overhead is way lower as compared to the same system with 7.3 and XP. I have yet to take the plunge but when I do, it will be done with a fresh hard drive so the old one can go back in the event of disaster.

[DigiTechSupt]

You should start with the steps in the Win XP/ Pro Tools 6.x/7.x General Troubleshooting thread and let us know if you're unable to resolve the issue after trying everything there.

The big ones - make sure to install the Microsoft Dual Core Hotfix and that all installed plug-ins are the minimum version required for compatibility with the version of Pro Tools you're running.

[Bob L]

Paintball:
You're recording on the partioned internal system drive, aren't you? While this can work in some cases, you should try a second drive for recording. Lots of posts on this.

[paintballnsk]

The microsoft hotfix didn't work, so I rolled that back.

The only two plugins I installed from the ignition pack so far are BFD, which I updated to 1.5 yesturday, and Sampletank2, which came on a CD with the ignition pack.

Does 7.4 have fixes for XP and my computer that would fix these problems? Or is 7.4 only for Vista? And again, I did keep a vista partition, but I hate Vista with a passion.