Need advice on update

[Vashta Nerada]

I'm having difficulty updating from 8.0 to 8.0.1 I have gone through the avid download process and installed 8.0.1 and when I do the restart of the computer I lose the shortcut to pro tools and cannot find the program anywhere.
Help!

[TOM@METRO]

Tell us more about how you did this and please post a Sandra report on your system. Start Here.

And tell us what interface you are using.

[Vashta Nerada]

Here is the sandra report
Computer
Model : Dell MP061
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : aaron-2de108023
User : bielish

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @ 2.00GHz
Speed : 2GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Dual-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 4MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Computer
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Dell 0YD479
BIOS : Dell A10 08/26/2009
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB PCMCIA USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM

Chipset
Model : Dell 955XM/945GM/PM/GMS/940GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 166MHz (664MHz)
Total Memory : 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 332MHz (664MHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Samsung M4 70T2953CZ3-CE6 1GB DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-5300U DDR2-666 (5-5-5-13 3-18-5-3)
Memory Module : Samsung M4 70T2953CZ3-CE6 1GB DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-5300U DDR2-666 (5-5-5-13 3-18-5-3)

Video System
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS (20 PS3.0, 7 VS3.0 375MHz, 256MB 1GHz 256-bit, PCIe 1.00 x16)
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS (20 PS3.0, 7 VS3.0 375MHz, 256MB 1GHz 256-bit, PCIe 1.00 x16)

Graphics Processor

Storage Devices
Hitachi HTS725050A9A364 (500.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, 15MB Cache) : 466GB (C:)
WD 10EAVS External 1TB (USB) : 932GB (J:)
WD 5000AAV External 500.1GB (USB) : 466GB (M:)
SanDisk mSD SDDR-189 (USB) : N/A (F:)
SanDisk SD SDDR-189 (USB) : N/A (G:)
SanDisk MSxDSDDR-189 (USB) : N/A (H:)
SanDisk CF SDDR-189 2GB (RAID/USB) : 2GB (I:)
TSSTcorp DVD+/-RW TS-L632D (ATA33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk (C:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ Hitachi HTS725050A9A364 (500.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, 15MB Cache)
Optical Drive (D:) : N/A @ TSSTcorp DVD+/-RW TS-L632D (ATA33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Removable Drive (F:) : N/A @ SanDisk mSD SDDR-189 (USB)
Removable Drive (G:) : N/A @ SanDisk SD SDDR-189 (USB)
Removable Drive (H:) : N/A @ SanDisk MSxDSDDR-189 (USB)
Removable Drive (I:) : 2GB (FAT) @ SanDisk CF SDDR-189 2GB (RAID/USB)
My Book (J:) : 932GB (NTFS) @ WD 10EAVS External 1TB (USB)
My Book (M:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ WD 5000AAV External 500.1GB (USB)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Dell 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : SMSC FDC37N769
Audio Device : Dell 82801G (ICH7) High Definition Audio
Audio Codec : Sigmatel 9200 HD Audio Codec
Audio Codec : Conexant HDAudio Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP
Serial Port(s) : 6
Disk Controller : Dell 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7-M) Serial ATA Storage Controller
Disk Controller : Dell SD Bus Host Adapter
USB Controller 1 : Dell 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : Dell 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 3 : Dell 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 4 : Dell 82801G (ICH7) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 5 : Dell 82801G (ICH7) USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Dell R5C832 IEEE-1394 Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Send To Microsoft OneNote 2010 Driver (1200x1200, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Printer : EPSON Artisan 710 Series (360x360, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Network Adapter : Dell Wireless 1500 Draft 802.11n WLAN Mini-Card - Packet Scheduler Miniport (Ethernet, 54Mbps)
Network Adapter : Bluetooth LAN Access Server Driver - Packet Scheduler Miniport

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Battery No 1 : 100%

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 3)
Platform Compliance : x86
I'm using a USB Mbox 2 interface.
I optimized the system to run pro tools. It was working, but I was getting buffer errors, either too much or too little. I talked with a colleage about it. He mentioned I should probably do the upgrade to 8.0.1 and that would resolve the perplexing errors.
I cannot get the computer to recognize the update though.

[albee1952]

Bluetooth and wifi must be disabled for running Pro Tools. Dells often have incompatible firewire controllers(I don't know for sure on yours). As said, USB drives are not approved for XP.

[Vashta Nerada]

I did have it fully optimized a la avids recommendations for XP setup with all cards off. And it was running with 8, just with some occasional contradictory buffer error messages, sometimes it would want a bigger buffer, then the next message would be that the buffer was too small.
The weird thing is sometimes the buffer errors would never show up.
I was usin gthe C drive for the software and using usb drives for replay and record memory.
Tomorrow I'm going to buy a firewire drive to see if that fixes the errors in v.8.
But the weirder thing is, I can't get it to recognize 8.0.1. when I try the update.
Righ now I reinstalling it again off of the disk.
Should I skip ahead with the updates and see if 8.0.4 has a fix?
Also, what sort of program won't support USB drives, its not as if its some sort of exotic new format.

[albee1952]

I would NOT go to 8.0.4. 8.0.1cs2 is where I would go with XP(8.0.4 has some serious issues). As for USB, it has nothing to do with software. Its all about the speed of the data transfer. The claimed 480 speed(compared to FW's 400 speed) is burst speed and not sustained(which is what you need for streaming lots of audio).

[Vashta Nerada]

Thanks for the advice, I'll try a firewire and cross my fingers, I guess it wouldn't make a difference if it was a USB 2.0....

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by Vashta Nerada

Thanks for the advice, I'll try a firewire and cross my fingers, I guess it wouldn't make a difference if it was a USB 2.0....

All USB drives are not supported on XP. USB2 drives ARE supported on Windows 7 only(and maybe only with PT9 but I can't be sure on that).

[Vashta Nerada]

How about jumping straight up to v.9?

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by Vashta Nerada

How about jumping straight up to v.9?

It would be good to figure out if your system can be made stable. Changing Pro Tools version may confuse trouble-shooting right now. I love PT9, but it does have some minor issues that don't exist in 8.0.1. Then again, if your entire system is messed up, sometimes starting over works best, but remember, PT9 needs Windows 7, so you would be buying PT software, AND a new OS, AND going thru a complete new install of everything. Its up to you if you want to go there