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  #1  
Old 06-27-2022, 09:01 AM
bruceup bruceup is offline
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Default PT 2018.12 won't launch after reinstatement

I just reinstated my annual plan for Pro Tools Ultimate, and was running 2018.12 on Mac Pro 5,1 High Sierra with an HD i/o flawlessly (with no plan) until the reinstatement this morning. Account and iLok show licenses are active and good for another year. Now PT no longer launches at all. I uninstalled, reinstalled 2018.12 and hd driver, nothing. All I get when I double click the PT icon is a short flash and then nothing, no plug scanning or any of the usual ritual (just spinning beachball). System shows that PT is active, but it's not, and only a force-quit will stop whatever process is going on. I can't trash prefs, caches and such since it won't launch. I'm stumped and up against deadlines of course. Any ideas?
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  #2  
Old 06-27-2022, 02:13 PM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is online now
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Default Re: PT 2018.12 won't launch after reinstatement

Quote:
Originally Posted by bruceup View Post
I just reinstated my annual plan for Pro Tools Ultimate, and was running 2018.12 on Mac Pro 5,1 High Sierra with an HD i/o flawlessly (with no plan) until the reinstatement this morning.* Account and iLok show licenses are active and good for another year.* Now PT no longer launches at all.* I uninstalled, reinstalled 2018.12 and hd driver, nothing. *
PSA: folks please stop leaping to reinstalling Pro Tools when you have problems, troubleshoot first. If you reinstall stuff if often does not help and you don't know if the ongoing problem is the same as the original or you created more of a problem.

Even if you should have done this there is normally no reason to uninstall anything on a Mac. How did you uninstall Pro Tools? Just drag and drop the app folder in the trash?

What exactly did you on the Mac prior to first finding Pro Tools did not launch?

Any chance macOS updates ran and updated stuff?

Updating a Pro Tools perpetual license obviously should not stop a version launching that is also covered by the new license. And a license problem should not cause this behavior, but maybe a licensing change triggered some other problem.

Are you absolutely sure you did not accidentally purchase a subscription or somehow you were sent a wrong licenses? No that should not cause the symptoms you are seeing but maybe it triggers some other problem. What exactly does ILM say for license details on your iLok?

Quote:
All I get when I double click the PT icon is a short flash and then nothing, no plug scanning or any of the usual ritual (just spinning beachball). System shows that PT is active, but it's not, and only a force-quit will stop whatever process is going on. *
Is the Pro Tools icon bouncing up and down in the dock after you double click it? If so that can be a sign that it's waiting on Apple code signing/verification servers. I doubt that is the problems, but you can verify your Mac can reach the servers by in the Terminal running...

$ ping ocsp.apple.com

And seeing that those validation servers respond to the ping. You can also disconnect your Mac from all networks (Wifi, Wired Ethernet etc.) and that will stop macOS gatekeeper trying to reach the servers.

Quote:
I can't trash prefs, caches and such since it won't launch. I'm stumped and up against deadlines of course.* Any ideas?
You mean because Pro Tools will not launch? Or because PT Prefs will not launch? If you mean Pro Tools this does not make sense. Since you can trash prefs at any time and you are supposed to do it with Pro Tools not running. Are you seeing errors when you try to trash prefs. Describe *exactly* what low level things you are doing and seeing.

Here are some troubleshooting things that would probably make sense to have tried earlier and try now;

Trash prefs (ideally use Pete Gates PT Prefs to make sure this is done correctly).
Reboot the computer.
Hold down 'N' and see if Pro Tools gets further, and you can select built-in output as the playback engine. (yes even if the failure seems to happen before this point the playback engine dialog would open)
Move all .aaxplugin files out of the plugin folder, trash prefs try again. Pro Tools will put the core plugins back. Just leave them like that and don't resinstall anything out until you make more progress. (yes even if the failure seems to happen before plugins load)
Create a new Admin account and test from there.
Install the latest version of iLok License Manager and repeat tests.
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  #3  
Old 06-27-2022, 08:36 PM
bruceup bruceup is offline
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Default Re: PT 2018.12 won't launch after reinstatement

Quote:
PSA: folks please stop leaping to reinstalling Pro Tools when you have problems, troubleshoot first. If you reinstall stuff if often does not help and you don't know if the ongoing problem is the same as the original or you created more of a problem.
Even if you should have done this there is normally no reason to uninstall anything on a Mac.
Thank you for responding.
Quote:
How did you uninstall Pro Tools? Just drag and drop the app folder in the trash?
I used AppCleaner. Removed the app and anything related to it. Don't hurt me.
Quote:
What exactly did you on the Mac prior to first finding Pro Tools did not launch?
Nothing, just the usual morning boot up. Everything was fine when I shut down the night before.
Quote:
Any chance macOS updates ran and updated stuff?
I have no apps set for auto updates and nothing happened with eyes on.
Quote:
Updating a Pro Tools perpetual license obviously should not stop a version launching that is also covered by the new license. And a license problem should not cause this behavior, but maybe a licensing change triggered some other problem.
Perhaps.
Quote:
Are you absolutely sure you did not accidentally purchase a subscription or somehow you were sent a wrong licenses? No that should not cause the symptoms you are seeing but maybe it triggers some other problem. What exactly does ILM say for license details on your iLok?
Pro Tools Ultimate Perpetual Bundle (with 10/11/12+I/O)
License Status: Active
Type: License
Subtype: Locked Group
Expiration Date: blank
Activate By Date: blank
Deposit Date: 06/26/22 09:59PM
Publisher License ID: xxxxxxxx
Owner: You
Allow Transfer: No
the rest is blank
Quote:
Is the Pro Tools icon bouncing up and down in the dock after you double click it?
No, it's motionless. Never seen that before.
Quote:
If so that can be a sign that it's waiting on Apple code signing/verification servers. I doubt that is the problems, but you can verify your Mac can reach the servers by in the Terminal running... $ ping ocsp.apple.com. And seeing that those validation servers respond to the ping. You can also disconnect your Mac from all networks (Wifi, Wired Ethernet etc.) and that will stop macOS gatekeeper trying to reach the servers.
Thanks. Not going to go there.
Quote:
You mean because Pro Tools will not launch? Or because PT Prefs will not launch? If you mean Pro Tools this does not make sense.
When I trash prefs and restart nothing changes. Still can't launch Pro Tools.
Quote:
Since you can trash prefs at any time and you are supposed to do it with Pro Tools not running. Are you seeing errors when you try to trash prefs. Describe *exactly* what low level things you are doing and seeing.
I can trash prefs but on restart nothing changes, no new prefs (and I can't launch Pro Tools). I double click from the dock, from the Apps folder and right-clicking on an existing session icon and get the same result. No movement, no splash screen, none of the usual launch stuff, just the beach ball when I move the cursor up to the menu area. Command-tab shows that Pro Tools is open but it's not functioning at all. Force quit is the only way to shut it down.
Quote:
Here are some troubleshooting things that would probably make sense to have tried earlier and try now;
Trash prefs (ideally use Pete Gates PT Prefs to make sure this is done correctly).
Reboot the computer.
Hold down 'N' and see if Pro Tools gets further, and you can select built-in output as the playback engine. (yes even if the failure seems to happen before this point the playback engine dialog would open)
Move all .aaxplugin files out of the plugin folder, trash prefs try again. Pro Tools will put the core plugins back. Just leave them like that and don't resinstall anything out until you make more progress. (yes even if the failure seems to happen before plugins load)
Create a new Admin account and test from there.
Install the latest version of iLok License Manager and repeat tests.
All done. No dice. Appreciate the help.
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  #4  
Old 06-27-2022, 09:29 PM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is online now
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Default Re: PT 2018.12 won't launch after reinstatement

Thanks for the super clear reply.

I'd stop using things like App Cleaner, again you don't need to uninstall stuff on macOS before installing a new version, and if anything ever went wrong with stuff you should know what you are doing. macOS is not Windows, it normally does not need to be abused to work. Stuff like this or running antivirus software of macs is likely to just cause more problems than it solves.

Maybe other folks have suggestions, I do recall one weird case that this reminds me of but my recollection is really bad about it and I could not find the thread.

You can try looking in the Pro Tools logs ~/Library/Logs/Avid/Pro_Tools_* Logs can help occasionally and you may be at a point so early in the startup that they are empty or don't even get created. But sometimes stuff stands out there, especially if you can compare to old logs from successful runs. Sometimes you might also see an odd warning or error message in syslog (in Console.app).

Anyhow it seems you are at the point of probably don't waste more time on troubleshooting and either restore from backup or grab a spare new clean drive or create a volume/container on a existing drive and do a install of macOS and Pro Tools on that and just test it works at all, if so install other plugins and apps and switch over to using that volume as the boot volume. Only reason to suggest caution here is an assumption you have other apps or documents on the existing boot drive and best not to blow that away until you know everything works OK and you can the do a careful manual move of files between the old and new boot volume (or use macOS migration assistant to move *accounts* but do not use it to move drivers or apps).
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  #5  
Old 06-29-2022, 12:00 PM
bruceup bruceup is offline
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Default Re: PT 2018.12 won't launch after reinstatement

Quote:
I'd stop using things like App Cleaner, again you don't need to uninstall stuff on macOS before installing a new version, and if anything ever went wrong with stuff you should know what you are doing. macOS is not Windows, it normally does not need to be abused to work. Stuff like this or running antivirus software of macs is likely to just cause more problems than it solves.
Good advice.
Quote:
Maybe other folks have suggestions, I do recall one weird case that this reminds me of but my recollection is really bad about it and I could not find the thread.
This mess started the second my MacPro hit the Avid server after my reinstatement. Technically I don't know what changed, but as dumb as it sounds it's when everything went south.
Quote:
You can try looking in the Pro Tools logs ~/Library/Logs/Avid/Pro_Tools_* Logs can help occasionally and you may be at a point so early in the startup that they are empty or don't even get created. But sometimes stuff stands out there, especially if you can compare to old logs from successful runs. Sometimes you might also see an odd warning or error message in syslog (in Console.app).
I compared a normal PT bootup from 7 days ago to a new one and there was a whole lot of extra crazy stuff going on near the beginning of the process.
Quote:
Anyhow it seems you are at the point of probably don't waste more time on troubleshooting and either restore from backup or grab a spare new clean drive or create a volume/container on a existing drive and do a install of macOS and Pro Tools on that and just test it works at all, if so install other plugins and apps and switch over to using that volume as the boot volume. Only reason to suggest caution here is an assumption you have other apps or documents on the existing boot drive and best not to blow that away until you know everything works OK and you can the do a careful manual move of files between the old and new boot volume (or use macOS migration assistant to move *accounts* but do not use it to move drivers or apps).
I make system drive clones whenever I upgrade OS, I just booted up with May's 10.12.6 clone (with old installs) and everything works now. It sux that I had to spend $499 just to lose 4 days of work and my sanity. Again, many thanks for your input.
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  #6  
Old 06-30-2022, 02:39 PM
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albee1952 albee1952 is offline
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Default Re: PT 2018.12 won't launch after reinstatement

I know I am late to this party, but a few things have me scratching my head:

Pro Tools Ultimate Perpetual Bundle (with 10/11/12+I/O)None of this should open 2018.x, which begs the question about the exact details of your license(s)
License Status: Active
Type: License
Subtype: Locked Group
Expiration Date: blank If anything here is subscription based, shouldn't there be an expiration date?
Activate By Date: blank
Deposit Date: 06/26/22 09:59PM
Publisher License ID: xxxxxxxx
Owner: You
Allow Transfer: No Hmmm, why would this be?(unless you have NFR licenses)
the rest is blank
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  #7  
Old 06-30-2022, 05:43 PM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is online now
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Default Re: PT 2018.12 won't launch after reinstatement

Dave

This is his ILM details after upgrading from what was running 2018. And I just realized he's still trying to run 2018... but I am pretty sure the license should allow that, it's any license up until the release date.

There is nothing that's claimed to be a subscription so not sure why you are looking at that. The perpetual maintenance/upgrader program is determined by the Release Limit date... the last thing that should be on the list which was not included in the details Bruce posted here and if that is indeed blank then something is screwed up with that. Maybe Bruce can explain what shows for Release Limit.

Transfer is not allowed likely because this was an upgrade from a license originally bundled with hardware. Maybe from many upgrades ago... that's exactly what my current licenses says and it has roots in Pro Tools LE8 with a Eleven Rack.

Last edited by Darryl Ramm; 06-30-2022 at 05:57 PM.
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  #8  
Old 07-01-2022, 08:02 AM
bruceup bruceup is offline
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Default Re: PT 2018.12 won't launch after reinstatement

Whatever my license renewal does or doesn't do, it allows me to run Avid plugins and/or upgrade to any Ultimate of my choice for another year: 2018.12, 2019.5, 2019.6, 2019.10, 2019.12, 2020.3, 2020.5, 2020.9.1, 2020.1 2020.11, 2020.12, 2021.3, 2021.6, 2021.7, 2021.10, 2021.12, 2022.4, 2022.5, 2022.6. I choose to stay on 2018.12 for now and will move forward at my discretion. Thank you both for your responses.
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  #9  
Old 07-01-2022, 08:43 AM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is online now
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Default Re: PT 2018.12 won't launch after reinstatement

So it’s all working now?

If not is there a release limit date showing up in ILM?
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  #10  
Old 07-01-2022, 10:07 AM
bruceup bruceup is offline
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Default Re: PT 2018.12 won't launch after reinstatement

Darryl, I took your advice and gave up. I installed a macOS 10.12.6 PT 2018.12 system drive clone from May using its PT install. It works with the new reinstatement/license and I'll never know what happened but I'm back to work now and thanks again for your help.
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