H/W buffer size issues

[RFUSED33874]

Hello,
Trying to get Pro Tools to run again on my laptop after a clean install.

I get the error to decrease the H/W buffer size, and when I do I get another error telling me to increase it.

It's a Digi 003 and I'm daisy chaining it through my firewire external drive.

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SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Model : Asus N80Vb
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : tyl-d9d390
User : Owner

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5800 @ 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 : 2MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Computer
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Asus N80Vb
BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 207 12/05/2008
Bus(es) : ISA PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 3GB SO-DIMM

Chipset
Model : ASUS PM45 Mobile Controller Hub
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz)
Total Memory : 4GB SO-DIMM
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 400MHz (800MHz)

Video System
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS (16 SP 1.45GHz, 512MB DDR2 2x400MHz, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS (8SP 1.45GHz, 511.7MB 2x400MHz)

Storage Devices
WDC WD3200BEKT-00F3T0 (320GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache) : 298GB (C:)
ST3500630AS (500.1GB, FireWire/1394/SATA300, 3.5", NCQ, 16MB Cache) : 466GB (E:) (F:)
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T50L (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk (C:) : 298GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD3200BEKT-00F3T0 (320GB, SATA300, 2.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 16MB Cache)
Optical Drive (D:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T50L (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
White Wizzard Master (E:) : 233GB (HFSJ) @ ST3500630AS (500.1GB, FireWire/1394/SATA300, 3.5", NCQ, 16MB Cache)
Backups (F:) : 233GB (HFSJ) @ ST3500630AS (500.1GB, FireWire/1394/SATA300, 3.5", NCQ, 16MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : ASUS (ICH9M) LPC Interface Controller
Audio Device : ASUS (ICH9) HD Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semiconductor 0663h
Disk Controller : ASUS (ICH9) Mobile SATA AHCI Controller
USB Controller 1 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 3 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 4 : ASUS (ICH9) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 5 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 6 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 7 : ASUS (ICH9) USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller 8 : ASUS (ICH9) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : ASUS R5C832 IEEE-1394 Controller

Scanners and Cameras
Camcorder : Microsoft USB Video Device (Camcorder, USB)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN - Packet Scheduler Miniport (Ethernet, 54Mbps)
Wireless Adapter 1 : Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN - Packet Scheduler Miniport (802.11g (ERP), WEP n-bit, 54Mbps)

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

[pezguy]

Regarding your E: and F: partitions, why are they partitioned using HFS? Do you share this hard drive with a Mac? If it were me I would partition and reformat those drive(s) with NTFS for starters.

Not sure if the firewire chip is digi approved either.

Make sure when running Pro Tools you disconnect or disable unnecessary peripherals such as your USB camera, wireless networking etc.

[RFUSED33874]

ok, I tried another external NTFS drive (even though my HFS works great on my desktop) and I still have the same problems.

Disabled USB video device, wireless networking, and some other unnecessary startup processes.

Still same problem.

1. I also noticed that even if I'm just trying to import audio and I try to preview it, the sound cuts in and out (and so does the play counter, it starts and stops)

2. In the Device manager my SATA drive has checked "Enable Write Caching on Disk". Is this right?

Any other things I can try?

Thanks so much!! DUC has always solved my problems in the past, I really appreciate it.

[pezguy]

You're welcome......

Try these as well:

• USB Root Hub = Disable "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
• Power Options = "Always On"
• Disable Bluetooth
• Set FW Drive Policy to Optimize for Quick Removal

Look below for hard drive requirements:

http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?...4&itemid=23140

This is the only laptop approved firewire card below:

FireWire/1394 Cards for Laptops

• SIIG FireWire 2-Port ExpressCard
  • Part Number: NN-EC2012-S1
  • Qualified with specific configurations: Windows Laptops — Pro Tools LE 8.0 FireWire Systems

[RFUSED33874]

Power Options, FW Drive Policy, and Bluetooth were already setup like that.

I disabled the power saving on each USB root hub.

Same problem.

The thing about the firewire card is that I had Pro Tools working fine before I did this clean install...

Any more input is much appreciated,
Tyler

[pezguy]

let me ask this: did you do a backup of your system drive prior to your clean install? I'm thinking that would be the only way to get your system to a usable state. All things being equal, your clean install should work if the OS was installed correctly and the hardware drivers are the same as before. Perhaps someone else can chime in as I am out of ideas.

[RFUSED33874]

I didn't backup my system because my last hard drive died unexpectedly...

I'm lost...