Trouble in 002 Land: 1394 intermittent, --6088, -6085 errors

[dbrunell]

Been a while, but I've started using PT again. I've upgraded to 8.0.1, and I was starting to enjoy learning the new features of version 8, but then the 1394 errors started.

History:
Back in October '06, my 002 developed the symptoms of the ever-popular power wiring harness problem, so I contacted Digi. They sent me a new harness, which I installed, and everything was hunky-dory for a couple of years. But recently, especially after I upgraded to v.8, and got a more powerful laptop which would run it, the following symptoms have developed, which has brought my PT fun to a screeching halt:

First, I fire up the 002 and my computer, which is a Sager NP5797 (Clevo M570TU) notebook with:

Intel Q9000 Core 2 Quad processor
4 GB RAM
Chipset: Intel PM45.
Video: NVIDIA GeForce GTX-280M

I'll publish the full specs using PC Wizard, if requested.

Symptoms:

1. Most of the time, almost immediately after Pro Tools displays the Edit and Mix windows, the 1394 LED on the 002 front panel starts to blink and flicker randomly.

2. When the 1394 light blinks & flickers, there are some other panel lights which blink randomly, like the channel mute LEDs and channel select LEDs.

3. When this panel weirdness is going on, PT starts to not respond to transport controls, both from the 002 and using the mouse.

4. Eventually, what usually happens is PT freezes up entirely and will not respond to any commands, and/or the 002 loses the 1394 entirely and goes into 'Standby' mode. At this point, I have to use Task Manager to try to end the 'ProToolsLE.exe' process. Sometimes it can't be dropped, and I have to hit the power switch on the laptop.

5. Also, before the total loss of 1394, I get frequent -6088 and -6085 errors.

Okay - here's what I've tried so far to remedy this problem:

1. Used the AVID Knowledgebase article "Windows Guide - Windows XP Optimizations and Troubleshooting.[210579]" to make sure I've done all the required optimization for Windows XP SP2.

2. Also used the "General Troubleshooting - Pro Tools LE on Windows (XP & Vista)" sticky thread on this forum and went through all the steps.

3. The NP5797 has a built-in Firewire 400 port - but I also tried a SIIG 2-port ExpressCard. It makes no difference which FW interface I use- I get the same symptoms on either.

4. With all the optimization complete and all unneeded devices disabled in the Hardware Manager, My XP system is very streamlined - Task Manager shows only 20 processes running (PT is the 21st, when I launch it).

5. Since I replaced the power wiring harness in the past, and the fact that it's been a few years since I disassembled the unit and cleaned the connectors, I thought that possibly it has gotten some bad connections. I opened the 002 and used DeoxIT Gold on all of the connectors I could reach, without disassembling circuit boards (power supply and fader board). After assembly, I have the same symptoms in Pro Tools. Of course, it may be that the weak or intermittent 1394 connection is because of a bit of corrosion on one of the connectors I can't reach inside the 002.

At this point, I'd like to ask the DUC for some suggestions for further troubleshooting that I could perform. Like I mentioned above, I've disabled just about everything I can without crippling Windows XP (of course, some of you would say XP is crippleware even when it's working correctly, ha!).

Thanks,
Doug

[dbrunell]

Benoni - thanks for that reminder. However, I still have the problem!

Yes, I had read that in one of the Digi documents, and I did go back to the generic vga driver as part of my troubleshooting; however, at the time, it did not seem to make a difference in my system's symptoms, with either video driver.

But, just for good measure, I downloaded and installed the latest Nvidia drivers for the GTX280M (186.xx.xxx, dated August 2009) and, for a while, everything seemed to be running smoothly. However, while working on another session, the 1394 panel light started blinking and winking again, and whenever it does that, PT starts doing weird things, not responding to transport commands, -60xx errors, etc.. I just now had to close PT because it wouldn't respond to commands. It exited out, but it left the faders up on the 002.

Just to be clear, the front (top) panel 1394 LED should not blink nor flicker during a session, right? Also, I've noticed that the 1394 'Link' light on the back of the 002, in between the two Firewire ports, remains solid green, no matter what the front panel LED does. Seems to me that if it was a cable or connector problem between the PC and the 002, this Link light would flicker, too. But it does not. And btw, I've tried three different Firewire cables and two FW interfaces on the computer, and both 002 FW ports, with the same symptoms.

It sure is starting to look like an intermittent problem inside the 002. On the positive side, though, I just worked on a session for about an hour without any problems. (crossing my fingers. My eyes are already crossed from dealing with this problem!)

[dbrunell]

Has anybody else experienced the intermittent/failing 1394 connection on the 002 that I've described above, with the flickering/blinking front-panel 1394 LED, and the 002 dropping the connection and going into Standby mode?

Digi Support? Have you heard of this problem before? Like I mentioned, I previously replaced the power supply/wiring harness in 2006 - this seems to be a new problem, with different symptoms.

I've contacted Advanced Musical Electronics, the nearest Digidesign authorized repair center, about this, so I'll see what they say, but it would be great to get more input from the DUC and Digi Support. I'm pretty much dead in the water for session work until I get this resolved.

Thanks,
Doug

[Víctor SP]

I have the same problem since I update to PT8. It was no happen with PT7.

The only solution I found it was when I install a sistem operative with any motherboar drives, the PT8 was running rigth. But its no a good solution in any way.

I am trying to get support from the forum.

Digi 002
My pc: XP with a motherborad ASUS P5K.

[sw rec]

I have the same problem since I update to PT8. It was no happen with PT7.
I am trying to get support from the forum.

Hey Victor: Support from the forum will likely be overwhelming when you post that sandra report we asked you for in your ORIGINAL thread!

[pianosound]

Have tried reinstalling your PT's software? I had a blinking 1394 prob a few years back, and the only thing that fixed it was a fresh install. It doesn't sound like our probs are (or were) the same , but it couldn't hurt.,,,,, (except for time involved!!)
Mike

[Víctor SP]

Thanks for the suggest!

I tried reinstall the sofware, and too disable many options from the internal computer, but no solution yet.
But just when I installed a new sistem operative XP but no installing drivers motherboard, cards, etc etc, PT8 works perfect; but this is no the way to work with a computer. So I think its a problem with some internal element from the computer.


Here is my Sandra report:


Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
Speed : 2.4GHz
Cores per Processor : 4 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Quad-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 4x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 2x 4MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Computer
Mainboard : Asus P5K
BIOS : AMI 0603 07/03/2007
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 2GB DIMM DDR2 DDR3

Chipset
Model : ASUS P35/G33/G31 Processor to I/O Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 267MHz (1GHz)
Total Memory : 22.25GB DIMM DDR2 DDR3
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 401MHz (802MHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Golden Empire CL4-4-4DDR2-800 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-23-6-3)
Memory Module : Golden Empire CL4-4-4DDR2-800 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-5-5-18 3-23-6-3)

Video System
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 7300 SE/7200 GS (2 PS3.0, 2 VS3.0 450MHz, 256MB DDR3 2x526MHz, PCIe 1.00 x16)

Graphics Processor

Storage Devices
ST380011A (80GB, ATA100, 3.5", 2MB Cache) : 75GB (C:)
ST3400832A (400GB, ATA100, 3.5", 8MB Cache) : 373GB (D:)
ST3750330AS (313.3GB, USB/SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ) : 292GB (G:)
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH20NS10 (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (E:)
GFKFABW IZS16RKX2 (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R) : N/A (I:)

Logical Storage Devices
ENIGMA (C:) : 75GB (NTFS) @ ST380011A (80GB, ATA100, 3.5", 2MB Cache)
VIENA (D:) : 373GB (NTFS) @ ST3400832A (400GB, ATA100, 3.5", 8MB Cache)
Optical Drive (E:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH20NS10 (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Optical Drive (I:) : N/A @ GFKFABW IZS16RKX2 (SCSI, BD-R, HD-DVD-R, DVD+-R-DL, CD-R)
3.5" 1.44MB (A:) : N/A
Hard Disk (G:) : N/A @ ST3750330AS (313.3GB, USB/SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : ASUS (ICH9) LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : Winbond W83627DHG
Audio Device : ASUS (ICH9) HD Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semiconductor 883 High Definition Audio
Audio Device : Terratec Electronic DMX 6Fire 24/96
Serial Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : ASUS (ICH9) 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1
Disk Controller : ASUS (ICH9) 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2
Disk Controller : ASUS JMB36X PCIE-to-SATAII/IDE RAID 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 : VIA VT6306 VIA Fire II IEEE-1394 OHCI Link Layer Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 2 : ASUS VT6306 VIA Fire II IEEE-1394 OHCI Link Layer Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : PDF995 Printer Driver (600x8211, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Printer : PaperPort Mono Printer Driver (600x600)
Printer : PaperPort Color Printer Driver (600x600, Colour)
Printer : Brother DCP-7010 USB Printer (1200x1200, USB)
Printer : AGFA-AccuSet v52.3 (3000x3000, Parallel)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Attansic L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Controller - Minipuerto del administrador de paquetes (Ethernet, 100Mbps)

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line

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

Performance Tips
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

[pianosound]

Hey Victor,,,,,,, For your drivers,,, go to 'device manager' and every where you see a big yellow question mark, click on it, go to new driver, and install from disk or web site. Should have these drivers installed for PC use. But don't need to install all the drivers that come with the MOBO disk,,, some work in the background causing PT's errors!!

As for your HDD's,, 2MB cache and 8MB cache,, (and no mention of rpm??). It seems that most of your prob is with these two drives, Should have 7200 rpm and at least 16MB cache if not 32MB (our favorite). You might want to move up to XP service pack 3, although 2 is probably fine??!!

Mike

[Dutchmountain]

I had the same errors as described on my PT LE with 003. At that time I was using the standard FW on my quadcore pc. After installing a seperate FW-card with with a TI (texas Instruments) chipset no errors anymore since then. Hope this helps.

Dutchmountain

[DigiTechSupt]

Originally Posted by Dutchmountain

I had the same errors as described on my PT LE with 003. At that time I was using the standard FW on my quadcore pc. After installing a seperate FW-card with with a TI (texas Instruments) chipset no errors anymore since then. Hope this helps.

Dutchmountain

Dutchmountain is on the right track. Neither of the FW controllers currently listed in your Sandra report have a compatible TI chipset:

FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : VIA VT6306 VIA Fire II IEEE-1394 OHCI Link Layer Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 2 : ASUS VT6306 VIA Fire II IEEE-1394 OHCI Link Layer Controller