Constant (-9129) error. please help..SANDRA report attached.

[joe_steer]

Hi,
I've installed ProTools LE on my new lap top and i can't press play or record/play without this error message popping up.
I've spent the last 2 days straight trying EVERYTHING (including disabling anything that could possibly be disabled!) in the troubleshooting section of the DUC forum and i'm now at my wit's end.
Please please help me someone.. i would be most grateful.
Joe.


ERROR MESSAGE
"audio processing is conflicting with other CPU tasks. if this occurs often, reducing the "H/W buffer Size" in the Playback Engine Dialog may help prevent the problem. (-9129)"

PRO-TOOLS LE VERSION 6.4
Using an Mbox 1

SANDRA REPORT
SiSoftware Sandra

System
Host Name : JOE
User : Me
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5450 @ 1.66GHz
Speed : 1.66GHz
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, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 2MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

System
System : Acer Extensa 5620
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Acer Columbia
Bus(es) : ISA PCI PCIe IMB PCMCIA CardBus USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
System BIOS : Phoenix Technologies LTD V1.22
Total Memory : 1.99GB DDR2

Chipset
Model : Acer Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 166MHz (664MHz)
Total Memory : 2GB DDR2
Shared Memory : 8MB
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 332MHz (664MHz)

Video System
Adapter : Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family (384MB, PCI, PS 3.0)

Physical Storage Devices
Hitachi HTS542512K9S 120GB (SATA150, NCQ, 7MB Cache) : 112GB (C:) (D:)
TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L632H (ATAPI33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (E:)

Logical Storage Devices
ACER (C:) : 53GB (NTFS) @ Hitachi HTS542512K9S 120GB (SATA150, NCQ, 7MB Cache)
ACERDATA (D:) : 53GB (FAT32) @ Hitachi HTS542512K9S 120GB (SATA150, NCQ, 7MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (E:) : N/A @ TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L632H (ATAPI33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Acer ICH8M-E (ICH8 Family) LPC Interface Controller
LPC Hub Controller 2 : Acer 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller
Audio Device : Acer 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semiconductor ??? (0268)
Audio Codec : Conexant Systems ??? (2C06)
Serial Port(s) : 1
USB Controller 1 : Acer 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI #4
USB Controller 2 : Acer 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI #5
USB Controller 3 : Acer 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI #2
USB Controller 4 : Acer 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI #1
USB Controller 5 : Acer 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI #2
USB Controller 6 : Acer 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI #3
USB Controller 7 : Acer 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI #1
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Acer PCIxx12 OHCI IEEE 1394 Host Controller
CardBus/PCMCIA Controller 1 : TI PCIxx12 Cardbus Controller
System SMBus Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : HP Deskjet D2400 series (1200x1200, USB, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Network Adapter : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection - Packet Scheduler Miniport (Ethernet, 54Mbps)

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

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

[spkguitar]

You're only using one hard drive!??? The laptop's system drive?

First, that drive is too slow (5400RPM) to run Pro Tools sessions from. Next, it is a Pro Tools requirement to run Pro Tools session from a separate physical hard drive. When using a laptop this means using a qualified and recommended external firewire drive.

Next, the first version of Pro Tools to be compatible with multi-core CPUs was 7.0. You are going to need to either upgrade to a compatible version (I highly recommend 7.4, the current version), or reduce the processor to one core when using Pro Tools.

Last, when using Pro Tools, it is usually necessary to disable the network cards, especially the wireless one.

Seriously, if you're going to run Pro Tools, please make sure you are running it on a compatible system.

[kbruff]

Restrictive system requirements but I guess in the end it is worth it!

A good way to determine compatibility is to study the qualifed PC Laptops mentioned in the support area compare your system and make any adjustments.

http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?...5&itemid=28927

Create a user account for DAW based operations and modify the system preferences for that user,
disable network, wi-fi etc.

Optimize the OS.
Backup the system regularly

[joe_steer]

thanks so much for your help spkguitar..

i'm surprised i missed the separate harddrive requirement, it's something i never would thought of as protools has always run perfectly on my old desktop computer using just the one internal harddrive for everything.

i will get myself a firewire drive, disable the other stuff and keep my fingers crossed!

thanks again,
Joe.

[Rootdrummer311]

I just saw this on digis website:

Not Supported — Known Incompatibility
ACER Dual Core Laptops are Incompatible with Digidesign FireWire & USB Peripherals

Incompatible with Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, Mbox 2 Pro, Mbox 2, Mbox 2 Mini, Mbox 2 Micro, and Mbox

ACER dual core laptops — all models



*But yours is a dual core 2 duo....I dunno just thought I would throw it out there.

[joe_steer]

oh my god! looks like my brand new laptop is useless for protools then!!

does anyone know if there's a difference between 'dual core 2 duo' and just 'dual core'?
(wishful thinking i fear)

:-(

[mykhal c]

you have a faster processor with the CORE 2. best thing you can do is borrow an external F/W hdd and TEST!! there have been cases where incompatibles 'SOMEHOW' end up workin'!! but you'll get nowhere (or right where you are now) without usin' a 2nd drive, as spkguitar said

[sunburst79]

I just saw this on digis website:

Not Supported — Known Incompatibility
ACER Dual Core Laptops are Incompatible with Digidesign FireWire & USB Peripherals

Incompatible with Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, Mbox 2 Pro, Mbox 2, Mbox 2 Mini, Mbox 2 Micro, and Mbox

ACER dual core laptops — all models



*But yours is a dual core 2 duo....I dunno just thought I would throw it out there.

A lot of Digi's laptop info is fairly old, At one time ACER heavily (exclusively?) used Turion mobile CPUS. Theres a good chance thats from that time frame.

Your Processor/Chipset and South Bridge are all qualified or known to work with PT. Grab a Approved FW drive and follow spkguitars advice.

The big question is "What kind of FW chip does it have" Thats going to make or break the whole deal. All of the other chips look to be high quality Intel, Broadcom, T.I. etc So lets hope they didn't scrimp on the FW chip.

[VESR]

I have the same problem. New desktop. I suspect there is a hardware issue. I've been looking around at the Digi-site for compatibility, but it's hard to find details about what I have.

Chipset

Detected Chipset:
Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset

Chipset Components

Memory Controller:
Intel(R) 82G33/G31 Memory Controller Hub

I/O Controller:
Intel(R) 82801IB Intel(R) I/O Controller Hub (ICH9B) SATA Controller found in IDE mode

Integrated Graphics:
Not Detected or Disabled

Post this, as I do think it's the chipset that causes the problem. Also, new to PT, running LE 7.4cs2 on Vista Ultimate.

[DigiTechSupt]

Chipset

Detected Chipset:
Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset

I'm sorry to say that this is very likely problematic. While we haven't done formal testing of this chipset yet, our ad hoc internal testing, plus data from customers calling in, leads us to believe this chipset will not work properly with Pro Tools.