Sequencer Midi Dest and Sequencer Midi Source modules prob..

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:07 am

Hi there, I use Scope V4.5 with 2x Scope Pro and Cubase VST5.2PB1. I use Windows XP SP1 and have no internet/network connections.

A few days ago my PC, when booting up, displayed a message about a file (I think, from what I can remember, it was a system file) which was missing. Windows then looked for it, found it (or at least a copy of it) restored it and everything worked fine.

Used my PC a few times since, including the last time on Saturday morning for about 3 hours, with no probs. On Saturday morning I saved my Cubase VST5 song file and Scope file and shut down my system in the normal way with no problem. Scope loaded up fine Sunday morning but, when I loaded up Cubase VST5, I noticed that there was no Creamware midi in or out options available. The Creamware card's audio drivers appear as usual in Cubase. I can play Scope instruments by connecting the Scope Midi Source modules directly to a Creamware instrument but the Sequencer Midi Dest and Sequencer Midi Source modules do not seem to be working. Cubase VST5 MIDI system setup only shows MROS as being available and MROS is the only option when selecting the output for a midi track (apart from any loaded VST plugins). I have tried the Steinberg Setup MME but nothing is listed in the MME Inputs or Outputs windows. Control Panal/Sounds and Audio Devices shows both Creamware cards to be working properly and have "Use MIDI features on this device" enabled. Device Manager shows both Creamware devices as working properly and enabled. MIDI setup on the Device Manger/Creamware Scope Properties show Number of Devices set to 2 for each card. I have reinstalled both Cubase and Scope but still the same problem. I have only installed a couple of VST plugins and Creamware demos in the last few days and made no changes to either the Cubase or Scope setups myself. I think that it is possibly something to do with the bootup files (bios or whatever it is called

). Would a system restore help?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:41 am

I have just noticed something which may be important........in Device Manager under System Devices, Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator status reads:-

This device is not working properly because windows cannot load the drivers required for this device. (Code 31) The device is enabled.

Would this have any bearing on my situation? I have never noticed this device before and it may not have been working properly for a long time as far as I know. I did an internet search for more info but can't really find anything that I can actually understand - except that it is some kind of controller for plugin and play stuff?

my head hurts........

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:24 am

stardust wrote:try to disbale this device in devicemanager for that HW configuration.

Hi there stardust. Just tried that, rebooted my PC and Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator shows as disabled but no change i'm afraid.

alfonso · Post by **alfonso** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:45 am

Disable background project on boot if enabled, uninstall all CW cards drivers, reboot, then reinstall the drivers.

Check it.

If the problem reappears, save your presets, projects and all that could be rewritten and run a new scope install on top of the previous.

This should solve any problem related to Scope, otherwise the problem is probably in Cubase.

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:54 am

Will give that a try Alfonso just got to go to work now. Damn!!

One thing I have just noticed is that the Device Manager/Creamware Scope Properties/Scope MIDI device shows Status:Driver is enabled but has not been started. This status is shown with both Scope and Cubase running.

psionic · Post by **psionic** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:02 pm

From what you said - I would tell that certain device component of the motherboard is loaded with wrong drivers ( windows found the file, but it might be the wrong one... ) I would recommend to reinstall drivers from the motherboard driver disk. If it is Intel - based motherboard, go to intel.com and download their latest *.inf file. If it is via - go and get "via 4-in-1" drivers and so on. Anyway simple reinstalling from the original motherboard CD should help.
If the problem persists, try unplugging all unnecessery PCI cards such as modem and scope board, leaving only necessery - graphic card. Then reinstall again.

Also try to scan disk for errors. Lost cluster things etc. are always reasons for files to dissapear. Including system files.

In any case, reinstalling windows should be the cure 98%

BTW - Do you use an antivirus ? It might be that as well - virus corrupting system files...

Cheerz

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:40 pm

Did what you advised Alfonso, or at least I think I did what you advised - I closed down Scope and all other programs (ie. Cubase) and uninstalled all CW cards drivers, then rebooted. A message appeared a few seconds into the reboot which advised that "Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this." Then the options were given to restart in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Newtworking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Last Good Configuration and Start Windows Normally. I tried all these options (except the Networking one) but the PC just hangs on the same screen or, in the case of the Safe Mode options, a list of drivers appear then the PC hangs.

So it looks like a complete Windows reinstall is on the cards. I have to look on the positive side - I do have a lot of rubbish on my PC and way too many plugins that I don't use (I have most of these installed on my other music/internet PC anyway). This might give me a chance to use Standard PC mode rather than ACPI which, apparently, will solve my Cubase MIDI timing issues (see posts by LOW99 at http://forum.cubase.net/phpbb2/viewtopi ... sc&start=0). The only downside, that I know of, is that I will have to manually assign IRQ's in Standard mode. I may have to ask a few more questions here before I reinstall Windows XP - I have never installed an operating system before and am rather nervous about it!

Post by **garyb** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:46 pm

backing things up is the first order of the day. can you afford another hard drive? in this case you can install on a new drive and have all your files saved, and a clean fresh slate to make things better and more organized than before. you can also repartiton and format the current drive(full format), thereby making a new fresh drive, but you will lose all data not backed up.

otherwise, you can just reinstall windows over the old version. when you reach the window asking which drive to install to(there'll be a list that says the drive name, it's size and noting that window is already there something like "C: WINDOWS"), press "R". your choices will be " press "R to REPLACE the operating system on the selected drive"(or repair, i forget

), "press 'C' to CREATE an new partition" press ENTER to install to the selected drive", etc. when you press"R" the old install will be overwritten and the boogered up files will then be restored and you (should)will still have everything as it was before the disaster, more or less, excepting settings that need to be reset(not many). actually, even if you do it this way, backups are always a good idea... (

it'd be a pretty weird scenario where you'd lose access to the data on the drive even if the install goes wrong. it's as likely as you losing access to all the data from any other install routine. your computer already won't boot, it probably won't get messed up any worse than it is except if you repartition or format. those actions are permanent!)

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:18 am

Thanks for your help garyb.

I will try the reinstall windows over the old version option you described. I have plugins, samples, reg keys, license codes etc backed up on my second PC and an external hard drive (which has been a god send - probably the best £150 I have ever spent!)

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:21 am

Damn!! I can't reinstall windows over the old version because I haven't got the Administrator password. I contacted the supplier but they cannot help (bought it a few years ago). Tried the obvious passwords like "password" but no luck.

By selecting "To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER" rather than the repair option, could I reinstall Windows XP onto my C drive and not lose the data on my other partitions/drives (I have 2 partitions on 2 separate hard drives)? Would Windows XP allow me to do this or would my Administrator password still be needed? Basically - can I reinstall Windows XP without needing the Administrator password and not losing all my data on my hard drives?

Your help is much appreciated.

Nev.

Post by **garyb** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:46 am

no, that's exactly where you want to go. you want to set up xp.
later, you will be prompted as to which hard drive or partition to install to. that's what i was describing. you don't need any password(you're booting from the cd, no?). what you're doing is over the os's head.

and unless there are others who use the system, you should not use a password. you only protect against others as illiterate as you. any serious criminal/spy/government can easily get around it. just take the drive and plug it into another computer and read it.

these passwords are for administrators of large networks and locking you out of your computer. if you never choose a password, you'll never be asked for it. your daw really doesn't need multiple logins.(just an opinion)

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:04 am

Hi there Gary. I am a little confused (possibly cause I work nights and haven't got to bed yet

). I tried the reinstall windows over the old version option (by selecting "R") but then the Administrator password was requested. The supplier had, helpfully, set an Administrator password. I would never bother with one if I installed Windows XP myself.

So, I should select the option " To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER" rather than the repair option? I can't get my head round how the two options differ?

I need my bed........thanks for your help with this Gary. This is all pretty new to me!

Post by **garyb** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:29 am

no problem.

i ran through the steps to be sure just now.

the first stop is welcome to setup.
you are asked to press ENTER, R, or F3
press ENTER to set up windows

press F8 at the next stop to ACCEPT.

then you'll get to the section i wrote about..

one caveat, in xp pro you'll choose "r" as i said. in xp home you can only choose "ENTER"

sorry for any confusion.

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:56 am

Windows XP is back up and running. Nothing seems to have changes since this thread began - still no option to route midi into or out of Cubase VST from the Creamware cards. The setup MME Inputs and Outputs windows are still both blank. The Device Manager/Creamware Scope Properties-Scope MIDI Device still shows Status: Driver is enabled but has not been started. Use MIDI feature on this device is still selected for both cards).

Just re-enabled the Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator. Selected to shut down and restart Windows XP. PC is now accessing the hard drive but nothing is happening on screen. Tried CTRl-ATL-DEL to see what is happening but the PC will not respond. Got to go to work now, so will leave the PC running and see if anything happens when I get back...........

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 4:38 am

UPDATE:-

Reinstalled Windows XP as you advised Gary. Creamware Midi Interface appeared in Cubase as it should! The only thing I can think of that I may have done different this time was to reload the Creamware drivers when asked if I wanted to during the Windows XP reinstall. Anyway, all seemed fine, I pasted a few plugins back into my plugins folder, tried them in Cubase, then switched off the PC and rebooted and each time there was no problem. Did this about 4 or 5 times when, on rebooting it came back up with the "Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this" message with the same options. The only thing I can think of that I possibly did differently was to select the "Restart" option rather than "Turn Off " before I got the "Windows did not start successfully...." message.

I reinstalled Windows XP again with no probs and all is back up and running again. I then had a go at booting up my PC, waiting for Scope to load, then loading Cubase - checking the midi in/out options in Cubase , closing both Cubase and Scope down and then choosing the ""Turn Off " option to see if I get any problems. Did this about 5 times in about 20 minutes and no problems - I realise doing this too much in itself could cause problems. I then tried using the "Restart" option and no problems either this time. Next I shut down using the ""Turn Off " option and got the Scope registration box on bootup which I just closed and then got the message Cannot start Scope Platform (error code 001). Everything else seemed fine - except of course no Creamware Scope loaded. I used the ""Turn Off " option and when the PC rebooted all worked fine again.

I have been constantly checking the Windows Task Manager aswell and no possibly dangerous processes seem to be taking place. I have thought about getting a virus checker for this PC - could anyone recommend one which will allow me to update it from another computer - so that I could download the updates and transfer them across on my external hard drive.

The problem does seem to stem from when the system closes down or reboots as I have no problems with it whilst it is running.

Now for bed..............ready for more "Windows did not start successfully" adventures tomorrow!

Post by **garyb** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:41 pm

you might want to clean the card's contacts with at least 98% pure alchohol. other than that, i'd use it and not tempt fate by turning it on and off over and over. that can't be good for all the components. i'd say it's likely soemthing is failing. let it fail(it might not). that's about the only way to find the culprit when the problem is intermittant except for the replacing everything option.

H-Rave · Post by **H-Rave** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:25 pm

Did you try a system restore ?

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:23 am

Switched on my computer today for the first time since my last post. Everything seemed fine. Scope cards loaded fine. But Cubase couldn't load any of my plugins from my plugin folder. So I checked, using My Computer, to see if anything was missing. Only one hard drive was showing up - my second hard drive, which has my plugins and samples, was not listed. So I shut down windows and rebooted. Everything then loaded up fine with both hard drives appearing.

Because I have 5 PCI cards in my PC, it tends to get rather hot. So, I have been using an external fan and keeping the computer's side panel off when I am using it to keep it cool. I didn't really think that the dust would cause that much of a problem but now realise that this is possibly what is causing the probs. I thought I would just need to occasionally clear out the dust, especially from the internal fans.

Could me leaving the computer's side panel off and the subsequent build up of dust be a cause of my problems - the missing (system?) file that my PC found a copy of and restored, the disapearance of my Creamware's midi in/out in Cubase, the "Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this" message and my missing hard drive?

Should I clean any other contacts - hard drives etc? I know this might sound a bit dum but could dust getting onto the actual PCI and mother boards (not just the connecters) cause problems?

I think it is probably time for me to get a decent internal fan/cooling system. Using Everest software, I can see temperatures are listed as:-

Motherboard 40 degrees C 102F
CPU 45 degrees C 113F
Hard drivess 1+2 38 degrees C 100F

This is with the side panel off and my external fan running - yes it is a bit noisey but this doesn't really affect me.

H-Rave:- I did run the system restore a few days ago but a message appeared advising I did not have enough hard discspace on my C drive to carry this out. I then used Norton Partition Magic to move disc space to my C drive (which I really need to do anyway, regardless of whether I used the system restore or not). I then got in contact with garyb and reinstalled Windows XP and decided to hold back on the system restore.

I am going to try and get some anti-virus software to run on my DAW PC as I am still a bit nervous about the fact that all my recent problems have stemmed from me getting that mssing file message and my PC then finding a copy of that file on my PC and restoring it. The trouble is, how do you update the anti-virus software if your DAW PC is not connected to the internet? I will add a separate thread for this.

Thanks for all your help garyb and the rest of the Planetz posse

H-Rave · Post by **H-Rave** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:30 am

Another happy ending I'm sure

hesnotthemessiah · Post by **hesnotthemessiah** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:17 pm

H-Rave wrote:Another happy ending I'm sure

........hopefully.

I just rebooted my PC after AVG did it's virus check of all my hard drives - including the external drive used to transfer between my two PCs. When closing my PC down the Windows XP window hung with the message "Windows is shutting down". I left it like this for about 10 minutes but nothing was happening - no hard drive activity - so I switched it off using the PCs off switch (which I held in). On rebooting the infamous "Windows did not start successfully...." message appeared so I, as before, chose the option to setup windows, then F8, then R. I am getting pretty good at this now!

Windows seemed to reinstall fine. The Creamware Scope environment loaded fine. But Cubase would not load from the desktop icon, start menu or by selecting it directly from the C drive. I rebooted and tried again - still no good. I uninstalled AVG and rebooted - still no good. I reinstalled the Cubase license key from the Syncrosoft License Control Setup, rebooted and everything now works fine. For now...........

The problems only seem to occur on booting up/shutting down the PC - the PC runs fine and very rarely crashes once Windows XP is loaded. Even the need to reinstall the Syncrosoft License Control Setup (which uses a large dongle - LPT or printer type connection?) could be connected to problems booting up/shutting down the PC. What part of the PC deals with the booting up/shutting down side of things? This is an intermittent problem and I cannot pin down a particular series of events that cause or lead to this happening. I think particular data that Windows XP is supposed to store on shut down is not always saved correctly so causing problems on the next bootup. But, as I am not exactly a computer expert (I bought a PC to make music GOD DAMMIT!

) I could be completely wrong.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.