Syntrillium Backup Forums :: View topic

khamlin · Posted - Wed Jan 24, 2001 12:03 pm

I've been a CEP user for three years with lots of success using the product. I just purchased a new Dell Dimension 8100 (1.3Ghz Pentium IV, 512Meg RAM, 40Gig 7200rpm). It came with Windows ME which I removed and did a fresh install of 98SE. The main reason is I own a MOTU 2408 and it doesn't support that OS. In the process I downloaded the 1.2a upgrade to run on the new machine. I moved the 2408 and CEP from a Dell 300Mhz where it ran for years without a problem. Now, periodically, the machine reboots. No runs, no fouls, no errors...it just reboots. Fortunately, CEP saves the session but I can't figure out the problem. To add to my confusion, it only happens with CEP. I have other DAW apps loaded on the box (Cakewalk, SawPRO). To test, I loaded a audio file (4 minutes of 44.1K, 16-bit) and looped the playback. I can't get the other apps to reboot the machine, but CEP will reboot fairly often. Besides the HW upgrade the only other change is moving to 1.2a. Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Syntrillium M.D. · Location: USA

Hi there. Well, this is certainly not common behavior for Cool Edit, and Cool Edit itself is not capable of automatically 'rebooting' your machine. Here's a few thoughts you may want to investigate, in light of the fact that you have one of the new P4s with lots of ram...

(1) FAN - make sure your fan/cooling is working properly. CE using large files and processing will definitely 'heat up' your machine. If it's not cooled properly, it could cause it to reboot or shutdown;

(2) Mis-matched RAM speeds - Unlikely, because it's a Dell, but not impossible. This could certainly cause a hang or crash if your ram were not of the same speed (ie, both 133mhz, or both 100mhz)

(3) UDMA having trouble with large files - For this, the solution would be to go to dell's support site, enter your SERVICE TAG# and you'll be taken to an area with driver lists and all the updates available. I would highly recommend doing this...

support.dell.com

Hope this helps. Let us know.

---Syntrillium Support

Edited by - syntrillium support on 01/24/2001 12:32:58 PM

Edited by - syntrillium support on 01/24/2001 12:33:48 PM

khamlin · Posted - Fri Jan 26, 2001 7:31 am

Follow up! The problem is the PCI-324 card that comes with the 2408. I can't get MOTU to reply to emails or answer the tech support phone line to verify but here are my findings. It looks like the MOTU card has a problem with higher bus/processor speeds and the way Windows routes sound events. I don't have another sound card in the computer and the Multimedia settings for Audio is "Use any available device". When I disable all Windows sound events the system functions fine. It ran MUCH longer than ever before. Then I browsed to the AOL site to get email. The "You've Got Mail" wav file downloaded and completely halted my machine. I did the same test again and this time the wav file downloaded and my machine rebooted. I'm probably going to have to buy a cheap sound card to route Windows multimedia stuff through in order to bypass the 2408. I can now reproduce this with ease. BTW, when I moved the test back to my original 300Mhz it did not lock up or reboot the machine. That's the reason for my assertion about bus/processor speeds with the PCI-324 card.

KH

Syntrillium M.D. · Location: USA

Well, glad to hear that you've been able to narrow it down at least. The problem you are exhibiting is not really an uncommon one, and lots of soundcard companies are trying to re-write their drivers (and/or switching to the WDM route) to prevent future problems like these. With everything getting faster and faster, it's more difficult for all the hardware and software to be in perfect sync. And the fact the you're using the newest PIV configuration, well, give it some time.

I would keep trying to follow up with MOTU to see if you can get any answers.

Good luck.

---Syntrillium Support