Fixing the Pro Tools launch crash
A Pro Tools crash is usually accompanied by an unhelpful error message. Luckily some of the errors or crashes aren’t as bad as they first seem and can be easily fixed. Here’s an example.
If Pro Tools crashes repeatedly every time you try to launch it, and keeps doing this even after restarting the computer, then you most likely need to remove the Pro Tools setting files for a clean start. The procedure varies depending on whether you use a Mac or Windows.
Mac fix:
1. Go to Users/[your directory]/Library/Preferences and trash DigiSetup, DAE Preferences, and Pro Tools Preferences
2. Restart.
Windows fix:
1. Go to C:\Documents and Settings\[your directory]\Application Data\Digidesign. Remove DigiSetup and Pro Tools Preferences. Remove the DAE Preferences from C:\Program Files\Digidesign\ DAE\DAE Prefs.
2. Restart.
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July 5th, 2007 17:36
I’m experiencing a crash on windows when I try to load pro tools but I did not see “digisetup” or “pro tools preferences” anywhere on my hard drive. Not even in a specific search for them. I also did not see “DAE Preferences”. What am I doing wrong?
July 7th, 2007 08:53
Gday Joe,
Personally I only have experience fixing this error on a Mac. Have you ever had ProTools running correctly on your PC? Is this the first time you’ve run ProTools? What version are you running and is it compatible for your system?
Answers to those questions might help to narrow it down.
Cheers
July 9th, 2007 09:27
Thanks for writing SP. I’ve never had Pro Tools running on this computer. I’ve installed the same pro tools with the same installation disc on a different pc before and it worked perfectly. I’m not very computer savvy but I’ve checked a lot of troubleshooting sites and run a lot of checks and I haven’t seen anything that makes me think my system wouldn’t be compatible. I am trying to install Pro Tools LE 6.4 onto a newer Dell. I am on my 5th or 6th attempt at installing it and everytime I have run into the same problem. Do you have any idea what’s wrong? And if my system isn’t compatible, can I purchase a version of pro tools that will be compatible with my system, but also compatible with my mbox? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
July 9th, 2007 15:00
Hi Joe,
It may not have anything to do the the version of Pro Tools you’re trying to run, but it could be that the Mbox and ProTools isn’t compatible with your PC.
What sort of Dell do you have? What is the model number and/or the specs?
Without knowing the specs of the computer you’re using it is hard to say. Here is some information from the digidesign knowledgebase:
Digidesign’s Mbox is not compatible with Intel 925X, 915G or 915P chipsets.
To find out the model number of your chipset for your existing computer, go here: Is My PC Compatible With Pro Tools?
The first time I tried moving to ProTools was when the Mbox was released. I had a Dell Inspiron laptop. I could load the software on fine, just couldn’t record or play back anything as the Dell laptop I had wasn’t compatible with the mbox. I ended up having to sell the Mbox because I couldn’t afford to upgrade the PC at the time.
Are you able to complete the install? Does the error appear once you try to launch the program for the first time?
Are you able to locate this folder?:
C:\Program Files\Digidesign\ DAE\
Sorry for all the questions, but it’s hard to figure out without the thing in front of me.
July 9th, 2007 15:38
Thanks for your help DB. Don’t worry about the questions, I’ll answer whatever I have to to get this thing running. I ran the check on my system and everything it asked for. I have Service Pack 2 which it says should be compatible with my MBox. I have an “AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+ 2.00 GHz” and my chipset says “nVIDia nForce 410″. Does that make sense to you?
As far as completing the install, that might be where I’m running into problems because the folder you asked me to locate was nowhere to be found. Similarly, at some of the other troubleshooting sites I was told to remove certain folders from the computer to get pro tools to run and the specified folders were not there. Is my problem with installation? If so how can I fix that? Thanks for your help.
July 10th, 2007 00:33
If you’re running XP service pack 2 you need to read this.
Only Pro Tools LE 6.4cs9 or later (including Pro Tools LE 6.7, 6.7, and 7.0) are compatible with Service Pack 2.
To check your chips set, you need to go here, download and run the chipset identification utility. That will tell you what chipset you have. You need to make sure it’s not one of the following:
* Intel 915G
* Intel 915P
* Intel 925X
Also, are you able to download LE 6.7? If you can, try installing that, as it should work with service pack 2.
July 10th, 2007 02:02
DB, I downloaded the 6.4 upgrade since I had service pack 2 and my program finally works. I can’t thank you guys enough for your patience with me and my computer illiteracy. I was almost ready to give up, from the frustration. Again… thank you guys a lot. You’ve helped more than I imagined you would.
Joe
July 11th, 2007 01:03
No worries Joe, glad you got it all sorted out.
October 24th, 2007 03:53
i seem to be running into the same problem as joe, except i just bought a brand new macbook and tried to install pro tools LE 7.0 Mbox 2 that i used for my pc, on it and it keeps crashing when i try to launch it.. ive tried all of the above and i cant find those folders in this file.. Users/[your directory]/Library/Preferences .. can somebody please please help me out?