1 Topic by rporetti (edited by rporetti 2011-05-20 16:34:07)

  • From: Oakville, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-02-15
  • Posts: 20

Topic: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

Hi guys,

I just tried moving my FF800 to a new W7-64 machine.  I installed the latest drivers.  I followed the driver installation procedure, and it seemed to go without a hitch. 

When I tried accessing the Fireface Settings dialog (system tray), it immediately told me that that the older firmware that I was running was too old for the current driver version...

So I launched the firmware update tool and it seemed to update fine... it asks to turn off and then turn on FF800.  Did that and after it powered up I tried to go back to the Fireface Settings - nothing happens. (ie: the window does not open or any other reaction.)  Same result when I try to open the Fireface Mixer.

I go to the Device Manager and the FF800 is not there... so I restart my computer... still nothing and same behavior for Mixer/Settings windows.  Power cycling or unplugging replugging does nothing ...it's as if the machine no longer sees the FF800 - and device manager seems to reflect that.  (Rescanning there does nothing.)

Ideas?  Getting desperate here...

Cheers!

Rob

Rob Poretti
Poretti Productions
(I am *not* an ADAT user.)

rporetti's Website

  • Jeff
  • Jeff
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Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

Windows will sometimes detect the unit as new hardware after a firmware update. Do you see any entries with a yellow ! or ? in device manager?

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.

Jeff's Website

  • From: Oakville, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-02-15
  • Posts: 20

Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

Hi Jeff! 

Nice to hear from you...

Nope - Device manager looks perfect... but no entry for Fireface... and the fact that un-plugging/replugging does not cause windows to do *anything* leads me to believe that maybe the firmware did NOT go as hoped...

Can I try to do the update again?

Rob

Rob Poretti
Poretti Productions
(I am *not* an ADAT user.)

rporetti's Website

4 Reply by rporetti (edited by rporetti 2011-05-20 17:33:53)

  • From: Oakville, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-02-15
  • Posts: 20

Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

Strange... I just started the update tool to see if it would confirm everything would be fine - as the manual indicates.  The tool won't even launch - which is what happens when I try to run the mixer - nothing.

The interesting thing - is they are running in the Processes Tab - but no GUI is displayed....

I see:
fareface.exe #32
firefacemix.exe #32
TotalMixFX.exe #32

... and of course, other stuff...

Rob Poretti
Poretti Productions
(I am *not* an ADAT user.)

rporetti's Website

  • From: Oakville, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-02-15
  • Posts: 20

Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

I just hooked up the FF800 to my old XP Pro machine - older drivers/software was still installed.  Windows saw the device, I can open the settings change them with immediate affect on the front panel of the FF800... so everything looks good there.  Mixer opens as well...

Rob Poretti
Poretti Productions
(I am *not* an ADAT user.)

rporetti's Website

  • Jeff
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Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

Then the hardware is fine, try this on the Win 7 machine: http://www.rme-audio.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9827

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.

Jeff's Website

  • From: Oakville, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-02-15
  • Posts: 20

Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

That's a great post, Jeff - wonder why it didn't come up in my forum search!

We're all good now.... everything is working...

Thanks for the great support! :-)

Cheers!

Rob Poretti
Poretti Productions
(I am *not* an ADAT user.)

rporetti's Website

8 Reply by rporetti (edited by rporetti 2011-05-20 19:07:05)

  • From: Oakville, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-02-15
  • Posts: 20

Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

Well... it *did* work. 

Went to WaveLab assigned drivers nothing... I went to the mixer settings and it was doing some strange light show.  I restarted...

Now I'm back to the same results - I can't open the settings, or the mixer.  Yet, I can constantly plug-it back to my XP machine with old software - everything works...  I don't get it.

This is a brand new machine:

W7 Pro 64bit - i7 970 3.2GHz - ASUS P6 X58-E WS - 12GB Triple Channel DDR3- OCZ VTX3-25SAT3 120GB SSD - Seagate ST32000641AS 2TB Audio Drive

Rob Poretti
Poretti Productions
(I am *not* an ADAT user.)

rporetti's Website

  • Jeff
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Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

Make sure you set the power scheme in control panel to High Performance. Otherwise, you may need a better FW card for the Win 7 machine, looks like this board has the VIA chip.

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.

Jeff's Website

  • From: Oakville, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-02-15
  • Posts: 20

Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

It is set to High Performance...

Both systems use ASUS boards that use the VIA set... my old machine is a P5KC.  Strangely that machine is set to "VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller"

My new machine is currently set to "OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy)" - it used to be set to "OHCI Compliant Host Controller"

I'm going to try "VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller"?

What exactly is with the VIA chip-set?

Rob Poretti
Poretti Productions
(I am *not* an ADAT user.)

rporetti's Website

  • Jeff
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Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

There are some compatibility problems, FW audio & video device manufacturers generally recommend Texas Instruments controllers for best compatibility.

Regards,
Jeff Petersen
Synthax Inc.

Jeff's Website

  • From: Oakville, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-02-15
  • Posts: 20

Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

Seriously?  I don't think ASUS makes a socket 1366 MB without VIA chipsets...

Anyway - I just assigned it to the "VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller" and it *seems* to be working - have to give it a workout, but I played around in WL7 for a bit - then restarted a couple of times and it keeps coming up roses... time will tell.

Thanks again Jeff...

Rob Poretti
Poretti Productions
(I am *not* an ADAT user.)

rporetti's Website

  • From: Oakville, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-02-15
  • Posts: 20

Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

OK... did some research - this seems to be device dependent... and just looking around the forums here, its confusing...  definitely there is people with problems with specific chip-sets ...with TI being the most sought after... but then there are numerous recommendations for Siig cards... yet all the new Siig cards are VIA chip sets...

Finally, I came across this post:

These days we are not aware of not-working FireWire cards anymore. The bugs in the chips have been ironed out, the older cards that did not work have vanished into unknown locations...

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

Those chips are also used on motherboards - perhaps these problems have been ironed out?  My MB is pretty recent...

Cheers!

Rob

Rob Poretti
Poretti Productions
(I am *not* an ADAT user.)

rporetti's Website

  • Registered: 2008-01-01
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Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

Onboard chipsets can also suffer from improper implementation. This can happen with TI chipsets as much as with VIA.

Personally I once tested an onboard VIA chipset that did not work good while an add-on VIA based card worked.

  • From: Oakville, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-02-15
  • Posts: 20

Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

I guess that must be frustrating for anyone working with firewire: you literally have to assess compatibility between specific devices - not general classes of equipment.

Rob Poretti
Poretti Productions
(I am *not* an ADAT user.)

rporetti's Website

  • Registered: 2011-05-15
  • Posts: 2

Re: Fireface 800 install problem on new W7-64 machine..

i am having the same problem except my OS is Win& 32 and I tried to update drivers..exact same result and yes under devices the yellow triangle came up with the "i" next to Fireface800 so now what?