This may seem like the end of the world, but trust me – it’s not as bad as you might think. (If you have any questions, or run into any problems, please leave a comment at the bottom of this post) Here are a few ways to fix it:. Make sure your interface is connected DIRECTLY to an open port on your computer ( no usb hubs, monitor ports, keyboard ports, splitters, trees or docking stations).
Make sure your interface is turned ON. If 1 & 2 didn’t fix it, try u nplugging the usb cable from the computer & move it over to a new port. This should reload the drivers for your interface & refresh the connection with the computer. Note: If you’re using a firewire interface, Shutdown the computer & turn off the 002 / 003 before unplugging the firewire cables!. Run Digi Driver – Go into “ My Computer” then your “ C:” drive, then “ Program Files” (if it tells you the files are hidden, click to show the files).
Go into the “ Digidesign” folder, then into the “ Drivers” folder – here is the full path My Computer C: Program Files Digidesign Drivers. Now look for the Digidriver logo & double click on it. Choose “ install“. If any boxes pop up, just choose “ Continue Anyway“ If Pro Tools still can’t find your interface, then we will have to manually point the computer in the right direction.
Checking For Drivers in the “Device Manager”. Click the “ Start” button, then right-click on “ My Computer” and choose “ Properties“. Click the “ Hardware” Tab at the top of the window, then click the button for “ Device Manager“. Click the “+” next to “ Sound Video & Game Controllers” to show the contents of that category. For the Mbox 2, you should see “ Digidesign Mbox 2 Audio Driver” & “ Digidesign Mbox 2 Midi Driver” – If either of them have a yellow “!” or “?” next to them, then follow steps. If you don’t see the Mbox 2 Audio Driver, look for something called “ Usb Audio Device” & follow steps. If you see neither the Mbox 2 Audio nor Mbox 2 Midi driver, look for them under the “ Unknown Devices” or “ Unused Devices” category.
Once you’ve found them, follow steps and note the directions in green. If you can’t find the drivers anywhere, double check to make sure the M-box or 002/003 is plugged in directly to the back of the computer & not through any hub or computer monitor / keyboard.
The bundle includes an Avid 003 Rack Factory Pro Tools LE personal studio. With supported ASIO drivers installed; New Pro Tools Playback Engine settings. 003 Rack; 003 Rack+; Digi 002; Digi 002 Rack; Eleven Rack; Any 3rd-party. 9 has not been qualified with Mac OS X 10.6.5 (released November 10, 2010). The Digidesign CoreAudio Driver v6.1.2 is a single-client, multichannel sound driver that allows CoreAudio-compatible applications to record and play back through the following Digidesign audio interfaces on Mac OS X 10.2.x.
Manually Installing Digidesign Drivers. In the device manager, right-click on driver with the “!” or “?” on it (or the “USB Audio Device”) and choose “ update driver“.
If it asks to connect to the Windows Update to search for software, choose: “ No, not at this time” and click “ Next“. On the next window, choose the bottom option, “ Install from a list or specific location Advanced” & click “ Next“. In the next window, choose the bottom option again, “ Don’t search.
I will choose the driver to install” & click “ Next“. It will now show you a list of drivers – Choose the appropriate driver for your device & click “ Next“ ( Examples of drivers: Digidesign Mbox 2 Audio Driver, Digidesign Mbox 2 Midi Driver, Digidesign Mbox 2 Firmware Updater, Digidesign 003, Digidesign 002.) Note: It will likely tell you “ This driver is not digitally signed!“, but just click “ Next” anyways. NOTE: If you see a list of categories instead of a list of drivers, scroll down to “ Sound Video & Game Controllers” & double click on it. Now you should see a list of compatible drivers. Windows Logo Testing Click “ Continue Anyway“. Click “ Finish“.
Repeat steps 1-7 if you have other drivers that need updating with the “!”or “?”on them. Guys, I had this problem for TWO weeks after upgrading to 8.0.4cs2, my eyes were crossing trying to find the solution and it took Digi two weeks to help me with the right answer. Unless it is truly a hardware failure issue where you have to buy a new 003 (or whatever), then this is the resolution, plain and simple. It is not a driver issue, not lack of digitally signed issue, don’t mess with the advance bios (F8) when you boot up, don’t touch the driver settings. The solution is power on and off in the right order – that’s it. Here is the right order: – Power on the 003 FIRST (this is the key), wait a few seconds, THEN power on the Computer.
– For shutting down: Do it in reverse order – Computer first, THEN the 003. The reason is you need to get the 003 on first before Windows starts loading its drivers and running its routines so it recognizes the 003. It works every time.
The above assumes only an 003 and a Computer (my example) – if you have more components (e.g., and external hard drive, etc.), go to the Documentation of PT Reference Guide, pg 31 for complete details. Here is an excerpt: To ensure that the components of your Pro Tools system communicate properly with each other, you need to start them in a particular order. I have a Mac OS X 10.6.3 (Snow Leopard). The Pro Tools software installed perfectly, but when I go to start up Pro Tools LE 7, I get this message “Unable to locate Digidesign hardware. Make sure your hardware is connected and turned on. Click “OK” when the hardware is ready.” In System Preferences, under “Other” it sees Digidesign Mbox 2, but when I click on it I get this message “You can’t open Degidesign Mbox 2 preferences because it doesn’t work on an Intel-based Mac.” What the heck??
I don’t want to have to buy another version of Pro Tools!! What do I do? Hi everyone, I have had the same problem with the mbox mini gen 3. I went to the control panel and pulled up the graphic of the mbox mini. It said the hardware was connected (bottom left).
There are a couple of buttons (for lack of a better word) just above where it said it is not streaming (bottom right), first was manual, then updates. To get down to it, i went to updates. I updated with the v.1.0.8 because I am using a pc. ( There is also mac updates). I downloaded, then before I installed the new drivers i unistalled the old drivers I had on there ( took a couple of minutes to uninstall, and reinstall). Then installed the v.1.0.8.(new drivers) so far that seems to be working for me.
I have turned off and on the computer a few times, unplugged, plugged in to the computer, guitar, mic, used some different instruments. So far so good. So I hope this helps everyone. Good Luck TO All. Hey, I am running on a MacBook with Mac OS X Version 10.6.8. I just recently bought the Ultra Fast Track Pro 4R, which came with Pro Tools SE, the software installed successfully, but I still get the “unable to locate Avid Hardware”.
The UFTP is turned on, plugged into the USB-2.0 slot, and “system preferences” show the M-Audio Fast Track device. How do I get pro tools to recognize the hardware? Do I need to to install the drivers, and if so where are they located?
Please help if you have any information about how to fix this problem. Daniele is correct.
Right-click on the Pro Tools LE icon & choose “ Run As Administrator” – This can also help if your midi in & out is not working, as well as improve performance all around. If on Vista or Windows 7, ALWAYS run as administrator!!!! To always run as administrator: 1.
Right-click on the Pro Tools LE icon & choose “ properties“. Click on the “ Compatibility” tab. Check the “ Run this program as an administrator” checkbox. Now every time you launch Pro Tools, it will be the same as right clicking & running as admin. If the 002 is working properly, it should show up in device manager either under Sound Video & Game Controllers or in “ unused devices” or “ unknown devices” If you have unplugged the firewire cable while the 002 or the computer is still ON, then you may have damaged the port on your 002. If so, you’re gonna have to shell out $200 bucks to get the Firewire ports fixed via Digi Tech Support If you do somehow get the 002 to show up in the device manager, run through the steps again for updating the drivers manually. Hi Tyler, With Vista it is pretty much the same as XP: – Find your way into Device Manager & look under “ Sound Video & Game Controllers” – If you see just “ mbox 2“, right-click on it and choose “ update driver software“.
– Choose the bottom option for the next 2 screens – one will say something about browse your computer, the next will say something about pick from a list or specific location. Once you get to the driver list, choose the mbox 2 audio driver & hit next. The driver should load, & Pro Tools should now recognize the mbox. If none of that worked – try turning off your antivirus & re-installing Pro Tools. (I’ll update this with more detailed Vista info when I get in front of a Vista machine). I’m having the same issue!
When I got my new computer with Win 7 and plugged in the mbox2 absolutely everything worked with the soundcard (Which was not the case with XP) I couldn’t believe it! When I installed Pro Tools 7.4 only PT worked with the sound card. So I restored my pc to the time before I installed PT and everything worked again!
I reinstalled PT with the mbox unplugged and restarted the pc when it started asking for the hardware, thinking if the drivers didn’t change, maybe everything including PT would work. Sadly not, everything still works except PT which cannot see the mbox hardware!
All the drivers are installed properly. I don’t want to stop everything else working. Did you ever resolve the problem?
Holy God, do I feel stupid. I recently switched/upgraded from m powered 7.4 to PT 8 LE, and have spent two nights hours and hours reading everything ever posted about the “unable to locate digidesign hardware” message and all the possible causes. Then you point out that the fast track pro is m powered and I am trying to open PT lE using that interface, and WHAM!!!!
My hand automatically and repeatedly starts slapping myself in the forehead. I am really, REALLY dumb!!! Well, guess I will be interface shopping tomorrow. Glad I found this thread or I might have wasted a bunch more hours before the lightbulb finally went off in my head.
Heyy I’m running v8 on my laptop, but most of my time is spent at school where on 1-4 hour breaks I would like to be editing my music that I’ve recorded at home, all my recording equip. Is at home and I don’t think I’ll be bringing it to school every time I would like to do some editing, I keep getting this error when I’m trying to start it up when I don’t have the mbox plugged in (I’m sure it’s been typed out above but I’ll type it again) “Unable to locate Digidesign hardware. Make sure your hardware is connected and turned on. Click ‘OK’ when the hardware is ready.”. We recently bought a new imac with snow leopard 10.6.2 and also purchased a 003 rack + with pro tools LE 8 and i have added the required digidesign update required to make it pro tools 8.0.3 to be compatable with the snow leopard as digidesign says will work. I have also updated/upgraded/registered everything that we have. But everytime we launch pro tools we get the hardware not found error and the link light on the back of the 003 rack is not lit.
We have tried both firewire ports on the rack and no luck. We have correct 800/400 firewire cable. Do we have a new defective 003 rack or what else could the problem be, it’s not a bad cord we have tried 2 new ones. We bought and tried 2 belkin cables from the apple store.
And have shutdown and started the unit and computer as sugested in the manuals. The only other thing i haven’t tried (but was told was optional) was linking the computer and the 003 rack through a fire wire external harddrive. But I’m leaning toward defective 003 unit. Is the link light on the back next to the firewire cable suppose to turn on when the connections are made and everythings turned on?
I would hate to purchase a $100 external and it not be the problem. Hello im really new at all of thisim just trying to use the pro tools thing coz ive been adviced too anyway.im using a fca202 behringer sound card with the firewire n i have the 7.4 mpowerd pro tools with cs3 updateim using widnows xp sp 3 i tried to use the steps that u mentioned up.but nothing happened im still getting the unable to locate hardware n one thing i didnt understandwat is the 00203?? I really hope that u can help coz im from syria n no one actually know abt this program!! Thanks a lot!!
I have inherited the 003 Factory control surface from the previous studio owner where I’m taking over. I haven’t got the disc for pro-tools 7.3 so somebody found me a copy (have all legitimate manuals, Ignition pack and auth code but no disc!!!). Having installed the copy I’ve updated to ptle731cs7 off the website as the version I have was the original 7.3 LE which didn’t come with drivers for the 003 (released before). The digisdesing website states that installing this update will provide drivers for the 003. Following your manual pointing instructions above all I can find is drivers for the 002, Mbox and others – No 003!!!
How do I find the drivers for it? The computer is recognising it but just can’t find a driver for it!!! Your help would be greatly appreciated as I have little hair left after tearing it all out over the past few days!!! This all sounds great except my problem is unique: I have just installed a new internal hardrive running Mac Snow Leopard and have moved all my apps from external HD to it.
Protools and Mbox worked fine until I partitioned my HD to run Windows XP through Boot Camp and Parallels. Now I get no sound, no lights yet system preferences DOES see the Mbox as external hardware. However, Protools doesn’t see it connected at all and gives the error message posted at the top of this page. Im struggling to make sense of this.
Please help:). Hello How To: Pro Tools I have been running Pro Tools 7 with an Mbox 2 for hardware on a desktop running Windows Xp. I just bought the Pt8 upgrade and everything works fine on my desktop (ie. Drivers, mbox, pt8 in general) I recently purchased a laptop with Windows Vista on it. I downloaded pt8 for vista since I had already purchased the software from their website, however, when I go to install pro tools I get the “unable to locate hardware.
As with this error, I also get something along the lines of “please insert disc” for the rest of the setup process to work. I’ve tried everything you’ve posted to make it work but cannot get pt to recognize my hardware and cannot get my windows xp pt7 disc to install the drivers to the mbox on my laptop because it is running vista. Is it possible to make this work? Make sure you are on PT LE 8.0.3 – Also, the 002 & 003 are single client, meaning if Pro Tools is open, you can’t play itunes or safari out it at the same time.
Here is the best way to get your system to recognize the 002: 1. Turn off your computer. Turn off the 002, wait a bit, then turn it back on. After the 002 is back on, turn on the computer 4.
Go to Mac HD/Applications/Digidesign and open the Core Audio Manager 5. Next, go to your apple menu & open System Preferences 6. In System Preferences, click on the Sound, & select the 002 as your output. Finally, open itunes or safari and it should be up & working. The key here is to have the 002 on BEFORE the computer, and do the rest in the sequence above – opening your desired application LAST.
Hi, I’m having an issue with the Digidesign Mbox2 MIDI Driver. I followed all the steps given by your good self and manually pointed the computer to the driver which it finds and recognises. However upon the last part of installation of the driver I get a message saying ‘An error occurred during installation of the device. The system cannot find the file specified’.
I’ve installed the interlok driver, digidesign drivers and so on. Also tried uninstalling and re-installing PT(ensuring there are no traces of PT left including all drivers) but I keep coming back to the same problem! I’m using Windows XP, service pack 3, Pro Tools 7.3 and an MBox 2. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers for the swift response, I’ve already done all the system optimizations before. Starting to think it may be a compatibility issue, really hope not.
If it is I find it strange that the audio driver works and I can get PT running but the MIDI driver doesn’t. Having taken a closer look the MIDI driver file(mbx2midu.dll) is in my system32 folder! Which makes it even stranger. When I try to launch the Mbox 2 control panel I get a message stating the hardware cannot be found. I also have a PT 7.3.1 updater disc with my package, do you think if I reinsatlled PTools and then the updater disc that may make a difference. Thanks so much for all your help.
Ok, here’s what happened. Several issues installing and updating PT8: On both the install and the 803 update I get this error message: The installation Failed.
The Installer can’t install some files in the “/”. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance. I reboot the get this error message: Insecure Startup Item Disabled “/Library/StartupItems/Digidesign Mbox 2” has not been started because it does not have the proper security settings. Then when I launch PT8 I get: Error trying to communicate with the DigiShoeTool. This could indicate a permissions problem with the installation. Try a clean re-install (-9169) Any suggestions?
Same “Unable to locate Digidesign Hardware problem. I inherited Pro Tools 6.9 with the original mbox. I have windows xp home sp3. I went through the steps to manually point computer to hardware which seemed to work without any problems. There wasn’t even a yellow aterisk next to the the digidesign line under sound, video, game controllers. The software still gives the unable to locate message. I’ve tried reinstalling while virus check is turned off.
I do have Allegro with a usb 1×1 midi interface. Is that maybe the problem and if so what do i do? Any suggestions. Hi hope you can help me! I have jus purchased my imac i7 and trying to connect my mbox2pro via firewire- i have installed the 8. Something version of protools but when i load up tools i get and error msg saying unable to detect hardware my mbox has no usb inputs, but i am getting singal from the mbox2pro- all the lights are still in green except the main power light is flashing orange. I have also bought a splitter from my 400 to 800 firewire, so that all seems to be working fine.
I am just unsure why its not detecting the hardware?? Rack 003 / pro tools le 8.0 /8.3.no hardware found problem???on windows 7. Has anyone got a trick to solve this problem.i´ve tried to install it by the book. 8.0 le first (no interface connection yet )then update to 8.3.and finally install the drivers for win764bit (in this case) i thought it should ask the hardware at some point while installing drivers update.but no.so i reinstall whole thing and plug in the interface while launching 8.0 and also when updating to 8.3.but no hardware found everytime when opening protools.any ideas welcome!! Hey I was reading through your other questions and I realized one of those might be the solution to my problem but I wanted to double check before I took that step. My problem is the error message that it is unable to connect keeps popping up. I tried everything that the manual suggest, like making sure everthing is properly connected, but it still wont respond.
I have one concern and it may be irrelavent but it was initialy working until I ran a vegas Mode test on it. Is it possible that that might of damaged anything, although I ran it step for step as the manual indicated it. Hope to here from you soon Because Iv’e tried just about everything to my knowledge to fix it and nothing works. Well, it could be you’ve installed some new software that autolaunches with startup – something like skype etc – if so, it might be grabbing the 002 for itself & not letting PT use it. The remedy for that is to go into System preferences – Account – click on the Login Items tab & then remove things from the list.
You have to remove them, not just uncheck them. The other scenario is that your 002 finally bit the dust & needs it’s firewire ports replaced.
I think that’s a $200 repair, but I’m not sure. Hi, I just got the Pro Tools Mboxmini with the Pro Tools LE software. I had everything working fine for a couple of days and then all of the sudden I got the “Unable to locate digidesign hardware. Make sure hardware is connected and turned on” error message. This occurs when my device is connected and on. I went into the device manager and made sure the Mboxmini driver was installed and up to date. Everything seems as it should, and the device shows up connected and functioning properly in the Mbox Mini control panel also.
I’ve tried it on each different usb port with no luck. It seems weird because I’ve already had the program work and I’ve recorded a few songs already. The few things that pop into my head are: – make sure it’s not connected to a hub – If it’s not in a hub, try a new USB port – right click on Pro Tools icon & choose “run as administrator” to open the program – in the device manager, right click on the mbox 2 mini driver, choose update driver – choose browse, then from a list, then manually select the proper mbox driver.
Sometimes it assigns the wrong one & it won’t work, even though it shows up in the device manager as the mbox mini odd I know. HD is a whole different beast – Assuming you have the actual full HD setup w/ the accel cards & the whole lot, it could be the 192 connected to the wrong card, the 192 might be in use by another app, the cards might be installed wrong etc If you downloaded Pro Tools via bit torrent & it’s labeled HD, it’s really just LE w/ a bunch of add ons & it’s looking for an LE interface.
I know there is an app that emulates a pro tools interface – you’d have to find that & install that (it’s all super illegal) but it works (so I’m told). Hello, Your directions seem very thorough, but after completing them, I am still getting the “unable to locate digi hardware” message during start-up. I have a 003 running 7.4 on Vista. I have a lot of experience with computers, and am completely stumped with this. I have changed ports for my firewire card, uninstalled/reinstalled the drivers, rolled back on the system restore, taken my audio card, and wireless card out. Is the 003 supposed to be in the device manager?
Because I do not see it anywhere. The weirdest thing is that, a day earlier, everything was working fine, and nothing had been changed since then. Any advice would be appreciated. Hi How To: Pro Tools says: December 28, 2010 at 4:37 pm Unfortunately, I have zero experience with the new mbox’s – I’d shoot the Avid team an email or call in. – I did that some 30 days ago ? Avid support team said this “It is meant to work with Pro Tools LE 8.04 and I have not run into many problems in that configuration to be honest.” Here is the funny part: Just to see if the Mbox was defect I did an install on a MAC computer. It worked just fine, and I even did everything wrong during install.
What can I say. Hi How to: Well, Now the good people at AVID tell me: Pro tools and Win XP DK version is “no go” after I did a clean install of XP UK version. Guess what ? Pro tools do detect my hardware and Jan is a merry user of Pro tools. If you got a “non English” version of XP and you get the “unable to detect digidesign hardware” go check out the AVID web site. Here is the funny part on some PC it will work with a DK version of XP. And if my spelling`s bad or my english is to broken for you to understand I am sorry. Hi, I just bought an Mbox mini and Pro Tools 8 LE.
I have a HP Compaq with Windows XP. I get the “unable to locate hardwire” message when I try to run Pro Tools. I tried to manually install the driver via the device manager as you suggest, however when I get to the point where I am supposed to select the driver to update, there is no “Mbox mini driver” only “USB Audio device”.
Clicking on that didn’t change anything. Why is the device not showing? Someone at the Avid forum suggested I try a different driver (1.0.6). However I’m unable to install that. I get a message saying “Your version of Windows is not supported by the Mbox mini installer” It’s been a week going round in circles with this stuff. At the end of my rope. Hope you can help me out!
So for this Christmas, I got AxiomPro61 (I think this would suffice as Hardware), also I got boxed version of ProTools 8.0.3 with all the disks and iLok. Per manuals, I have downloaded and installed latest drivers for AxiomPro, and then installed to fresh Windows 7. And still keep getting message “Unable to locate M-Audio hardware” This merger between Avid and Digidesign has been disaster. So confusing, if you read their manuals/talk to cust support/read their KB posts/ chat on the forums with cust reps really is missleading if I still need another piece of hardware to get this thing to work. So Do I need another piece of “hardware” if so what is the cheapes way to get this thing running? I have been successfully used this keyboard with FL Studio, and will shortly revert to that, if these problems wont disappear? Disappointed with Avid!
Hi, I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to respond to everybody’s queries. Hopefully you can respond to one more.
I’ve read through all of your responses and can’t seem to find someone who’s having the same problem I am. Just bought Protools 8 LE with Mbox. Ran the install many times and each time it completes and I reboot, not only to I get the same error message, “Unable to locate Digidesign Hardware,” but when I check device manager, the drivers are not installed. They don’t show up under Sound Video & Game Controllers or in “unused devices” or “unknown devices.” It’s as if everything installed BUT the drivers. My Mbox lights up fine. If I do an CD only install, once I reboot Windows will see the Mbox through plug and play, but can’t locate any drivers. If I do a CD install, then an updater install, I get NO plug and play popups at all.
Yet, it will still show Mbox and Mbox DFU under the USB section, but NO DRIVERS. Sorry for the essay. Just wanted to give you all in info. Please help if you can.
Hi there, Please help, i am running Pro Tools LE and it was working fine for a few weeks, then all of a sudden out the blue i went to load it, it comes up with “cannot locate digidesign hardware” when it gets to “DAE Loaded”. I havent changed anything!
I have tried changing cables, re-installing drivers, changing USB ports.everything.but still no change. I dont understand how it can work and then not!?
I am using Windows 7. I can hear audio through it if i am listening to BFD2 for instance, although even the option for Mini Box has even been removed from the BDF2 audio device option?! Hi, i tried to post on here but not sure if it went through ok, basically I have a Mbox Mini, Pro Tools LE on windows 7. I use BFD2 for drum sounds and one day all of a sudden Pro Tools wouldnt load, it was saying “cannot locate digidesign hardware”. I tried everything, reinstalling, disabling in device manager, changing cables but still no joy.
The option to use the Mbox Audio device in BFD2 has disappeared as well. I think that was when it started, i kept getting some sound issues in BFD2 through the MBox Mini, so I closed BFD2 and opened it again and the option for MBox was not there anymore. Do you think its a comflict? If not what else could it be? Thank you for your help. I have bought the new Mbox with ProToolsLE ver.
8.0.4 and use windows7 – with a non-english (danish) operative system. It worked fine for a while. Then I got the “Uanable to locate digidesign hardware”-message. The only way to fix it was to reinstall ProTools. A week later I got the same message:o( I have re-installed again, but this solution is very annoying and time-consuming. Does anyone know what to do? Can I download another driver?
If yes: Which one and where can I found it? PLEASE HELP AS I AM DESPERATE!!!
I recently purchased a mac mini I tried to load protools 8 le but got this error report (Dyld Error Message: Library not loaded: @executablepath/./Frameworks/CFnd.framework/Versions/A/CFnd Referenced from: /Users/apple/Desktop/Digidesign/Pro Tools LE.app/Contents/MacOS/Pro Tools LE Reason: image not found). I am highly disappointed with mac because you would think in all of this time, the glitches would be over and done with If anyone know anything about my issue and could help with this, I would appreciate your help thank you!!!! I’ve read every comment, havent seen one that matches up to little ProTools hell: I have an Mbox 2 and I’m getting the “Unable to locate hardware” message when launching Pro Tools 7.3 on my Mac PowerPC AND My Windows XP Pro – I’ve tried ALL the suggested fixes listed on this page.
The Mbox shows “connected” on the Mac but shows the Firmware version “unavailable”. On the PC running XP, the drivers (midi and audio) show working properly as suggested at the top of this page. I’ve also downloaded and launched the various firmware updaters (1.38, 1.43) and they give an error message saying the mbox cant be found. Strangest of all is I also have Logic 8 loaded on my Mac, and the Mbox 2 connects fine and works perfectly. So it’s obviously not just broken hardware but it cant be found by PT on either platform, Windows XP OR OSX 10.4. Am I just destined to be a Logic user???
Yeah.I got pro tools 8 le about 2 weeks ago.im runnin and brand new dell xps with intell core i7 and windows 7.It worked for about 2 weeks fine.I switched rooms with the computer and now when i try to load pro tools it says it is unable to locate digidesign hardware. I have done what is recomended and still no results.The light is on and it tells me that my driver is Working.I have Uninstalled and Reinstalled but still the same result.PLEASE can someone help me out.I have been on phone over an hour trying to figure this out but havent talked anyone.if anyone can be of assistance please REPLY!!!
Hey, I resently ordered a DigiDesign Mbox 1 off of E-Bay for a fair price, problem was it didn’t come with the PT disc that has the Device driver on it and everything else. Which the only thing I really need is the driver so it can read that its hooked up so I can record in acid pro. Now I went onto DigiDesigns website and found a couple drivers and updates but nothing seemed to work.
My computer is ran by Vista and is 64bit.What do I need to do? Thanks b.c this is giving me a migraine from hades and im losing money on not recording people.;/. So I have an mbox with Pro Tools 8.05 (ran updater). I have been having the same problem as everyone here in this thread.
I am running Windows XP SP 3 / package 1.0.19, Firmware 1.0.8. Facts: Right now over Mbox I’m listening to iTunes through the audio interface, I can run Reaper over this interface hear and record audio. Over Finale I can record midi.
Over Pro Tools 8. I get the: Unable to locate Digidesign hardware. Make sure your hardware is connected and turned on. Click “OK” when the hardware is ready. I will save this comment an pull the plug on mbox and find another port to see if Pro Tools 8 will recognize it finally. I have spent way too much time on this. As ALWAYS, the 2 most deplorable, despicable mayor issues with Digidesign, Drivers and hardware trouble.
As a engineer for over 25 years I had promised myself NEVER again to buy a protools product but no, i had to give them another chanceSCREWED AGAIN!! Between the MISSING korg M3 xpanded drivers, the ANNOYING I-Lock and the CONSTANT FLAWS of the Avid Mbox 3rd gen, i wish i was able to turn back time! If the people at Digidesign where honest and took the responsibility of facing their incompatible flawed products, they would contact me and give me a FULL REIMBURSEMENT, but know, We ALL have to spend HOURS surfing USERS troubleshooting methods to get Digidesigns products to LIMP to a 80% functionality! Good luck everyone, you are going to need it!
This process has a few flaws in it: 1.) It assumes that you can install the drivers by clicking on them. In PTLE you can’t. There is no “drivers” icon in the Drivers folder. 2.) Windows won’t allow you to install the drivers or point to the sys files even if you try.
3.) Windows won’t allow you to remove the drivers without crashing computer management most of the time. 4.) Most importantly. This doesn’t cover the issues that most users are actually trying to get fixed. When they encounter this error message. The device shows up perfectly fine in Device Manager. Suggesting that something else is amiss.
I understand that this article is extremely old, but I am working off of PT version 8 and reading through I saw that someone else had the exact problem as myself. Following this tutorial helped gain a little ground, but I still have three main problems: 1. The S/PDIF light is flashing on my Mbox 2 2. There is a yellow caution sign over top of the ‘Digidesign Mbox 2 Audio driver’ in the device manager that will not go away no matter how many times I manually select and re-install the driver for that, and 3. I noticed in your reply to the last guy who mentioned the S/PDIF light on the Mbox, you said something about tweaking the S/PDIF settings on the Mbox’s control panel. I’m almost positive that this will be my solution, but I can’t find anything in it’s control panel that mentions S/PDIF in any way. Also, here are the specs on my system: Gigabyte Z68MA motherboard Intel core i5 2500k 8 GB of RAM Running Windows 7 Ultimate Trying to get Pro Tools LE 8 to work with an Mbox 2.
Just purchased the Avid Mbox Mini. Downloaded PT8 and I get the same error message written above. I tried everything you mentioned but for some reason my computer doesn’t detect the MBox hardware, it did at one point with the exclamation point but it randomly disappeared.
I tried unplugging the usb cord into the other 4 usb ports but to no avail. I really really really need all the help that I can get. I have Windows XP Media Center Edition, just upgraded to SP3 and I’m still having issues.
I have 4GB of RAM and 177GB Hard Drive space but will be using an external firewire hard drive 500gb. Please help!!!! Ok, hopefully you can help me!!!
At the top of this page is the exact same thing when i try to load pro tools 8.0.3. And I have tried multiple of those suggestions at the top, and nothing has worked and maybe you know why. This is the equipment I have: Digi 002 rack–I plug the firewire cable to it and run it to my external hard drive that is IOMEGA 500GB that runs at 5400rpm–I run the usb cable to my laptop that is a ACER ASPIRE, 4GB RAM, 320GB hard drive, with windows7. How come it wont work??? Hope you can help me, God Bless!
Ok, bit of a unique problem i would have thought, but i really hope you can help. Otherwise i have to sell my laptop:( OK, bought a digidesign003 + rack. LOOKS great, although my laptop has no firewire capabilities.
Only USB, and there is no way to add express cards or anything like that (I’ve been to many technicians) – (for those interested, my laptop is ASUS NX90jq) so i’ve got my hands on a firewire to USB adapter, which in theory should work!? (usb 3.0 being faster than firewire) It just doesn’t recognize it when connected, no driver etc.
Running Protools 8 LE, runs fine on my machine with mbox2, just can’t connect the 003. PLEASE help if you have any suggestions at all, I really don’t want to get rid of this laptop cheers, Chris. I am sorry to say Chris i don`t it will work at all with a USB/ firewire adapter.
And if so go check out the digi web site if they have a brand that works with that config. I`ve found out that digi stuff like the 003, mini and so on only will work with what digi says it will. Ask the support dudes of digidesign to help you out Or as you so cleverly suggests Sell the ASUS laptop ? Maybe you can try out an active firewire adapter (don`t know if that exists and if so will it work??? ) Regards Jaysen.
Hello, I have the same problem as almost everyone above. My protools were working fine until yesterday, I switched my iMac with the SAME iMac from Apple ‘due to a malfunction’, however, now my Pro-tools wont work anymore. Every-time i start it up i get the “Cannot locate digi hardware” error. I’ve un-installed and re-installing PT twice, tried connecting the USB in all of the different ports and it still doesn’t work. My M-box wont even light up.
I have a huge project due In 2 weeks and at the moment I cannot afford to even waste any time yet alone buy another M-box. What should i do? I have: – Pro Tools 8.0.3 with M-box2 mini. – Mac OS X 10.6.8 – Processor 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME?!?!?! It will be greatly appreciated. Regards, -Jay. I purchased the new Mbox 3 Pro educational version LE 8.04.
I have a Mac mini using Snow Leopard 10.6.8, firewire. It won’t recognize the hardware. I’ve checked everything with Avid tech support, and they escalated the problem, only to get an email back 5 days later with no solutions offered. In the mean time I installed the software on my pc desktop, and it’s running okay.
Problem is, the studio I’m recording with must have files generated from the Mac, they can’t use anything from the pc. So I have to get the Mac going. This is a new system purchased in late July, 2011 I’m stuck!
Rich in Tucson. I just solved a similar problem, maybe you guys have tried it, but it took me 2 days to figure it out. I updated to Windows7 (with PT 8.0.5) and also got the message “unable to locate digidesign hardware”. I tried many things, all failed, until Windows have changed their firewire protocol in version 7. So: in device manager, right click on the firewire port IE.etc choose to update the driver choose the option: pick from a list pick the second one from the list Windows offers you (it is labelled exactly as the first one, but is says “Old Version” between brackets) there you go: the explanation mark next to the 003 disappeared straight away and everything works fine. And that was close to 20 hours of work.
Please somebody help me, for the love of God and all things holy. Intel MacBook Pro OSX 10.5.8 Pro Tools LE 8.0.1cs2 ORIGINAL MBOX I can’t get past starting/opening a session without crashing the program “Pro Tools quit unexpectedly.” This may have something to do with the fact that in the “Other” section of the OS System Preferences there are icons for “Digidesign Mbox 2” and “Digidesign Mbox Pro 2”, but none for the plain-old Mbox. I’ve already tried removing plugin folders from the Digidesign directory and doing a clean uninstall. At this point I feel totally defeated. So for a limited time I’m offering a limited amount of free legal advice to the first person to respond with the proper solution!
Or I can bake you a cake. I just sadly realized after finding tons of forums with tons of folks having the exact same issue that there was going to be no actual help from the company(much like when you deal with Microsoft). But, there is a solutionswitch products. I am fairly experienced with multiple platforms and finally got tired of reinstalling Pro Tools(and drivers) every single time I wanted to use it(on both my Macs and my PC).
And, with as many complaints on the exact same issue plastering the official Avid community boards coupled with the almost condescending responsesI switched to a Pro-Sonus audio interface.I feel really silly for not doing it sooner as I have had zero problems sincePro Tools LE is just not worth continuing to rely on a corporation that blatantly ignores core issues with a product that is supposed to be the so-called “industry standard.” Just scour the forums and read the actual responses from Avidand when you finally feel like pulling your hair out? Just switch products. And, if you paid for the program with your interface then you shouldn’t feel the least bit guilty pirating an upgraded version when it’s quite obvious that the company doesn’t mind releasing non-functional software(yes, you paid for itdon’t pay for it again)Samplitude blows the lower end Pro Tools away anywayChances are, you will not find a 100% working solution to this problemSwitch products. HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLP I have some of the same problems after reading all of these post I NEED SOLUTIONS IM DYING HERE!!! I just bought a HP Pavillion dvp-7013cl laptop 645 bit operating system on Windows Seven.
I tried downloading Pro Tools 7.4 LE (MBOX2) and it said it only runs on Windows XP sp2. So I tried Pro Tools 8. A message came up and said before installation please connect your audio source and make sure it is turned on. Well I downloaded the corrrect drivers, my MBOX@ was powered on but STILL IT WAS NOT RECOGNIZED!!!! I’ve been at it for 3 days and Im about to cry. I BOUGHT THIS EXPENSIVE LAPTOP AND I CAN’T EVEN RECORD.GOD BLESS THE PERSON WHO CAN HELP ME!!!!!! Please help me!!!
My mbox 2 and pro tools (8.0.3) worked perfectly 2 hours ago. Then I came up with an idea that I should upgrade my mbox 2 because it was atleast 1 year ago since. So i searched on google and found a page (avid.force.com) and clicked on a new version 1.43 and my old version was 1.34 or something. So i downloaded the upgrade and installed it but it didnt go through so i had too restart the computer. And after that it says “unable to connect to mbox 2. I’ve tried unistall pro tools and reinstall the mbox driver, but no success.
The leds are dimmed and the power led “s/pdif is on. I’ve also change usp-port and restarted the computer several times. Im getting nuts, please help I have a Mac OS X 10.6.8. Snow Leopard. Pls I just got a used 003.
I use RME UCX as my interface. I intend using the 003 only as control surface for my pc running Sonar X1. The problem is that 003 refuses to go into Midi Mode no matter how I press the buttons. When I install PT 8, my UCX drivers no longer work and even then the Midi Mode doesn’t come up.
Pls I need help cos its driving me Pls I just got a used 003. I use RME UCX as my interface.
I intend using the 003 only as control surface for my pc running Sonar X1. The problem is that 003 refuses to go into Midi Mode no matter how I press the buttons. When I install PT 8, my UCX drivers no longer work and even then the Midi Mode doesn’t come up. Pls I need help cos its driving me Pls I just got a used 003. I use RME UCX as my interface. I intend using the 003 only as control surface for my pc running Sonar X1. The problem is that 003 refuses to go into Midi Mode no matter how I press the buttons.
When I install PT 8, my UCX drivers no longer work and even then the Midi Mode doesn’t come up. Pls I need help cos its driving me Pls I just got a used 003. I use RME UCX as my interface. I intend using the 003 only as control surface for my pc running Sonar X1. The problem is that 003 refuses to go into Midi Mode no matter how I press the buttons. When I install PT 8, my UCX drivers no longer work and even then the Midi Mode doesn’t come up.
Pls I need help cos its driving me crazy! I didnt read all the comments here,but If you have a problem getting your MBOX connected to the Pro tools software in Mac, then here is what you need to do I called the company and they told me that I needed to download a driver here is the site that they gave me in order to download the driver Here’s a link to the Mbox 3G drivers: There also downloads for Windows based software as well. This is what you need to do if you have a error message that shows up telling you that your hardware cannot be detected — I did this, and downloaded the driver, at first I tried it and it did not work, but then I restarted my computer and it worked instantly. Shalom, Whoever Posted this article, I LOVEYOU. You’ve helped me BIG time.
I have A Mbox 2 and have been trying to get it up and running for 5 days non stop. I tried every thing to no end. Win 7 would not reconize it and the lights would not come on. Nobody seemed to have a fix. Then I came across your article and followed all the steps. At the end of it I looked over at the mbox 2 and the lights were on. All I could say was ” HalleluYah!
And yes!” Whoever you are you are a Life Saver For real. Very very very much.
![003 rack driver download 003 rack driver download](http://akmedia.digidesign.com/products/images/003Rfront-back-lg_12836.jpg)
May Yahweh Bless you for your help and expertise. Ok i have PT LE 7.4.2, windows xp sp2 and a mbox 2 mini. I have got the issue you’re talking about but when i go into the devices manager, i don’t find any of the drivers that should be installed. “Digidesign Mbox 2 Audio Driver” & “Digidesign Mbox 2 Midi Driver”, neither of them anywhere. Im getting very upset, moreover because i once used this very same PT on Mac OS and it was working very well.
I don’t understand why it’s so hard now to get it working. Hope you’ll have the right answer too my case. Thanks a lot guys. I create a leave a response each time I like a article on a blog or I have something to contribute to the discussion. It’s a result of the sincerness communicated in the article I browsed. And after this post Unable to Locate Digidesign Hardware!!!! How To: Pro Tools.
I was excited enough to leave a thought ? I do have 2 questions for you if you do not mind. Could it be simply me or do a few of these remarks appear like they are written by brain dead individuals? ? And, if you are writing at other sites, I would like to follow you. Would you make a list every one of your community pages like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile? Hi there, i have a mbox 2 pro for some years, always working fine. About 1 year ago, i started having problems with the interface, when i powered on the pc the mbox 2 pro just got a blinking orange light and it was not detected by windows 7.
I’ve been researching ever since for a definitive solution, but no luck so far. Then came the windows 7 drivers and the mbox started working again for some time, then one day i got the same problem I tried reinstalling the drivers and all but no luck, the mbox 2 pro works when it wants to, sometimes it suddenly detected by windows and starts working, the next day is blinking again. A few weeks ago i had to format de pc and when i finished installing the essentials for a pc to work (windows 7 64 bit, anti virus, drivers, etc.) after installing the mbox 2 pro drivers 16.0 (the only that worked so far) the mbox 2 pro is detected by windows and its fully operational. After a couple of days and some more instalations (like updates and stuff) when i was running a video application the sound of the mbox just stopped, and when i restarted the pc i got the orange blinking light again and windows doesnt detect the hardware. There aren’t many solutions on the web especially for windows users, maybe someone can help me hereim getting really sick of this and the time i spent looking for solutions its ridiculousand digidesign/avid have the worst customer support, no solutions whatsoeverim never going to buy another product from them. Asus M2R32-MVP Amd Athlon 64 x2 6000+ 4 Gb ram windows 7 ultimate 64 bit digidesign mbox 2 pro. I tried to plug in the mbox 2 pro on a mac book pro from a friend, just to see if it was an hardware problem, and it worked, i downloaded the latest drivers for mac (avid site) January 2014, and when i restarted the mac it worked.
Now i know it’s something to do with windows 7 64bit or something. I reconnected the mbox to my pc, reinstalled the mbox 2 pro drivers (1.6 and then 11.0.0) and nothingorange light blinking, no hardware detected, and it doesnt appear on device managerim in desperation here, can someone help???? I comment each time I like a post on a site orr I have something to contribute to the conversation.
Usually it is triggwred by the passion displayed in the post I read. And on this article Unable to Locate Digidesign Hardware!!!! How To: Pro Tools. I was movdd enough to drop a thoughtt ? I do have some questions for you if it’s okay.
Could it be simply me or do some of the comments look lik written by brain dead individuals? ? And, if you are writing at additional sites, I would like to keep up with you. Could you make a list every one of your social sites like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile? So I have a Digi 002 rack with an XP SP3 system w/ Pro Tools LE 7.4 which worked fine about 8 months ago.
Since then I took a break, and believe the reason I did is because my hardware would no longer get recognized by my PC. I took it in to get the firewire port repaired from an assumed hotswap I did, which they confirmed was burned out. Got it back connected to system, link light on, but no digi 002 hasrdware found in device mng. Went to Avid to get the most up to date drivers for the 002 win xp system and the only thing coming up in device mng is 2 “legacy audio device” listings which i cannot uninstall now. My current assumption is that there are either driver conflicts, or the firewire ports on pc have been maxxed out from previous use with the digi 002 hardware, but I am still able to see my external hardrive via firewire to those ports when connected. I’m going to try the steps you mentioned when i get home but if Im missing anything else your input would be very much obliged. Hi, i have the same problem, ‘unable to locate hardware, i try in 3 different computer and different system, windows vista, windows 7 32 bit and windows 7 prof 64 bit, i used to work the 002 in pro tools 8 LE for a year,no problem,but now,i had to reset system and nothing happen,i saw in control panel is not driver for 002 and i try to install manual from device manger,but when i got it drivers,i got it crash in the system and blue screen, i can see something is not compatibility,but i try in 3 different computer and doing the same blue screen in the 3.
I don’t know what i have to do, i try to find,c)windows /system32/drivers/usbaudio.sys, but that files is not in my computer. Can you help please! The cable and port in the fire wire look good like working fine.but the problem is something with drivers and compatibility i think.