Members Renfield Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 [long rant] Ok, besides having issues with my SansaDisk mp3 player that led me to replace it with the Zune, only to have more issues with it (battery can't hold a charge for longer than 2 hours and it's not even 3 months old being the most recent) this is the last barrage of problems me and technology seem to be having... I've had to format my hard drive and reinstall Windows 3 times in the last month. Each time, the reinstall had more problems than the last, and in the end I had to call Microsoft on two separate occasions and have them remotely take control of my PC to try and fix it. This is the point in the thread I tell all you Mac-oids to kiss my ass, I am not overpaying for one of those white devils only to have different problems with it. They are not all you claim them to be, you are just in denial when they do give you grief. Going Mac is not an option for many reasons, the stupid prices only being one of them, so save it for someone who'll listen to you, I won't. So I had (relatively) trouble free operation for the last few weeks only to have MSN Live Mesenger (to be referred to simply as MSN from here on in) suddenly stop working mid-operation one night. I got logged out and all attempts to get back in failed. Their system sometimes goes down, so I just gave up for the night. Three days later I still can't log in when all my friends can. The program opens, just can't log me in to the system, just sits there until it eventually gives an error (the error debugger that pops up comes back clean, no issues) I reinstalled it from a freshly downloaded install file. No luck. I opened the older (non "Live") version of MSN (v4.0 I believe) that installs with XP, it signed in instantly, so I know it's not a firewall or anything, I closed them for good measure too, it didn't matter. I uninstalled MSN Live, ran registry cleaner and mechanic programs both and rebooted. It found the MSN Live references and took them out. Then I defragged my drive and rebooted again. Checked that MSN v4.0 works still, it did. Rebooted. Downloaded MSN Live from a different source, reinstalled. Rebooted. Still doesn't work, same error. MSN 4.0 still works. So that's annoying. On to the next pressing issue. I was at a tradeshow over the weekend and on referral from a few very trusted people, I bought the M-Audio KeyRig 25 Midi controller. You plug it in via USB and it is a Midi controller for VST instrument playing, Midi control in various programs and so on. Some times you may have to activate it in the Devices listing of the software, but in most cases it's just plug and play. I plugged it in, the drivers installed and it showed ready to use. Cool. I installed the stand alone synth software it comes with. Looks neat. But no sounds come out, despite everything being set properly. I open Reaper. It doesn't show it in the devices, it doesn't control anything Midi based. I open FL Studio 8. It doesn't show it in the devices, it doesn't control anything Midi based. I install the (terrible) software that came with it, Abelton Live. I open Abelton Live. It doesn't show it in the devices, it doesn't control anything Midi based. I'm hella frustrated at this point and want to throw my entire rig out the window. There is other technology things that I've had grief with too, but this is my latest ones that I really want to resolve somehow, but am at a loss. Thanks for listening. Ideas? Experience? [/rant] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members solderjunkie Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 open "My Computer" open hard drive delete all. go play bass:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members W33nie Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 why not use the old MSN? If you want, you can try pidgin or meebo.com as for the MP3 players, sell both of them if you haven't, and go to http://www.head-fi.org/ to look for a solution Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted November 9, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 why not use the old MSN? If you want, you can try pidgin or meebo.com I am and have to for now, but MUCH prefer the new one. The most pressing issue I am seeing now is that because MSN knows I have Live, anyone can and does send me offline messages. But I can't ever get them because v4 doesn't allow offline messaging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guttermouth Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 man, it sounds to me like your pc got hit with a power surge or something.i've had several come through here over the years that had bad power surges ( lightning, brown outs etc..)with symptoms like you have been describing lately. i would start looking hard at the motherboard and power supply - the usb port issues and install errors both point to a bad batch of caps or a controller chip on the board malfunctioning or an underperforming/f'ed up power supply. just out of curiosity - how's the power where you live?do you get lots of outages,brownouts or voltage spikes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted November 9, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 man, it sounds to me like your pc got hit with a power surge or something.i've had several come through here over the years that had bad power surges ( lightning, brown outs etc..)with symptoms like you have been describing lately. i would start looking hard at the motherboard and power supply - the usb port issues and install errors both point to a bad batch of caps or a controller chip on the board malfunctioning or an underperforming/f'ed up power supply. just out of curiosity - how's the power where you live?do you get lots of outages,brownouts or voltage spikes? No, not that I am aware of at least. My alarm clock is a POS, and if the power so much as dims for a nanosecond it resets to 12:00. Hasn't done that in months, and when it did, I wasn't surprised. (storms and whatnot) I do know I need a new PC in the worst way tho. Was hoping to keep this alive thru the Spring if I could tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bryan316 Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 What kind of machine? Dell? HP? Home-built? Is it feasible to just start buying the components, one piece a week, and then slap it together once you got it all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 I don't know why but I bet it's not as sudden as you think :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted November 9, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 What kind of machine? Dell? HP? Home-built?Is it feasible to just start buying the components, one piece a week, and then slap it together once you got it all? It's an HP with upgraded RAM and hard drive. If I could afford too right now I would, am basically on the path to do this. In the last bit I got a good monitor and mouse, already have a good keyboard. The hard drive in it is new, so will salvage that as well. I tried plugging the KeyRig into my roomies PC, he's only running FL Studio. It didn't see it either, so I wondered at first if it's just a software thing, these cheap (free) programs don't know what to do with a USB device that acts as a Midi controller. But then I remembered that it's own software isn't even seeing it. It has a Midi out on the controller as well, but if I need to buy a Midi to USB box just for this, I am going to freak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted November 9, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 I don't know why but I bet it's not as sudden as you think :lol: Sadly, there is much truth in this statement. I really am cursed in general, this is just one of those ways that it displays itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 did you get all the latest drivers ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted November 9, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 did you get all the latest drivers ? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 I'm gonna say some hardware is wacked , while it's just a guess , I can't think of any reason you would ever need to reformat that much , unless you have a virus ??? Midi can be wacky though . What is your current system ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 I do know I need a new PC in the worst way tho.QUOTE] could be , the good news is it's better and cheaper than ever . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guttermouth Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 could be , the good news is it's better and cheaper than ever . +1 didn't someone post a link to a 179 dollar barebone the other day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 man, it sounds to me like your pc got hit with a power surge or something.i've had several come through here over the years that had bad power surges ( lightning, brown outs etc..)with symptoms like you have been describing lately. i would start looking hard at the motherboard and power supply - the usb port issues and install errors both point to a bad batch of caps or a controller chip on the board malfunctioning or an underperforming/f'ed up power supply. just out of curiosity - how's the power where you live?do you get lots of outages,brownouts or voltage spikes? yup , and dust ,man dust can really f up a computer , always a good idea to have a good battery backup as well . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted November 9, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 I'm gonna say some hardware is wacked , while it's just a guess , I can't think of any reason you would ever need to reformat that much , unless you have a virus ??? Midi can be wacky though . What is your current system ? The first format was due to a virus. But it's been clean since. The other PC I tried it on, my roomies, is a monster of a PC, he's a big gamer. It doesn't appear to work on it either. But he only has FL Studio, and it's pretty new to me still, so I could be missing something there, but I kind of doubt it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 "I plugged it in, the drivers installed and it showed ready to use. Cool. I installed the stand alone synth software it comes with. Looks neat. But no sounds come out, despite everything being set properly." is there any meter showing incoming activity ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support.faq&ID=1d45c0102bde3d9bffb19c0056d9b171 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted November 9, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support.faq&ID=1d45c0102bde3d9bffb19c0056d9b171 Thanks. It tests out fine. I am presently going thru the knowledge base on their site. I got it working now in FL8 and Reaper, but not in its own standalone synth. Something is better than nothing I guess. Progress has been made, that's what matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted November 9, 2008 Members Share Posted November 9, 2008 Thanks. It tests out fine. I am presently going thru the knowledge base on their site. I got it working now in FL8 and Reaper, but not in its own standalone synth. Something is better than nothing I guess. Progress has been made, that's what matters. That's good , was it a setting , or did it do it on it's own ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted November 10, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 10, 2008 That's good , was it a setting , or did it do it on it's own ? Downloaded a program that changed a ton of settings and probably a few others things I don't know about. Still can't get their own software working with it, but at least I can make sounds with VST's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bleepo Posted November 10, 2008 Members Share Posted November 10, 2008 This is the point in the thread I tell all you Mac-oids to kiss my ass, I am not overpaying for one of those white devils only to have different problems with it. They are not all you claim them to be, you are just in denial when they do give you grief. Going Mac is not an option for many reasons, the stupid prices only being one of them, so save it for someone who'll listen to you, I won't. I refuse to deal with apple on the basis that their support people are called genius'. If they're so smart, why are they low level support? I was at a tradeshow over the weekend and on referral from a few very trusted people, I bought the M-Audio KeyRig 25 Midi controller. You plug it in via USB and it is a Midi controller for VST instrument playing, Midi control in various programs and so on. Some times you may have to activate it in the Devices listing of the software, but in most cases it's just plug and play. I plugged it in, the drivers installed and it showed ready to use. Cool. I installed the stand alone synth software it comes with. Looks neat. But no sounds come out, despite everything being set properly. I open Reaper. It doesn't show it in the devices, it doesn't control anything Midi based. I open FL Studio 8. It doesn't show it in the devices, it doesn't control anything Midi based. I install the (terrible) software that came with it, Abelton Live. I open Abelton Live. It doesn't show it in the devices, it doesn't control anything Midi based. I have the keyrig25. I Don't like it. The keys feel terrible to me, but i'm not a keys player by any means. I use a Vista 64bit system, and there are no drivers for it. It works with Cubase for me, barely. the bundled software doesn't work in 64bit either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted November 10, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 10, 2008 I refuse to deal with apple on the basis that their support people are called genius'. If they're so smart, why are they low level support?I have the keyrig25. I Don't like it. The keys feel terrible to me, but i'm not a keys player by any means. I use a Vista 64bit system, and there are no drivers for it. It works with Cubase for me, barely. the bundled software doesn't work in 64bit either. Now that I have it working, I find it more annoying than not. I can program with my mouse every bit as good as I can with this, if not better. I'm not a keyboardist. The biggest thing it gives me is programmable knobs. No turning them with a mouse. If there was a Midi controller which was just knobs, I might trade this in on it. I'm going to give it a go with a programmed midi track, if I can use it to adjust settings on the fly, and record (be it through automation or recording it was an audio track) and it works cleanly, I'll keep it. If it doesn't work well and I need to automate everything and the knobs matter less, it goes back. I have 30 days to decide. Make that 29 as it took one just to get it running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted November 10, 2008 Members Share Posted November 10, 2008 FL has a million sounds , if it can't control that than toss it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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