828mk2 Firewire speed problems in WinXP SP2 - fixed

[rezin8]

I thought I should post a solution to a problem I have just fixed with my 828mk2 and XP SP2. The problem I was having was that I could not choose 88.2k or 96k sample rates or enable the ADAT ports without Cuemix crashing/not working and I couldn't get any low latencies out of the unit at all.

As many people have mentioned here before the problem is with the Firewire drivers that MS have forced on us in SP2, and you need to put the faster SP1 Firewire drivers back. The suggestions have been to run the MS Hotfix, which I had tried, but it didnt seem to work for me at all.

Anyway, I found this site and followed the instructions to do it manually and lo and behold it worked perfectly now my 828 is running like a dream at all sample rates and all inputs/outputs enabled

I have pasted the article from the website. The article is actually referring to an RME Fireface, but the issue is the same and it worked for me so I thought I would share.


Back to SP1?

So is it necessary to uninstall SP2 to get back the previously achieved performance? No. It is sufficient to install the operating system's old FireWire driver. In fact it is already enough to exchange two files [1]. Here's how to do it:

Go to the the hidden Windows\Inf directory and copy 1394.inf to a new directory, like \1394_fix.

Before updating to SP2:

Go to Windows\system32\drivers and copy ohci1394.sys and 1394bus.sys to \1394_fix. These files have a date around august 2002, and say SP1 in their file properties.
If you already updated to SP2: the old ohci1394.sys and 1394bus.sys are found in Windows\Driver Cache\i386\sp1.cab. Copy the files from this archive into the directory \1394_fix.

If you had not installed SP1: the files are found in driver.cab, but this archive includes older files that we did not test.

Install the SP2 update

Go to Windows\system32\drivers and copy these files to \1394_fix: arp1394.sys, enum1394.sys, nic1394.sys
These files are the ones from SP2. There is no need to reinstall all old FireWire drivers. Some of them haven't changed, others are for network use only.

These files are now also found in the sp2.cab, location see above.

Rename sp2.cab to sp2_dead.cab.
This is necessary, as Windows includes a nice security mechanism, which prevents worst-case-users from accidentally overwriting important driver files with older versions, or even worse, deleting them completely. So if you try to install the mix of driver files in \1394_fix, Windows will automatically install the newer files found in its sp2.cab!

Make sure the Fireface is switched off and no other external FireWire device is present.

Go to Device Manager, FireWire controller (OHCI xxx, 1394 or similar), Properties, Driver, Driver Update. Select 'No, only this time', 'Install from a list or specific location (advanced)', click 'Next', select 'Don't search I will choose the driver to install', click 'Next', then 'Have Disk'. Now point to \1394_fix. Then continue.

Windows will now ask for the path to the file ohci1394.sys and 1394bus.sys. It wants to install the newer ones (see above). Again point to \1394_fix.
That's it. You can now go to Driver Details, and verify that all driver files are from SP2 except the ohci1394.sys and 1394bus.sys, which are from SP1. Next reboot, switch on the Fireface, and check that the Fireface can perform record/playback.

Finally you can rename sp2_dead.cab back to sp2.cab. Windows will no longer try to copy the newer driver file until you do a reinstall of the FireWire controller driver. So it makes sense to activate the driver cache security mechanism again.

Hope this helps someone

[GW]

Ah, this sounds like a good plan. I've certainly got the SP2 problem here with an unusable 828. Is there a place I can get the two SP1 *.sys files? It would be easier than uninstalling SP2 and reinstalling just to get them.

[rezin8]

I think the files you need are here:
http://www.over-clock.com/marci/1394sp1.zip

(thanks to whoever is hosting this as it is nothing to do with me)

Good luck!

[GW]

Thanks for your help rezin8 !

My 828 seems to be all fine again. It took an install of the newer drivers to get it sorted out, but the clicking and light flashing is gone.

[steveninkster]

Rezin8 - many many thanks. I was struggling with 2 x 828mkIIs not synchronising but with your advice they are now working perfectly. Also I bought a VIA6306 based fw card for my PowerCore, to run it separately from the TI card with the 828s, now my rig is the most stable it has ever been.

thanks again - your advice saved a lot of worry.

[Smokehouse]

In installed the two .sys drivers that roll back FireWire drivers to SP1. Many thanks for this. I used the files that were provided by the over-clock site. When installing these files, Windows warns me that these are not digitally signed. Are these files genuine, or did I just install some malware into the kernal of my audio system?

[rezin8]

I don't understand that, I don't seem to remember Windows telling me they were not digitally signed, but I did have to force Windows to install them.

I installed this fix quite a while now with those files as linked above, and have had no problems/issues/spyware/virus or anything like that, everything seems 100% fine to me.

Obvioulsy if anyone has had any security issues with these files they had better post here to let everyone know, but I have had none.

[Christophe LE BRASSEUR]

A simpler way is to download and install the official patches from Microsoft for XP Firewire :
search for KB885222 and KB904412.

Cheers

[rezin8]

As I said in my original post, I tried the MS Hotfix and it didnt work at all for me.

Although I did only try one hotfix (KB885222), I didnt know about the other one.

[D94261]

This fix is a total lifesaver. Was having major problems with Windows SP2 crashing and with sync'ing 2 828mkii's. Installed SP1 drivers as per instructions above and no problems since. Thanks!

[rousseau]

This did it for me too! I'd already spent days trying to figure out why my rig wasnt working with the new machine...

/steve

[wildrecording]

Greetings,

I realize I'm late with my comments, but wanted to jump in just because this hits close to home (and maybe it will help others who are putting this puzzle together).

After installing SP2 I got a message saying CUEMIX could not run because the "buss speed is not supported by this device" (or some such thing). Having installed SP2 only in a desperate attempt to resolve other 828 problems I was having, I simply un-installed SP2 and found that not only was my CUEMIX problem resolved, but some of my other sketchy behavior seemed to have cleared up as well.

Appears from reading this topic that un-installing SP2 must have restored the older firewire drivers, eh?

Now - the other problem (clicks, pauses, etc, that improved but not enough that I'm satisfied) is my 828mkII's general behavior re: ASIO. I've found that resorting to using WDM drivers works fine for my needs right now, but what would have changed between SP1 and 2 that relates in any way to how the ASIO drivers (from MOTU) perform?

Anyone?

Thanks,
JT

PS I guess I should add that I have been at this for months - literally - and have never been more frustrated by a piece of hardware in my life.

When it works, WOW!

When it doesn't, POW!

Are you listening, MOTU?

[rezin8]

Hi there,

Sounds like you are having a bad time with your MOTU

I am having no such problems with mine now, after doing this fix, but I was having similar issues before. I can only think of a couple of things you could try:

- I presume you are already using a Texas Instruments chipset Firewire card? If not, I would suggest picking one up as it seems that MOTU and other Firewire chipsets seem to have issues, I picked a cheap Ti FW card for about £30 which works fine.

- You could maybe try installing SP2 and then doing the fix detailed above, instead of completely uninstalling SP2. Don't ask me why, but it may be that the latest MOTU drivers require SP2, but also need the Firewire speed limit removed, as per the fix detailed above, to function correctly? Just an idea.

Good luck.

Dan

[rezin8]

btw. with reference to the post above, about the warning you get from Windows when you install the files for this fix. I recently did this fix again on my PC, when I re-installed my system, and yes, Windows does come up and say that these files are not digitally signed, just click Continue.

I have had these drivers installed for quite a while now and have no problems with virus/spyware/adware or anything else, or any other strange things happening. Everything has been fine. So, I would say there is nothing to worry about in this regard.

[wildrecording]

- I presume you are already using a Texas Instruments chipset Firewire card? If not, I would suggest picking one up as it seems that MOTU and other Firewire chipsets seem to have issues, I picked a cheap Ti FW card for about £30 which works fine.

- You could maybe try installing SP2 and then doing the fix detailed above, instead of completely uninstalling SP2. Don't ask me why, but it may be that the latest MOTU drivers require SP2, but also need the Firewire speed limit removed, as per the fix detailed above, to function correctly? Just an idea.

Indeed, a valid consideration (given people's success with the above-mentioned fix). And I am using a TI equipped FW interface - actually a dual purpose board I bought from FirewireDirect in Texas. It has one 400Mb port (for the MOTU) and two 800Mb ports (one of which I use succcessfully with a 200Gb external drive (also from them). Goes like a bat out of hell, I must say. Speeds up the rendering process significantly when multi-tracking (which is one of the major reasons why I bought this configuration to begin with).

Your suggestion is well-taken. I just have to overcome the latest fatigue and related inertia which has set in due to the last go-round first.

Thanks, Dan

Warmly,
John