PCI 424 card suddenly "missing"

vanceg · Post by **vanceg** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 1:52 pm

Strange problem: After a standard shutdown and restart of my computer two nights ago, my PCI 424 card is no longer recognized by my Mac and the MOTU software.

When I launch MOTU PCI Audio Console I get a message "No MOTU PCI Audio Cards Detected".

Likewise, when I go to Audio MIDI setup, the PCI 424 card is not seen.

The 2408III and 308 that I have connected to the PCI 424 also do not seem to see the card (they behave as if the computer is off or they are disconnected from the 424).

I have tried reinstalling the MOTU PCI OSX v1.0.8 software.
I have UNinstalled and reinstalled v1.0.8 several times.

I have re-installed OS 10.4.3.

I have booted the machine using a firewire drive containing an image of the boot volume of this machine from a couple of months ago. At the time that this image was made, the system worked flawlessly. This image is using 10.3.8. Booting using this drive as the startup drive did not cure the problem - I still got the messasge that no PCI card is found.

I have also tried opening the comptuer and reseating the card. No change.

I have also tried placing the card in another slot. No change.

I have run Apple Hardware test on this machine and no problems were found.

When I go to System Profiler:Hardware:PCI - the system shows "No Information found".

If anyone has ANY suggestions - I am open to trying most anything at this point!

On Monday I hope to place this card in a G4 that I have at another office.

Here is some more info about my setup:
G5 Dual 1.8 GHz
1.5GB RAM
2 internal SATA drives
No PCI cards other than the PCI 424
No external drives connected
MOTU USB MIDI interface connected (and functioning fine)
OS 10.4.3

stephen1212b · Post by **stephen1212b** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:14 pm

This has happened to me on and off ever since I purchased my 2408 mk 3.

My solution is to shut down the computer and turn off the interface. Then I have to pull the 424 card and reseat it in the pci slot. The computer then recognizes the interface again for a while, days weeks or even several months before it mysteriously disappears again and I have to physically remove and reseat the card.

datguy · Post by **datguy** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 3:30 pm

We have had the same problem for a while now with the 24io. I tried contacting motu who were less than helpful if not at all. They tried to tell me after like 200 phone calls and emails that it might be a faulty firewire!! Come on guys, there is a problem with your boxes, fix it! No solution yet btw

vanceg · Post by **vanceg** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 4:27 pm

datguy wrote:We have had the same problem for a while now with the 24io. I tried contacting motu who were less than helpful if not at all. They tried to tell me after like 200 phone calls and emails that it might be a faulty firewire!! Come on guys, there is a problem with your boxes, fix it! No solution yet btw

Yeah - frustrating. Well, it's not my boxes that are not showing up, the entire 424 card is not seen. I have now put the same card into different slots in the same comptuer, reinstalled the MOTU software, reinstalled the entire OS, booted from several other known good images of the same boot drive (created as backups some weeks ago), and even placed this card into a totally different Mac. In all cases, the card isn't seen.

Fortunately, when I plug my 2408 and 308 into my friends 424 card (on his computer) everything works fine.

You know what I think I am going to do: I think I'll sell the 2408 and the 308 and buy a second RME Fireface. I have one now for my laptop, and I really love it. Perhaps I might go with a Traveller, but I am a little put off by the fact that it can only do 4 stereo busses of no latency routing.... anyway.... it may be time to just move on past the MOTU hardware world for me..... you gotta admit, though, nothing beats a 424 based system for I/O per $$$.

Vance

methezer · Post by **methezer** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 6:05 am

datguy wrote:We have had the same problem for a while now with the 24io. I tried contacting motu who were less than helpful if not at all. They tried to tell me after like 200 phone calls and emails that it might be a faulty firewire!! Come on guys, there is a problem with your boxes, fix it! No solution yet btw

Now I don't mean to sound like a jerk...but did you actually try a new cable or did you just laugh at them thinking that it couldn't be the problem? I know I was having trouble with my 896HD (wasn't showing up when connected to my powerbook) and it turned out it was the stock firewire cable that came with it that was causing the problem. I'll admit though, that your issue definatley doesn't sound like a cable problem. Just thought I'd ask.

Its too bad you guys are having problems; I hope you find a fix soon. I'm sure you've tried everything but what happens when you reinstall the drivers after the card stops being recognized?

JAM MAN · Post by **JAM MAN** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:46 pm

Hay dude,

I had similar issues when I upgraded my DAW. I am on a PC platform, using windows XP. I had almost the same issue, I find that interesting seeing as how you are using a Mac. I called Motu they were dumfounded, they said the card might be bad and I could send it in for a replacement @ $75.

I did eventually wind up getting it to work, I tried every PCI slot in the machine except the slot next to the AGP slot because it shares it's IRQ, which is not the best configuration in a DAW which is resource intensive. So just for the hell of it after spending hours trying to get the card to work I decided to try it in the last slot next to the AGP slot and BAM the thing came right on line and it has been their ever since.

stephen1212b · Post by **stephen1212b** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:50 pm

When the problem is the cable or the interface the 424 card will still be recognized. When the 424 card isn't available it is time to shut down the computer, turn off the interface and physically reseat the 424 card in the PCI slot. Then restart the computer and turn on the interface and all might be well.

mrmeoff · Post by **mrmeoff** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 3:16 pm

I've just encountered this problem over the past 2 weeks, and it is extremly frustrating!! I've done everything all of you have done, and it only works some of the time! I have a 2408mkII, it worked fine with PCI 324 card in my old G4, and it worked great in the new Dual G5 (w/PCI 424 card). As of two weeks ago I've been experiencing the same probs! Don't know what to do!

smsjr · Post by **smsjr** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:19 pm

Same problem here. Have a Dual 1ghz G4 and have been experiencing this problem ever since going to Panther. Didn't have the problem on Jaguar. I have to shut down, unplug audiowire cable, the power everything up and restart. Sometimes it takes doing this a couple times to get it back. Obviously not acceptable behavior. I've spent some time on the phone with tech support and thought they had helped me fix the problem but then it showed up again. So, seems to be a common problem and I bet it has to do with their drivers.

Steve

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Thu May 11, 2006 7:03 pm

For a while I was convinced I had a lemon G5, but I had my doubts. After reading this and other threads where people have had the same misfires, I am no longer convinced that the problem is with my cables or computer.

MOTU doesn't seem to be able to reproduce the problem, and that puts all of us who are dealing with this issue in the dog house.

I've made a habit of checking all my audio settings from Audio-MIDI to System Preferences, to DP's hardware settings and Audio Bundles. There are times when I've booted up to find some preferences in OSX and in DP have been switched on or off automatically. Checking these settings and rebooting as often as necessary seems to have held the problem at bay. The days of moving the card from slot to slot are over, because all my PCI slots are now full.

It *would* be nice-- with all else to worry about-- not to have to pray so hard each time I start up my studio-- and not to have to boot the computer so often just to get everything "talking" to each other.

Wish I had some solutions, but we all seem to have taken the usual troubleshooting steps about as far as they can go.

chrisperry · Post by **chrisperry** » Wed May 17, 2006 3:12 pm

I think i am experiencing a similar problem - my 424 card has disappeared all of a sudden. When i lauch any of the MOTU utilities i get this error:

An undefined error has occurred. File rce/AWConsoleXApp.cp, Line 127 Error code 6

I'm running 10.4.6 on a G5 that had been pretty stable for a couple years...

Anyone think this is the same problem?

thanks!

tgfoyl1472 · Post by **tgfoyl1472** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:55 pm

I have an aging G4 with an upgraded CPU. I have had this same problem in the past. Sometimes I have to restart the computer and power off my 2408 MK3. Othe times just powering off my 2408 does the trick. I thought it might have been my old computer but if it is happening with G5s I wonder...

I also wonder if this problems happens with PCI-X 424s and with PCI-e 424s cards. I am looking to get a used or refurbished G5 at some point and I might have to upgrade the PCI card once again depending on the type of PCI G5 I ended up getting.

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