Cool.  I was just going to ask if there was any update.

Does the synoptics touch pad work? or are you using an external mouse?   If you use the web cam you will need the Dell Creative Labs web cam driver. 

If everything else is working (properly) there is no need for any other drivers.  I'm surprised the SigmaTel driver worked, in most cases Dell's require Dell supplied sound driver for proper operation.

Run the DPC latency checker, now, before you install any applications and see what it reports. 

  The pad works great. I do use a wireless mouse and keyboard from Logitech. I do not have a web camera or Bluetooth, so that is good. O.K., then, I will run DPC and LatMon and see what they say before I load Sonar or Motu. Thanks Guys. I am back with an update (10 minutes later). DPC did not fail, but LatencyMonitor did. What processes can I disable and in advanced mode for power settings, I am confused as to what else I can do, as I have set it up for "performance". Something is still interrupting or running. It is BETTER, as DPC does not fail and LatencyMonitor does not fail until 20 seconds in, whereas before it failed almost immediately. Just wondering what else I can do before loading the applications and interface. Thanks! Yikes I just remembered, I have to disable Windows Defender and MS Security Essentials. I will get back to you after I do this. Sorry for the false alarm...hope these changes help. O.K. I am back. I disabled WinDefender, Automatic Updates and MS security Essentials. I also modified the display settings to not be strong on display or video, but instead be more stable and maximize performance...I guess this will help, as now when I move windows on the display DPC does NOT fail, and before it did. So, DPC is telling me I am good to go and LatMon is still not happy, although it went to about 30 seconds this time without failing. Oh well...let me know.

 O.K. then is there anything else I should disable or processes that I should disable? If not then I will load the applications and move forward, thanks.

Personally I never worry about anything to do with the internet or security because I only connect my DAW for as long as it takes to update a few things and then It goes off line for months on end. 
What the reading on the DPCLAT meter ? 

That Ricoh OHCI is the Firewire port.  Generally (all that I know of) audio Firewire devices will not work with the Ricoh Firewire port, they require a T.I. chipset Firewire port.  

I would load Sonar and your other recording software and drivers. 

Don't forget to disable the Wi-Fi and Ethernet NIC after you get done as you won't need them if its not going on line.  They can cause dropouts, etc in recordings if enabled.

That Ricoh OHCI is the Firewire port.  Generally (all that I know of) audio Firewire devices will not work with the Ricoh Firewire port, they require a T.I. chipset Firewire port.   




Hold the phone !! I thought it was an Ethernet port and therefore my comment about not worrying about the internet stuff, But this could be the problem, isn't this a firewire interface we are dealing with here? 
I know that has not much to do with the DPCLAT spikes but I've read that it's standard fare to install the TI chip for firewire to avoid issues. 

In order to have a T.I. Firewire chipset you will have to use a plugin card for that. 

Most audio interface units that are Firewire either use a DICE or DICE II Firewire chipset in the device and the DICE/DICE II in most cases does not play well with anything other than a T.I. chipset in the PC.  There are exceptions but in most cases the T.I. chipset is needed for proper operation. 
 
EDIT/ADDED:  In addition, any Firewire port in the PC usually works better if the "legacy" firewire drivers are used.

 O.K. so DPC is really happy, I can't even get it to spike when I move windows around. LatMon acted better, in fact usually when I open it I get a huge hard fault (bottom meter) and then 20 seconds in I get the message for incompatibility, but now I don't get an immediate fault on the bottom meter and it still takes 20 seconds before I get the incompatibility message. So I guess this is all I can do for now. Thanks guys and I will wait for your thoughts before moving forward. You have been a tremendous help and I I thank you so much.

  After a backup, I installed the MOTU interface and did a little testing playing somes CDs. All went well, but I only tested a few minutes or so. I backed up again and then installed Sonar. Tested again and all went well. I backed up again. I tested the system by mixing some songs and all went well. DPC is very happy and LatMon actually went more than half a minute before reporting failures. All in all the system is acting better. I will know better as I use it more, but for now I am very happy. Thanks to everyone.

  Thanks Firberd, I currently have another laptop with XP on it and it has all the necessary hardware to run Win7. I might just add 2 more Gigs of ram, although that is not necessary. Other than that it should rock just like my Dell...?! So I am not gathering information about all the drivers etc. or in other words, I am step and repeating the actions items used on the Dell. This way I can leave the Dell in the recording space and leave the second laptop in the mixing space and only move the portable external hard drive, as I am looking at getting a two input interface for the mixing space so that I can leave the 8 input interface in the recording space. Then I can take one of my combo amps and midi keyboard to the mixing space and write music, etc. Kinda cool, I can't wait to get this all sorted out. Of course, none of this would be necessary if I had the 20K to 30K to spend on an addition to the garage...30' by 20' with a loft. Then everything would be in one location with isolated rooms etc. for instruments, drums, vocals, you know dual purpose rooms. I have it all layed out already. I just need the money...Ha Ha, who doesn't. Anyway thanks, and I will keep you posted.

  Re-assigning is a PITA, especially depending on how many tracks you have. I flashed the BIOS on the Lenovo and thank god, as it had support for WIN7 in that flash upgrade so I can imagine the problems I would have had without upgrading it. After the BIOS upgrade I am ready to load WIN7 and then step and repeat the other drivers. I will keep you posted. I did some searching for a two input/midi capable firewire interface and there is not much out there, I will let you know what I find on that front too. Later Brother.

  Sounds like its resolved (at least so far).

 You are not the only one that has mentioned "disabling services". What is that exactly and what are you disabling. I, for example, disable all security software, wi-fi, audio card, and a couple other that I can't remember without going back a few posts in this thread. Please advise, thanks.

 You are not the only one that has mentioned "disabling services". What is that exactly and what are you disabling.

A lot of the windows operating system are modules (small subprograms), called services, that run in the background, or just sit in memory waiting to be called to do their specific task. Not all of them are actually necessary for general use and many of them may not actually execute any useful operations during a session. Some people think they can radically improve their computer's performance by keeping unnecessary services from loading at all or disabling them after startup. Except for a few instances where a specific service might interfere with a particular application, this is a generally disappointing, and sometimes disastrous, enterprise. Most machines capable of running windows comfortably, can handle the standard services without any noticeable drag on performance.

Type "services" into your start menu "search for programs and files" box  and double click the "services" shortcut and you can see what is running on your machine. Some of these are essential to running anything at all, others will only come into play when needed. You can actually change the way they load, or keep them from loading pretty easily from this control panel applet. The trick is knowing which you can get away with killing, as some are critical.

http://www.blackviper.com/windows-services/