timidi


BTW, there are other considerations: 

Not sure what's happening there but the top picture isn't what you should be seeing. All of the waveforms should be in different colours not all black as you are seeing.
 
I would think you're best option would be contacting support, I'd imagine given the crashing and the screenshot that there is something seriously amiss with your install.

I see no reason to update a BIOS or any driver unless a specific problem is being addressed.

If crashes are erratic it could be anything - even memory-related.

I would do a few hour memory test, use the ASUS stress-test diagnostics or something serious like a LINPACK (Intel BUrn-in).

Run a thorough CHKDSK, check over your Event lists, etc. - routine maintenance stuff.

I have found the Windows debugging tools helpful - I install WINDBG to intercept crashes. The stack trace is usually enough to pinpoint problems. But this is not for everyone - I used to be a systems programmer, so geeky stuff suit me well.

Perhaps even a system file check may be warranted -  (try 'sfc /verifyonly' and look at the logs to see if a scan is required).

Tim, IIRC, a lot of people were having problems with X1 when running 64bit and using 32bit plugs. I don't know if that will help or not. If I were you I would heed Danny's advice and talk to Jim before messing with the BIOS. I've had to fol with BIOS before becausse of some RAM change, I think... it has been a while but it was iffy and scary at best. I have stayed ALL 64bit and had no problems... (until tomorrow of course... knocks on wood)

You could also have a bad download of X2. Some people have had to redo using Chrome.

Best of luck to you!

Julien

quote]Just don't install the AI suite BIOS monitor. It's garbage and REFUSES to be uninstalled.
 
Beepster, have you tried to uninstall it using Hijackthis ? It will usually uninstall anything. It will list everything in the registry in both a list and a page with checkboxes. That way if you aren't sure about something you can copy/paste into Google or processlibrary.com, if it is a .exe and see exactly what the file is. If you still have a problem, you can run it in safe mode. There is also a program called final uninstaller that might work.
 
Good luck... but you should be able to get rid of it with HJT. http://majorgeeks.com/Trend_Micro_HijackThis_d5554.html
 
http://download.cnet.com/Final-Uninstaller/3000-2248_4-203243.html
 
Julien

nevermind...

@jbow... Thanks... I do actually have HiJackThis but it's not installed and I'm hesitant to use it on the DAW because it is such a powerful tool that it can seriously screw things up. Also considering the problem is an ASUS product I think I'd have a hard time pinpointing the right thing to delete because I'm sure they'll be quite a few ASUS entries. The AISuite isn't really hurting anything... it's just annoying because it is a startup item and I have startup programs disabled. So AISuite tries to run then fails giving me a little error message I have to close every time I boot up. More of a minor inconvenience than anything. I wish I had researched it a little more first before installing it because it's a crappy monitor not suited for a DAW. It's default setting is to automatically turn on and run in the background which is obviously no good. Not particularly impressed that ASUS did that but it's a nice board (aside from the bridged legacy PCI which made me have to buy a new interface). Like I said I planned to wipe this system at some point anyway now that I know more about config and optimization stuff. Cheers.

Thanks everyone.

Yes, I never did install the ASUS manager thingy. It was recommended to install components individually which is what I did.
Anyway, So, I did the BIOS update as Max instructed with the USB stick. No problem.

Haven't noticed any problems except it did set my BIOS back to default and I forget what tweaks are needed.
I disabled:
HD Audio controller
Bluetooth

Is there anything else that should be disabled? 

JBOW.. So far I've only installed X2 32bit.

And FBB. I diddled with the colors a little. Here's a new one.

If it's a dedicated DAW disable all startup programs. If you use anything other than Microsoft Security Essentials for an AV make the switch because it's good but resource light and other AVs will get screwed up after you disable startup programs. Disable power management as well because otherwise various components (like USB ports and hardrives) will go to sleep which can create obvious problems. There is an optimization guide here on the site and various other ones online. Cakewalk tech support recommended the Sweetwater optimization guide (just google it... it's a PDF from sweetwater) however there is one or two elements that are supposed to be avoided because Sonar apparent needs those option (which support didn't tell me but the forum did). I think the thread I posted about it was titled "Today is optimization day" and lots of folks chimed in to help and the info on what steps to avoid are there as well as a link to the guide. I'm too burnt to search it myself though. Hope it all ends up working out for you in the end. Seriously though if things keep being wacky just call support. They are extremely helpful. Cheers.

Oh and you get a chance to laugh at my ultra mega n00b posts. Man, I'm afraid to look at what might have come out of my mouth back then... and that was only a few months ago. lol

Thanks Beepster. But, I was talking about BIOS tweeks. I don't use AV.