Thanks Mesh...

I'm doing my best to remain patient and grateful...

But it ain't easy! ;-)

I tried using a basic ipad with some audio apps, but they are frustrating to me when they're doing their best! ;-)

But what can you complain about for free?

I was gifted the ipad(s) as well as the laptop... And in my current situation that was all I could do... Now a newer machine has been offered... And if I can find a few bucks for buying the monthly Platinum <sigh> and some gas for my generator I might actually feel almost myself... For an afternoon!

Gotta go for it... broke or not!

Thanks for the help...

Keni

Keni,
 
I'd find out the max memory that the laptop can take.  My guess it will top at 1 GB but you might get lucky and get a 2GB cap.  I recenltly fixed up a P4 laptop and was able to buy two 1GB memory modules on eBay for $20 shipped.  It really sped up the laptop.

Thanks aoresteen...

Sadly I don't have $20 to my name right now... I've mistly abandoned working on this machine as it won't even play a simple stereo file with media player... I gave a suspicion that it's something other than the tiny memory that is at fault here... Even 20 year old machines typically manage to do this...

Last night I burnt twice my normal fuel (living on a generator) and don't have any cash for more fuel right now... So I'm hoping something changes for the better soon!

Thanks for caring and trying to help!

Keni

 
 
 
This is my 2004 Toshiba laptop.  I can use Sonar 8.5 32 bit for live recording of up to 14 audio tracks. The only issue is screen re draw of wave forms takes forever after you stop the transport. 
I'm not sure if you have run the DPCLAT monitor to make sure it is optimized correctly.  
http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
 
I use my Tascam us1641 and the older drivers. They released newer drivers for XP that were worse so I found using the originals that came on the CD best. I also get more stability using WDM mode. There's nothing wrong with WDM mode for a lot of tasks like audio recording and editing. Set you buffers way up there. This is not a machine for real time effects like Guitar rig. 
 
I mostly have only used it to record our band and a few live concerts I was asked to do. I then transfer the files to my desktop. But I also muck about with downloaded midi files because my desktop is not on the internet so I can see if they are worth keeping using TTs-1 for playback. 
I also refer to 8.5 when helping on the forum. 
 
I can load up a MIDI file and simple synths like TTS-1 and Session Drummer.  and work on stuff using just the on board Sound Max in MME mode. 
It's all about optimizing the machine and it will work. But don't expect to load up a bunch of memory hog VST's. The older synths 32 bit synths seem fine, Stay away from Dim Pro and V vocal. 
 
 

Cactus Music
 
 
 
This is my 2004 Toshiba laptop.  I can use Sonar 8.5 32 bit for live recording of up to 14 audio tracks. The only issue is screen re draw of wave forms takes forever after you stop the transport. 
I'm not sure if you have run the DPCLAT monitor to make sure it is optimized correctly.  
http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
 
I use my Tascam us1641 and the older drivers. They released newer drivers for XP that were worse so I found using the originals that came on the CD best. I also get more stability using WDM mode. There's nothing wrong with WDM mode for a lot of tasks like audio recording and editing. Set you buffers way up there. This is not a machine for real time effects like Guitar rig. 
 
I mostly have only used it to record our band and a few live concerts I was asked to do. I then transfer the files to my desktop. But I also muck about with downloaded midi files because my desktop is not on the internet so I can see if they are worth keeping using TTs-1 for playback. 
I also refer to 8.5 when helping on the forum. 
 
I can load up a MIDI file and simple synths like TTS-1 and Session Drummer.  and work on stuff using just the on board Sound Max in MME mode. 
It's all about optimizing the machine and it will work. But don't expect to load up a bunch of memory hog VST's. The older synths 32 bit synths seem fine, Stay away from Dim Pro and V vocal. 
 
 

Thanks Cactus Music...

I've done this previously and that's why I thought it would work... Maybe it's an issue with the Presonus driver fir winXP? I can't play a simple file in media player... I've setup many old laptops to use for quick location recording and this is the first time I've run into an issue...

Later when my generator is on I will try the optimize link you gave. I've never used such and maybe it'll help solve the laptop's issue?

Keni

It's funny how important it is to test computers for this yet it's only by word of mouth on the forums do people find out about the tests.
I think it should be in large print on the list of things to do while setting up in the instructions for the DAW software and interfaces. 
Laptops are by far the worst offenders because of things like battery management and wireless cards. 
The sycon DPC test is old but works great on XP and most windows 7 machines. For Windows 8 you have to use Latency Mon. The Sycon test gives a false reading under Windows 8. 
http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon  
 
Another thing for audio is a 7200 RPM drive. I always updated my hard drives. 
I found I had to disable wireless ( a swicth) and the battery management in device manager. I also disable all the stuff in msconfig that is none Microsoft. All of it. 
 
 

Thanks again Cactus...

For sticking with me about this as well as having good info...

I finally got it working! It was none of the things we've discussed, but something I kept questioning... A driver problem. I've had older machines running fine previously and just couldn't figure out the problem...

I went back to Presonus to make sure I had the correct driver and found that they added one more thing Oder driver... So I grabbed it and replaced the newer driver... It forced another firmware update, but still didn't work... Then I re-installed the newer driver again and it forced another firmware update...

Voila'!

Now it's working as I expected of its limited power... I'm using an external USB SSD a for audio... Below par but I expected it to work for a half dozen audio tracks or so and it does... I must keep the latency up near 60 ms, but it works! Not good enough for input monitoring, but I will use Amplitube ios to create my guitar sounds and record them as audio in Sonar... I'm working again!

Many thanks for your support!

Keni

Yeah these drivers can be finicky........glad to see you sort it out though Keni.

Thanks mesh... And everyone else...

I've setup so many such as this I just couldn't figure out why this wouldn't work. I was on,y looking to use it for 3-4 audio teacks so I could work on my lyrics for the remaining unfinished songs for my upcoming album release... Without having to run my generator. Nothing I found for free on the iPad had decent looping so that method faded from reality...

Now I'm back to work even though it may not get released (too broke)...

I thank you all with all my heart!

Keni