Pro Tools 6 Software with Windows XP — OS Requirements & Settings

Pro Tools TDM 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, and 6.7 with Windows XP Professional or Home Edition

    *

      AVoption|V10 or Avid Unity MediaNetwork require Windows XP Professional

Pro Tools LE 6.4 and 6.7 with Windows XP Professional or Home Edition

Both TDM and LE Systems Require Windows Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Now Qualified With Pro Tools

    * Digidesign has completed qualification of Windows XP Service Pack 2 with all TDM and LE systems qualified with Pro Tools 6.7. Please follow the Recommended Steps for Installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 listed below prior to updating to help insure a smooth transition.
    * Pro Tools|HD and Pro Tools|HD Accel systems with Pro Tools TDM 6.4 are also qualified with SP2, including AVoption|V10
    * Mbox systems with Pro Tools LE 6.4 are also qualified with SP2
    * If you are using Digi 002 or Digi 002 Rack with Pro Tools LE 6.4, only Pro Tools LE 6.4cs9 or later are compatible with Service Pack 2.
    * If you are using Digi 002 with Avid Xpress Studio, only Avid Pro Tools LE 6.5.1cs1 or Avid Pro Tools LE 6.5.2 or later are compatible with Service Pack 2.

Recommended Steps for Installing Windows XP Service Pack 2

    * Installing Service Pack 2 requires you have at least 500 megabytes available on your startup drive.
    * Check your boot drive for problems.
          o Go to My Computer/rightclick/Properties/Tools tab; and click "Check Now" under "error-checking."
          o Follow instructions.
    * Go to www.windowsupdate.com to make sure your Service Pack 1 installation is in proper condition before you upgrade to Service Pack 2.
    * Make certain your BIOS is compatible with Service Pack 2 by checking the website of your PC manufacturer.
    * Make sure all drivers are Service Pack 2 compliant. Check with the manufacturer of your display card and any attached peripherals.
    * Make a backup of your important files.
    * Uninstall any anti-virus or firewall utilities before you install Service Pack 2.
    * Make sure you are the only logged-in user before you install Service Pack 2.
    * After you complete the upgrade, reinstall any anti-virus software. Make sure the version of your anti-virus software is up-to-date.
    * Note that Service Pack 2 has a "Windows Firewall" setting in the control panel.

For Users Staying on Windows XP Service Pack 1

If you decide you do not want to update to Service Pack 2, the following information will allow you to stay on Service Pack 1:

How to disable Automatic Updates in Windows XP

Toolkit to Temporarily Block Delivery of Windows XP SP2 to a PC Through Automatic Updates and Windows:

    * Download and Information on XPSP2BlockerTools.EXE

There are also 2 ways to disable automatic updates on your system. This way:

   1. Open Windows Update from your Start or Programs menu
   2. if you see on the right side - Automatic Updates: Turned On
   3. Click on Pick a time to install updates
   4. Click on More Options
   5. Check the circle next to "Turn off Automatic Updates ."
   6. Click OK

Or this way:

   1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
   2. Click Performance and Maintenance.
      Note: If the Performance and Maintenance category is not visible, click Switch to Category View.
   3. Click System.
   4. Click Automatic Updates
   5. Check the circle next to "Turn off Automatic Updates ."
   6. Click OK

You may instead choose the option for "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them".

Operating System Requirements for all Systems:

    * Pro Tools|HD Accel & Pro Tools|HD Systems with Pro Tools 6.4 & 6.7 software (including AVoption|V10 support)
    * Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, and Mbox Systems with Pro Tools LE 6.7 Software
    * Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, Mbox, and Digi 001 Systems with Pro Tools LE 6.4 Software
    * Pro Tools|HD Accel & Pro Tools|HD Systems with Pro Tools 6.2 Software
    * Pro Tools|HD, MIX & Pro Tools|24 Systems with Pro Tools 6.1 Software
    * Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, Mbox, Digi 001, & Audiomedia III Systems with Pro Tools LE 6.1 & 6.1.1 Software

All Pro Tools TDM and LE version 6.1 and higher systems are supported on either Windows XP Professional or Home Edition, with the following exceptions:

    * Pro Tools|HD systems using AVoption|V10 or Avid Unity MediaNetwork are only supported on systems running Windows XP Professional

Settings & Requirements

    *

      USB (Universal Serial Bus) must be enabled in the Windows System Device Manger control panel and in the computer's BIOS (if the option is available)
    *

      Each IDE drive must have DMA enabled in the "System" Control Panel. This can be changed in the "Settings" of each IDE drive on the "Device Manager" tab of the "System" Control Panel. For detailed instructions click here
    *

      Pentium 4 systems with HyperThreading technology must have "Intel HyperThreading" in the system BIOS disabled.
    *

      Although not a requirement, removing or disabling startup applications, system utilities (i.e. Norton Utilities) internal and external hardware devices (i.e. tape drives, Ethernet cards, scanners, TV tuners, non-Digidesign sound or MIDI drivers) may increase the performance of Pro Tools. Just keep in mind: the more you demand of Pro Tools the more Pro Tools demands of your system.

Additional Notes

    *

      Windows XP Service Pack 1 or Windows XP Service Pack 2 required. To find out if you have Windows XP Service Pack 1 or 2, right-click on My Computer from the Start menu or your desktop and choose Properties. In the General section, it will say "Service Pack 1" or "Service Pack 2 "below where your operating system is listed.
    *

      To ensure compatibility, check with the manufacturer of the various system devices you plan to use, to ensure that you are using the latest software or drivers for Windows XP.
    *

      Pro Tools TDM and LE 6.1 and higher software can NOT be installed on systems running Windows 2000, 98, Me, NT, 95, or 3.1.
    *

      Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows 2000 are not supported with Pro Tools 6.1 and higher.
    *

      Pro Tools TDM 6.1 systems are compatible with Japanese versions of Windows XP. Other double-byte character versions of Windows (Chinese, Arabic, and Korean, etc.) are not supported with Pro Tools 6.1 and 6.2.
    *

      Pro Tools TDM and LE 6.4 and higher systems are compatible with Chinese Simplified, Japanese, and Korean versions of the Windows XP operating system.

Dual Boot Systems

If you have a PC with an operating system other than Windows XP on it, you may choose to install a compatible operating system on a separate partition or hard drive in order to use Pro Tools. If you want to use more than one operating system on the same computer, you can use a program such as PartitionMagic® to help create a "dual boot" system.
Digidesign Compatibility Documents Index