Windows OS Requirements with Pro Tools

• All versions of Pro Tools 6 through 7.3.1 require Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home Edition.
  
• Pro Tools LE and M-Powered 7.4 are compatible with Windows Vista (32-bit) Ultimate and Business, as well as Windows XP Home and Professional.
  
• Pro Tools HD, LE, and M-Powered 8.0 are compatible with Windows Vista (32-bit) Ultimate and Business, as well as Windows XP Home and Professional.
  
• See below for information on Windows Vista Home and Home Premium Editions.
  

Compatibility Alerts

• Installation of Internet Explorer 8 May Cause Pro Tools to Not Launch
  

• Pro Tools 7.3.x is the last version of Pro Tools that supports FAT32 for Recording.
  
• Pro Tools 7.4 and higher for Windows does not support FAT32 for recording, but will continue to support FAT32 formatted volumes for Playback and Transfer.
  

Windows 7 Public Beta Compatibility Information

• Pro Tools 8.0.3 Announcement
  
• Pro Tools 8.0.3 — Downloads & Details
  
• Windows 7 Public Beta Compatibility Information
  

• Windows Guide - Windows 7 Optimizations and Troubleshooting
  

Windows Vista Operating System Requirements

• Windows Vista Business or Ultimate Edition
  
  • 32-bit OS Installation Only
    
• Not Supported:
  
  • Windows Vista 64-bit (any version)
    
• Not Tested:
  
  • Windows Vista Home and Home Premium Edition
    
  • Although Windows Vista Home and Home Premium Edition have not been tested or qualified by Digidesign, there are currently no known issues with Vista Home and Home Premium 32-bit operating systems with Pro Tools compared to the supported Windows Vista Business or Ultimate Edition operating systems.
    

• Qualified with Windows Vista Service Pack 2
  
• Windows Vista SP1 Not Tested
  
• SP1 or higher required for Pro Tools 8 installation
  

• Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Standalone
  

• Qualified with Windows Vista Service Pack 1
  
• Windows Vista SP2 Not Tested (no known issue)
  
• SP1 or higher required for Pro Tools 8 installation
  

• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Standalone
  

• Qualified with Windows Vista without Service Pack 1 or 2
  
• Windows Vista SP1 and SP2 Not Tested (no known issues with either service pack)
  

• There are currently no known issues with Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista with Pro Tools LE 7.4 or Pro Tools M-Powered 7.4 based on our initial limited testing and customer feedback. Although full qualification with all Digidesign products has not been completed, we do not recommend against Pro Tools 7.4 owners updating to SP1, given the number of important overall system fixes in SP1.
  
• If you choose to update to Windows Vista SP1, it is strongly recommended that you backup your system and create a restore point before updating to SP1, should you encounter any problems after installing the update.
  

• Avid video peripherals such as Mojo SDI® are not supported with Pro Tools LE 7.4 on Windows Vista. Support for Avid video peripherals with Vista is included in Pro Tools HD 8.0 and Pro Tools LE 8.0.
  
• Pro Tools HD® 7.4 software is not compatible with Windows Vista (Pro Tools HD 8.0 or higher required for Windows Vista)
  
• Pro Tools LE and M-Powered 7.3.1 and earlier
  

• Is my PC compatible with Pro Tools on Windows Vista?
  

• Install Windows XP in a Dual Boot with Pre-installed Windows Vista
  

• Windows Guide - Windows Vista Optimizations and Troubleshooting
  

Windows XP Operating System Requirements & Settings

• Pro Tools HD 7.x is qualified with Windows XP Professional or Home Edition
  - Avid video peripherals or Avid Unity MediaNetwork require Windows XP Professional
  
• Pro Tools TDM 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.7, and 6.9.x are qualified with Windows XP Professional or Home Edition
  - AVoption|V10, Avid Mojo, or Avid Unity MediaNetwork require Windows XP Professional
  
• Pro Tools LE 6.4, 6.7*, 6.8.1**, 6.9*, and 7.x are qualified with Windows XP Professional or Home Edition
  
• Pro Tools M-Powered 6.8, 7.0, and 7.x are qualified with Windows XP Professional or Home Edition
  
• Pro Tools Academic 7.x are qualified with Windows XP Professional or Home Edition
  

Not Compatible

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

• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
  
• Windows XP Media Center Edition
  

Windows XP Service Pack Requirements

• Pro Tools TDM 6.9 TDM and higher & Pro Tools LE 6.8.1 and higher systems on Windows XP require Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 (SP1 not tested)
  
• Pro Tools M-Powered systems on Windows XP require Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 (SP1 not tested)
  
• All Previous TDM and LE Systems require either Windows XP Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 (see below for SP2 Specific supported systems)
  

Windows XP Service Pack 3

Windows XP Service Pack 2

• Digidesign has qualified Windows XP Service Pack 2 with all TDM and LE systems qualified with Pro Tools 6.7 and higher. 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.
  
• Pro Tools M-Powered is qualified with Windows XP Service Pack 2 only (SP1 not tested with M-Powered systems).
  

• Installing Service Pack 2 requires you have at least 500 megabytes available on your startup drive.
  
• Check your boot drive for problems.
  - Go to My Computer/rightclick/Properties/Tools tab; and click "Check Now" under "error-checking."
  - 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.
  

• Download Current InterLok Drivers
  
• More information from the PACE website
  

For Users Staying on Windows XP Service Pack 1

• Download and Information on XPSP2BlockerTools.EXE
  

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

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

• Windows Guide - Windows XP Optimizations and Troubleshooting
  

Operating System Requirements for all Systems:

• Pro Tools|HD Accel & Pro Tools|HD Systems with Pro Tools HD 7.x software
  
• 003 Factory, 003 Rack, Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, Mbox 2 Pro, Mbox 2, Mbox 2 Mini, and Mbox Systems with Pro Tools LE 7.x software
  
• Supported M-Audio peripherals with Pro Tools M-Powered 6.8 & 7.x software
  
• Pro Tools|HD Accel & Pro Tools|HD Systems with Pro Tools 6.4, 6.7, and 6.9.x software
  
• Mbox 2 Systems with Pro Tools LE 6.8.1 software
  
• M-Audio Systems with Pro Tools M-Powered 6.8 software
  
• Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, and Mbox Systems with Pro Tools LE 6.7 & 6.9 software
  
• Pro Tools|24 MIX systems with Pro Tools 6.4.1 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
  

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

• 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: detailed instructions
  
• Pentium 4 systems with HyperThreading technology must have "Intel HyperThreading" in the system BIOS disabled in Pro Tools 6.x. Pro Tools 7.0 and higher supports HyperThreading.
  
• 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.
  

• 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 and Pro Tools M-Powered systems are compatible with Chinese Simplified, Japanese, and Korean versions of the Windows XP operating system.
  
• Pro Tools M-Powered is qualified with Windows XP Service Pack 2 only (SP1 not tested).