I had a similar problems, and others, with PTFree. I finally tossed it in favor of Cubase System 4, which I can run on my "modern" (XP) computer. No further problems, much joy...

good recommendation. Don't believe the hype or feel like just cause 'it seems' like everyone is using Protools that you have to too...

ProTools LE is whack for today's producers. If you're running a ProTools mackdaddy biggy grand ole system then you got it made and its cool....

If not, its a waste of funds & grievance - mac or pc....

Cubase SE is the best recommendation - $99, 48 tracks, upgradeable to unlimited tracks, midi capabilities are flawless, eq on every track (not as a plugin w/ extra cpu usage), don't have to wait the entire duration of song to mixdown, you can use any hardware w/out any trouble, and most importantly, upgrades are under $4-500 for unlimited tracks...

Focusrite makes excellent preamps but not for the Mbox - we tried sampling w/ the Mbox as another source for sampling & it was very noisy. I imagine the digi 002 and such is a little better but still, ProTools LE systems are not upgradeable. You have to just set it aside, count it as a loss, and buy a whole new rig which will cost around the $10,000 mark and upward just to get more than 32 tracks...

Get a demo of cubase if you can or check it out at Guitar Center and you'll see the difference hands down once you get under the hood.

PT Free is intended to run on Window ME (at least the version I have is). It can be buggy on other Os's

Also it's minimum requirment for RAM is 256 but 512 is much better. Upgrade to more RAM and your problem will most likely go away.

There are a few other alternatives. Check this web page.

http://www.pcmus.com/Free-Software.htm

Gunnar