"Can't locate hardware" problem , please help

[Swineburner]

Several months back , I purchased Pro-Tools Express that came with the Mbox Mini interface. I had been using it on a regular basis with no issues. Do to home construction , I had to pack everything up for several weeks. When I went to hook everything back up and begin recording again , Pro-Tools loads about half way up and then says "can't locate hardware" ? Everything is in the same USB port and exactly as it was before. I've tried uninstalling/reinstalling the Mbox drivers , etc. I'm just a basic user and at my wits end on this. I would appreciate any info anyone has , please~ Thanks

 

[Steenamaroo]

Hi.
We need more info to advise. What operating system are you running?

Have you checked the relevant lists to see if the device is recognised? (system profiler/device manager)
Do the lights come on on the mbox?

 

[Swineburner]

I have a HP desktop that's running Windows 8 . The device manager says it's working properly. The lights do come on. There used to be an icon for the Mbox when I brought up the "hardware and sound" page from the control panel , that's missing?

 

[Steenamaroo]

Mbox drivers are a hassle...They always were.
For some reason Protools doesn't ship with them and you always had to go searching on avid's website.

As I recall, it's easy enough to pick the wrong one.

Best I can recommend is to plug the thing in, turn on the computer, find the device in device manager and delete it.
Shutdown the PC, unplug the mbox, reboot, find the appropriate drive then plug the mbox back into the same usb port and proceed as if you just bought it.

If that fails, trash all the ProTools preferences to see what happens.