I have had this problem for a while now and have hoped that someone else would find a fix for it on the forums, so far nobody has fixed it or new drivers haven’t done the trick.

Breakdown of information:

I have a Windows 7 64 bit laptop computer which is kept up to date with the latest drivers and updates.

My internal soundcard is working properly (3.5mm jack and the internal speakers) so it is unlikely to be a problem within the computer itself.

I have the latest software and drivers for my toneport studio GX (referred to as the GX from now on...)

I am using the GX as an external sound card with all three connections used. (USB to the laptop) (6mm jack from my amp) and (3.5mm jack to my speakers) at the same time.

I am using the GX as an external sound card.

This exact setup (settings included) used to work perfectly on my old laptop (running windows vista) so I know there isn’t a problem with the hardware involved.

I have tried re-installing the drivers and respective programs for both the GX and my laptop but there is no change in how it operates for one use. As soon as you restart the laptop it breaks again.

I have tried this with both POD farm and POD farm 2.

This never happens when I have the GX unplugged... Only when I am attempting to use it...

My problem: (Using iTunes as an example – this happens with all other programs containing audio as well)

I start my laptop up as normal, boot windows etc. and the sound works fine going out from my laptop, into the GX and then the audio comes out my speakers as it should do.

If I start up iTunes (or anything similar; windows media player, VLC media player... even YouTube from an internet browser...) and play music through it, (the time it takes varies) but it will always crash (sometimes it can take under a minute, sometimes it will last about 5 minutes but not often more than that, sometimes it will happen purely from the windows logon sound...).
When it crashes; iTunes will stop as if the music is paused, however it is still supposedly playing it and the button is still saying it’s supposed to be playing. (This also happens with VLC, YouTube etc...)

When the GX has crashed, the programs will close but the process for that program will not close (viewable in windows task manager and it can only be closed from there).

From then onwards, there are no output sounds from the GX, windows sounds included. Also if I am using POD farm, the GX will not detect any input from my guitar what-so-ever.

From now on, the GX is useless until I restart my computer and then re-install the drivers for a single use.

After ITunes crashes, if I unplug the GX and try playing something from the internal sound card, nothing will happen from whatever program you try.

To get the sound back you need to keep the GX unplugged and restart the laptop.

When you try to restart the laptop from the start menu it goes to the “shutting down” screen but will not actually shut down (I’ve left it there for a few days before to see if it actually will shut down normally...) The only way to turn it off is to use the power button.

When the laptop is restarted afterwards:

With the GX

• No sound unless you re-install the drivers and related software for the GX and do not restart the laptop.

Without the GX

• Internal sound card works as intended to, no issues.

Things I have noticed:
When you look at the device properties, half of the information is missing (including the driver signiture when installed... could this be affecting the readability of the file?) – this indicates that the GX isn’t talking to the computer properly.
The drivers install and work properly the first time they are run (before the first restart) which indicates it is installing and working properly but it is down to an issue with permissions or a file reading issue somewhere.

The hardware is all working correctly due to the fact that my old laptop worked fine with the exact same setup.

The fact that programs wont operate or close properly on their own suggests that there is a conflict with the GX driver and the program OR a conflict between a part of windows 7 and the GX driver. However the second option is more likely due to the fact that it stops the laptop shutting down after the driver crashes.

Any help with this issue would be majorly appreciated as it has been months that I have had this problem but haven’t been able to find a fix for it.

Tip: your website isn’t supported by google chrome properly, when you type it can randomly stop typing (and / or) bring a message box up stating “stay on this page / leave this page ... I have closed the message twice already by mistake and lost what I have typed because of this and I have to say it is highly frustrating...