Audacity Crashes when I hit Record button

[csm2]

First, let me say that I have had no problems with Audacity and the few questions I've had were answered promptly and I appreciate the help.
Today when I went to overdub a track, everytime I hit the record button Audacity would open the new track and then immediately crash. The files seem to be still there and I can reopen the saved tracks and try again but I'm not sure what is causing this problem. I am using the same guitar chord into my computer that I used before and I've never needed anything else,so I assume that is not the problem. I did change the hardware play-through setting under preferences recently but changed it back to the way it was,just in case that had something to do with it,although I doubt it.
Could files have been corrupted? Should I download a new copy to Audacity or use the Beta version?

If you can offer any suggestions as to what might be causing this problem or what to check,
hardware,software,etc it would be a great help. (thanks Koz & Steve for past replies.)

Thanks again.

[steve]

It is most likely an invalid setting in Preferences. In Audacity 1.2.x these are stored in the Windows Registry. Uninstalling / Reinstalling does not remove or reset these settings.

I would suggest upgrading to Audacity 1.3.7 - not just because it may avoid having to get involved in the Windows Registry, but because it is better in may ways. If the problem persists with 1.3.7, then we may need to reset the preferences, but that is much easier to do in 1.3.x as it uses a file instead of the registry.

[csm2]

Steve,

If I upgrade to 1.3 will it affect any tracks/projects that were done in 1.2 or should the transition be fairly smooth?

Thanks for your response,
Craig

[kozikowski]

You can install both 1.2 and 1.3 with no damage and 1.3 will open all 1.2 projects (not the other way 'round).

You can only open one Audacity at a time.

I do have a question about stacking Audacities like that. Will not 1.3 automatically assume the preferences of 1.2? Wouldn't that put you back where you started?

The later Audacity installs kept their preferences in their own file rather than The Dreaded Windows Registry. Mac and Linux do that always. You can "reinstall" Audacity by dumping the Preference file in the trash. Audacity will start from First Birthday and build a new one, unless you're on Windows 1.2.....

Koz

[csm2]

Thanks Koz & Steve for your help. I should have mentioned that I'm using an older MAC PPC G4 running 10.4.11. Will that make any difference in the procedure for trashing the Preferences file?

[steve]

I do have a question about stacking Audacities like that. Will not 1.3 automatically assume the preferences of 1.2? Wouldn't that put you back where you started?

On Windows, Audacity 1.3 will take some of the settings that Audacity 1.2 put in the registry, though it seems that invalid settings are often not accepted, but even if they are it is easier to wipe the settings in 1.3.

On Mac, I'm not sure how well behaved the transition is (your department koz ) but I think these days 1.3 is the preferred version on all platforms. (I'm lovin 1.3.8 alpha on my Linux box).

I should have mentioned that I'm using an older MAC PPC G4 running 10.4.11. Will that make any difference in the procedure for trashing the Preferences file?

Full details for trashing the preference file here: http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... tored.3F_2
Give us a shout if you get stuck.