Audio dropouts – Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP

I’ve been experiencing audio dropouts with my Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP recently. Basically, I’m getting audio dropouts that are sometimes intermittent and sometimes permanent. Re-starting the computer usually sorts this. Ive just noticed the during the last permanent no audio problem that the audio device in the device setup had been de-selected from using my Focusrtie interface. Something seems to be causing this to be de-selected within Cubase 8. Also, my computer is crashing or freezing on a weekly basis! At the moment I have four versions of Cubase installed (5,6,7 & 8). I’ve been slack in not uninstalling older versions so have my vsts installed in several different VST folders within each version of Cubase. When I load Cubase 8 it is loading vst’s from 5,6 & 7. Not only that, some of that software are beta versions so there could easily be a conflict going on somewhere. I’m hoping that a wiping my PC and doing a completely fresh install of Windows 7 with only Cubase 8 and no beta software will solve the problem.

Any other thoughts/suggestions?