Hardware Editor Lock up

[zman]

Periodically the HE crashes or locks up, where it has to be closed out. If this happens, and you just re-launch the HE, you get the error message that the comm port is in use. What is the best way to clear this beside re-booting the computer. This has happened over the course of time, I just never stopped to ask what to do. It just happens to be happeining again tonight, so I thought I would ask. Now off for a re-boot.

[cmoore60]

What adapter are you using? If it is one of the USB adapters, try unplugging and then replugging.

Chuck

[edvas69]

I have had this issue before, for me it was when the computer went into standby with the LOR software running (communicating to the controllers), once it came out of standby it would crash when i tried to load a sequence or use the hardware (communicate to the controllers again). The way to overcome this is either disable the standby mode on your computer settings or if it does this then dont start the hardware monitor or run a sequence before you remove the USB dongle and then put it back in. It should work then. For me i just disabled the standby mode during the show season and then no problems

[zman]

I only use the RS485B units.

This is not the computer going to sleep, although I can see that would cause the same problem.

I am currently using Win7 64 on both my build and show computers. I have had this problem with XP, Vista and now Win 7, so for me it has been an occasional thing, but it has happened across multiple O/S's. I don't think I have tried to unplug theUSB cable and re-plugging. I can try that for surewhen I get off this biz trip.

I have just re-booted. Let's see if un-plugging it works.

[cmoore60]

Do you also have the most current drivers for the USB device?



Chuck

[zman]

Roger on that one.

[cmoore60]

Mark,

I do recall some issues in the past with the adapter causing problems with the computer. I think at that time there was some programming changed done.

You may want to send an email to support@lightorama.coma and give them all the details.

Chuck

[rwertz]

If you don't have the filtered USB cable, that might be something to try.

http://store.lightorama.com/usbcausewius.html

[LightORamaDan]

rwertz wrote:

If you don't have the filtered USB cable, that might be something to try.

http://store.lightorama.com/usbcausewius.html

A filtered cable (if one is not presently being used) will reduce the likelyhood of a lockup. If you do get a lockup then unplug the USB485 when you stop/kill the hardware utility.

FYI, some time ago, we replaced the communication code in the sequence editor and show player to reduce the chance for programs lockup when the USB port locks up but we have not replaced that code in the hardware utility yet.

Dan

[Fabian]

Most of my lockup issues (except for in Vista64) were mitigated by switching my four networks from the USB-RS-485B adapters to the newer USB-RS485-ISO versions. Before that lockups were very common, and an absolute certainty if I was using an HV "buzz box" light tester during display maintenance.

Dan, thanks for the info on the HW utility.

One thing that still always toasts a system to the point of requiring a reboot is unplugging the USB adapter while the HW utility is loaded, and then clicking on something within the HW utility OTHER THAN the exit button. There seems to be no easier recovery than a reboot for that once the utility goes non-responsive.

Fabian

[-klb-]

I discovered last year that just about any glitch to the inlet (110V) power cord on my laptop would lock up the USB port, and getting the HWU to work again usually took a reboot. Switching to the filtered USB cable really helped when upgrading that many controllers.