[IQChallenged]

I suggest you run a driver Test in mach first.

I think I used to know how to do that. Pretty sure it's in the Mach tutorials. Can you save me some time and tell me how. If it's too lengthy I'll just go to the tutorials.

[ger21]

In the Mach3 folder, double click Drivertest.exe

[ger21]

I can't help but wonder if I'm the only dumb-ass in this club.

Membership varies, but can be pretty large at times.

[IQChallenged]

Membership varies, but can be pretty large at times.

That's not what you were supposed to say.

[IQChallenged]

In the Mach3 folder, double click Drivertest.exe

I assume that I do that while the CNC is powered up? Does it check each Gecko individually or what?

[IQChallenged]

That was probably a dumb question. It probably checks the Mach (computer) driver not the Geckos. I have no shame.

[IQChallenged]

Let the record show that I took another complete computer to the basement and used it to run my CNC. The part was still goofy. So that's one more thing eliminated.

[jalessi]

Is a printer driver running on either machine?

Have you checked to see if any printers may have been installed in settings , Printers and Faxes?

When something in windows polls a printer Mach3 goes crazy.

Have you tried running "msconfig" or some other startup utility editor to make sure nothing is loading and running in the background on either machine?

Jeff Alessi

[IQChallenged]

Is a printer driver running on either machine?

Have you checked to see if any printers may have been installed in settings , Printers and Faxes?

When something in windows polls a printer Mach3 goes crazy.

Have you tried running "msconfig" or some other startup utility editor to make sure nothing is loading and running in the background on either machine?

Jeff Alessi

CrevisReamer suggested I open the Task Mgr. Nothing else was running. And again-- this thing just started doing this out of the blue. It's an old computer dedicated solely to my CNC machine.

[jalessi]

If you look under the "Processes Tab" of "Task Manager" you will see several dozen processes running.

There may be a process that talks to the printer port, or polls the print que.

You need to determine if any of the processes are in conflict with Mach3

Also has the computer bios been changed, is it possible something is sharing a irq - interupt? On board video, modem etc...

Jeff

[jalessi]

(This file has been updated to exclude the least effective items)


NOTE: ***** Before doing ANY optimising, run MAch3 first, odds are you dont need to optimise.
***** and before optimising, use msconfig to shut off all Startup Items, then reboot.
Killing startup Items fixed 90% of computers having any troubel with MAch3.
Optimising should NEVER be done prior to knowing a problem exists.


Windows XP Professional System Optimization Guide:


0. Install Windows in Standard PC Mode

1. When you see the installation tell you to press F6 (Third Party
SCSI or RAID Drivers) press F5 instead.
2. You will see Press F2 for Automated System Recovery, (DONT press
F2).
3. Right after that you will see a list.
4. Press the UP arrow key to highlight Standard PC.


When installing, make SURE you install all of the most recent drivers
for your
Hardware. This is vital!


6. Disable Automatic Updates

1. Right Click My Computer and select Properties
2. Click Automatic Updates tab.
3. Uncheck Keep my computer updated..
4. Click OK.


7. Disable Remote Assistance

1. Right Click My Computer and select Properties
2. Click Remote tab.
3. Uncheck "Allow Remote Assistance Invitations.".
4. Click OK.



******** NOte ****************************

(The following step shoudl not be done unless all else fails. It is usually only necessary
for laptops that vary their frequency badly, and sometimes fails to help. So skip this unless
everythign else fails to fix any trouble )!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9. Set Computer to Standard PC NOT ACPI PC
NOTE: This is only necessary if you wish to remove ACPI AFTER install.
If you followed step 0, you don't need to do this.


1. Right Click My Computer and select Properties
2. Click Hardware tab.
3. Click Device Manager Button in the middle.
4. Double click "Computer".
5. Right click on Standard ACPI PC and choose Update Driver.
6. Choose "Install the software from a Specific Location (Advanced)"
7. Click Next.
8. Choose "Don't search. I will choose driver to install."
9. Click Next.
10. Choose "Standard PC" from the listing.
11. Click Next.
12. Click OK.

********************************************


11. Disable Startup Items in Registry

1. Click Start button.
2. Click Run.
3. Type MSCONFIG and press [ENTER].
4. Click Startup tab.
5. Uncheck everything
6. Click OK.
7. Exit MSCONFIG.


12. Disable Startup Program Group Items in Start Menu

1. Right click Start button and choose Open.
2. Double click Programs.
3. Double click Startup.
4. Delete anything you think you don't need.
5. Close window.



16. Set Windows Theme to CLASSIC

1. Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click on Themes tab
3. Set Themes to Windows Classic
4. Hit OK


17. Disable Indexing on all NTFS drives

1. Double click My Computer.
2. Right click on hard drive and choose Properties.
3. On bottom, uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this file for
faster searching". 4. Hit OK.


18. Run diskperf -n

1. Click the Start Button.
2. Click Run.
3. Type DISKPERF -N and press [ENTER].




20. Disable MSN Messenger

1. Double click on the Messenger icon in the system tray to open it.
2. Skip thru the internet and sign up stuff, just cancel it.
3. When Messenger loads go to Tools -> Options then Preferences.
4. Uncheck 'Run this program when windows starts'


21. Disable Power Management

1. Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click on the Screen Saver tab.
3. Set Screensaver to None.
4. Press the Power button near the bottom.
5. Set all options to NEVER shut down automatically!


22. Disable Wallpaper

1. Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click on the Desktop tab.
3. Where it says Background, scroll all the way up and choose None.
4. Click OK.


23. Disable System Sounds

1. Click Start Button.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Control Panel
4. Double click Sounds and Audio Devices.
5. Click Sounds tab.
6. For Sound Scheme, choose "No Sounds".
7. Click OK.



25. Install Programs

Do not install any programs you will not use. Only install programs
that you DEPEND on for what you do on your computer. Keeping things
lean and mean will keep your system fast and stable.


26. Maintain Hard disk

1. Double click on My Computer.
2. Right click on Hard Disk and choose Properties.
3. Click Tools tab.
4. For Error Checking click Check Now. Do before Defrag!
5. Click Defragment Now, AFTER Error Checking completes.
6. Click OK.

[IQChallenged]

If you look under the "Processes Tab" of "Task Manager" you will see several dozen processes running.

There may be a process that talks to the printer port, or polls the print que.

You need to determine if any of the processes are in conflict with Mach3

Also has the computer bios been changed, is it possible something is sharing a irq - interupt? On board video, modem etc...

Jeff

I will check but this computer was stripped out of it's tower and mounted in a Plexiglas box with all my other CNC components where it has been sequestered for a couple of years. It has no outside contact with the world including the Internet. It lives a lonely life doing nothing but running Mach for my CNC machine. Wait a damned minute! You jogged my memory. I recently bought a USB card because I got tired of making Gcode upstairs, putting it on a floppy, running downstairs and putting it on the CNC computer. I was limited to 1.44kb or whatever floppys have. So I got the USB card. It's probably one of the last computers made without USB. And the CD player quit working so I couldn't install the driver that came with the card. So I ran a temporary Internet cable from upstairs so I could go online to get a driver. I may have really screwed up things. But-- I did carry my office computer down there this afternoon. Still got the crazy runs. I've done so many things I can't keep up with them. I posted the gcode earlier. Maybe someone will run it.

[IQChallenged]

25. Install Programs

Gee Whiz!!! Can you just come over and do that for me. I'll make some baloney sandwiches. Whew!

[jalessi]

Hey Cat,

I have not had a baloney sandwich for 25 years, they served them at the "Hotel California" in Chicago.
I did'nt enjoy it, since the sandwich was served with mayo.
I myself would have prefered plain yellow mustard.

Where are you located, maybe a Zone member will offer to help.

I'll bring the mustard.

Jeff...

[IQChallenged]

Jalessi went to a lot of trouble to produce a trouble shooting/installation sequence for my PC. I feel like I went one better by substituting another PC. Unless I've overlooked something the breakout board is the only thing that has not been substituted. The code could be bad but I only have one CNC machine. In a simulated run it looks fine in Mach. All my code begins in Sketch Up and then to SheetCam and then to my CNC machine. It has always been stone accurate and reliable. Now it's not. The last three things I've run were "off-script". I realize how unlikely it is that a perfectly good BOB would just go crazy. But what else can I do. Can I take a printer cable, cut the end of it off and hook the appropriate wires to the Geckos???

[IQChallenged]

Where are you located, maybe a Zone member will offer to help.

It would be hard for me to arrange that because of "my life". There's only so many things it can be so I'm sure I'll eventually get it. But thanks for the thought. I was intrigued by your website but most of what I clicked on was under construction. Are you a biker? I was a MC mechanic for over twenty years. No computers involved at the time. I did alright.

[IQChallenged]

Can I do this to eliminate the BOB?

[jalessi]

IQChallenged,

I can not take credit for making the trouble shooting guide for Mach3,
it was provided by a talented member of the Mach3 Forum.

I ride motorcycles on the street, however I do not have a motorcycle website.

My current endevors include making artwear.

See attached link.

http://tinyurl.com/2xjgpy

I did not catch your name by the way?

Jeff...

[jalessi]

Yes, the cable you documented will work as intended

Jeff...

[IQChallenged]

IQChallenged,

I can not take credit for making the trouble shooting guide for Mach3,
it was provided by a talented member of the Mach3 Forum.

I ride motorcycles on the street, however I do not have a motorcycle website.

My current endevors include making artwear.

See attached link.

http://tinyurl.com/2xjgpy

I did not catch your name by the way?

Jeff...

That's some b-yootiful stuff. Hard to believe anyone could make such things. Name's Bill.