Out in the workshop I have upgraded the kit that runs the CNC machine from a Windows 7 PC.
This includes a lump of hardware (motion controller) that plugs in to the CNC machine and connects to the PC via a USB cable.
The installation process begins with installing the software, then you connect the motion controller to the PC and it installs the required USB driver and off you go.
All works well and I did some fancy milling and was well pleased with myself, switched off for the day.
Returned next morning and the software puts up an error message - "motion controller not found". A check in "Device Manager" and the driver has gone.
Windows had done some automatic updates, disabled that function, uninstalled the software, went back to a restore point, reinstalled the software and all worked well.
Returned next morning to the same problem.
Unstable software? Or something else?
Any ideas?
Because you went back to a restore point Windows may have reinstalled the updates.
Unplug the usb and plug it back in and see if windows installs the driver again
Stayed off line whilst dealing with the problem and disabled auto updates.
Tried the unplug and replace trick as well to no avail.
With a lot of faffing about, I got it going again, but I am not certain how I did it.
We will see what happens when I try again tomorrow.
Thanks for the suggestions Sandy, if you (or anyone else) thinks of anything further, please post.
Windows 7 can be funny depending on how old the software is. If you have to start again, try running the software "As Administrator" by right clicking on it and selecting that option from the menu. Then install the drivers if you have to. I had a weird issue with Phototshop CS2, no matter how many times I registered it it always prompted me to register when I started it up. Running it "As Administrator" once and then registering cured that.
Well, it worked for a week and then the same problem appeared- worked fine in the morning, closed down for lunch, re-booted - fecked!
Usual tricks - uninstall, reinstall, run as administrator, so on. Nothing, zip, zero. The USB driver just will not install.
My view is that it is either unstable software or a Windows issue, but I need it to work and it has cost me a few bob.
So I am willing to pay to get this fixed- any ideas?
Have you tried it in all the usb ports there will be usb 2 and 3 ports?
Have you tried a different lead?
Did you go to the manufacturers website to see if there is a driver and install it manually?
Tried all of that Sandy.
It seemed that the problem turns up when the PC is switched off and then restarted. (yes, I know, leave it switched on....)
Uninstalled and cleaned the registry for any leftovers. Installed from the start on the PC and a laptop. It ran fine on both, the driver appears under "Device Manager" - "USB Drivers" but I wanted to test it after shut down.
For insurance I created a manual restore point on both machines, then closed both down.
On restart, both machines failed and the driver was missing from the list!
I found this.
http://code.kliu.org/.etc/7601usbfix/ (http://code.kliu.org/.etc/7601usbfix/)
Worth a try if you haven't seen it.
Nice find Sandy, I'll give that a try tomorrow.
Thanks
Ken