GPIB issue with solartron 1260 and 1287

[xiaojun2013]

Our old computer of Solartron 1260 and 1287 was down recently, I managed to transfer the GPIB card to a computer with Windows 2000 system, and installed NI-488.2 v2.7.3 driver. It seems the computer recognised the GPIB. However, when I tried to run the CorrWare, the computer automatically restarted without any warning. I wonder what's the solution for this problem? Any hint for additional installation I might missed? 

[JÞB]

I hate to say it but ..... a quick search told me CorrWare dropped support for Windows 2000 (as have most software vendors)  Whats keeping you in the dark-ages?

[xiaojun2013]

Thank you very much for your reply. Our old computer and its CorrWare were back to 2001, since then they were not updated. I am just trying to get it back to work in a economic way in terms of time and money. Since the question has been raised, where could I get an updated CorrWare for a new computer? By the way, I can install the old version of CorrWare to any computer, is there anything related to CorrWare support?

But my original question is still there: why by swapping the old CorrWare and old GPIB card to another computer, the computer doesn't work properly?

[JÞB]

"why by swapping the old CorrWare and old GPIB card to another computer, the computer doesn't work properly?"

That would be a good question to ask scribner. 

 Although, you never know what you'll learn here-  but, I have zero experience on this software.  I would point out that there is very little economy to be found maintaining obsolete systems-  as you are finding out.

[tim.h]

Hi xiaojun2013,

Are you still having this issue? Can I ask a few questions to clarify the situation for me?

Did the old computer run windows 2000?

Did you install the same version of CorrWare on the new windows 2000 PC? Could it have tried to update automatically?

How did you confirm that the PC recognised the GPIB? Did you use NI MAX as described in chapter 2 of theNI 488.2 manual? 

What model of GPIB card do you have?

In response to your second question: It seems you can get a new version of CorrWare here

[xiaojun2013]

Hi Tim,

Thank you for your reply. I am still have the issue.


Did the old computer run windows 2000?

Yes.


Did you install the same version of CorrWare on the new windows 2000 PC? Could it have tried to update automatically?

Yes. I have tried to install the new version CorrWare 3.3e , but the same problem, automatically restart.


How did you confirm that the PC recognised the GPIB? Did you use NI MAX as described in chapter 2 of theNI 488.2 manual?
I tried NI MAX, and it did find the GPIB card. However, when it tried to communicate with 1260 analyser, it showed 'the device did not response to *IDN query', as shown in attachement. Do I need to install the driver of 1260 analyser (http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.model_page?p_model_id=866)? I am confused which one should be installed. And It requires NI VISA 1.2, I am not sure which package to download.


What model of GPIB card do you have?
PCI-GPIB 488.2

[Albert.Geven]

Do not forget to slow the bus speed downto 2 micro seconds. The Solartron should be recognized as an old lady....

[xiaojun2013]

Thank you for your reply. 

Some more information: When GPIB scans for instruments, four devices (0-3) were found. They all did not response to a '*IDN?' query. NI Spy was used to monitor the process, showing the warning as attached picture. I am wondering what are the four devices, since only solartron 1260 and 1287 were connected to GPIB.

More weird thing is I tried Communicator to send query by clicking the 'query' button of the device 0, for just once the string received was ‘Schlumberger balabala’, which also showed on the front panel of 1287 (followed by ‘beak in’. After this string, no matter how hard I tried to send query to other devices, only hanging. 

[Dennis_Knutson]

Attaching a fuzzy picture does not help. Don't you know how to do a screen print on the computer where the program is running? You can also attach the actual NI-Spy file.

With old instruments not responding to the idn command is common. You need to look up the correct command in the manual.

If you can successfully communicate to the instruments in MAX then there is no problem with NI hardware or software.

[JÞB]

More weird thing is I tried Communicator to send query by clicking the 'query' button of the device 0, for just once the string received was ‘Schlumberger balabala’

Easter Egg!   What do you say when you are asked silly question?  That device seems to say Schlumberger balabala.  and hangs onto the bus.

Follow Dennis' excellant advice and read the manual

Oh, each instrument probably has two addresses; one to talk, one to listen.  That wasn't common even for the really old instruments but the IEEE 488 standard supports it.  (No one does that anymore because, we learned better in the last 50 years)

{Edit} Yup http://www.solartronanalytical.com/Support-Center/FAQ/FAQ-General/How-can-I-troubleshoot-GPIB-proble...

Solartron products only support even numbered addresses..This was a common way of preventing the talker address from being "Automatically" assigned to 32..

MAX will not find Solartron devices...

You probably do not have a problem here.  Things work as advertized.

I love the "If this does not help then consult the National Instruments Troubleshooting DAQ and GPIB Installation Problems web page. " (No hyperlink provided)  statement