Problems with Windows2000/Cumulus1.8.XX

[Jack]

Hi all

I have problems with windows2000 / Cumulus 1.8.x (Weather station is WH1080)
When I start Cumulus it only says "downloading data" and stucks this point.
Older versions working perfectly. Any ideas what is the problem?

I also tested Cumulus 1.8.1 with windows XP and there is not any problems. But I can't use that
PC-for Cumulus.

Jack

[broadstairs]

I cant suggest a fix but I can say that my Cumulus runs on a Windows 2000 pro system with no problems at all, I do have a Davis VP1 though so could it be a problem with the connection to your weather station?

Stuart

[steve]

Yes, someone else with a Fine Offset station is having the same problem with Windows 2000. It's a USB problem.

For some reason the USB data doesn't come back in the same way with Windows 2000 as it does with XP. With XP, when Cumulus asks for a block of data from the station, it always gets two lots of 8 bytes. With 2000, it sometimes gets two lots of 8, and sometimes only one lot. As you might imagine, this makes things rather difficult if you don't know whether the station has stopped sending the data yet.

It's probably the way I am driving the USB interface. Until I did the support for the Fine Offset stations, I had never programmed for a USB device, so I may well be doing it in a way that just happens to work with XP, but not 2000.

I will try to investigate further when I get my PC back up and running.

[dc1500]

Yes, as Steve says, I have the same issue with my Watson W-8681. I managed to get it to upload once to Windows 2K Pro after installing Service Pack 4 but once it was turned off and on again it has reverted to just locking up with the "downloading data" box displayed. So, as you say, Windows 2k runs the non-datalogged version of Cumulus, uploads Easyweather data via USB and Davis Pro through a serial link so I suspect a fix will emerge at some point.

Dave

[steve]

I've just realised I've clearly missed the fact it works OK on Windows 2000 with 1.7.x! (Must install one of those 'slap head' emoticons). As far as I can remember, I'm driving the station in exactly the same way in 1.8.x as in 1.7.x, ignoring the fact that 1.8.x uses the history data. There must be some subtle difference.

This gives me something to look at and makes me much more confident that I'll be able to fix it.

[Jack]

Ok, Thanks for information.
It's also nice to hear at this isn't totally unique problem.

Jack

[dc1500]

Unfortunately I just reinstalled v1.7.15 on Windows 2K machine and it still won't pick up anything in direct mode. Sorry. Nothing's simple is it? !

Dave

[Jack]

I have different experience. I have installed v.1.8.0 and 1.8.1 versions several times for some "testings" and every time I have reinstalled v.1.7.17 without any problems.

Jack