cutter not communicating with software

[1artgirl]

Sorry Penny - not you, Thyme - tells me about a link to the driver I need to be up and running and then won't give me the link. Sherri is working on it - maybe tomorrow I will be able to cut.

[PennyDuncan]

Ok....gotcha!!! Sorry girl.....

[Angel135612]

Tyler I just went to the BCLearning Center, Cougar Manual, Setting up with SCAL 3,when I got to Download the Driver, and tried to click on the link to the BC Plugin, it will not open the page, it says the address wasn't understood. I'm not sure if this is the plug in that artgirl needs or not. But either way, just wanted to give you a heads up that the link is broken.

[1artgirl]

I couldn't get that to download either. I remember trying.

[Tyler]

The problem has nothing to do with the mother board - it works fine. It just has a little older firmware that was before SCAL was made to work with the BC's...it is being worked on.

Linda and I worked on the problem this morning. I did check her driver and it is up to date. Right now, nothing can be done until we hear from Craft Edge.

I will add delete the driver link to the list - you can install the driver directly from SCAL so that should not be needed.

[Thyme]

To clarify, the USB-Serial CH341A driver is an OUTDATED driver.
However I have spoken with Sherri and she (along with Brandon) will deal with this issue.

[1artgirl]

I got the link for Sure Cuts A Lot 3.031 from Brandon. Loaded it, rebooted my computer and it still will not communicate with the machine. It uses the same USB-Serial CH341A driver.

NOW WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

SO FRUSTRATING -

[Thyme]

What operating system are you using?

[1artgirl]

Win7

[Thyme]

I think you will find that the CH341A driver is not compatible with Windows 7 but as I said previously I am leaving this to Sherri and Brandon

[1artgirl]

Okay, thank you for trying -

[Suzan]

I am going to thru my nickel's worth in here. When I have had problems with software. Hubby always has me right click on the icon and choose properties, then change the compatibility mode. You might want to try that and choose Vista over windows 7. I have had to do that with a couple of things on my new computer. It might help. This new computer of mine is driving me crazy. Funny thing my last computer was a windows 7 computer also. Another thing. if your computer is new. Try changing the port your machine is plugged into. I mean physically move it. A USB 3 type port has blue on the inside, a USB 2 port is just a normal color. This also might help. Don't give up though. They will get you running for sure.

[Gigi]

Suzan - you got me to thinking - scary I know.

The other thing my computer guy has suggested at various times, is right click on the driver in device manager and uninstall. Then restart the computer and let it find the driver. Often times that will clear up any conflict.

Just a thought and it's relatively easy....might be worth a shot. Worst case scenario you have to reinstall the software again, but I have never had to do that. Have not tried it with SCAL, but have with other programs and it has helped.......

[Suzan]

Oh Gigi, we are scary. But one thing that my dad always taught me. You keep pushing buttons til the computers says ARE YOU REALLY SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS. lol

[Suzan]

Another thing I am going to try is to hook up an old USB 2 hub, and trying it that way also. It is so weird. This is my scenario. I open signcut, and it stops, usually after four or five tries I can keep it open, but if I hit the cut button it says it is stopping working. I think it is also doing other strange things because I can't get my silver bullet to calibrate for print and cut. It is going really wacky with that one. LOL.

[Gigi]

How strange Suzan - gotta love technology until it cramps your style - or thinks it knows what you really want to do - and is SO wrong!!!

[Suzan]

[Suzan]

Here is another thought you are using a usb cable. I think you might need a keyspan adapter. I use one still even though I have a brand new machine and computer. My cougar was one of the older ones. And I had to use a keyspan adapter from the very beginning. They are around 30.00 dollars. And if it doesn't work I would feel bad. But it is worth a shot.

[Retta]

My keyspan makes communication between the computer and the cutter much better, just like the old printer cables they are more reliable in sending the info. better or faster. worth a shot!

[Gigi]

Guys --

I am 99.9%sure it is NOT the Keyspan. How do I know? Because this was my machine and I had the keyspan connected when I got the communication error. When Sherri received the machine she was running an earlier version of SCAL and it worked fine. When she updated to the version that I had, 3.029, she received the immediate communication error. So she contacted Brandon and he sent a newer version of SCAL, 3.030, and she was able to cut with absolutely no problems. So the machine was shipped in good faith because it was working beautifully.

Since then, Sherri has been in contact with the customer numerous times and the problem is being handled.

As an aside, I am now using the Silver Bullet with no Keyspan and no problems. I know this will be resolved by Sherri to Linda's satisfaction because that's just what Sherri does!