I’ve just about lost the will to live!

[Nick Minall]

did your PC work ok before with signlab? if so why do you need to upgrade it all now?

[Hugh Potter]

blimey, not a good thing, hope you get it sorted real soon,

i cant say i like using these guys who come out to your pc, lets face it, we do everything we possibly can before calling an ‘expert’, and then they spend hours doing exactly what we just did, then charge for it, then have to come back again at added cost, blah blah rant rant ….

good luck,

just a thought, is signlab the cut progam too or does it use a plug in for the cutter ? my summa winplot plug-in will let me source files from any part of the pc and cut them, what i’m saying is…. if you got some real basic stuff that needs drawing (ie quick stuff i can fit in) then feel free to let me have it and i’ll send it back so ya can get on with something, of course, this offer only good if you use a plug in cutter prog.

i’m supposed to be fitting van graphics today, nowt special, but i’m wondering whether or not to bother with the force 7 blowing out there !

[John & Dawn Roddick]

Lorraine

Signgo is a great programme which we used to use. You can download a free 30 day trial version from their website which I’m sure allows you to design and cut. This would at least get you back in operation until your problem is resolved.

http://www.signgo.com is their website

Dawn

[Lorraine Clinch]

It had been OK, then started getting a flicker which got worse, (TFT screen), prepared to get new screen when ONLY Signlab started mucking about, got a changing ‘mask’ almost, which sort of faded in & out, the mouse hid behind it, could only use pointer on the very toolbar (minimise/close etc)

Everything else was fine, then happened on the internet also…..

New graphics card did not stop it, doesnt happen on laptop (double memory at 512 or whatever…so he thinks it’s the memory.

I dont know, I am completely pi$$ed off with it.

oops, sorry, was answering 1st reply, found loads more so not making much sense (not that I do usually!)

[Lorraine Clinch]

Hugh, thanks for offer, don’t think it’ll work, cheers anyway though 😕
It’s absolutely heaving down here, so no chance of fitting anything even if I had something cut!!!!!!!!

Dawn, shall have a look. Can you import CDL files into Signgo do you know?

[Hugh Potter]

you’re welcome !

[John & Dawn Roddick]

Not sure whether CDL files can be imported

[Carrie Brown]

Oh dear Lorraine 😕 Hope it all gets sorted soon for you!! Its bad enough having one bad day …… but it sounds like your having a few!! Im sure it will all get sorted soon enough … things have to get better 😉

[Lee Pawlett]

hi i use corell draw for all my sign work and you should be able to cut ok with windows drivers, buy plugging into your com port and printing directly to the plotter using your laptop 🙄

[Peter Normington]

Lorraine its probably not the laptop that doesnot reco your plotter, you may need to set up the port, is it com or usb? if its the com port then possible baud rate and etc, may need adjusting.
Peter

[Hugh Potter]

quote Lorraine Clinch:

Dawn, shall have a look. Can you import CDL files into Signgo do you know?

dont quite get that bit, ‘dawn’ ? must’ve missed somethign ! not sure what a cdl file is, most progs like corel etc will let the art be exported as spetty much anything,

[Lee Pawlett]

hi the setting i use for my cx24 com1
bits per second: 9600, Data bits: 8, Paritty: none, stop bits: 1, flow control: hardware, and make sure the line you are cutting are set to hair line 😮

[Lorraine Clinch]

Hugh

‘John Roddick’ signed as ‘Dawn’.

Peter, laptop & desktop are LPT1 ports, and I only have LPT lead for the Roland. Have never had to alter settings off desktop PC cutter

[Peter Normington]

hugk cdl = cadlink. ie signlab files
Peter

[Peter Normington]

Lorraine, can you not try it on the serial port? dont know the cx24 but on the laptop it must be a port rather than a programme computer problem?

Also for LTP you may need to alter the bios setting to suit the plotter, EPP is one option but without restarting my computer cant remember the others

Peter

[Lorraine Clinch]

Peter I hooked it up to laptop yesterday, it told me it was LPT1, but nothing. Trying again now.

[Lorraine Clinch]

Well, I have actually cut something (!) (!) (!) It was in mirror image, which isn’t set up, but can live with that by setting mirror as default so it comes out the right way!

I’m not sure what I did, cos all I did was change a setting to ‘plug & play’ or something, and it worked straight after :thanks2: Peter for encouragement.

I’m now hopefully going to be steaming ahead – surrounded by cables, but what the heck.

Speak to you all later, shall be full of the joys of spring (I hope) 🙄

[Peter Normington]

I had the mirror image problem some time ago, I just uninstalled and reinstaled the plotter driver.
Peter

[Lorraine Clinch]

tbh Peter I daren’t! I am now cutting a job which should have been on the vehicle Tuesday, cust. irate yesterday when he nearly lost a regular customer cos his taxi wasnt signed & she couldnt find him! The sun is now shining so I’ll get the cab round ASAP.

[John Childs]

Lorraine,

I’m glad you’re cutting again. As an exclusive Mac user I could offer nothing useful to the discussion but now…….

Once you have got your main computer working again the most important thing is to learn something from the experience and make sure that you don’t get into this situation again.

This could be by investing some time in getting your laptop to work properly or buying a cheap pc as a stand-by. Neither of these options need be that expensive, certainly not when you weigh the cost against lost production, possible loss of customers etc etc.

I wouldn’t want to be in the position where my livlihood was dependent on the performance of one five hundred quid computer. I’ve been there and didn’t like it! 🙂

Regards – John

[Jayne Marsh]

I not a computer person really but I take it you’ve reformatted the hard drive? If not have you checked for any virus’s that could be mucking things up? Just a thought. I know when my hubby gets in he’ll be keen to help as he loves fixing peoples pc’s…………..I know nothing and let him get on with it 😮
Anyway Im glad you’ve got something working for now.

[Lorraine Clinch]

Hard drive re-formatted twice in 5 days. No viruses.

Too many graphics on page crashes it, trying to change colours crashes even quicker!

Havent done too much with laptop until today, just imported vehicle outline & 2 beeline eps pictures, tried to change colour, crashed. This is on my 5-month old laptop. (PC is only a year old!) Looks like nothing likes Signlab any more! (hot)

Think I’ll go back to full-time nursing.

[Kevin.Beck]

This sort of trouble highlights the need for a “just in case computer.

When I buy another computer, I never get rid of the old one. It becomes the “just in case” computer. I just box it up and store it.

My last computer went down, phoned up the shop I got it from, who advertised in the YP ” 2 years free call out repairs”. The seller said I`ll be there in 2 weeks.

What use is that to a business……… 👿

The sub computer might be old, but at least it will get you out of trouble…

[Bryan Cabrera]

Hi Lorraine,

Sorry if I am repeating anything haven’t read all the replies.

If you are experiencing crashes even after reformatting and reinstalling you may be a Memory Chip Problem.

How much RAM do you have in your machine? You may want to swap out the Memory and see what happens. It is not an uncommon problem, we have both PC’s and Mac’s and seen it happen on both platforms.

Bryan

[Nick Minall]

Hi Lorraine,

Just a thought is signlab on disk? maybe it has a problem and not installing its self properly, can you down load a demo? don’t use signlab myself so don’t know if you can do that.

Good luck

Nick

[cw products]

Hi Lorraine,
Just a quick comment.
Did you have windows xp as you o/s on your old computer, I have had problems with signlab 5 and xp, I use windows me and its fine. hope you get it sorted. chalk

[autosign]

You certainly don’t need a bigger hard drive or ‘double’ memory, but seeing as the GFX card wasn’t the problem it may well be a faulty memory chip. I reckon bad memory is the cause of 75% of PC probs. I’ve put new sticks in 3 different PC’s recently and had problems with all of them.

The cash you’ve spent on engineers could have bought you a new base unit and like others have said, always have a back up PC that can be called in to service when things like this happen.

You can put together a perfectly respectable base unit for about £300.

[Jayne Marsh]

After speaking to my hubby, he suggested contacting cadlink and making sure that you have all the latest updates for your version of signlab and that your o/s is compatible with your version of signlab. This might be the best thing to do before you spend too much money on your pc as this might not be the cause of your problems. Its worth a telephone call to rule out software issues.
Cadlink can be contacted on 01462 420222
I hope Im not breaking any rules here 😳

[John Singh]

So sad to hear you’ve had some miserable days
I’ve learnt from having similar experiences
Just as the others have said: Keep a back up base
I bought a back up and loaded up everything so that if my working base unit went kaput it would be a quick and easy transfer

Its good to load the programs to save time

Mind you it could be the OS
I had a few blips when I changed to XP with an older version of Signlab

Hope you get it sorted

[Vitor Brito]

Hi Lorraine

As said before i think you should check 1st if there is any issue with software related staff before going for the hardware investment.

I don’t use signlab, but recently i bought a brand new computer to operate my laser engraver, 3.4 Ghz, 1 GB memory, bla bla bla, and i had a similar problem with CorelDraw when converting outlines to objects it just frozes.
Tried everything said here before, new memory sticks, diferent GFX, reformat HD, etc… just to find that it was the motherboard firmware that needed an update, altough it could be very frustating you should, in a trial and error basis try to eliminate ALL software related probs before upgrading anything.

Best Luck
Vitor Brito

[Lorraine Clinch]

Hi everyone, thanks for all your supportive replies.

Yesterday was great, got some cutting done, happy all round. Today-not cutting again! Haven’t got a clue why, must be something to do with communication between laptop & CX24, all I can do is wait until the expert returns next week.

Re back-up comp., I do have my old one from last year, but that had been playing up (lightening strike), so didn’t even consider getting that out – and yes, now everything is surge-protected, that was one very expensive lesson learnt!

I am going to shut up shop shortly (half day Sats) and start again monday.

Hope you all have a great weekend

Lorraine

[Tim Painter]

Lorraine

Do you have Corel Draw on your Laptop?

If you do and have the Roland driver installed have you tried cutting from Corel Draw? This may help to figure out if it is a SL issue or driver / port.

[Lorraine Clinch]

Hi Tim

i do have CorelDraw 12, unfortunately i don’t have a clue how to use it. i know that is pathetic, but it’s true. I was taught on Signlab, use corel only as another means of getting some file-types in.

I just opened Corel to try it, and haven’t a clue where to start, so I’m not going to. (Not today, anyway)

[John Cornfield]

moral for everyone is don’t just backup have a backup! I have to agree withbecky and would take it further learn from Lorraines experience and do something now.

computer costs these days are minimal £500 would get you a pretty decent pc get it without monitor ad keyboard and you have got a a powerhouse for signwork. Get everything installed and then use the new one as your primary machine.

take your old one packit up nice and safe you know it works you have piece of mind that you will have no down time cause of computers.

Not a lot of money and more importantly you won’t lose business or cred from customers.

Lets face it for most of us the current pc in use has probably paid for itself!

If you have a pc at home or a laptop spend the quiet afternoon setting it up so you know you just have to plug it in to get going. Nothing worse than pulling your hair out when under pressure do this stuff when the pessure is off and keep the stress levels down!

Cheers

JC

[Robert Lambie]

lorraine, nightmare sotry, but glad your getting back on top of things.

a tip, that may/may not be a route you want to take… but…. you are a uksg member. with contacting capabilities, even if not quick enough, contact me and ill contact the member by phone for you… anyway, lets say your out the game for a week again. post in the members section that you need help. by sending the file you need cut by email to any member… they could cut it for you and post it out via carrier. you would have it next morning. yes, its going to cost you more this way, but customer isnt aware of it, while the job is being cut and prepped by the member, you are trying to get the machine working again. so two things being attended to at once and at least you wont have pulled all the hair out on your head by then :lol1: oh and because the biggest part of us use oracal colour matching etc shouldnt be an issue…

jayne: nop. no rules broken by your post. 😀

i also agree with becky and john, backups of some sort are a must these days. we recently networked all our comps again. thise time every computer runs “almost” exactly the same software, fonts, operating systems etc one goes down another takes over.

[David Rowland]

Our RIP died a day before a paid engineer was turning up this week!!!! Hard drive clicking noise = terminal. Luckly I don’t have anything important on that machine. Was 1:30am working on the PC though.

[Lorraine Clinch]

OK. I have a query which all you computer buffs may be able to answer for me.

If a Signlab file has a fair bit going on, ie. vehicle outlines, design on them, and a couple of eps. files in out of Beeline (or whatever),

why should it freeze & not respond when I add a colour to one of the graphics?

This has happened many times, and not only since I got the recent problems with my PC.

As I’ve said before, it’s not the graphics card, so could it be the memory? (256 @ the mo). Also, how do you know if the memory chip is faulty-is there a test, or do I just say get rid & replace anyway?

Sorry for so many questions, tahnks everyone

Lorraine

[Nicola McIntosh]

hi lorraine it sounds like a memory problem to me also…cause the same thing happened to me….so i replaced it, i also reduced the amount in the undo, in the signlab set-up i never get any freezes or crashes now. i have also stopped this particular machine from accessing the internet which has helped too 😀

nik

[autosign]

Also, 256mb is really the bare minimum. You should have at least 512mb.

[Kevin.Beck]

got to admit,

all the computers that have caused me major problems have been conected to the net.

we have production comps only, and 1 for the internet/emails/invoices etc.

[Peter Normington]

256 memory should not be a problem, I run sl7 on this computer, stay on the net(safegaurds in place) Windows xp sp2 etc no crashes, freezes etc.
ammount of memery is not the same as a memory problem.

Peter

[Nicola McIntosh]

quote becky:

we have production comps only, and 1 for the internet/emails/invoices etc.

thats what i have also…no network nothing, the only one which has access to the internet, is the one im on now in my house 😀 work pc’s are all seperate doing different things, makes life so much easier and work gets done quicker 😉

nik

[Nick Minall]

quote Lorraine Clinch:

OK. I have a query which all you computer buffs may be able to answer for me.

If a Signlab file has a fair bit going on, ie. vehicle outlines, design on them, and a couple of eps. files in out of Beeline (or whatever),

why should it freeze & not respond when I add a colour to one of the graphics?

This has happened many times, and not only since I got the recent problems with my PC.

As I’ve said before, it’s not the graphics card, so could it be the memory? (256 @ the mo). Also, how do you know if the memory chip is faulty-is there a test, or do I just say get rid & replace anyway?

Sorry for so many questions, tahnks everyone

Lorraine

try this from microsoft for testing ram http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

hope it works!

[Nick Minall]

PS Lorraine what area are in?

[David Rowland]

This is what I use to determine if memory is faulty, it takes about an hour to do a good test
http://www.memtest.org/

Ideally you place memtest onto a CD or a Floppy disk, hopefully your computer is configured to look for a boot device and then startup normally. Non-branded memory sometimes can cause problems.. I think you said it was a not-responding error, which could be memory but if you get Blue-Screen error messages or a FROZEN mouse pointer then you must say. Are you able to repeat the same pattern of events with the same file over and over again?

If in doubt a computer tech would help u but if you can get memtest working it will tell u if the computer has hardware issues.

[Gordon Forbes]

You have never mentioned the type of graphics card that you are using.
Is it an AGP (most probably) PCI Express or dare I mention it shared from the motherboard in my opinion a big no no as it also uses memory to work.
I have been told that it is better to have a very good 2d card instead of a good 3d gaming card in this type of PC.
Could this be a cause of some of your problems.
If you do a search on the internet you can down load utilities that will tell you all that is running on your PC hogging memory and there are other sites which tell you the services that you can do without that run in the background in Windows XP many of these can be turned off especially on a stand alone computer. Do you really need to send error reports etc etc.

Hijack this is a good utility which will tell you everything about what is running in the background.
Black Viper is a brilliant web site telling you which srevices you can and cannot turn off. (HIS SITE IS CURRENTLY DOWN) but I have an archive of it somewhere.
What other programs have you on the computer?
Has Signlab always done this on this PC?
Was it a gradual thing (as you get more and more clutter it slows down anyway)
After the reformat did you just instal the essentials and try that eg Signlab
Office and graphics programe and try using it then and if you did you have any trouble or did you just load everything one as it was ans start again.
Also when you copy files from a CD check the properties of the files transferred and ensure they are not read only (if they are just untick the box) this can cause a lot of problems.

I don’t care what anyone says as for memory for the price at the moment cheapest upgrade you can do and one of the best get 1gb then you know it isn’t a problem.

Wel a few more things to ponder.
Goop

just some other points to ponder