Wednesday, December 14, 2011

IT HELL

All day...allllll day...trying to get software to enable features of my telescope and imaging systems.
1.   downloaded the latest software upgrades from Meade
2.   that didn't work
3.   searched online and found that Meade imaging does not work with 64bit systems
4.   tried to download Windows XP mode for Windows 7
5.   my version of Windows 7 doesn't support the download
6.   paid for a Windows upgrade and downloaded it
7.   it wouldn't load
8.   searched online and found that I needed to install all windows updates first
9.   performed the upgrade successfully
10. downloaded and installed Windows XP mode and Windows Virtual PC successfully
11. downloaded latest software upgrades from Meade into XP mode
12. still doesn't work.....yet.
13. one more day of this and I'm back to laying block....I know that will work.
14. 56,64,38,0,B

27 comments:

alam0tx said...

Well John...After reading all 14 items you have posted and reviewing all of the steps you have tried to get things working, I think I have discovered something...The weather isn't to bad out there to lay block...

K1MGY said...

Might be a good moment to make sure the safety is engaged on your sidearm.

There have been many times I wished I had one, or a sledgehammer, to bring an end to the type of horrors you describe.

zwango said...

Mac?

rj said...

buy a used pc with 32 bit xp for $200 or less

Bruce S said...

For me, most times hardware is more satisfying than software. Shoot the computer and lay block!

beckerized said...

Assuming you're talking about this Meade [http://www.meade.com/sitemap/index.html], I'm pretty sure I can pinpoint what you need to do to get it all working, but I'll need more detailed info that what you've posted so far.

1. Which model of their telescopes do you have?
2. Which version of Windows 7 are you running? (If you're unsure: Click the Start button, type "winver" in the search box, and then press Enter. )
3. Need the URL that points to the page where you downloaded the Meade software that you're trying to make work under Windows XP Mode (for Windows 7).
4. Where did you get the cable that you are attempting to use to connect the t-scope to the PC?

Also, as you're probably aware, there are non-Meade (3rd party) software/cable packages that work with Meade telescopes. i.e., this one currently for auction at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/505-cable-USB-adapter-Meade-ETX-90EC-AT-PE-/400234381664#vi-desc

Andy Newell said...

I can probably help too. I'm the Senior Build Lead for Windows at Microsoft. My team and I compiled Windows 7 and released it. At least 2 of us on my team have been watching your blog for some time.

I'm also the guy in Washington that worked on Ara Gureghian's hack when he was here in 2008.

If you need help from the MS side of things, give me a shout!

neil said...

http://meade4m.com/forum/index.php?topic=1747.0

neil said...

http://www.weasner.com/etx/astrophotography/2010/lpi-dsi_win7.html

2 Dogs said...

I'm convinced the computer jockeys that make and sell the programs design them that way to aggravate us and sell us more crap.

Just Me said...

I feel your pain on this one. I went through a similar thing with my Win7 OS laptop. What finally worked for me was setting up networking between the Win7 and the Virtual PC. Without the networking setup, neither files nor USB ports were able to be used by the Virtual PC.

Congrats on a million visitors! The counter is still a bit below that, but it was set up after the blog and I'm willing to bet you've already reached that million mark and just didn't count your fist few hundred visitors.

Rita B. said...

sounds like you called the calvary and they've replied. good luck.

mike said...

thank god for LINUX

JP said...

Lay More Block or get the Big Hammer! Might just go shoot something that looks like a computer. That would help me!

JP said...

Lay More Block or get the Big Hammer!
Might just go shoot something that looks like a computer. That would help me!

Anonymous said...

In my pc days, I remember those frustrating messages. Now that I have switched to Apple, Im happy as a kite. And you couldnt have convinced me of switching to a Mac back then but now I would never go back to PC.

Guy Hodges said...

This is the point where I put firearms in one building and ammunition in another.

John Jones said...

I can't believe none of the regulars posted a congrats on the 1,000,000 milestone. Congratulations John!! Great job.

alam0tx said...

Well John... Congratulations on the 1,000,000 Visitors and counting...

MsBelinda said...

John Jones - we are waiting on tonight's post to officially congratulate him as well as the 1,000,000 visitor :)

2 Dogs said...

One million ain't squat for a marketing genius like JW.

After he gits that long range telescop'in thaang and that camera to do talkies he outta do a million a month.

probly gonna need some danc'in girls too.

remmij said...

a Texas-sized paradox: leading the largely solitary life (biped wise) and having a million plus visitors over the the last ≈ 3 years.
Guess that is part of what makes it interesting.
Thanks for the discipline it takes to keep the blog going at the level you do... and for the great pictures.
Hoist a brewsky with Benita & crew today to mark the milestone and good luck with the block and IT work - looks like you have high level Microsoft support out of Seattle. Maybe they could download some rain your way.
Goldie would be proud of you.

Allison said...

Congratulations on hitting a million. It's pretty cool that you have developers reading your blog and offering help. We could all use that feature from time to time. Good luck with the upgrades, I often have to refrain from the thought of hurling the laptop like a discus.

Rev.JimmyLeeBob said...

That's almost enough to piss off the Pope but I've have my own quandary.... how the hell did Adebisi keep that hat on his head ?

epon said...

Congrats on 1M visitors, thanks for all the updates and maybe toss https://www.virtualbox.org/ on and see if that will get it going. It's not everyday you get a support offer from a Senior Build Lead though.

Billy said...

John,

I find that some times if I right click on the installer(or program) executable, go to the compatibility tab, then set it to run as windows xp and click ok, then try running the installer(or program) executable again and see if that works.

I find that alot of the times the non-64bit software will still work on 32 bit systems but that the installer package is the culprit in that the installer itself tries to verify the system specs before it will run.

If all else fails, you can usually extract the installer files with something like 7-Zip.

Good luck!
~billy

Allen Hare said...

Good luck, John. Looks like you've got major league support. So glad I got a Mac, though.