We have experienced a similar phenomenon-the software began to behave
erratically and eventually even WindowsNT refused to function.  Eventually
we diagnosed the problem as being due to a recent install of the WinNT
service pack 6-the installation corrupted some wierdo drivers which were
necessary for the LCS software build we were using (2.378-2 I think) to
function correctly.  So we reformatted and used our handy-dandy Leica
restore disks which turned out to be useless because our calibration files
were for a newer build version than the restore cds. This was rather
frustrating.  Next we got a hold of the newest build of the software, which
I believe works with NT service pack 6, low level reformatted, installed NT
and the service packs, installed the new build (2.585) and....crash!  It
turned out that the manner in which we installed the new software was not
the correct manner (much to our chagrin)--the install cd needs to run a
script which downloads important configuration information from a Leica
server and something was amiss with this process when we
installed.  Eventually we obtained the pertinent information on installing
the software from Leica, reinstalled, and now were in good shape and the
software runs pretty stable (significantly improved over the old
build).  We have a relatively complex networking system in which user
accounts are on a central Linux server, and these accounts communicate with
our NT machines using Samba-this is why we experienced some unusual
difficulties with running the install script from the Leica 2.585
CD.  Also, our drive configuration on the workstation was confusing the
software.
         Another issue to be aware of pertains to the scan head.  The scan
head should be turned on for at least one minute before the software is
loaded.  This is because a microprocessor in the scan head needs to boot up
before the software initializes it.  If the scan head is not on for at
least a minute before starting the software, wierd things happen, and
stability becomes an issue.
-Karl G.



At 09:38 AM 11/9/2001 +0100, Jack Valentijn wrote:
>Dear confocal people,
>
>About six weeks ago the computer controlling our Leica TCS SP started
>crashing randomly during data acquisition and analysis with the Leica
>Confocal Software. There is no particular sequence of events which leads to
>these crashes, and nothing has been changed in the computer's configuration
>which could explain the sudden instability of the system. The Leica service
>engineer is as puzzled as we are and claims that no other comparable system
>in Europe has similar problems.
>Has anybody out there had similar problems and found a solution for it? Any
>suggestions will be appreciated.
>
>
>Jack A. Valentijn, PhD
>Assistant Professor & Director
>Center for Cell Imaging
>Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Histology
>Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
>University of Utrecht
>Yalelaan 2
>3508 TD Utrecht
>The Netherlands
>
>Tel. +31 30 253 4308
>Fax +31 30 253 5862

_______________________________________________
Karl Garsha
Specialist in Light Microscopy
Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
405 North Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
Room B650J
Tel: (217) 244-6292
Fax: (217) 244-6219
www.itg.uiuc.edu