We also have communications problems between the PowerMAC and cytometer =
- in our case the cytometer is a FACSCalibur, but I suspect a =
similar/same mechanism may be involved.
At the outset I must say that I have no proof of what I'm about to say =
... only an observation I have made over many months.
It seems to me that the timing of when cytometer and computer are =
switched-on is very important in establishing the dialogue between the =
two. Obviously you power-up the cytometer first, but then the computer =
must follow within the next 1-4minutes (approx). If you do this then =
there is rarely a problem - if the cytometer has been powered-up for =
longer than 4ish minutes before the computer communications are unlikely =
to work!.
It follows from this that if you are operating the instrument and the =
computers has one of those dreaded *error type 11* situations which =
obliges you to do a re-start on the computer - then it's necessary to =
power-down the cytometer as well and start from scratch :-(
These observations are true for the FACSCalibur - I'm presuming the same =
interface board resides in your FACSort
Hope this is useful=20
Peter Chapple
Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute
Melbourne AUSTRALIA
>We recently upgraded our FACSort computer from an HP system to a =
PowerMac 7600.
>In general we have been happy with this, although CellQuest could still =
has
>some way to go to take advantage of all Macs have to offer (but is =
better than
>Lysis II in most ways). However, we are having a sporadic, but =
persistent and
>annoying problem - when attempting to connect to the cytometer from =
Writing the
>program we often get a message saying that the cytometer cannot be =
found.
>This is despite turning the FACS on before the computer, etc. This can =
go on
>for hours before it decides that the FACS really is there and lets us =
access it
>for acquisition. BD suggested reloading the software, which had no =
effect, nor
>did rebuilding the desktop. Our computer consultant has suggested that
>fragmentation of the hard disk is to blame, and that the recent high =
humidity
>in Sydney may also be implicated.
>Has anyone else had this problem with their Mac/FACS interface? We use =
Macs
>exclusively in our institute (with the exception of the old HP) and the =
7600 is
>networked but the harddisk cannot be accessed by other computers =
without first
>checking that the FACSort is not in use. Any suggestions would be very
>welcome.
>Thanks in advance,
>Michelle Miller
>Johnson and Johnson Research Labs
>Sydney, Australia
>email: jjphar13@angis.su.oz.au