Re: FACSort/PowerMac

From: ulrik.sprogoe-jakobsen (ulrik.sprogoe-jakobsen@OUH.DK)
Date: Fri Feb 14 1997 - 18:59:09 EST


 Michelle Miller wrote:

>FACSort/PowerMac
>To FACSort/FACScan users,
>
>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
>withing 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 aquisition.  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

Like for any other problem with Mac software/hardware I would try the
following in the order mentioned:

1. Rebuild the desktop (use a utility like TechTool 1.1.2 (freeware) by
MicroMat, instead of the MacOS build-in option, as this will delete the old
desktop file, instead of rebuilding the existing one)

2.  Zap the parameter RAM (again use TechTool).

3.  Restart with extensions off (except the inits/cdevs neccesary for
CELLQuest to run)

4.  Reinstall BD software (remember to trash BD inits/cdevs and preferences) .

5.  Run a harddisk check program (better Norton Utilities, than Apples Disk
First Aid) from a floppy disk.

6.  Low level reformat the boot disk (internal harddisk), update the
harddisk driver and  reinstall system software and BD software.

Good Luck,

Ulrik Sprogoe-Jakobsen

Dept. Clinical Immunology
Odense University Hospital



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