is there ANY software that works?

[jimmyh1555]

I am not having much luck with software lately. I downloaded DSS and tried it out on a few .JPG images from my Pentax. Came up with message "DSS has stopped working" Tried exiting and running several times. Gave up. Then I downloaded SharpCap - it looked a bit more professional - got half way through polar aligning, then up comes message " To proceed, pay us some money" which I did...... Then 3 days ago who;le computer froze, message came up saying "Phone this number urgently because you have been hit with a trojan horse" Like a fool I phoned the 1800 number. Well. I wont go on, only to say I have had to wipe everything off the computer, reload W10 and the software. Then I thought "I know, try software you have to BUY - it MUST be better. So I loaded up Nebulosity for free 14 day trial. Connected all up. pressed the start button and up comes the message "Error setting exposure duration (16)" Tried all exposure settings and another ZWO camera - all no good. Then tried one last time and hey presto, up comes the camera image! Success? No so. The next 5 attempts were failures.
Is Nebulosoty any good?? It looks good, the manual looks very detailed, but if the demo version wont work, why should I pay US$99 for it?? Any suggestions?:shrug:

[leon]

Yea James it seems there is seriously something wrong in your computer, :shrug: I am not expert, but the software you describe usually works fine.
There must be a Gremlin in there somewhere. :sadeyes:

Leon

[raymo]

The software is not your problem Jimmy, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with it. DSS, Nebulosity, Pixinsight, Registax, etc etc etc: are all long established programs that have been used successfully by amateur astrophotographers for many years. Your problem must be in your computer.
raymo

[cometcatcher]

There is nothing that annoys me more than a misbehaving computer! Unfortunately yours sounds like it is possessed by Satan. ;) I have to agree with the previous replies, those programs usually work well. Most of the time.

[jimmyh1555]

Cant understand it....I tried SharpCap with my ZWO attached and I got (not on telescope but in lounge room) a nice fuzzy picture showing it was working. Tried phd and that worked, but no luck again with DSS It froze when I put in one jpg file and tried to register it. I quite agree, the computer is No 1 suspect, but I got the DSS stopped working message before I got hit by the virus! Nebulosity I have given up on and deleted it. I think SharpCap does stacking, doesn't it? Will have to try that!.
I found out why my scope acted funny last night (HEQ5) It was set up on 146 degrees WEST! and I am in Tassie! AAAGGGGGGGGHHHHH

[AstralTraveller]

Could some of the problems in the OP could be cable/connection issues? :question:

[jimmyh1555]

Yes. David, I will try the cables, but they are all new! (doesn't mean anything I suppose - all come from China no doubt!)

[Shano592]

You can also try Skippystak.

It seems to work ok for me.

[rustigsmed]

i would disconnect it from the internet / turn wifi off when using it for astro related purposes. there could be all sorts of upgrading / downloading etc going on in the background sucking computer resources from the tasks at hand.

[sil]

This is a user and computer problem, Ie the former hasnt a clue how to use the later. Your computer is infected with viruses and malware. Dealing with sort of stuff has been part of my job for decades and its easy to tell a mile away, even if they say "i have nortons installed". Especially if you've installed even the single tiniest piece of pirated software then uninstalled. The first install you do gives the installer admin rights to perform the install, as is normal, but if someone has messed with the installer/ keygen/patcher before you downloaded it then it can do anything it likes because you've allowed it the rights to do so, typically it starts with a small opening in your security and it can then download more things and install them on its own n turn giving everything it install admins rights too because it no longer needs your permission. Learn good computing practices, be proactive in having a clean secure system but don't complain stuff is crashing. Because ultimately you did something to start the ball rolling, regardless what anybody claims.

[jimmyh1555]

Thanks folks and especially Sil for your illuminating and helpful comments . Nothing like practical advice, I say, to solve things. Considering I haven't a clue how to use a computer, as you advised, I am amazed how I have survived with computers since my first Dragon 32 all those years ago. The software is now working like a dream, the stacking is going marvellously, even the weather is good. And I haven't had to call in a "Consultant" who would probably have ripped me off.. - even if HE could see the problem from "a mile away":P

[raymo]

So what did you do to fix it?
raymo

[jimmyh1555]

Intelligence,
Computer savvy
perserverence
common sense
Considering I was told I "didn't have a clue" about how to use a computer, that's quite an achievement!:D

[raymo]

Fair enough.
raymo

[rcheshire]

:thumbsup: