Wanted - Windows 7 Guinea Pigs

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #1 22-03-2010, 05:17 PM

I am looking for people who have astro programs that dont like Windows 7, they cant be hardware driver (ie kernal mode drivers, usb drivers etc) related issues as i cant fix those one.

VMware have released their lastest version of their Thinapp application virtualisation technology. I want to test this against your stubborn Windows7 apps.

PM me with your troublesome app, I will package it with Thinapp and return it for testing.

Thinapp wraps the entire app into an exe file for execution without installation. For it to work properly, you will have to un-install the current variant from your machine.

I would like to post, with Mikes permission? Thinapp'd versions of PHD, DSS and Stellarium within the next few days to the IIS ftp site for people to try.

Hagar (Doug) · #2 22-03-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

I am looking for people who have astro programs that dont like Windows 7, they cant be hardware driver (ie kernal mode drivers, usb drivers etc) related issues as i cant fix those one.

VMware have released their lastest version of their Thinapp application virtualisation technology. I want to test this against your stubborn Windows7 apps.

PM me with your troublesome app, I will package it with Thinapp and return it for testing.

Thinapp wraps the entire app into an exe file for execution without installation. For it to work properly, you will have to un-install the current variant from your machine.

I would like to post, with Mikes permission? Thinapp'd versions of PHD, DSS and Stellarium within the next few days to the IIS ftp site for people to try.

Hi Trevor, I have had some real problems with FocusMax and haven't been able to get it to work with either Windows7 32 or 64 bit versions. I am looking at a new laptop and want a 64 bit version for it and the computer in the obs runs 64 bit version also. It would be great to get it working. PM sent.

allan gould · #3 22-03-2010, 07:23 PM

DSS for me

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #4 25-03-2010, 10:19 AM

One happy customer, DSS now works for Allan on Win 7

If anyone else wants to try

Deep Sky Stacker
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/uploads...SkyStacker.exe

PHD Guiding
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/uploads...ing_1.11.3.exe

These will run without installation. Just copy them into a seperate directory and double click.

Great for those that want to play without affecting what they already use. When you are finished just delete the file and it is gone without a trace.

taxman (Matt) · #5 25-03-2010, 08:25 PM

PM sent

telemarker (Keith) · #6 16-06-2010, 09:29 AM

The DSS thinapp works brilliantly on my work PC (screwed down XP - no software can be loaded). Thanks Trevor. Now here's a poser - can XP itself be thinapp'ed to run other PCs. Just curious (ATM)

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #7 18-06-2010, 02:30 PM

No, we cant virtualise hardware drivers.

For those with Win7 and need IE6 for specialist web portals, stay tuned.

rogerg (Roger) · #8 18-06-2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hagar

Hi Trevor, I have had some real problems with FocusMax and haven't been able to get it to work with either Windows7 32 or 64 bit versions. I am looking at a new laptop and want a 64 bit version for it and the computer in the obs runs 64 bit version also. It would be great to get it working. PM sent.

how interesting... annoying how things can work for one person but not another. FocusMax works fine on my Windows7 32bit machine. In fact, I haven't had any piece of software not work yet

Barrykgerdes · #9 20-06-2010, 08:04 AM

I have installed Windows 7 64 bit six times on my computer using two different SATA drives and an IDE drive.

I have not got the same results on any two occasions. Some installations have run programs without any bother some I could not even get to install. Widows 7 is very security conscious and permissions make it a real dog to get set up if you want anything that MS does not know.

However by installing VMware work station (with tools) I have been able to get XP, Win 98, and linux to run correctly in each case in virtual mode.

Barry

AdrianF (Adrian) · #10 20-06-2010, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerg

how interesting... annoying how things can work for one person but not another. FocusMax works fine on my Windows7 32bit machine. In fact, I haven't had any piece of software not work yet

FocusMax doesnt work on my Win7 machine either, even under compatability mode.

Adrian

supernova1965 (Warren) · #11 09-01-2012, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allan gould

DSS for me

This surprises me as DSS runs native on my Win7 64bit

el_draco (Rom) · #12 09-01-2012, 12:24 PM

I initially had no luck getting focusmax to work under Win 7 but changed it to work under compatibility mode for Windows 2000. It now loads but when I identify my focuser (Microtouch) it says it cant find the drivers and crashes. I located the Ascom Profile and there are no entries under the "chooser' option. Can anybody advise?

I can user the microtouch software perfectly via laptop and the focuser works fine on the scope.

Ta,

Rom

OzRob (Rob) · #13 09-01-2012, 12:46 PM

I am surprised that people are having problems with focusmax and Windows 7. Is it the case where FM reports that the ASCOM driver is not valid? I don't know about the Microtouch focuser but if you are using Robofocus try installing the Robofocus Control Program (download from here) and select it as the driver in the ASCOM chooser. Once that is installed I have been able to go back to the normal driver.

I just setup a new computer and other than the issue above and me forgetting to use the EQ direct convertor everything worked on first try.

cfranks (Charles) · #14 09-01-2012, 12:50 PM

I use FocusMax on my Win7 x64 with no problems. I did nothing special (I think) and I run it standalone or through CCDap5. I'm certainly not knowledgeable re Windows 7 but if I can help........?

Charles

el_draco (Rom) · #15 09-01-2012, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzRob

I am surprised that people are having problems with focusmax and Windows 7. Is it the case where FM reports that the ASCOM driver is not valid? I don't know about the Microtouch focuser but if you are using Robofocus try installing the Robofocus Control Program (download from here) and select it as the driver in the ASCOM chooser. Once that is installed I have been able to go back to the normal driver.

I just setup a new computer and other than the issue above and me forgetting to use the EQ direct convertor everything worked on first try.

There are no entries under my ASCOM Chooser, which makes me think the problem is here. Focusmax reports that it cant find drivers for the focuser but I know they are on my system and working fine because i can control the focuser using the microtouch control panel...

Irritating because this is my last challenge before being fully integrated.

Rom

Terry B · #16 09-01-2012, 02:20 PM

Skymap pro6 refuses to even attempt to install on my win7 64 lappy. The new version is comparable but I don't see the need to pay for the new versions. Can big programs like this be ported as well?

el_draco (Rom) · #17 09-01-2012, 06:29 PM

Ok,
This what I did. I located a previous version of focusmax 3.2.1 and loaded that after deleting the current version of focusmax. Set it to run in compatibility mode for VISTA and then tried. Bingo... up she came and straight to the first light wizzard.

Not bad for several hours of ripping my hair out.... Not much available to start with...

el_draco (Rom) · #18 26-01-2012, 09:23 PM

I thought I solved this but my ASCOM chooser decided that it would not recognise my focuser (micro-touch). After a heap of fiddling and some serious online hunting I discovered a fix... on the FocusMax user group....

.

It seems the windows 7 User Account control function is the real issue. With this turned on, Drivers wont install properly and ASCOM chooser wont work. I turned this off, rebooted, Wiped the Microfocuser software, and FocusMax. Reinstalled both and Bingo... Faultless performance!

Hope this helps

mithrandir (Andrew) · #19 26-01-2012, 10:46 PM

On Win7 64 bit I got FocusMax to load and recognise my MoonLite by uninstalling it and CCDSoft, CCleaning, rebooting, reinstalling both and running both the first time as administrator.

FocusMax still won't start CCDSoft because it thinks it is the wrong version, but it is the latest patch level for v5.

Now if someone can find a way to fix all the FocusMax windows so the buttons and text sizes fit in the windows without overlapping and are readable, it will be usable. This window behaviour appears to be very common with XP-era programs running on Win7.

Fortunately it's been raining all year and the 2.5" smooth-bore to T-thread hasn't arrived or I'd be really annoyed.

Poita (Peter) · #20 27-01-2012, 01:19 AM

There are multiple reasons that the fonts can be too big in Vista/7
Check this setting in the registry, and change it if need be:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microso ft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]

"MS Sans Serif 8,10,12,14,18,24"="SSERIFF.FON"

to be

"MS Sans Serif 8,10,12,14,18,24"="SSERIFE.FON"

The above will substitute a smaller font.

Otherwise, it could be clear type causing the issue:
http://steve.fsxtreme.com/blogs/2008...type-on-vista/

or a corruption where you need to replace comctl32.dll and comdlg32.dll in either system32 or syswow64 folders depending on if you have 32bit or 64bit installed. You will have to boot up off a 'live' boot disc to be able to replace these files.

Of course, also check that somehow you haven't set the font size to 125% or higher in Control Panel/Appearance and Personalisation/Display and set custom text size (DPI)

Those are the main reasons for screwy text size in dialogs that I have come across.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithrandir

On Win7 64 bit I got FocusMax to load and recognise my MoonLite by uninstalling it and CCDSoft, CCleaning, rebooting, reinstalling both and running both the first time as administrator.

FocusMax still won't start CCDSoft because it thinks it is the wrong version, but it is the latest patch level for v5.

Now if someone can find a way to fix all the FocusMax windows so the buttons and text sizes fit in the windows without overlapping and are readable, it will be usable. This window behaviour appears to be very common with XP-era programs running on Win7.

Fortunately it's been raining all year and the 2.5" smooth-bore to T-thread hasn't arrived or I'd be really annoyed.