XP SP2 is a know problem for many software packages and is
featuring quite prominently in may of the programming
newsgroups at present. At this point nobody seems to have a
clear idea of what is causing the conflicts because it
varies temendously from computer to computer setup. Isodat
is just another example.

One of the aspects which might be worth checking on is the
configuration of any connections which Windows might be
blocking due to the new firewall in XP SP2. For instance, if
unusual ports are being used by tcp/ip or other components,
then one can expect issues.

My general impression at this stage is to avoid XP SP2 if
possible.

Regards
   Bruce


Dr Bruce Eglington
Saskatchewan Isotope Laboratory
Department of Geological Sciences
University of Saskatchewan
114 Science Place
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2,
Canada
tel. (306) 966-5732
fax. (306) 966-8593
email.  [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Stable Isotope Geochemistry
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of William Mark
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 2:21 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ISOGEOCHEM] WinXP SP2


Hello
I thought I would pass along my excellent adventure.....
We are running WinXP Isodat 2.0 for a Delta EA system.
I downloaded and installed the WinXP SP2 update since it is
a critical patch. This lead to some issues and I was
wondering if anyone has seen any problems doing this. While
I could still control everything through the Aquisition
window, when I used the Instrument control window I had no
response from the Conflo Ref1/Ref2 at all. The system would
also crash during the final steps of a Mass Calibration. I
am not sure if the SP2 patch is causing problems with Isodat
2.0 directly (blocking communication with the spec), the
National Instruments GPIB Card or the Dell computer this is
running on. I would get various Microsoft error report
messages which provided reams of Techno gobble-de-goop - but
no real insight as to what was happening. Opening the new
Microsoft Security window caused a total computer lock-up.
Other WinXP (non-mass spec, non-Dell) workstations have
patched just fine with no problems. I have since rolled back
the SP2 update and all Isodat functions seem to be back to
normal. I haven't been able to find any word on using or
avoiding the SP2 patch anywhere, so I am curious to hear
from anyone out there regarding Isodat 2.0 or the WinXP
Masslynx 4.

Cheers,

Bill Mark
Isotope Technician
Environmental Isotope Lab
University of Waterloo
Phone (519)-885-1211 Ext 6747
FAX (519)-746-0183
http://sciborg.uwaterloo.ca/research_groups/eilab