Chemstation with GC turned off

[skunked_once]

Our lab is going to update the software on our old 5890 Series II GCs to a third-party vendor which means that we will be mothballing our Chemstation A.03.34 (Windows 95) and Chemstation A.03.21 (Windows 98). What can I do about retrieving methods and data if necessary in the future from these old computers. Chemstation won't install unless the GC is turned on and the computers will no longer be connected to the GCs.

[GasMan]

There are two ways to bring ChemStation up, Online or Offline. The Offline instance does NOT need a connection to the GC, and is designed for users to look at data. You should discuss this with the third part vendor on how to view old data. I believe that data collected on 16 Bit machines can be read by the newer 32 bit ChemStation.

Gasman

[Consumer Products Guy]

I'd archive the old Data, Methods, and Sequences onto CD-R discs first. I've found that newer software (at least to A.10) will defintiely be able to read data and sequence files made on older software, but methods files may not translate perfectly (such as on HPLC may not translate pump conditions and wavelengths, others OK). I think you should just save those computers and just purchase more-modern computers for your updated software. Hope vender knows about newer HPIB/GPIB boards, stuff like that.

[skunked_once]

GasMan and CPG,

Thanks for the comments. I will make backups of the important files and work with the vendor on the other issues.