Agilent MSD ChemStation cannot bring up GC

[ajstrebel]

Hello all,

I don't recall ever encountering this error with a LAN based Agilent GC/MS.

GC = 6890 plus with G1369C LAN interface
MS = 5973N
ChemStation software = D.03.00 SP1 on WinXP SP2

From the log file, C:\msdchem\MSexe\icstart1.log, I get the following:

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GC6890DLL = dllinstall(_exepath$+"hpgc6m00.dll")
Connecting to 6890 GC...

Mon Mar 31 08:46:17 2014
App: msinsctl.exe, Method: DEFAULT.M, RunType: Sampl, Vial: 1
DataFile: C:\MSDCHEM\1\DATA\INSTRUMENT #1_002.D
Macro: GC6890, Cmd: GC6890DLL = dllinstall(_exepath$+"hpgc6m00.dll")
Msg:
Cannot bring up GC


startuperror
on_error
local fmt$
fmt$=_$(28737,"Macro error ###### % ")
Macro error ###### %
print _error,_errmsg$
8041 Cannot bring up GC
alert _$(28736,"The ChemStation did not complete its initialization cycle."),2
if check("variable","icstartlog$")=1
logging 0


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The "Check Network" option under the Help menu in the configuration program is fine. All three IPs are found without issue.

The only other strange thing I've noticed is the GC still thinks there is a GP-IB interface present if you push the "Options" button on the keypad and scroll down to the Communications line. I know the GC is older but I would have thought the LAN card would have triggered some sort of change to that part of the GC.

I apologize if my problem's description is lacking any additional key information.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Andy

[daniel_aut]

Check for a loose communication cable.
Execute the correct power-on procedure.
If you have a restore point on your OS, create a new one and than restore to previous.

[ajstrebel]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I replaced the network cable from the hub to the GC.
Power cycled all three units with the PC up first since it is a Bootp server, then the MSD, and finally the GC. Still no luck.
I tried a completely new PC and also ended up with the same error.

Andy

[Steve Reimer]

Do you have a spare Jetdirect card? I would look at the GC end, the card and its connections first.

[ajstrebel]

The system shipped with a G1369C that passed all ChemStation network tests.

After cursing more than usual, I ran the MIO destructive test from the Options/Diagnostics/Electronics/Communication menu of the 6890 plus and that test failed.

I put an old J2552A/B card in and re-ran the MIO test with success. I then put the J2552 cards MAC address in the Bootp manager and the GC loaded.

Unfortunately, about halfway through the method resolution, the GC went off-line with a different error in the icstart1.log.

I'm working my way through this error now and will let you know where things stand later today.

Thank you all for the support.

Andy

[James_Ball]

It sounds like the card or the board it is connected to, but just for fun, replace the hub if you are using one. I have had the hub/router go bad before, sometimes on only one port and cause similar problems. Also if you notice all lights are flashing in sync on a hub you may need to reboot it.

[ajstrebel]

Sorry for the delay in getting back with an update.

After the new GC load error, I moved the cables around to different ports in the non-Agilent hub. I restarted ChemStation and it went all the way through the load process. I also "borrowed" another hub from a 5975/7890 and that worked w/o issue. I think I'll be putting a new hub in place sooner than later.

Unfortunately, with either hub in place, the 5973N quad and source temps weren't updating and pretty much any request to the MSD other than to initialize the interface returned a "Muxed ADC error" and Temperature Control fault.

This was pretty easy to fix once the MSD was opened and it was observed that the toroid transformer wasn't plugged into the AC board. Now I know why the first question most tech support lines ask is about the device being plugged in.

I hope to manually inject BFB later tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks again for your support.

Andy