Chemstation Software

[ece]

are there differences b/c GC agilent licenses and software packages and LC agilent licenses and software packages? could you use LC software on a GC?

any additional information to be provided regarding agilent software for an hp 5890 would be great!

Thanks!

[Consumer Products Guy]

The software is primarily the same, differences in setting up instruments, that's where you need your license number. The license number is tied to a GC or to an HPLC software, and should be pasted on the side of the instrument if its already computerized, or can be pulled off the existing software. When you upgrade to a newer version, the license number stays the same. The newer versions of software (from at least A.06 on) are each on a single CD which contains both GC and HPLC, but you'll need your current license number. And you might need a newer version of Windows, a newer HPIB board, or update your firmware, depending on how "up" you want to go.

You can actually read an LC data on GC and GC data on HPLC if you take the data directory over on a floppy. In use, the real difference is uner the column titled "Instrument". By the way, I doubt if Agilent support will help much with obsolete software. Can you be more specific with exactly what you're trying to do, and what you now have?

[gcguy]

Chemstation also has two versions of licence, core and additional. If you install a second instrument on the same pc then all you need is an additional licence. I beleve these are cheaper than core licences.

Gcguy

[Consumer Products Guy]

Yes, additional instrument license is less expensive; from what I know (at least on some versions of Windows), all instruments using that computer must use the same revision of ChemStation. We don't currently use any computers for more than one instrument, but two of our QC locations do. My guess is that if you have two separate licenses (the slightly more expensive way), then you could just load up to one computer and no one would care, and you can have a clear conscience.

[jf]

I'm gonna try to consolidate, looks like we have two threads going (I work with ece)

we are currently running our GC with chemstation A03.34 and an 82335 ISA GBIP card on win 95.

Apparently A03 is a dinosaur and we are looking for better features, particularly with regard to peak identification. we don't need a ton of bells and whistles, but as this is being operated by two chemical engineers (not analytical chemists), a little bit more handholding via software wouldn't kill us. win95 is fine, its relatively snappy as the chemstation is the only thing on it. we have since figured out how to export chromatograms, so output really isnt our issue, but were looking to improve our accuracy and results interpretation.

here is the original topic with some more background:

http://www.sepsci.com/chromforum/viewtopic.php?p=31288

according to http://www.chem.agilent.com/cpdocs/a10674.pdf

seems that A06 is our best bet both for ease of upgrade and feature set, as we could use the same os and card (if it is true that A06-A09 are very similar.) Apparently the A06 upgrade is arguably freeware, maybe someone here could help us out, at least for demo purposes

operating systems aside, it appears we would just need to upgrade to 82350 PCI GPIB card, which can be had for a few hundred dollars, and it would carry us up through at least B02. are there any hidden costs with switching to this interface, could we use the same 10833B cable?

I am not sure where to find a license number for our A03.34 version ( i can't find it anywhere in the software (the pc and software came with our GC as a package) , and i'm not sure if i did find a license number, what use it would be for other versions

we are kind of at a crossroads, as we always see a plethora of chemstation software packages on ebay, with and without licenses, sometime mixed license and version. sometimes GC, LC, or both. I understand all of the hardware and version compatability issues, but not really the software and licensing versions. I hate to drop $1000 or more and then have it not work, because we bought a software or license without the correct counterpart.

Thanks as always, you guys are truly lifesavers.

[jf]

I'm gonna try to consolidate, looks like we have two threads going (I work with ece)

we are currently running our GC with chemstation A03.34 and an 82335 ISA GBIP card on win 95.

Apparently A03 is a dinosaur and we are looking for better features, particularly with regard to peak identification. we don't need a ton of bells and whistles, but as this is being operated by two chemical engineers (not analytical chemists), a little bit more handholding via software wouldn't kill us. win95 is fine, its relatively snappy as the chemstation is the only thing on it. we have since figured out how to export chromatograms, so output really isnt our issue, but were looking to improve our accuracy and results interpretation.

here is the original topic with some more background:

http://www.sepsci.com/chromforum/viewtopic.php?p=31288

according to http://www.chem.agilent.com/cpdocs/a10674.pdf

seems that A06 is our best bet both for ease of upgrade and feature set, as we could use the same os and card (if it is true that A06-A09 are very similar.) Apparently the A06 upgrade is arguably freeware, maybe someone here could help us out, at least for demo purposes

operating systems aside, it appears we would just need to upgrade to 82350 PCI GPIB card, which can be had for a few hundred dollars, and it would carry us up through at least B02. are there any hidden costs with switching to this interface, could we use the same 10833B cable?

I am not sure where to find a license number for our A03.34 version ( i can't find it anywhere in the software (the pc and software came with our GC as a package) , and i'm not sure if i did find a license number, what use it would be for other versions

we are kind of at a crossroads, as we always see a plethora of chemstation software packages on ebay, with and without licenses, sometime mixed license and version. sometimes GC, LC, or both. I understand all of the hardware and version compatability issues, but not really the software and licensing versions. I hate to drop $1000 or more and then have it not work, because we bought a software or license without the correct counterpart.

Thanks as always, you guys are truly lifesavers.

[Bruce Hamilton]

Gosh, it's so long since I used earlier versions, I'm not sure how much help I can be. You should look in the manuals - if you still have them.

You usually could only find the licence numbers from a modeule called "add licences" in part of the configuration/setup process, which is a separte executable - to access, the Chemstation software must not be running.

The issue of Licences is a little complicated because somewhere around version 5 of Chemstation, HP/Agilent changed the licence number codes, and the old number formats were replaced.

In one of those versions, the Getting Started manual had screen shots of the process which included licence codes that worked fine - I tried them - an inadvertent " buy one, get one free " strategy .

You could add more instruments to the same computer, however, for most Chemstations that means if one instrument crashes, the HP Core error means you have to close down the other instruments before rebooting - a real pain for LC Chemstations wheich tended to crash daily to weekly, GC versions seemed more robust.

Basically, all the software is on CDs, and you have to purchase the licence numbers for the specific version of Chemstation that you want to use. eg GC, LC, Data Acquistion, Off-line Data Manipulation, etc etc.

You need to dig through the Agilent site Chemstation section, and obtain the product numbers for the specific Chemstation version you require. From memory, the product codes are usually two letters followed by 4 digits, perhaps with another letter.

The licence codes come as permanent code stickers in Yellow envelopes, and you somehow have to ensure that you purchase codes that are valid for the hardware and version of software you require, and are not still being used by the previous owner, who may, for example, have used the codes to upgrade. From memory, it's not always obvious from the stickers which product code they cover.

As most hardware, new and second-hand, is sold with the software, the most likely reason a licence may be available is because somebody has moved to other software ( eg a Lab system or Chromeleon ), but I don't know how you would confirm that the licence is no longer being used in one form or another.

Would Agilent care?, would your employer care? - I'm not sure, but if the version you purchase is still in support Agilent might not provide support, but there are other support providers in the USA.

I hope these ramblings help, rather than confuse,

Bruce Hamilton

[Consumer Products Guy]

I'm gonna try to consolidate, looks like we have two threads going (I work with ece)

we are currently running our GC with chemstation A03.34 and an 82335 ISA GBIP card on win 95.

Apparently A03 is a dinosaur and we are looking for better features, particularly with regard to peak identification. we don't need a ton of bells and whistles, but as this is being operated by two chemical engineers (not analytical chemists), a little bit more handholding via software wouldn't kill us. win95 is fine, its relatively snappy as the chemstation is the only thing on it. we have since figured out how to export chromatograms, so output really isnt our issue, but were looking to improve our accuracy and results interpretation.

here is the original topic with some more background:

http://www.sepsci.com/chromforum/viewtopic.php?p=31288

according to http://www.chem.agilent.com/cpdocs/a10674.pdf

seems that A06 is our best bet both for ease of upgrade and feature set, as we could use the same os and card (if it is true that A06-A09 are very similar.) Apparently the A06 upgrade is arguably freeware, maybe someone here could help us out, at least for demo purposes :)

operating systems aside, it appears we would just need to upgrade to 82350 PCI GPIB card, which can be had for a few hundred dollars, and it would carry us up through at least B02. are there any hidden costs with switching to this interface, could we use the same 10833B cable?

I am not sure where to find a license number for our A03.34 version ( i can't find it anywhere in the software (the pc and software came with our GC as a package) , and i'm not sure if i did find a license number, what use it would be for other versions

we are kind of at a crossroads, as we always see a plethora of chemstation software packages on ebay, with and without licenses, sometime mixed license and version. sometimes GC, LC, or both. I understand all of the hardware and version compatability issues, but not really the software and licensing versions. I hate to drop $1000 or more and then have it not work, because we bought a software or license without the correct counterpart.

Thanks as always, you guys are truly lifesavers.

Yes, if you do upgrade to newer computer type (e.g. Pentium 4 and Windows 2000) 82350 PCI GPIB card will work, and you can use the same 10833B cable (the B is a length designation). With A.06 and Win2000 you will get a software window to click on each time you load a Chemstation from the desktop or Start button, no big deal. Yes, I think license numbers came about approximately with A.05, so you probably don't have any. I know in the past Agilent has provided default license numbers to us over the telephone, or maybe someone here could supply theirs to you (obviously you have Agilent hardware and computer communications in your instrument, so it "was" legal). In your place I think I'd just get A.06.03 software, which will run on your Win95 and your present 82335 HPIB card.

[jf]

Yes, if you do upgrade to newer computer type (e.g. Pentium 4 and Windows 2000) 82350 PCI GPIB card will work, and you can use the same 10833B cable (the B is a length designation). With A.06 and Win2000 you will get a software window to click on each time you load a Chemstation from the desktop or Start button, no big deal. Yes, I think license numbers came about approximately with A.05, so you probably don't have any. I know in the past Agilent has provided default license numbers to us over the telephone, or maybe someone here could supply theirs to you (obviously you have Agilent hardware and computer communications in your instrument, so it "was" legal). In your place I think I'd just get A.06.03 software, which will run on your Win95 and your present 82335 HPIB card.

so we need an a.06.03 software, and an a.06.03 license? or will any license work?

For example check out :

http://search.ebay.com/chemstation

right now there are three options:

option a: three different A.06.03 license versions G2170AA, G2070AA, and G2180AA (I have no idea which is the 'GC version), and a "Genuine Agilent Technologies Chemstation Family CD, Rev. A.09.01. Agilent Part number G2070-60069"

1. Unopened yellow envelope labeled with Product number G2170AA, Revision code A.06.03, Registration number

BL.................

2. Unopened yellow envelope labeled with Product number G2070AA, Revision code A.06.03, Registration number

BG.................

3. Unopened yellow envelope labeled with Product number G2180AA, Revision code A.06.03, Registration number

BN.................

4. Genuine Agilent Technologies Chemstation Family CD, Rev. A.09.01. Agilent Part number G2070-60069.

CD not in his original case, but in perfect condition.

option b:

1) Unopened Agilent/HP Chemstation Software Certificate, G2170AA (2D LC Software), Rev A.06.01, License #: BL........

2) Unopened Agilent/HP Chemstation Software Certificate, G2180AA (Additional Spectral Module), Rev A.06.01, License #: BN........

3) HP Family Chemstation Software Products Installation CD, Rev A.06.01 (1998)

4) Unopened Upgrade Chemstation PLUS Family Installation CD, Rev A.08.03 (2000)

5) Upgrade Agilent Technologies Chemstation Family Software Products Installation CD, Rev A.09.03 (Sept 2002)

6) Agilent Technologies Chemstation Plus User Documentation CD

7) Declaration of System Validation, License Agreement, Upgrade Sheet

option c:

1) Agilent Chemstation Software Certificate, G1116AA (Advanced UV-VIS Software), Rev A.10.01, License #: BU........

2) Agilent Chemstation Software Certificate, G1813AA (Security Pack for UV-VIS), Rev A.10.01, License #: BU........

3) Agilent Technologies UV-VIS Chemstation Software Products Installation CD, Rev A.10.01 (Oct 2003)

4) Agilent Technologies Chemstation Plus User Documentation CD

5) Declaration of System Validation and License Agreement



ive seen advice that it doesnt have to be GC software per se, but still ahve yet to get a concise answer as to what licenses work with which software versions[/u]

[jf]

also whats up with:

http://www.chem.agilent.com/en-US/Suppo ... fault.aspx

if we have a license, can we go there to download the corresponding software?

maybe one of you guys with a license number can go there with your number and see what happens?

[jf]

bump

thanks

[Bruce Hamilton]

Quick response

You don't gain much by accessing that Agilent site with a serial numer. It's mainly update/repair patches to software, rather than the original software, which comes on CD.

Note that the Agilent letter to me from the local agents said Agilent only provided free vers 6 Y2K upgrades to people who purchased the hardware and software in 1999. My Y2K Chemstation upgrades cost over a thousand dollars, along with some firmware chips for the GCs and autosamplers.

One of the more endearing features of Agilent software issue lists, is that problems often don't exist unless there is an available solution...

What you really need are the serial numbers for the Chemstation software product that you want to use, which for GC may be G2070AA.
It may be hard to find the exact software licence number for the product you want, as numbers are not normally transferrable between Chemstation products. May you should put some wanted ads on auction sites.

There will be many Chemstation version 6 CD disks around, as they were essentially free, it's the serial number card/sticker in the yellow envelope that's needed.

I'm not sure how you find out whether the number has been relinquished by the previous owner, as they are transferrable to newer software versions. I've no idea whether Agilent would care, as it's probably accidental.

You also need to ensure that your computer OS and HPIB cards are compatible, as well as the GC. Note that "unsupported" GCs, such as the 5890, will run OK on Version 6.

I'd probably purchase the software ( basically a serial number for v6 ), then try to find the hardware - which may be easier, just make sure you purchase a genuine HPIB card for the PC, not one of the cheap clones for GPIB.

Incidently, there may be a need for a firmware update on the GC ( rev comes up as a letter when it starts ), as the earlier ones had to be updated for some of the later versions of Chemstation.

Please keep having fun,

Bruce Hamilton

[Consumer Products Guy]

ece - are you in US? I can make you a copy of A.06 disc for you to try, and you'd need a GC license number to load the software. Maybe someone here or I could loan you a license number so you could try it. Provide your company name, address, and what type of lab you have, such as university, petroleum testing, etc. and E-mail request to me at cussboy -at- cox.net

The two items on Ebay: one is for B.10, too advanced for your computer, operating system, and HPIB board, and likely firmware, and the license number would be for UV-visible hardware. The other is for HPLC license, and you need GC, even though the software revision of A.06.01 may be correct.

[ece]

Yes, we are located in the US. That would be great. I'll have jf contact you shortly.

[Consumer Products Guy]

Did this work?