MSD Chemstation won't open - message "in use by another session"

Cannot get MSD Chemstation to open - get a message "Mass Spec is already in use by another session".  Version G1701EA E.02.02.1431 / WIN 10 operating system.  System was shut down temporarily and on startup,  the software does not open.  It is an Agilent 5975MS with a 6890N GC.  Tried rebooting the controller on the MS itself, but that did not work.  Also looked at binding order, but possibly did not do that correctly.  Both MS and GC can be pinged successfully from the PC.  Does anyone know what might be wrong?  Thanks

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  • Hi tdnola,

    This is a smart card that thinks its already being controlled by a Chemstation. The most common and quickest fix is to restart(power cycle) the MSD which will clear the lock. I usually like to restart the system rather than just one module. Its worth noting that the version of Chemstation you are using is not a supported solution on the Windows 10 platform.

    Regards

    James

  • Does it make sense to buy a new Smart card if we are unable to clear the lock?

  • Hello ,

    * sorry, I couldn't see anything critical in the LOG

     

    * buy new smartcard? no, there are other more typical errors.

     

    * Further ideas that might help: SW reinstallation & *IO-Library*

    ~ If we can make sure that the LAN card (NiC) settings are correct (for testing only use the chemical NiC), then we can reinstall the SW.
    ~ BTW Question: what happened to the PowerShell command to test the LAN card?

     

    ~ Typically the SW could be reinstalled now:

    the MSD needs the so-called IO-Library for communication, maybe it is damaged in the meantime.
    unfortunately this is not a simple issue:
    a) by default G1701 E.02 needs/installs the IO-Lib 15 /15.5, but this is not released/tested for Win10 (same like G1701)
    b) Windows 10 is supported from IO Lib 17 on, but:
       following MS Chemstation installation will fail, because G1701 absolutely expects an IO Lib 15.x.

     

    So as an installation idea [perform a communication test after each step]:
    1.) Reinstall IO Lib 15.5 (included in G1701 SW disc)
    2.) Install MS ChemStation G1701 new
    3.) Maybe install a new Win10 compatible IO library:
             Minimum is IO Lib 17
             Download at: https://www.keysight.com/main/software.jspx?id=2175637&pageMode=PV&cc=US&lc=eng
             Alternative: google search => keysight io libraries 17.3


    [The topic discussed here does not correspond in any way to an Agilent supported environment (Win 10 & new IO-Library)]

     

    regards, M.

  • thanks for the picture.


    Interpretation of your powershell image:
       Lines 1&2 show the house NiC (because DHCP is active there).
       The chemical LAN card definitely has only a subordinate function: for a dual LAN card use this is not OK!

       Interface metric definition: the lower the value, the higher the LAN card priority. Unfortunately the Chemical LAN card must be set to priority 1    (= on a very low interface metric value).

     

     

    IDEA - disable DOMAN card:
       * probably the following will not help, but it is a test that can save the complex SW installation.

       * in the overview of all LAN cards, right click on domain card & select DISABLE.
       * in your case you have to disable "Ethernet" (not "Ethernet 2")

          

     

    * recommendation: if possible rename the LAN cards, then future identification is much easier.
          "Ethernet 2" => chemical
          "Ethernet" => Domain or House

  • Here are the results of the Powershell command.  In the meantime I need to locate the software.  Thanks!

     

     

Reply Children
  • thanks for the picture.


    Interpretation of your powershell image:
       Lines 1&2 show the house NiC (because DHCP is active there).
       The chemical LAN card definitely has only a subordinate function: for a dual LAN card use this is not OK!

       Interface metric definition: the lower the value, the higher the LAN card priority. Unfortunately the Chemical LAN card must be set to priority 1    (= on a very low interface metric value).

     

     

    IDEA - disable DOMAN card:
       * probably the following will not help, but it is a test that can save the complex SW installation.

       * in the overview of all LAN cards, right click on domain card & select DISABLE.
       * in your case you have to disable "Ethernet" (not "Ethernet 2")

          

     

    * recommendation: if possible rename the LAN cards, then future identification is much easier.
          "Ethernet 2" => chemical
          "Ethernet" => Domain or House

  • Unfortunately disabling Domain card did not help.  On the hunt for the software right now.

  • Super team work &

    thanks for the feedback (which unfortunately happens too rarely) so that we can all learn from it.

     

    Please still consider:
    if the 2nd NiC is activated again, please contact IT here. The interface metrics still need to be adjusted/reduced for the chemical NiC.

     

    regards, M.

     

  • One more tip - PC imaging (idea Paragon HDM):
    * if a Lab PC has been set up after many hours of hard & expensive work, it should ALWAYS be backed up with a Windows image (a kind of backup).
    * For many years we have been using Paragon Hard Disk Manager on our customers' Agilent-/HP PCs (Win 7 -10)

    * If you are unsure about the purchase, you can download a 30d trial version from the manufacturer
    * Example: HDD crash, after HDD exchange & approx. 30min SW waiting time => then the PC is fully operational again with ALL SW settings

  • a good question! ;-)

     

    if you now repeat the powershell command you will see that probably both NICs will now have a value of 25.

    I prefer to manually set the chemical NiCs to a value of (4-)5, because many IT guys do this with their house NiCs.

     

    NOTE: unfortunately these manual values can get lost:

    1. after a LAN card driver update, or
    2. after Win10 troubleshooting function: reset LAN card
  • Got some help from our IT group.  Evidently there was a problem with the dns suffix which caused Mcaffee to block communication.  Not sure how it got changed but it is working again.  I appreciate your help with this issue...

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