Home Forums Discussions Problems Can't connect my new laptop to main database

My old XP laptop is giving signs that it's going to die soon, so I got a new laptop as a replacement, it's a 32 bit Vista Home Premium (please, don't give me a hard time about this as that's all my budget can afford right now). In any case, I installed AC V 4.062 with some minor glitches, (this is a clean install) it finally went through after I remembered to turn off UAC, and although I can navigate to my main database in my main computer (Vista Home 64 bit, for which I was given a hard time here a few months ago), I can't connect to the database. After several tries in which AC tells me can't find amazingcharts.mdf, finally I get the splash screen as if it's going to start, but then I get a big window telling me that there's a miscellaneous error while trying to start up. "ERROR: invalid procedure call or argument" I have Norton 360 in all computers except the new one (haven't installed anything yet), I can see the other files and even open them, but it can't seem to connect with the main database even after turning off the firewall. Any suggestions? BTW, I'm very hesitant to use the latest upgrade because I don't want to mess with my current 4.062 which took me forever to get to work and I don't know if having a more advanced version on one computer could screw everything up. Thanks for any help anybody can give me.

hb

A few things I didn't get from reading your question. I take it you can run Amazing Charts now on your main computer. The error message "invalid procedure call or argument" is generally seen with programming code such as VBScript. I am not sure how to help you, but have you run all of the Amazing Utilities?

It doesn't really sound like a networking issue. It almost sounds as if there is an issue with the database itself. Nonetheless, I would turn off Norton360 on any machine you are having issues with. I also don't know if it has anything to do with the bit difference.

I doubt this will help. And, I tried very hard not to comment on the "home" vs "non-home" OS.

Yes, AC is running in main computer. The other computers connect to it fine (although it took a lot of work to get them to connect when they were set up). I installed the same version of AC on the new laptop as a clean install, and it did give me some error message when installing AC pre-requisites, at some point it gave me an error having to do with script but I think it was aJava script error, I can't remember. I continued the installation without any apparent problem. I have turned off UAC and have turned off Norton on the main computer, the new one is just out of the box and I haven't even set up the bundled Norton on this one yet.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

Juat a thought - run the install program for AC again on the laptop, then run AC again and it should ask you where to find the database again. If it doesn't ask you where to find the databases run the utilities and reset the paths. See if this works. I find that Vista can be difficult for this.

As an aside many of the people will give you a bad time about home vs business,etc. but I have used XP Home, XP Pro, Vista home, Vista Basic, Windows 2000 and they all work okay. I personally think of it as great that Jon makes it run with home versions - I always think that it is an unneeded expense and not really sure what Microsoft gives you to make a home vs non home version. I understand the differences, but am not sure why they made different versions other than "they can".

No, that doesn't work either. I uninstalled the whole program, including the program file folder Amazing Charts, SQL files, etc, and after rebooting, tried to do a clean install (Version 4.0.62 and I run it as an administrator), specifying that this computer isn't the one with the main database, so I don't need to install the whole SQL thing. The installation seems to begin without a problem, but then I get a message stating Client components for SQL server exrpess installation failed. SQL Server express installation failed. I click OK, then the installation proceeds like nothing has happened. Then, when I try to open AC, I need to locate the database, but even though I can navigate to it, see it, and click on it, it tells me that AmazingCharts.mdf was not found.

So, what do I do now???

As far as the versions, I agree they are stupid and WIN7 will be just as bad. I have read where it would make much more sense to have XP and then you could add packages to make it work with businesses, etc. Steven is completely correct that the app will work with all versions and, in fact, most applications do. Microsoft is not going to make a Home version that can't run Office or Adobe or whatever. WHERE it DOES make a different is with networking, specifically with a domain and, in fact, you can't even connect Home to a domain.

A lot of us joke (half kiddingly) about what is it about home someone can't understand. Those that really know (the IT professionals) will almost 100% tell you to NEVER use a home version in a business environemnt as it will always end up causing problems at some point. While Vista and XP also play well together, I firmly believe that having one version in the business variety for all clients makes troubleshooting much easier. It may not be NECESSARY in a WORKGROUP environment to have Home vs Pro or Business, but I think troubleshooting is easier. Again, when IT Pros talk about networking, they are generally talking about client/server in a domain environment, but the biggest difference between Home and XP Pro is the networking capabilities.

Please do not think I am jumping all over you on this, I am just stating an opinion from a LOT of experience and reading where if you start from scratch, try to go with the Pro or Business or Ultimate versions.

Now, back to the question. This may sound obvious, but there is a problem there that just needs to be found.

I am offering to remote into your network and look at your situation and just see if I can help. Maybe I can't, but I think it would be much easier if I use GoToPC and see if we can figure it out together.

hb, let me know if you want to spend an hour this evening kicking it around.

Thanks for the offer, but I got busy with patients, then had to take care of errands, so I haven't been able to get back to you until now. I had called tech support and the tech tried to change permissions at the main computer's folders but that didn't solve the issue, we'll try again Monday morning.
Thanks!
HB

I think I ran into the same issue couple of months ago.

Try this steps.
1) Open your C:\program files \Amazing Charts folder in explorer
2) find the amazingcharts.exe and right click and "run as administrator"

If this works, then again right click and "send to desktop". It will put a shortcut on the desktop. Delete the previous AC shortcut.

Sorry, it didn't work. I'm trying to get hold of tech support. Thanks, anyway!

hb,

Certainly, call tech support.They should be able to help. But, my offer still stands. I have been successful a few times with users by logging in. Not because I am a computer genius or anything, but sometimes two geeks are better than one. Name a time in the evening, and I will remote in and look around.

Thanks, Bert, I really appreciate it. I called support this morning and they were working with me but then I had to see patients, they will call me back. Fortunately, I have a very light schedule today. If that doesn't work, I may take you up on your offer, maybe this evening around 6-7 PM, but any time after that would also be fine. I'll let you know later today how it goes.

Tech support and I have been playing phone tag, so while I try to connect with them, maybe you could comment on the installation error I get when trying to install AC: "Client components for SQL Server Express installation failed. SQL server Pexpress installation failed". It occurs to me that this is where the problem is. Even though the rest of the installation flows smoothly, at the end, I can't connect to the database. Any thoughts of what can I do about this? I've tried uninstalling and/or deleting everything, turning off firewalls, rebooting, but nothing works. So, what's up with this SQL client components error? Anything else I can try?
HB

I tried running the install program again without uninstalling ac and it got rid of an error I had like this. When you run the program again it may ask whether you want to repair it.

Tried it, no luck :-(

One other thing which worked on some of my computers (no idea why) - installed AC with the option of "not my main computer but may be taken off" so it does full install. This made some computers work which hiccuped on the first install.

I tried it, and I get an error message stating: An installation packagae for the product Microsoft SQL Server Native Client cannot be found. Try the installation again using a valid copy of the installation package sqlncli.msi. After I click OK, it gives me the SQL screen with the different steps, some of them failed, some of them not, then I get the same message of Client components for SWL server express installation failled. So, what now??
Thanks again for your help...sorry it's been so complicated but I guess Vista made me do it...

Hi, Bert,

It's been difficult to work with tech support, as they seem to call right when I'm trying to see patients, I tell them what are better times to call and I don't hear from them, only when I'm seeing patients, so here it is 6:45 PM and after a whole day of this I'm no closer to getting help. So, if you read this soon, would you call me at 407 895-6846? I know tech support is always busy and I'm not trying to sound ungrateful, just frustrated and could use some help. I plan to be here until around 7 PM, so if you don't get this until after I'm gone, that's OK. Luckily my old laptop is still somewhat functional so that will do for now.
Thanks!

hb,

Give me a little time to finish up.

Well, it looks like it finally worked. I was with tech support this afternoon, he took over the computer remotely, and although I had to go on to see patients, it was all fixed, too bad I don't know exactly what the problem was, but at any rate, it's finally working and I'm very grateful. Thanks to Bert and to all others for your help!
HB

Hi, everybody,

Once again I'm having the exact problem with my laptop not connecting with my main computer. It has been working great, with no problems, until today, when the office re-opened after Labor Day weekend, it simply won't connect. What gives? We had a thunderstorm last Saturday which may have altered the network configuration or something. (it's not wireless, it is hard wired to a router). The laptop can connect to the internet without problems, and the other computer (an old desktop) can connect AC to the main computer database. So, why would my laptop have a problem again after working flawlessly the last several weeks? I've tried rebooting the laptop, the main one, tried navigating to the database, all with no luck. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Dr. HB.

HB,

Sorry, for your issues. I doubt it has anything to do with the storm, although I would suggest getting UPS/AVRs for every computer, router and modem and switch.

We need more information again:

1. What OS is on every computer?
2. What OS is on the "main" computer?
3. How are your NIC cards configured? Static or Dynamic, e.g. are the using DHCP from the server? Are you getting IPs from your router?
4. What router and switch are you using?
5. Is this peer to peer, Client/Server non-domain or domain?
6. What is the NIC on your laptop? What is it set to?
7. Can you ping the "server" with your laptop?
8. Can you ping the "server" with all of your computers?
9. Can the server ping your laptop?

This is usually DNS, DNS, DNS.

Oh, also, firewall, firewall, firewall -- especially the Internet suites. Take off anything that says Norton, Symantec or McAfee!

Give us step by step of what you are doing with the laptop.

Bert, thanks, sorry I didn't reply until now, it got very busy at the office yesterday afternoon, and tech support was able to help me. What he figured out is that when we had the storm, the power surge apparently caused the main computer (with the database) to somehow reset the IP address that the laptop was trying to find, so using the DOS prompt, he was able to fix that and I'm now back to normal. Thanks, anyway!
Dr. HB

Hmmm, as Bert said above "This is usually DNS, DNS, DNS."

I am betting you have no real DNS setup at the moment, which is probably what made installation difficult to begin with. Just keep in mind that a static IP could really be beneficial in that scenario, just configure your router (or whatever device is assigning IP's) to not give out a certain address, and assign that address to your server computer.

Good point about the DNS. If she is not on a domain.

I also agree, set up static IPs, especially on the main computer.

Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Local are connection -> right click on the NIC (usually two blue computers -- if connected, if not then grey) -> choose properties -> click on TCP/IP in the middle window. There click on Use the following IP address and put in the information.

You can find the information you are currently using at a command prompt by typing: ipconfig at the command prompt.

Personally, I would make them all static. That would override the DHCP on the router anyway but, for best practice, I would turn that off. Using a DHCP server is really best for a network and a server giving the IPs out. There are advantages to using dynamic IPs with a DHCP, but it isn't that much of an advantage over static.

So, in a nutshell and agreeing completely with Paul, just give all of the computers static IPs.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm hesitant to try them out as this seems way over my head and now that's working, I would hate to mess it up again. I'm not upgrading to V 4.072 but would rather wait until I have no choice but to upgrade to V5, then I may try it then. Thanks!

OK. If you ever need help I can remote into your computer. Really, though, setting static IPs on your computer is really easy especially if someone other than I tells you how. I tend to make it more difficult. But, as Paul said, your "main computer" should really be static.