Home Forums ac/sql problem solution

Occasionally the ac/sql interface can become broken in a way that ac tech folks cannot fix. The result is a main computer that can no longer run ac despite apparently clean reinstalls. This has happened to two of my systems and a number of hours of work on my own and the ac has failed to resolve the issue.
Here's the solution. First, do NOT install the main version of ac directly on hardware. If this glitch occurs, you cannot use that computer for ac again, at least until the ac folks (or you) get more savvy with sql.
If you have a win7 computer, install xp mode and run ac in the virtual xp machine. works great. if the ac/sql glitch occurs, simply install another copy of the xp machine and transfer your data files and you're off and running w/o having to get new hardware.
If you're running on older or non-windows OS, get either ms virtual pc or a VMware machine, install it and a compatible OS (XP, vista (yuck) or win7) and install/run ac in the virtual machine. has the disadvanatge of having to buy another licensed copy of a windows OS.
I think the cheapest, safest and simplest option is to get a win7 pro based cheap desktop (~$500) and make it a dedicated ac system running ac in the xp virtual machine.

Bob Burr

This is not a common problem. It makes me wonder if there is some glitch in either your machine or system setup from the factory that makes it occur (thus reoccuring when you reinstall.)

Virtual machines, by there very nature, run slower than a "direct" machine, or so to speak. While it may be easier to replace the entire system if there is a crash you have to balance that against continuous loss of speed running virtual.

Why use a windows 7 machine running XP, why not just use an XP machine running straight?

occurred on a win7 machine and on win server 2003 machine.

clearly an sql/ac interface problem. realize it's not common, but serious when it occurs and currently unsupportable. when it occurs prevents the use of that machine for installation of the ac server, which compromises the planned network architecture.

VM's are getting steadily better. properly configured and on ethernet wired networks are not detectably slower than running on hardware.

the reason not to run on a native XP machine to to protect the machine from the ac/sql problem. win7 includes an elegant xp based VM at no additional cost. basically, get a working copy of XP for "free" with win7 pro and up.

Robert,

I am completely missing something here. First, I think way too many users blame AC for AC/SQL issues. Most of the offices I have found with issues have well over 15 users and/or computers.

It is hard to say with certainty that it is an interface problem. Amazing Charts support is going to be way behind the curve when it comes to pure SQL Server issues.

I have no idea what you mean when you say that the machine becomes unusable. I also don't know if you refer to reinstalls of AC or of the OS. I have never had to, but if my entire Amazing Charts/SQL Server database became corrupt, I would simply uninstall everything and reinstall SQL. Beyond that I have multiple daily backups.

While VMs are fun to trial different things, and I myself have seven OS on VMWare, running Hyper-V or some very robust VM on a server is helpful for running apps. But to tell the average user on here to NEVER install directly to hardware isn't fair to the average user. The normal user is not going to go out and get Microsoft Virtual PC or VMWare Workstation, purchase a second OS for $150 or more and install to virtual machine.

I don't even think free versions of downloading the two apps one has to install on WIN7 is going to impress too many users. It is simply too complicated.

It takes RAM to run VM especially the ones that don't come with WIN7. If you have 2GB of RAM on a machine, you will likely need to give 1 Gig of that back.

Raja emailed you about help with SQL. At this point, people are going to be on their own on some SQL issues, but with 3500 users, I suspect that most are having no issues at all or Jon's company wouldn't be doing so well. I have run AC on hardware for seven years with not an issue. I am not saying you didn't have one, but I don't see how it happened twice.

I would have to say I agree with Wendell on this one.