Home Forums Discussions Problems opening AC with remote desk top

hello everyone ,
I have started having this strange error message if i try to open AC on my server with remote desk top. Frequently it says" Amazing charts is in the process of starting up or shutting down " this happens even if I am logging in for the first time . Using CTRL + alt+ del does not work as suggested in the message . I have to restart the server each time. this is the only thing that works but this is annoying . I am using version 6.3.3.
any suggestions to fix this would be very appreciated
thanks
Bala

There are a couple of possibilities.
How are you remoting into the server?
Logmein has ctrl-alt-del capabilities.
RDP does not but you can remote into the server desktop and bring up Task Manager (using either search on the start button or the start screen on 2012)
Remote App programs do not have this ability but you can use an RDP program to get to the server desktop as above.

Apparently AC is hanging after you log off. One option is do not close AC, close the remote connection, thus AC should still be running when you log back in. Perhaps you should shut AC down at the end of the day rather than it "withering" and getting caught in an incomplete shutdown.

The bigger question is Why is AC hanging. I've seen it sometimes when shutting down a client but not really on the server. It may require a reinstallation.

Hi bala,

There are many things you can do here. First, though, it would be helpful if you gave us a lot more information. For instance, when you say server, what do you mean? An actual server or a client computer which you use to run SQL? You have not mentioned what OS you are using on the "server." Another important fact would be does this only happen when you use RDC or does it happen when you are physically at the computer.

The are many ways that a computer can "hang." The terminology is important too. Generally, the word "hang" means a program which is no longer responding due to a malfunction in messages from Windows Desktop Manager and the app. What you are describing is a situation where the app never closed fully or at some point tried to start but didn't open properly.

This can happen if a program closes but doesn't release the RAM it was using. Windows will now look at that program as possibly being open, therefore, it won't continue to open it.

Another thing is that each application was written by the programmer to close a certain way. For instance, selecting CTRL + Q or CTRL + L (when that program is active) will close the program. Or you can simply select those commands under File. I generally use the "x" but I would try the other.

It could also be that another program is interacting with it and hinders its ability to close. If this is happening EVERY time or most times, try this:

Type MSCONFIG in the Search field in Win 7 or in the Run command from the Start button. You will see a window with a Startup selection on the left hand side with a default of Normal startup. Change that to Selective startup. You can use the services tab (and hide all Microsoft services, then turn off five at a time, select apply, then OK and it will require a reboot. Try closing and restarting AC now. If it works properly, then one of those five services is the culprit. Continue on, turning the five back on and five back off. The more productive will be the Startup, which you do the same way. Norton A/V may be revealed doing it this way as it is very stingy and clingy with other programs.

I agree with Wendell, although I prefere to right-click on the taskbar to start Task Manager. You can get free 3rd party task managers which are much more powerful.

Finally, you can use Sandeep's extremely simple batch file to close AC immediately.

Open a notepad. Type:

taskill /f /im "Amazing charts.exe" (exactly this way) and save the text with a name like Kill AC, so that you have Kill AC.txt. Now choose Rename and change the extension from .txt to .bat and save. Click on "Changing the extension may cause this program not to work." and you will have Kill AC.bat. Now all you have to do it click on that icon and you will completely close AC whether it is actually up and running or slightly closed.

Finally, go to AC folder and open Advanced Options and run it as the administrator. Run the three bit ones on the front window.

Again, based on your question and only stating "server" whether or not this is a real server or just a client with SQL and AC's databases on it, it is never a good idea to run AC or most programs on the server. The computer with AC on it should sit there in the corner without being touched.

When you say that ctrl-alt-delete does not work... be sure not to just look for the AC application. Also check the "Processes" tab and close anything containing "AC" in the name. That always allows AC to start for us, and is much quicker than restarting he machine.

thank you all so much for all the useful suggestions .
I am running a PC as the server and the OS is win 7 ultimate . Mots of the time it is happening on the server PC.
It seems to happen even when I close AC on the server PC at the end of the day and then remote in the next day to start it so I think that like Bert says it is not completely shutting down even though it seems to be . For example when I click on the AC icon to start it on the server PC it will come up with this message. The task manager actually does not show AC as running which is what i find strange . The task manager shows no processes as running. It has happened on other client computers as well but rarely and usually responds to restarting the computer.
I will download the batch file as recommended
hope this clarifies my problem
thanks again
Bala

I should clarify that I am remoting in to the server PC in my office as my wireless is much slower and i do not have wired connections in my rooms so have to use a lap top.
thanks
Bala

One reason it will not show processes is because you are not logged into the same account.
Why do you close AC at the end of the day? Let it run.
You should be able to log in and it should be running. This could eliminate the "hanging" issue you are keep having.

This is an interesting thread, because we are all saying a lot of the same things. I guess when Wendell and I suggested task manager, we figured that processes would be assessed. But, I could see someone just looking at Applications. Bala, it is not weird that the AC program is not listed as an application or process if it is not running. There is the point when it is opening, that the computer considers it running.

I also gave you the batch file and gave Sandeep credit. His version that he would have you download gives the intermediate step of the DOS command window allowing you to say yes or not to closing AC.

As to keeping AC open, all of ours are closed as all of our computers are logged off rather than locked, which is considered best practices. Of course, rebooting any computer will shut down all programs, and you will not have the problem with starting the program. But...a server is always on so it can perform the various duties it must perform such as backups, etc. Most servers will stay on without having to be rebooted for months. Only updates can cause you to restart it. Now, given you have a plain PC as your "server" and especially since you use it, you will have to restart it quite frequently, which means you lose all of your saved up pages in SQL Server. But, with this problem, you should never have to reboot the computer. Using Task Manager, you should be able to. I am not sure why you can't see processes in any account as you are now using that account.

As you know, AC does not need to be open on the server for the other computers to use it. Unless you are actually using it during your day's work. Again, though, leave AC closed and DON'T use that computer ever. Delete the AC start icon.

I still don't understand why you cannot use any other computers. You must have plenty during work.


When you say remote in the next day, why are you having to remote in the next day? Are you remoting in to start it to save time? Why not open it physically when at the office?




I would delete and smash any ability to open AC on the server. I would get into my head, "This is a server. Server's are NEVER touched. I will not use AC on the server, because one does not run programs on the server. Just because it is a "pseudoserver" doesn't mean you should treat it like a client. Let's say you aren't using SSDs so that your reboots are 90 seconds. That means any time you have to reboot the machine to fix this issue, every user has to wait. And, all of their connections are lost.

You would be much better off investing in a fairly medium-sized computer and hard wire it to the server and log into it.

I would sit down and ask myself, "What can I do so I don't have to use AC on the main computer? The best thing would be to hard wire your office. You would pick up speed and have a lot less problems. And, since they were faster than the wireless, you could remote into them.

Are you taking your work home every night? Why must you remote in so often? Finally, like the others have said, while logging off and not logging is best practing, locking the server and not logging off is essential. So, even though I am against your using it, IF you are going to use AC on the "server," then stop shutting it down.

Let me second something that Bert said (in paraphrase): Get another computer just to log into. Might be OK if you are using direct app, but if you are using RDP, you are much less likely to cause harm to the server by using another computer for remote services.

sorry I did not reply earlier due to the holiday weekend. The reason I ma using the lap top is the convenience . I am not hard wired in each room .
I have tried using AC from my lap top without opening AC on the server as Bert suggested but it is too slow with Comcast business modem and router. That is why I am using RDP even in my office . I have heard others mention using it in the office . I just find it takes me longer to get my charts done if I am not completing them while I see the patient so I use the lap top rather than a wired desk top in my office though I could do do .
I have other computers in use that are hard wired but they also come up with this message occasionally (though not as frequently) even when AC on the server is not running.
I also do outreach clinics so I have to use RDP to remote in to the server .
If I understood Bert and Wendell correctly , it seems I need to remote in to one of the other hard wired computers and then open AC thru them . is this correct ?
thanks
bala

Yes, that would be correct on your last sentence. But, it could still be wired. But, I think we should make sure we are talking apples and oranges here. I think we should try to simplify this.

First, let's took at the server. We will refer to the "main computer" as the server, i.e. the one with the SQL database. You should never use this computer to use AC. Ever. Now, I will be the first to admit that every Wednesday morning I have a FNP who works, and she uses my office. I may need to check the schedule for the afternoon, etc. So, yes I have remoted into the server and used Medware or AC, as it seemed to be a necessity.

So, given you aren't using the server, whether AC is open or not MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. It doesn't affect the speed of the other computers and shouldn't affect the error message. Think of AC on the server as being inside a computer inside the server. It is just like all of your other computers in that it also connects to the SQL database. The only difference is that when it is open and especially when you are using it, it is using resources and accessing hardware and software that potentially affect not only the performance of the server but can easily cause a BSOD or a reboot, etc. In fact, I have on many occasions installed a new version of AC onto the server, moved the databases and a few other folders to my data drive and uninstalled Amazing Charts.

So, here we are with tenet number one. The server has your AC SQL databases, it sits in the corner completely logged off with a password that is rather difficult that only you know also written down hidden in your office, or even better, at your house or in your car.

Now, step one is done, and you can put out of your mind anything to do with the server or remoting into the server or whether AC is open or closed. In fact, if you are logged off and not locked, it is impossible to have any program open.

Now I am somewhat perplexed or at least you haven't said how many computers are wired and how many are wireless. So for argument's sake, let's say your office and your receptionist have wired desktops and two of four exam rooms are wireless and two are not.

When you use the wireless laptops they will be slower than the wired desktops but they all must connect to the server in some fashion. You could connect wirelessly to the server with a wireless Ethernet card, but while that would be faster, that computer would not be in the "network" whether client/server or P2P. So, it would be best for all computers to connect to your router as well as your server.

I am completely confused. When you say use your laptop, I am assuming you mean from within the office. If so, then the speed of your Comcast business modem has absolutely nothing to do with the equation. It only connects your network to the Internet, so everything connected to the router to the server depends on the NIC cardsd, Ethernet cable speeds, wired or wireless, speed of router, etc. Again, AC being open on the server has absolutely nothing to do with the speeds. Only the databases matter, and of course, your processor speed, etc. AC being open would only be an advantage if you were remoting in from home. Now, it is true you could RDP into the server and use AC there, but you would still have to do it wirelessly. And, you would not be able to have multiple connections.

If you RDP into the server, the RDP connection speed will depend on the connection your laptops have to the server. And, I don't see why that would be advantageous over just connecting to your switch which connects to the server and allows unlimited licensed connections to the database.

The big question is what is the speed of your router/switch. If your router, cables and NIC cards aren't all 1 GB capable, then you are spinning your wheels. The speed of your network depends on the speed of your weakest link. So, if your switch is 1 GB and costs $10,000 and your Ethernet cables are all Cat6 from CablesToGo, but your NIC card on your laptop is 10MBs, then you are running at 10MBs. And, they should be set to auto-negotiation.

All Wendell and I are suggesting is to remote into ANY other computer, wireless or otherwise rather than directly into the server. Which then brings up the other question of whether you are using port 3389 (bad) or have changed the RDC port?

I don't understand why you can't do your notes in the room. A properly setup wireless environment should allow you enough speed to work there. Or, in the end, do the best thing and get rid of the wireless.

Finally, if you are dead set on using one AC application via RDP, then rather than use the server which is not a good idea for a multitude of reasons, then get a very good computer or server and run a TS. You could then put AC on it, have it connect to the database and run as many computers as you wish via RDP. (With the proper licensing).

You should basically step back and say, "What do I want?" If it is, "I want to work in my rooms, I would to have speed that is fast enough, and I don't want to touch the "main computer," then you can do it. Thousands of others have and are. The setup is easy. You may have to put in a few extra bucks. But, in the end, it will be worth it.

What Bert said.
We are running 8+ RDP sessions on our terminal server (I-7 + 16 GB works very well for us, hard wired

special thanks to Bert for your help.
I guess I did not realize that remoting into the main computer was insecure.
I am using a different port than 3389 .
I need to seriously consider hard wiring in all rooms or maybe using a TS.
thanks again
Bala

I think that hardwiring your network is the most efficient thing you can do. Whether you use a TS like Roger or just connect via the switch is up to you.