Panelview Plus boot-up issue help needed

I have a Panelview Plus 1250 that a customer just sent me. It stopped working and I am having trouble understanding if the 2711P-RP2 Logic Module or the 2711P-RW2 Compact Flash is causing this issue. Here is what happens: Upon starting, the unit goes thru its normal startup process. It does the "28 Starting System" and then goes to "29 Checking System 120". At this stage, the screen suddenly goes dead, the red led light flickers once, and then the green led goes off. The only other thing that shows signs of life is that after the screeen saver time, I can touch the screen and the AB logo comes up.

I have it narrowed down to the logic module (the pc) or the compact flash that has the program on it. I thought that I should be able to remove the compact flash and put it on a reader and at least see some files... but I can't read it. Is the format of this module one that should be able to be read by a standard compact flash reader?

Any help would greatly be appreciated as I need to turn this quickly around to my customer.

Thank,
Brett

There are actually four logical partitions on that CompactFlash card, but only one is visible to a Windows PC when you load the card into a card reader. The other ones hold firmware images and boot code and you really can't get to them with normal Windows tools.

One of the nice things about RSView ME is that you can run a normal PC in place of a PanelView Plus, so a laptop can serve as a substitute for the PV+ in a lot of cases.

If you can't read the CF card at all, then it becomes the primary suspect.

Ken, since you suggest that the CF is bad, could I prove this by loading another CF with something like a windows 98 bootable system? I would think from a simplistic view that the computer would then just boot to a windows 98 c: prompt or something. Note I tried this by plugging in the new CF to the open card reader slot and it still goes to the blank screen, but the comm led stays green and the red fault light doesn't come on.



Perhaps I should try this by removing the AB board mounted CF and replace this one? Or does the system somehow boot off the external one if there is an autoexec.bat file there?

Brett

Also, you mention using a laptop for replacing this. Is there an easy way for me to send the customer a file and the program so they can make a laptop work until I get this broken PV issue resolved? They are now flying blind. I guess this is why I put all the control of the machine in real pushbuttons and lights.


I can easily send them the .mer file, but I think they must have a licensed version of RS Machine view available (plus the know how to set it up). I don't think either is available.

Anyone's thoughts would be appreciated.


Thanks, Bretr

I had something happen with a panel view plus, much like this. However i could read the CF card with a windows computer and standard card reader. I eventually moved a backup copy of the .mer file onto the CF card using the card reader to overwrite the one in the folder called Runtime.
you are right the customer woukld need RS view ME to run the file on a laptop.
I would agree with you on the next step and replace the AB CF card.

cheers

myles

Sounds like I am off to the AB distributor for a Compact Flash... hope they have one I can try one the unit as I really don't want to buy this separately if the Logic Module is bad (if you buy a Logic Module, it can come with the CF). If this is it, does anyone know how to duplicate one of these as I would like to keep one in spare in the event that the card goes bad again.

I don't think this is a problem with pirating, as one would need one of these only if they have a PV Plus and this comes with one when you buy it. Does that make any sense or is my thinking incorrect?

I Think if you put a blank CF card new out the box into the PV+, used the transfer utility in RS view ME to transfer the application to it, you could then retain that card as a backup, then just do the same with your other card and leave it in. These cards are quite expensive from what i can remember.

good luck

myles

If I understand you correctly, first I must get the system working (whether it takes a Logic Module or a new Compact Flash with RS ME on it). Then I would pull out the AB CF w/RS ME on it, and put in the blank one in it's place. Then I would transfer the memory from the PV back to the blank using the utility onboard. Then I would save this one and put back in the original one. Does this sound correct for understanding?

Thanks,
Brett

Remember that we're talking about the internal CompactFlash card in the PanelView terminal.

If you wanted a backup CF card to guard against another CF failure, you would have to get another one of the 2711P-RW2 CompactFlash cards and load the RSView ME program onto the terminal. Then you'd remove that CF card and have it as a spare.

This isn't cheap, as the 2711P-RW2 cards are not just a high-temperature/vibration/write cycle card but also contain a license for RSView ME and for Windows CE.

Call up your local RA office or distributor and talk to their specialist to see if your application has something in it that might be wearing out the card's write cycles, like an enormous data log.

It is possible to create a precise duplicate of the 2711P-RW2 cards using some Linux tools, but it's not an exact science and might be considered a last resort.

Just wanted to follow-up with what was found on this dead panelview. First off, the compact flash was corrupt and needed replacement. Secondly, the 2711P-RP2 Logic Board has some sort of defect on it. Even with a good Compact Flash, the system goes thru a proper boot, but then the screen goes blank. I ended up having to change both parts. Not sure what caused this as I was not writing data to the CF. The sources I contacted on getting a logic board each stated that they were seeing quite high failures just recently with the logic boards.