Weather Monitor 2 downloads (old Weatherlink software v4.04)

[brookr]

 

Hi
I have two error messages that are occurring on my Davis Weather Monitor2 Weatherlink software v 4.04, which are preventing downloads.  The system has always worked fine up until a few weeks ago.

Here are the errors.

download message "Transferred 127 of 133: retrys 14 (incomplete Block)" obviously this message changes and displays the number of retrys before giving up.

"NTVDM.EXE is not responding"

Thanks

Please advise what could be wrong and the solution to cure this.

[dalecoy]

As a guess, there's some data corruption in your logger.  If that's the problem, it might be fixed by clearing the archived data in the logger - but of course that will cause you to lose all data that you haven't yet downloaded.

It's possible that updating to the latest WeatherLink version might help. 

It's possible that calling Davis might help.

[johnd]

"NTVDM.EXE is not responding"

That's an extra piece of information Rob. Tends to indicate that there's a problem running the old 16-bit (IIRC) WL. As dalecoy says, it might be well worth trying a recent 32-bit version of Weatherlink. But sadly I won't be surprised if you still hit a maybe not identical but related problem. I still think the likely cause is corrupt data or a logger fault.

[brookr]

Thanks John
When it comes to the IT side of the Davis Monitor 2 and the Vantage Pro 2,  I am very much a novice and finding my feet still.  Thank you for your help with this problem though.  I will explain in a little more detail what I am trying to accomplish and my set up.  I now know that my problem was the Weatherlink 4.04. it works on 5.9.3

First of all I have my main weather station a VP2 wireless  in Farsley 5 miles west of the city of Leeds in Yorkshire England.  I have had this about 5 year. This is running on the latest software Weatherlink 5.9.3.

I started off in 1998 with A Weather Monitor 2 and this has run on Weatherlink 4.04 since I started with Davis. The reason I have kept the Weather Monitor 2 running is simply to record ground temperatures. I suppose I could integrate this parameter into my main station if i bought an extra sensor, but this is cheaper and it works.

Can someone please explain how I can set up two stations without comprimising either set up. My data enters my PC on two seperate ports.

Thanks for your help
 

[brookr]

Is there a simple "how to" configure my software  5.9.3 to pick up data from both stations. I did try,  but I almost lost my main VP2 station.

[johnd]

Is there a simple "how to" configure my software  5.9.3 to pick up data from both stations. I did try,  but I almost lost my main VP2 station.

Well, there should be nothing more necessary than creating a separate Weatherlink station for each physical station. You could call a new station something that specifically indicates its purpose like WM2.

The problem with running multiple stations always is that you have to remember which station is which and only to download say the WM2 data into the WM2 station. You must do File| Open Station for each station in turn that you wish to download into and double-check that you're using the correct station. There's no way of downloading data from two different physical stations into a single integrated station, so to speak, it's up to you to keep track of which station is active.

[dalecoy]

Well, that is a bit different from the subject of this thread......

My engineering design professor said that when the real specifications actually are learned, it's always easier to start over.

One missing detail is what operating system you are running on your computer.  [And what did you change, just before 4.0.4 quit working].

Also, are you fairly expert with computers?  Or a novice? 

If you are not an expert, then please heed John's comment.  If you try running two stations with a single computer, you are sure to get confused and mess something up.

The easy answer is - if you want to run 2 stations, use 2 computers.

[johnd]

The easy answer is - if you want to run 2 stations, use 2 computers.

The one potentially redeeming feature in this instance, if I understand correctly what Rob is saying, is that he could configure the two stations to be received on different COM ports. So if he were to try downloading to the 'wrong' station then the connection should error out without downloading. Then what you have to try to resist is the temptation to think that the Communications Port setting is wrong and to edit it.

But yes I agree, the ideal solution is to use two computers.

[dalecoy]

Yes, I did see that he has 2 com ports.  That might eliminate some of the confusion, until next year.....

I believe that he could (depending on the operating system, etc.) configure this to run two copies of WeatherLink, as two different users, and so each user would only have "access" to one of the stations. 

If he completely understands what you and I said, then that would work.  If not, 2 computers.

[brookr]

John and Dalecoy

Thank you - I do believe we are getting there. I do understand what you are both saying and i have now set up a new station within the sofware. You are right about being confused, as I did get confused when trying to set up and this is when I panicked and thought I have not just one disfunctional station , but now i have 2 (my main VP2 station) included.

However, thing is not to panic and keep  everything logical in your head.

I have not downloaded any new WM2 data to the new system yet, but the data is sitting there ready.  My concern is where are the files stored. I have a complete set of VP2 files that are now working fine again - I don't want to mess up this system.  How do I restore my WM2 files to the new station and where will these files be stored. Will i see both sets of data in the same folder??  This step is unclear, but I can deal with the 2 port settings and switch between the two stations that I have named accordingley.

I know I could run 2 PC's but this defeats the object. I am on Windows 7.  My machine has just had an upgrade from 2GB to 4GB ram and a new 1TB hard-drive. This should not have caused any issues as its the same 32 bit Windows 7 that I am running. I was informed i couldn't go for the 64 bit on the system I have.

When I said I do understand - I am a little unclear on setting up two users - Do you mean setting up 2 users on the operating system? which would mean  logging off -then logging on again? 

Thanks for your help.

 

[johnd]

You do have some control over exactly where the files are stored but the following is probably the case unless you have deliberately changed away from the defaults or if Windows has overridden some older defaults. But you should be able to look very easily using Windows Explorer/My Computer (or whatever it's called these days) and double-check for yourself.

The main Weatherlink program will probably be in C:\Weatherlink. Then each station's data will be stored within a separate subfolder underneath C:\Weatherlink, ie C:\Weatherlink\Station1 and C:\Weatherlink\Station2 (Station1/2 obviously being replaced by whatever you've called your own stations). So the two sets of data files should be clearly separated in different folders and Weatherlink will automatically update the correct data files PROVIDED you take care to download into the correct station.

Do remember that the WL data format changed as of v5.2 and so your old v4 data files will need to be converted into the newer format using the 'Import Data Files' option on the File menu of eg WL v5.9. There are instructions for using this option in the WL Help. It should be very straightforward to do, but you obviously need to be thinking clearly about which station folder to move the new data files into once they have been converted.

I have to say that I'm not optimistic that you will be able to achieve a complete download of the WMII logger even into the new WL version (my guess is that there's corrupt data in the logger) but you've tried everything else and it's definitely possible that you may strike lucky.

[dalecoy]

When I said I do understand - I am a little unclear on setting up two users - Do you mean setting up 2 users on the operating system? which would mean  logging off -then logging on again? 

Actually, it would mean using the "Switch User" capability of Windows 7, rather than logging off.  Both users would be running their own copies of WeatherLink at the same time, with each logging one of the stations. 

But that's an explanation just for clarification.  Please don't try that (without a much more thorough understanding of the concept).

Follow John's instructions for "2 stations 1 WeatherLink". 

[kaymann]

When I said I do understand - I am a little unclear on setting up two users - Do you mean setting up 2 users on the operating system? which would mean  logging off -then logging on again? 

Actually, it would mean using the "Switch User" capability of Windows 7, rather than logging off.  Both users would be running their own copies of WeatherLink at the same time, with each logging one of the stations. 

But that's an explanation just for clarification.  Please don't try that (without a much more thorough understanding of the concept).

Follow John's instructions for "2 stations 1 WeatherLink". 

Actually the "Switch Users" with two different Desktop backgrounds would propably the cleanest/easiest way to "keep it all straight...

[dalecoy]

But that's an explanation just for clarification.  Please don't try that (without a much more thorough understanding of the concept).

Follow John's instructions for "2 stations 1 WeatherLink". 

Actually the "Switch Users" with two different Desktop backgrounds would propably the cleanest/easiest way to "keep it all straight...

I agree in theory.

But it requires a "non-default" setup of WeatherLink, as well as working with some concepts that brookr is clearly not familiar with, nor comfortable with.  That's not intended as a criticism of brookr - different folks know different things.  The solution needs to be tailored to the comfort zone of the user.

[brookr]

Thanks everyone
I will let you know how I get on and if I achieve the desired result.  I have a friend coming around for dinner this evening and he has volunteered to help out. He's good at filing systems and logic.  I don't think the data is corrupted in WM2 files, as it worked with about 50-100 pieces of information. I am not too bothered if i loose some of the data, as I've lost most of the data from 14th March anyway, when I started having issues.   I must say the response I have had from e =D>veryone has been brilliant!

Rob
 

[brookr]

Hi
Its a few weeks since I was here, but I am still having problems.   I think it's my understanding of how weatherlink software works.
I am not getting anywhwere with using the option to use 2 stations using the same weatherlink software.i.e 5.9.3.  I have decided to keep my VP2 station seperate - as I had a scare ,thinking I'd lost 13 years worth of data!

Anyway I will start off by mentioning the positives out of this little project!

1. My weather Monitor II station hardware is all working as it should. The data logger works fine!
2. I have managed to download from the logger without any failures like I had at the start. so I know it's a software user issue.
3. MY VP2 station is running 5.9.3 Weatherlink and everything is fine here (after a glitch with data)

Negatives
1.In connection with WM2 I have downloaded using 5.9.2 Weatherlink on a differenet drive as I say,  but my data files are in a bit of a bad shape after  the glitches with WM2 files and VP2 files.  I know these files are OK up until the end of March 2012. 


Could someone point me to a location where I can download the earlier Weatherlink files 5.9.2 to run my WM2 station.
I have cleared out everything on WM2 side and want to start fresh. This will help me get to the route of any issues.
Is there a dicussion anywhere about setting up 2 stations on the same software - i  may go back to this option, but I am erring on keeping things seperate.
It's re-installing the data that is causing me issues and getting my head around the filing. I think I have got things a little mixed up!

Thanks for your help
Rob

 

[dalecoy]

Why do you want 5.9.2? 

Which "solution" to running 2 stations did you try?

[brookr]

Hi
Reason for 5.9.2 is to make sure that I don't over-write my VP2 staion files on 5.9.3.

I created 2 stations in weatherlink 5.9.3 and named these accordingley. It worked for a short time, then it or me got confused and all i saw in both stations was my WM2 data which i only use to monitor ground temps. This really concerned me as i thought I lost 13 year worth of data, since my external hard drive failed at the same time (this had all my back up files on). Fortunatley I recovered my files.  This is one reason i don't want to mess up again!

it seems that 2 stations causes problems when using the same program.  I realise now they need to be seperate or on two different machines.

[dalecoy]

Reason for 5.9.2 is to make sure that I don't over-write my VP2 staion files on 5.9.3.

On a single computer, with normal setup, that will not help at all.

it seems that 2 stations causes problems when using the same program.  I realise now they need to be seperate or on two different machines.

It is your confusion that causes the problems.  Please believe that is not a criticism - it's just stuff that you do not (yet) fully understand.  The easiest way to "unconfuse" the situation is to use two separate computers.  Next-easiest is to get your friend to work with you to help with understanding what is going on.  The next-easiest after that is to keep asking here.

If you insist you need 5.9.2, look here:  http://toolbox.davisnet.com/downloads/Weather/software/

[brookr]

Thanks
I will get my head around this. Only thing is when its working OK you tend not to bother checking what's going on. Simply backing up the files and downloading the data is about all you need to do, until a glitch occurs lik ethe one I've had.  As mentioned right atthe beginning at least I know the hardware is OK and no expenditure required. All I need to do now is to keep the two stations seperate - one way or another.
 

[brookr]

Will set up on a seperate laptop now: That link is really good
Once again many thanks for your help and guidance
 

[dalecoy]

Will set up on a seperate laptop now:

Glad to have helped.