Mach4 can't find SmartBob 411

[Sshire]

After running flawlessly for a few weeks, I'm getting the
"Port auto scan did not find a valid PMDX SmartBob USB Device"
This is followed by "Could not connect to the SmartBob USB device"

I went step-by-step down the FAQ Troubleshooting list for the 411

   1.   No hubs or USB extender cables
   2.   Tried every USB port, front and back
   3.   Power LED is lit
   4.   Red and green LEDs behaving correctly
   5.   Plugin is 0.46.221
   6.   Device manager shows STMicroelectronics Virtual Com port as port 5. No yellow question mark.
   7.   Uninstalled and reinstalled 64-bit driver
   8.   Port is there
   9.   Installed latest Mach4 build
   10.   Rebooted the computer.

None of the above fixed the problem.
Confused.

[Steve Stallings]

Without Mach4 running, if you unplug the PMDX-411, wait  a few seconds,
then plug it back in, does Windows produce the "ding" notification that you
usually get when you plug in a device? If not, does Windows respond with
a "ding" when you plug in another device such as a flash memory stick?

[Sshire]

Yes, it dings when plugging back in

[Bob at PMDX]

"faq" references below are to this page:

http://faq.pmdx.com/content/3/1/en/troubleshooting-did-not-find-a-valid-pmdx_smartbob-device-errors.html

   3.   Power LED is lit
   4.   Red and green LEDs behaving correctly

So you see the flash pattern as described in section 1(f) of the FAQ?

   7.   Uninstalled and reinstalled 64-bit driver

Just to be very clear - did you un-install and re-install the plug-in?  Or did you un-install and re-install the STMicro Virtual COM Port driver (as in step (2) of the FAQ)?

The next thing to try is step (4) from the FAQ.  Then either upload the profile package here or email it to us.  Oh, and let us know what version of Windows you are running.

Bob

[Sshire]

Solved!
I was thinking that, in general, stuff doesn't just stop working. Especially when it has worked flawlessly in the past.
Something has changed. A few days ago I added some new software (Repetier Host and Repetier Server) to my 3D printer setup which created a port.
This morning I uninstalled the Repeater server and...
SmartBob was immediately recognized by Mach 4 and it's now running a part.

Sorry for putting you through this but, this may help someone as Repetier is very commonly used on 3D printers.

[Bob at PMDX]

I'm glad you found the solution.

Though I am curious why the Reperier server (you only uninstalled the server, right) would interfere with the SmartBOB.  Is it possible that the server software was opening the SmartBOB's COM port (COM5) and keeping it open for what it thought was your printer's COM port?  That is about the only thing I can think of that would have interfered.

If you have the time an inclination to try this (totally optional) - re-install the Reperier server.  Then look in it's configuration to see what COM ports it thinks printers are on (if any).  If the server appears to be using COM5 (which you said was the SmartBOB COM port) then see if you can change it to some other COM port.  Then see if the Mach4 can find the SmartBOB.  If the server does NOT appear to be connecting to COM5 and Mach4 still cannot find the SmartBOB, then create the debug log as per the FAQ I mentioned earlier and send us the profile package.  Again, this is optional, but may help other customers who might be using the Reperier s/w.

Bob

[Sshire]

When I was checking ports yesterday, I did notice that the Repetier Server was using Com 4 and SmartBob com 5.
After I finish the parts I need to complete the current engine, I'll reinstall the server and send a log.