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[Mr Bob]

Yesterday we had a power failure.  Since then, I have not been able to get APH to start.  First I get an error message that there is an 'error getting X10net interface'.  I click OK and then I get the error message "Active Home Professional has encountered a problem and needs to close.  We are sorry for the inconvenience."

I have unplugged the interface from the wall and the USB port, reinstalled AHP 3 times, re-conected the interface - still no luck. 

Does anyone here have any thoughts/suggestion that might help??

Thanks!

[s0urc3f0ur]

From the X10 wiki:   
These errors are generally due to a corrupt file of some sorts. First, please redownload the update to the latest version of ActiveHome Pro here:

ftp://ftp.x10.com/pub/applications/activehome/ahp_updt.exe

The Activehome Professional software should now operate correctly. If you receive a message that states the device is not recognized, unplug the CM15A from the wall and computer. Remove its batteries, then plug it back in to the wall and computer. The device should now be recognized by your computer. If the problems persist, you should reinstall ActiveHome Pro.

Go to Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs and click on the ‘Add/Remove’ button for Activehome Pro. Note: You may receive a message saying "Could Not Find Install.Log." If you get this, delete the folder at C:\Program Files\ActiveHome Pro. Run the ActiveHome Pro installer again, and repeat Step #1.
A window will pop up asking if you would like to do an ‘Automatic’ or ‘Custom’ uninstall. Select ‘Custom.’
Click on the ‘Select all’ button, and then the ‘next’ button on every screen in the Uninstall Wizard.
Click ‘Finish.’ Repeat steps 1-4 for X-Ray Vision, X10 Hardware, and any other X10 software installed.
Reboot the computer.
Open "My Computer". Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files.
Delete the X10 folder. If you receive a message that states you cannot delete this folder, go to step 8. If you can delete it, go to step 12.
If you are using Windows 98 or ME, skip to step 9. Go into the Start menu and select Run. Type NET STOP X10NETS and hit Enter. Skip step 9; proceed to step 10.
Hit Ctrl-Alt-Del, select X10NETS.EXE, and End Task.
Delete the X10 folder in the Common Files folder.
If this does not work, reboot the computer and repeatedly press F8 while it loads to bring up the Safe Mode menu. Boot into Safe Mode and delete the X10 folder in the Common Files folder.
Go into C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data. Delete the Active Home Professional folder and the X10 Settings folder.
Reboot the computer and disconnect your CM15A ActiveHome Pro Interface.
Install the ActiveHome Pro software, and plug in the CM15A when prompted.
Reboot the computer again.
The ActiveHome Professional software should now operate correctly. If you receive a message that states the device is not recognized, unplug the CM15A from the wall and computer. Remove its batteries, then plug it back in to the wall and computer. The device should now be recognized by your computer.

Most common Problems with AHP and X10 can be found by searching the forum or by searching the X10 wiki (link above). Usually the kind folks that post here on the forum respond to your questions before you can even type the keyword for the question  in the search bar. I know I would be lost without them
Hope this helps

Jeff

[Mr Bob]

Thanks, Jeff.

I have followed the instructions exactly as posted.  I can now start AHP, and thinks seem OK - UNTIL . . .

There is one particular LM14A module that - when the slider (dimmer) switch is moved at all - it lock up AHP.  I can use to on/off switch without any problems, but when I attempt to set the daytime setting to on and the brightness level to 0%, it bombs. 

This only occurs with that module; all others work properly.  Also, the module itself works properly when dimmed/brightened and switched OFF from a remote, but will not turn on with the remote. 

It worked perfectly before the power failure.  Clues?  Hints?  Suggestions?

p.s.

I have tried searching the forum, and either I get a bazillion hits, or the hits I get are not relevant.  Thanks for the link to X10 wiki (what does wiki stand for??)

Cheers!

Bob H
Southern Maryland

[Mr Bob]

Oops!  Sorry - the renegade module is a WS12A - NOT the LM14A, as I stated in my previous post. 

Also, I have changed the modules code from B3 to P3 and added a new WS12A and labeled it B3.  Same thing - as soon as I click anywhere on the slider switch. the AHP freezes!  Very frustrating . . .

Cherrs - and thanks again for the help.

Bob H.

[s0urc3f0ur]

Bob..
Glad I could help

 I if understanding you corrrectly .. AHP freezes when you select the slider switch assoiciated with your module. It sounds like you still may have a corrupt file iin your AHP or the file that you are using  in AHP is corrupt. Try deleting your file and starting new. In other words recreate all your modules, macros and timers in a new file.

Also click here for the defintion of Wiki. 

[mjb4450]

Hello Bob,
I have had the same issues,  I continually receive the:

"Active Home Professional has encountered a problem and needs to close.  We are sorry for the inconvenience."  (activehm.exe  ahp.dll)

I have followed the same instructions as s0urc3f0ur and also re-installed everything on different clean machines from scratch.  I also have this problem even with the CM15A unplugged from the USB port.  It seems as soon as the config file (AHX) gets corrupted you are screwed.. (usually macros)  also, the helpful link above which takes you to the update program (v3.204  7-3-2006) is older than the current version (v3.206  9-11-2006) both versions have the same problem.  I have spent much time searching for a solution and nothing has really fixed the problem.  I  have a workaround though that may help some people.. 

History:
I first started having a problem where alll motion sensors stopped working despite the fact that the log showed they did send the signal.  I created a totally new config (AHX) from scratch and they worked perfect instantly.  I switched back to my previous config and they stopped working. 

With this new knowledge I decided to use this tactic with the continous "needs to close" software crashes and found that if you re-create the config from scratch (no importing or merging previous config) you will have good luck instantly UNTIL the the crashes start again.

The Workaround:
I have resorted to saving config before each change and using an incremental version number in the saved filename.  That way when you get to where the file is corrupted you might be able to skip back some versions and not have to start from scratch.

ex:  config100.ahx then config101.ahx, config102.ahx, etc..

IMHO:
Overall I started off being excited about home automation with x10 and now I can say it is kludgy and frustrating.  It's not something you could setup at someone's house and then just walk away from.. It is really just for the geek's house where it can be fixed and tinkered with forever.  This program has not been updated since 9-2006 and all of the online help seems to point you to places where there is no real fix or solution.  Instead, people reference old material and suggest reloading the software, bad USB ports and the like..   


Until there is a FIX for the software here is your workaround:   

1) deleting the offending macros and recreating them can also cause the crashes to stop.  Try that first before completely re-doing the config. 
2) when you save the config file use a name that is incrementially different from the last version.

I hope this helps those with the same issue.  I would love to see this product advance beyond frustrating hobby software..   If there is ever a new version it would be great to have a corruption checker/fixer that could check the config each time you load the file.

[Network8888]

Hello,

same problem, AHP windows error and must close. Background, VISTA premium.

Nothing worked, no reinstall, no replace files.

so here is what I did to fix the entire problem:

boot to vista install disk, go to command prompt, c: to get to C drive, chkdsk /r, it took about an hour to do complete check , exit out and reboot, AHP worked just as before EXCEPT, had to reinstall about half of my Plug-in's, Registration info was still intact so everything worked as before.

bit of advice, when you purchase any AHP main program, or plugins SAVE that email, the link allows you to re-download and install the software without having to go to Customer service as that is almost non-existent.

I have quite a few x-10 products, Cameras, modules Vanguard software etc, on the most part I am pretty satisfied with the products, a bit frustrated sometimes (VA11A, had to use the user forum workaround to get it to work with VISTA) but everything pretty much works.

good luck

Network8888