Read the latest update before proceedingUpgraded to a new pc. My CP290 works fine so I came up with a workaround for XP Pro. I copied all the files from the old pc and set them up in a folder called "X-10" under program files. Setup.exe works fine. Before going farther, go to the device manager and open the COM port that the CP290 uses. The "Port Settings" should be defaulted. Under "Advanced" check "Use FIFO buffers". Set the receive and transmit buffers to ONE, the lowest setting.(( Un-checking FIFO buffers also works for both my low tech serial devices. I found out that restarts are a must after changing port settings even though it acts like changes are occurring.(Using maximum FIFO buffers on the WIN 98 PC worked?)). Restart the PC. Executing the program gives the error "Check interface connections"etc. Want to try again? Hit "Y" twice or more, rapidly. "Error reading time" appears. Hit ESC. The interface appears. It may or may not be your working file. In the "files" window should be your old working file. Hit F8, then F2 and load your file. (The interface switches were dead before I discovered the loading routine!!) All of my modules appeared, but the timer settings were gone. That may have happened with all the experimentation I did. After reloading the timer settings, go to F8, then F3 and save the settings to the same file name.
Hitting the "Y" twice and the ESC starts the program everytime. I usually only go in there for the twice yearly time changes. I also use a shortcut on my desktop to open the program.
April 12 2006,Somethings I just noticed: The interface displays the time from the XP PC. I don't remember that happening on the old. As I have to skip over the day and time setting I am not sure if I can choose a specific day of the week for a timer event. Something I did disabled the on-off buttons on the interface again. The load program fix mention here does not work now?? Pulling the battery and starting over does not fix it. I am about ready for the CM-15, BUT when I read about the problems on this forum, I change my mind!
I am using the DOS Version 1.3 of Home Automation Software in a new Micron Client Pro 375 that has an integrated serial port.
Update April 21, 2006: I got back to this science project and discovered:
1) Even though I can access the interface, I cannot set the date or time from the XP machine.
2) The interface displays the clock time of the XP machine, but does not use it for timing. It uses the time from the old PC.
3) I can add modules and events on the XP machine.
4) When starting the interface the timer events don't always appear on the review.(That happened on the old machine, but restarting fixed it.) Restarting does not fix it now.
5) I think I'll keep the old PC just to run the X-10, as I am only running lights and appliances.
When I read the posts under this, and all the headaches with the new stuff posted here and else where, I am determined to keep this thing til it goes dead.