Support FAQ
Rick's Tips for Diagnostic Tools
Shown below is a list of technical problems that are often addressed by our support staff. Click on a problem to skip down the page to view the solution.
My Pro-Link with the MPC is displaying an out-of-memory error. The Pro-Link must be reset by performing the following steps:
- Power down (unplug) the Pro-Link and remove the PCMCIA card.
- Power up (reconnect) the Pro-Link.
- When the Pro-Link reads INSERT PC CARD, push and hold the red button on the left side of the Pro-Link
- while you insert the PC card. The display will read START NEW SESSION [YES] OR [NO].
- Toggle to YES and hit ENTER.
If this does not work, then perform the following steps:
- Remove the MPC from the Pro-Link.
- Remove the four screws holding the place to the housing.
- Remove the board from the housing.
- In location B1, there is a battery. Remove this battery for a few minutes.
- Reinsert the battery and reassemble to Pro-Link by reversing these steps.
PCMCIA card is displaying PC-Card Corrupted or Write-Protected.
The switch in the edge of the PCMCIA card needs to be positioned toward the middle of the card. If this does not solve the problem, then the card is corrupted and needs to be sent in for service.
When I try to print, it prints symbols or won't print at all.
You have a setting incorrect in either the printer or the Pro-Link. Check the dip switch setting in the printer and check the printer setup in the Pro-Link. Set it to the default (HANDSHAKE BUSY, BAUD RATE 2400, PARITY NONE, STOP BITS 2 BITS).
My Pro-Link does not power up.
Check the cables and connections. Verify that the fuse in the cable or the fuse in the cartridge is not blown. Also make sure that the edge connection on board is clean and the cartridge is fully inserted.
Using MPC with NAVPAK, the Pro-Link locks in the loading screen.
Remove and reinstall the battery from the MPC.
What is the VT program that came with my Pro-Link? Is it also available online?
This is a file Terminal program that will allow you to display your Pro-Link on your computer. It can be downloaded from our Downloads page. You also need a PC terminal cable to connect to your computer (Part Number 501005).
I'm not getting any communication with my MagiKey PDM.
First run the MPSI self test. If this test passes then make sure the parallel port is set to ECP mode in the device manager on your computer. If this is all correct, make sure that the MagiKey is selected as your communication device in the application that you are using. If you fail the self test then make sure you are connected to the 25-pin parallel port on the computer. Also, check all cables and connections to make sure that they are tight. Verify that the driver for the MagiKey is the most updated version that we offer. (Check our Downloads page.)
Common Problems while Updating PCMCIA Cards.
1. Wrong cable is being used to connect Pro-Link to computer. You must use PC Terminal cable PN 501005. You cannot use the printer cable. 2. Wrong Com port has been selected. To select the right Com port, click on the down arrow next to Com 2 on the "Select Serial Port" screen. This will open up choices for Com 2 and Com 3. To select Com 1 or Com 4, click the up or down arrows that opened up below Com 2. 3. Wrong terminal setup on Pro-Link. To correct the terminal setup, perform the following steps:
- Select MPC UTILITIES then press ENTER.
- Select RS-232 SERIAL PORT then press ENTER.
- Select TERMINAL SETUP then press ENTER.
Settings should be (RS232 BAUD RATE-38400), (HANDSHAKE-NONE), (PARITY-NONE) and (STOP-BITS-1 BIT). 4. Pro-Link will display the error CAN'T UPDATE WHEN APP LOADED. Pro-Link must be reset by performing the following steps:
- Power down (unplug) the Pro-Link and remove the PCMCIA card.
- Power up (reconnect) the Pro-Link.
- When the Pro-Link reads INSERT PC CARD, push and hold the red button on the left side of the Pro-Link
- while you insert the PC card. The display will read START NEW SESSION [YES] OR [NO].
- Toggle to YES and hit ENTER.
5. Pro-Link will display CANNOT UPDATE SERIAL NUMBER MISSING.
The PCMCIA card and floppy disk must be sent in to service for repair. Include a note with a description of the problem, your return address, and your daytime phone.
6. Computer will display PC-CARD CORRUPTED PLEASE CONTACT MANF.
Check to make sure write-protect switch is toward the middle of the PCMCIA card. If it is, then the PCMCIA card and floppy disk must be sent in to service for repair. Include a note with a description of the problem, your return address, and your daytime phone.
7. Pro-Link does not display the new version level after update.
Only the .bin file has been updated, you will need to run the update program again and update the application .img file.
8. Pro-Link displays TIMED OUT PC CARD MAY NOT BE FUNCTIONAL.
Check to see if the right Com port is selected (see number 2 above). Check terminal setup setting on Pro-Link (see number 3 above). Check to see if PC-Terminal cable is the correct cable and plugged into the port properly (see number 1 above).
9. Computer displays PROGRAM ABORTED CONTACT DEALER.
PCMCIA card and floppy must be sent in for repair. Include a note with a description of the problem, your return address, and your daytime phone.