Trouble with Power Commander!

Hi! I am trying to download a map onto my powercommander but the computer doesn't recognize it (serial # n/a) and it says no connection, yet the hard drive recognizes that the powercommander is plugged in. Per Dynojet, I have checked the 9volt battery (with 2 new batteries) and the usb cable is seated. Should I just go to another computer, or do you guys think there are greater issues?

Thanks!

Carl

 

Brand new PC? It could be a lemon. That does happen.

But, before you try for an exchange, try it on another computer. Also make sure your 9volt is fresh.

 

Ok, here is the deal. I previously owned a Moto Guzzi V11 and had a power commander on that bike, which meant the program was already installed on my hard drive. It was a pcIII usb also. I then downloaded tha appropriate map for my Honda but it won't recognize the powercommander when I plug it in to the hard drive.

I have eliminated the batteries as the issue. HOWEVER, I am computer stupid and a few months ago the hard drive refused to automatically run cd's when installed into the drive (it stopped while swapping cd's during a song install session to my ipod- a whole other story in and of itself). SO, I don't know if it is a computer issue or not.

I am not a TOTAL idiot with computes, so my next step will be to take the new power commander with the new cd to another computer and start from scratch.

Any advice?

Thanks!

Carl

 

And the powercommander is new, out of the box. But you know how mail order companies are and their "no return" policy on this stuff so I am hoping it is not a power commander problem.

 

Ok, people, here is what I did- I changed the usb port that I was using on the hard drive. After switching ports, everything worked fine.

HOWEVER, if anyone has an explanation as to why the hard drive won't start up a cd when installed, I'd like any advice you can give.

Thanks!

Carl

 

PCs can be set up to boot from any drive. If yours is set up to boot from the CD first and no CD is in the CD drive, it will try booting from the CD first then boot from the hard drive. But if there is a CD in the CD drive, it may never try to boot from the hard drive.

If you find this to be a nuisance, you can make a change to which drive it tries to boot from first. Offhand, I don't remember how to do it, especially since I have been using an I-Mac for about 6 months. Unless you know someone who knows how to make the change, it could take a long time to find out how, even though actually making the change takes only a moment.

 

You can set a computer to start a CD when it is inserted, or to do nothing. It's something you choose when looking into the options menu. The menu should pop up when you insert a CD or DVD and ask you your preference, as to whether you want to play the CD/DVD, open it in folder format, or a number of other things. Somewhere you chose the do nothing option and then clicked or didn't notice that the little box at the bottom was clicked to ALWAYS do that function. So when you put a CD or DVD in now it does nothing. You have to open that dialogue box again and choose to start the CD. Don't click the 'always do this' box at the bottom again and the menu will always pop up.

Here's how to bring up the menu box - 1st put the CD in and then click your start button and choose your Windows Explorer (your file menu)... Then click My Computer (In Windows XP My Computer is also an icon you can just go to directly by clicking on it and skipping the Windows Explorer altogether). This shows your hard drive, CD drive, etc... right click on your CD drive, then go down the menu and right click the Properties...look at the menu that pops up and select the AUTO PLAY Tab (second from left)... There you'll find a drop down menu to selct a function and there you can select what function or action you want your computer to do in any given situation.


I hope that helps you... if not private me and I can talk you through it on the phone.

Stan Ziobro

 

Carl: In the interest of comfirming you are or are not "computer stupid":

does the computer have a picture of an Apple on it somewhere?
does it have a version of Windows or Vista loaded on it? :madgrin:

I ask only because you have listed Moto Guzzi and Harley prior to your VFR enlightenment period :wink:

PM me and I can hook you with the nozzle computer support line number :smile:

 

Oh, and by the way, when you switched USB ports it recognized new hardware, didn't it? That's because you probably never use the other USB port. It's also important to plug your connector into the computer AFTER it boots up, so the computer recognizes the hardware when you plug it into the cable.

Stan

 

Thanks for the replies... when I get home from work I will go in and try to get the hard drive to read cd's. I may have inadvertantly set it up to do nothing when a cd is installed.

And by the way..... I still do and will always own the Harley. And if I hadn't filed for divorce (since reconciled), I never would have sold the Moto Guzzi AND the Ural (with sidecar) to pay off some of OUR debt that SOMEONE ELSE racked up over the last couple years.... Sound familiar to any of you? :redface: