Posted by Myron Langer on Mon, Apr 30, 2012
When installing the OnColor color QC and formulation software under Windows 7 or Vista, there are some settings in the operating system that should be noted.
The default setting in Windows 7 allows for the computer to “sleep” or hibernate after a preset interval of inactivity. This disables power to the USB ports and causes a lost communications error to occur. When the power to the USB port is turned off, OnColor can no longer read the hardlock key and a software Protection Violation occurs. It may look like this:
This can be annoying for the operator because you will need to unplug the hardlock key and re-establish communications with the key. To prevent this from happening, click on the [START] button on the lower left of your desktop. Then, select as follows:
Control Panel
└―—> Hardware & Sound
└―—> Power Options
└―—> Change Plan Settings
The following dialog box will be displayed where you can change these settings:
Note: You can set [Turn off the display] to any value that is desired. [Put the computer to sleep] must be set to [Never].
Select [Save changes]to save this as the default setting.
Posted by Myron Langer on Thu, Oct 29, 2009
The OnColor Suite of color QC and color matching software is licensed through use of a hardlock key. The USB hardlock key that is shipped with the software can be used on one computer at a time.
There are two ways to successfully install the Hardlock driver required for the USB key used by OnColor in Windows 7 and Vista:
- OnColor setup will run HLDRV32.EXE (Included on the installation CD) which installs the Hardlock drivers.
- Allowing Windows to install the Hardlock driver the first time the USB key is used.
If both driver setups take place, however, the Hardlock key will not work as the drivers conflict.
The preferred method is to follow our instructions and not insert the Hardlock USB key until after the setup of OnColor. The OnColor setup will run HLDRV32.EXE, which will prevent the Windows drivers from being installed when the USB key is inserted.
If for whatever reason, the Windows driver for Hardlock has been installed before the OnColor setup, you must uninstall the HLDRV32 Hardlock drivers after the OnColor setup. To uninstall the Hardlock drivers, go to the Control Panel -- Programs and Features, which shows a list of programs that can be uninstalled. You should see "Hardlock Device Drivers" in that list. Uninstall that program. Unplug the Hardlock key and then reboot the computer. Plug in the Hardlock key and you will now be using the Windows supplied Hardlock driver.
If you know that the Vista Hardlock key driver has already been installed by Windows, you can hit the Cancel button during installation of the OnColor CD when the Hardlock setup dialog is displayed and then continue on with the OnColor installation.