No Comm Error with a CDC Virtual Comm Error when looking for the AVR on refractometers is indicative of an optics module mismatch or updated virtual driver.
When troubleshooting a No Comm error on a refractometer, also check for a valid AVR value in device manager. If you see a CDC Virtual Comm Error instead of the normal AVR value, it is possible that the optics module was swapped with a display base that is not compatible or the controller board driver was deleted or corrupted.
AVR Values
- AVR5 for refractometers with a Jetway mainboard
- AVR7 for refractometers with an Aeon mainboard.
Troubleshooting
Was the optics swapped? If the optics was swapped, have the customer reinstall the optics module back to its original paired display module
If the optics was not swapped, the issue could be the controller board or driver. An RMA would need to be provided.
If the optics controller board is tested and found to be in working order, a Rudolph technician should follow the steps below to install the updated controller board driver.
Updating Driver for new controller board
- Disable disk protection. Go to Factory only setting (007) and select shell launcher. Hit the Disable Disk Protection tab.
- If you haven’t done so already close out the Refractometer program.
- Select Control Panel
- Go to Device Manager
- You should see CDC Virtual Com Port with a Yellow Symbol with an exclamation point before it in either ports or other devices. This is the optics box an we need to update the driver
- Place the new AVR Virtual Com Port driver that we sent you on a thumb drive and place the thumb drive into the Refractometer
- Right click on the CDC Virtual Com Port and select update driver software
- Select - Browse my computer for driver software
- Select Browse and search for the thumb drive with the driver(probably the D: drive) and hit OK
- Windows security won’t recognize the publisher of the driver software; select install this driver software anyway.
- You should get a message that windows has successfully updated the driver software
- The yellow exclamation point should have gone away and in ports it will see the optics module as AVR virtual com port(com6)
- In order for the Refractometer program to work properly we need to switch it to com 5
- Right click on the AVR virtual com port and select properties
- Go to the port settings tab and select advanced
- On the bottom of the window you will see COM Port Number
- Change it to Com 5
- You will get a message saying Com5 is already in use, select continue anyway
- In Ports you should now have AVR Virtual Com Port(com5)
- Close all your windows and restart the computer right away
- After the instrument has restarted and is working go back and enable disk protection.