I am unsure if this is the appropriate forum for my inquiry, but I will proceed. The company currently utilizes an outdated Windows 98 computer as the main machine. We are looking to upgrade to Windows XP to facilitate hardware replacement, as sourcing Windows 98 hardware has become increasingly difficult. This computer houses an Excel spreadsheet that communicates with the entire network using a Simatic Net CP 5611. While I have successfully configured Excel to connect to S7data, I encountered a sudden crash upon attempting to access the debug menu. It appears that Excel is unable to communicate with the cp5621 data logging card, posing a significant issue. Despite configuring it similarly to our Master machine, which is set as ''micro/win cp5611 PPI,'' there seems to be a discrepancy between the cp5611 and cp5621 on XP, as the latter appears as a 5611. Can anyone shed light on this issue?
If you are using a Windows 98 machine, chances are you have the SIMATIC NET OPC Server installed, with Excel acting as the OPC Client, and the Micro/Win CP5611 PPI facilitating communication with S7-200 PLCs. How many S7-200 PLCs are currently in use? It is recommended to upgrade to S7-1200 PLCs (featuring built-in Ethernet) instead. Upgrading your computer to a modern Windows 10/11 system should not pose any issues with Simatic NET and Excel compatibility. The CP5621 is believed to be compatible with the CP5611 in terms of Simatic NET (OPC) configuration. Please share your Excel file and SIMATIC NCM PC project with me. To archive the project, use NCM PC Manager to create a zip file by navigating to File -> Archive.
In the case of your Windows 98 system, it's probable that the SIMATIC NET OPC Server is installed, with Excel serving as the OPC Client, and the Micro/Win CP5611 PPI facilitating communication with S7-200 PLCs. Considering an upgrade to S7-1200 PLCs (featuring built-in Ethernet) would be ideal at this point. Transitioning to a more current Windows 10/11 computer should pose no issues for Simatic NET and Excel. The CP5621 likely offers compatibility with the CP5611 for Simatic NET (OPC) configuration. If you could provide your Excel file and SIMATIC NCM PC project, it would be greatly appreciated. To archive the project using NCM PC Manager, simply navigate to File -> Archive to create a zip file. It appears there are some unexpected developments, and I may have overlooked certain aspects previously. Can you offer guidance on locating the NCM project file, as our machine's sensitivity warrants caution to avoid mishaps due to limited backups? With a network predominantly using S7-200s, housing 4 CPUs and 2 HMIs, I can share the Excel files available, although the SIMATIC NCM is currently inaccessible. Fortunately, off-site backups of the complete system are stored on multiple drives, although they are not bootable. If the necessary file can be located within these backups, it would be a significant success.
I have off-site backups of the complete operating system stored across several drives, though I am unable to boot from them. Being able to access the files within would be a major victory. If there is a method to share the entire PC backup with me, it would greatly simplify things.
User sigmadelta expressed a desire for the entire PC backup to be sent to them, stating it would make things much simpler. I am able to send the complete drive in a compressed WinRAR file, which is 1.85gb in size. Please let me know if I should use your business email address or if you prefer to provide a personal email via private message. This process will make it easier for you to access the backup.
Feel free to reach out to me via my professional email at [email protected] For secure file sharing, you can send the necessary documents through popular cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive. I am well-versed in using both platforms for seamless communication.
It certainly sounds like a tricky situation you're in. It's likely that the data logging card cp5621 might not be fully compatible with Windows XP, causing these issues. An alternative could be to try using virtual machine software, like VMware, to run Windows 98 inside XP. This would allow you to retain the compatibility and familiar environment for your simatic net CP 5611. However, always remember to back up your data before any major changes to your operating system, in order to preserve your company's important information.
It seems like you're dealing with a complex issue but you're on the right track trying to upgrade and modernize your system. From your explanation, it looks like the problem could be with the driver compatibility between Windows XP and your cp5621 card. Windows XP might not have the necessary drivers to fully support cp5621, hence it interprets it as cp5611. You might want to look into updating your drivers or even researching whether there's a patch for cp5621 compatibility. In general, it's also worth noting that Windows XP itself is no longer supported by Microsoft, which could pose additional challenges and security risks. Some hardware may not work as expected since updated drivers for XP might not be available. You might want to consider an upgrade to a later OS like Windows 7 or 10, assuming your software and hardware are compatible. It might be a bigger jump, but in the long run you might find it works out better due to increased security, improved driver support, and better hardware compatibility.
It sounds like you're dealing with a challenging transition from Windows 98 to XP, especially with that legacy hardware. The issues you're facing with the communication between Excel and the CP5621 card could stem from driver compatibility or settings that aren't transferring over correctly. Have you checked if there are updated drivers specifically for Windows XP for the CP5621? Sometimes, even slight differences in the hardware or settings can lead to crashes, especially when you're trying to debug. It might also be useful to check forums or communities focused on Siemens hardware; someone might have faced a similar issue and can offer insights. Good luck!
It sounds like you're facing quite a challenge with that transition! The compatibility issues between the CP5611 and CP5621 in Windows XP can definitely complicate things, especially since they have different data handling capabilities. Have you tried running Excel in compatibility mode or checking for any updated drivers for the data logging card? Sometimes, slight configuration tweaks or driver updates can make a big difference in communication stability. Also, you might want to consider if there's a specific version of Simatic Net software that aligns better with your current hardware setup, as that could help manage the discrepancies you're seeing. Good luck—upgrading from Windows 98 is no small feat!
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Answer: Answer: The issue seems to be a discrepancy in communication between Excel and the data logging card CP 5621 on Windows XP, where the CP 5621 appears as a 5611.
Answer: Answer: To resolve the crash issue, it might be necessary to troubleshoot the communication setup between Excel and the Simatic Net CP 5611/CP 5621, ensuring proper configuration and compatibility.
Answer: Answer: The issue might be related to the configuration and compatibility differences between the CP 5611 and CP 5621 on Windows XP, leading to communication issues in Excel.
Answer: Answer: Properly configuring Excel to connect to S7data involves ensuring compatibility and correct settings for the CP 5611/CP 5621 on Windows XP, which might require additional troubleshooting steps.
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