Back-UPS ES 550 no taskbar icon

[BillP]

Model: Back-UPS ES 550
Serial number: ***************
Firmware revision: 840.B2.D
USB firmware revision: B2
Result of last manual self-test: Not Recorded
Last manual self-test date: Not Recorded
Last battery replacement: 9/27/2007
CPU: Intel Pentium
RAM: 511 MB
Free disk space: 135,366 MB
Software version: PowerChute Personal Edition 2.0
Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP (5.1.2600)

New UPS
When I restart the PC, I get a taskbar icon with exclamation point, then it goes away completely. If I launch "apcsystray.exe", the icon appears, NEVER has an exclamation point, and functions correctly

The APC UPS Status shortcut is in the Startup folder
I have placed a shortcut to apcsystray.exe in the Startup folder (doesn't help), although I'm not sure it appears at all in the tray w/o it.

After I launch it manually, it NEVER has a communication error.
5 foot cable
no hub

After I launch it, and it is working, and I unplug the cable, it correctly changes to an exclamation point. Reinserting the cable cause the exclamation point to go away

I have uninstalled the APC S/W, and reinstalled.

No, I will not reinstall Windows.

Message was edited by: saty

[EZ_Button_apc]

Just to clear up what your problem is...

When you restart your computer, the software indicates that it has lost communication with the UPS?

Just curious if say, reseating the usb cable or stopping and starting the service does clear it up as well?

[BillP]

After I launch it, and it is working, and I unplug the cable, it correctly changes to an exclamation point. Reinserting the cable cause the exclamation point to go away


Do you mean, besides the Exclamation point ??? It doesn't give any other indication

ThANKS

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Have you checked MSCONFIG and made sure that it is enabled at startup? It should be under the same filename and either checked or unchecked. Also, do you have any setups under Power Options for anything to turn off after X amount of minutes? It's possible that if you're idle from your computer and it goes into sleep mode, or the hard disks turn off, that it is disabling the USB port for the time being as well.

[BillP]

a) both are in MSCONFIG, both checked

b) it is not going into IDLE. The icon disappears soon (seconds) after the machine finishes booting

c) I have been unsuccessful in trying to select and open it before it disappears

d) I can add that I previously used an RS-1000 UPS on this PC - icon worked as expeceted

e) I uninstalled the s/w, and reinstalled after switching UPS

f) Even when the icon is not showing in the taskbar, apcsystray.exe shows up in Task Manager

Message was edited by: saty

Message was edited by: saty

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Hello,

I understand you contacted APC Email support. The instructions they should have given you were the following:

1. Using the registry keys they provided, delete all registry keys and complete the manual uninstall of PowerChute Personal Edition

2. Search the registry for any entries labeled PowerChute and delete those.

3. Reboot

4. Reinstall.

[BillP]

.... sigh ....

Received the manual uninstall instructions

Performed all steps

Rebooted

Reinstalled

I do not even get the Exclamation Point Icon now, no icon at all

Manually launching apcsystray.exe brings up the icon

I placed a shortcut to apcsystray in the Startup Folder, and then I get the Exclamation Point for about 15 seconds after booting, then it disappears

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Hello,

Sorry we are making slow progress here, but this is a very unique case. Can you check Device Manager to make sure the UPS shows up under Human Interface Devices? Can you also make sure all Windows Updates are completed (except for IE7 if you don't want that, I wouldn't recommend it).

[BillP]

yes, shows up as both a Battery and HID

both happy

IE7 installed, but I use Firefox as it it one and one half zillion times faster than IE

Please don't forget it works perfectly when manually launched, just not when I reboot

Message was edited by: saty

Message was edited by: saty

[BillP]

I can't help you but I'm having the same problem with my Back-UPS XS 900. Just purchased.
I've tried all the same steps that you have with the same results.

One other thing I tried (unsuccessfully) was playing with the power settings in the desktop/properties/screeensaver/power management. Originally, it didn't even show a UPS installed even though, as you stated, it shows in the device manager. Changing it didn't help though and it only provided the communication option of COM1. Useless.

Power Chute is running, it has protected me. Just no icon in systray.

[BillP]

so, should I just return the thing ????

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Model: Back-UPS ES 550
Serial number: ***************
Firmware revision: 840.B2.D
USB firmware revision: B2
Result of last manual self-test: Not Recorded
Last manual self-test date: Not Recorded
Last battery replacement: 9/27/2007
CPU: Intel Pentium
RAM: 511 MB
Free disk space: 135,366 MB
Software version: PowerChute Personal Edition 2.0
Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP (5.1.2600)

New UPS
When I restart the PC, I get a taskbar icon with exclamation point, then it goes away completely. If I launch "apcsystray.exe", the icon appears, NEVER has an exclamation point, and functions correctly

The APC UPS Status shortcut is in the Startup folder
I have placed a shortcut to apcsystray.exe in the Startup folder (doesn't help), although I'm not sure it appears at all in the tray w/o it.

After I launch it manually, it NEVER has a communication error.
5 foot cable
no hub

After I launch it, and it is working, and I unplug the cable, it correctly changes to an exclamation point. Reinserting the cable cause the exclamation point to go away

I have uninstalled the APC S/W, and reinstalled.

No, I will not reinstall Windows.

Message was edited by: saty