Dongle trouble

[Granny313]

A very good friend of mine got a laptop for Christmas. When loading it the 3D dongle will work, however when the 4D dongle is plugged into the laptop a message comes up and says that it is not recognizable. She has the Designer SE and had the 3D software before she got the 4D. Anyway, when she wants to pull up a design that is in 4D - it will work with 3D. Does anyone know why it works with the 3D and what should she do about the dongle for the 4D? She is working tonight but I told her I would ask if anyone had any answers and let her know. Sounds strange to me!!!:dontknow:

[StitchinGrandma]

Did she download the driver for the new dongle?
Has she registered the new version and downloaded all updates for 4D?
Does the new laptop have Vista? I've seen quite a few having problems getting their Viking software to work because they were not logged into the administrator log in for their computers. Is she using the laptop as the admin or just a user? All the registrations and updates need to be done by the administrator account.

[ElaineR]

Duh!? I have heard the word "dongle" a few times but I don't know what that is. I know many of you hear can enlighten me! lol.
E

[StitchinGrandma]

Duh!? I have heard the word "dongle" a few times but I don't know what that is. I know many of you hear can enlighten me! lol.
E

A dongle is hardware which you must use for certain software programs. It's very small similar to a wireless mouse usb plug or a small thumb drive you save files on. They usually are registered and matched with your software and then you cannot use the software without a dongle.

Quite a few of the higher end software programs use them to maintain security of their software from pirating the installation CD's. You can make a million copies of that program but without a dongle you can't run them.

Make sense?

Here is a dongle which looks very much like the Viking 4D Extra one

[ElaineR]

Vicki, I knew I could count on you to keep me up to date on all this technical stuff! Thanks for the info-makes sense.
Elaine

[StitchinGrandma]

You're welcome Elaine. Ask anytime and if I can't answer I'm sure someone can.

[mmk]

I, too, am having dongle problems. I upgraded my Designer SE and did the Smart Update on the software, and for about a minute, my dongle worked. Then it stopped again, with the error message that I have to Activate the dongle in 4D Configure--but when I clicked on Activate Dongle, of course, it gave me the same error message. I've had my 4D and SE for over a year now, and it is only recently that the dongle decided not to work.

I brought it into the Viking Gallery nearby, and they actually contacted Viking. They said I needed to upgrade the firmware for the dongle (not exactly something that Viking explains very well), and they explained it to me. I did that and still nothing (I'm taking it back into Viking tomorrow). I've been trying ever since to no avail. ARGH.

Does anyone have a clearer way of explaining how to upgrade the dongle firmware? It just should not be this difficult for this kind of money.

The woman at the Viking Gallery that phoned Viking for me said they could use an Applications Engineer. I think they should have an average Joe (Josephine?) attempt to use the software--with no help--and upgrade the system--with no help--and see where AJ ends up. Then, they need to "fix" the system to make it more user friendly.

So, before I head in to Viking Gallery, any ideas on how to fix the dongle? It seems that it just doesn't want to get along with the upgrades. Thank you.

I do not have Vista (and with all the problems we've heard it has, we are unlikely to be "upgrading" to Vista).

[StitchinGrandma]

So, before I head in to Viking Gallery, any ideas on how to fix the dongle? It seems that it just doesn't want to get along with the upgrades. Thank you.

I do not have Vista (and with all the problems we've heard it has, we are unlikely to be "upgrading" to Vista).

Have you downloaded the driver for the dongle? That's probably what you need to do. The company does update their drivers every once in awhile so you should check them periodically.

Here is the link to the site for the dongle drivers (http://www.aladdin.com/support/hasp/hasp4/enduser.aspx). Just make sure and read carefully so you get the correct driver.

[mmk]

Thanks, Vicki. Actually, you can go directly to Viking (HusqvarnaViking.com, HelpDesk, Embroidery Software Help, Other Useful Software), and select Hasp Dongle Drivers and then, to update the firmware, Hasp Firmware Update. I did all that, and my dongle is still not working, so I'm taking it back to the Viking Gallery today. ARGH! Should not be this tough for all the money one pays for this software system. Thanks anyway.

[StitchinGrandma]

Thanks, Vicki. Actually, you can go directly to Viking (HusqvarnaViking.com, HelpDesk, Embroidery Software Help, Other Useful Software), and select Hasp Dongle Drivers and then, to update the firmware, Hasp Firmware Update. I did all that, and my dongle is still not working, so I'm taking it back to the Viking Gallery today. ARGH! Should not be this tough for all the money one pays for this software system. Thanks anyway.
I have always gone to the other site but in looking at the Viking site I wondered something after reading the descriptions of each. Are you downloading that one for the Hasp Dongle Driver AND Hasp Firmware Update? That could be your problem. The dongle driver update there says it's for 3D, not 4D so I wonder if you're confusing the dongle if you've downloaded and installed both.

[mmk]

Thanks, Vicki. I did notice that it was for 3D, but since every Viking person directed me to load both pieces, that's what I did. I can't even imagine why they wouldn't have the drivers for 4D up there. I even attempted a remote ("online chat") after one phone call--the person with whom I spoke told me how to connect to her chat (it was a professional chat). When I got there, they said the "session" was no longer online (and it could only have been a few minutes later). YIKES! I'm going to try it again today as I think that they might be able to diagnose my dongle problem from afar. It's just awfully frustrating. Wouldn't you think the messages you get should be realistic? I mean, if the dongle already had 4D on it and I was trying to load 3D like I'd been told to do, the dongle should have said, "Sorry, wrong software!" The messages are so cryptic or there aren't any, and the downloads are in several different locations...it just seems like it should be corraled a bit better. The dongle and software should look up what you need and load it. Seems simple, but then I'm not the one writing the software!

[StitchinGrandma]

It's just my opinion but, I would think that having 3D drivers installed for your 4D dongle will confuse it and may be part of your problem. I very well could be wrong however.

[mmk]

I bet that is the proble--you do have to load the 4D donge (HASP) drivers.

Actually, the Web site indicates that the drivers that are there for downloading are 3D drivers (as someone in this post mentioned), but they were trying to troubleshoot for me from afar and said that those drivers at the Web site ARE for 4D--they just didn't correct the wording. (here's the site: http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/global/8588_4197.htm)--it's on the husqvarnaviking Wed site, under "4D Software, Help & Updates, View other useful software/View other useful software, HASP Dongle Drivers as well as HASP Firmware Update"--download the drivers first).

While Aladdin makes the hasps and its drivers, they said you always need to go to the Viking Web site for the downloads first.

In my situation, I was on the phone (during the inauguration!) for over 2 hours yesterday trying to get my dongle situation straightened out. My dongle had worked for an entire year and all of a sudden stopped, though every now and then I could get on for 5 minutes or so. I can't tell you how often I had updated the dongle drivers and updated the firmware (they told me it would update them each time you clicked on it--it doesn't tell you that you already have it download!) as well as placed calls to Viking.. The last step after letting them control my PC from afar, was to take the dongle and my PC into a VSG. I did. Their dongle worked in my machine, but my dongle did not work in theirs (sure wish this had been the first step I took instead of the last!). I have a bad dongle. They sent it in for me, but I told them I didn't think I should pay the $50--if I had a dongle that went bad after a year--after paying thousands for the machine and software, well, I just think they should eat the $50. We'll see how that works out. Have no idea when I'll get my new dongle, but I'm not holding my breath!

[kidzbizz]

It's just my opinion but, I would think that having 3D drivers installed for your 4D dongle will confuse it and may be part of your problem. I very well could be wrong however.

I have the 3D softwear not the pro or what ever they call it :o , I also have the 4D organizer and font thing that came with my SE. I can open a design up in 3D change the colors, size etc, but can't send it to my machine. When I go into 3D and do what the color changes or what ever then go to save I can save it in 4D so I can send it to machine when I want to stitch the design out. I was going to ask the girls at the Viking Gallery Sunday when I was at Joanns, they were so busy I didn't want to bother them. But shouldn't I be able to send from the designs from 3D to my machine? I think for what I paid for this 2 years ago I should. I have went in to change it from the send to USB to send to machine and it doesn't help.

Judie

[mmk]

It does seem that once you get 4D modules, you should forget about the 3D modules. I have 4D Pro, which might differ just in the number of modules I have with it and what I can do, but the "running of" software seems like it is probably the same for both the 3D and 4D. Anyway, I took all my 3D designs and added them to design folders under the 4D banner. I did the "Import Thread" exe file to pull in the 3D file of threads, but I apparently didn't even need to do that (according to the software expert). Then, I got rid of virtually all of the 3D software on my machine. The techie told me that I didn't need the 3D software any more since I had 4D Pro.

Do you still have the 3D install software CD? If you have the same modules for 4D that you had for 3D (I don't even remember what 3D had on it as I bought the 4D at the same time as I bought my machine), then maybe you could uninstall or remove the 3D software (don't do this if you no longer have the 3D software install CD!) and see how the system works. I mean, I'm guessing that 4D takes the place of 3D, so maybe the machines are confused.

I'm no expert, so maybe you just want to ask the VSG folks whether you can now get rid of 3D since you have 4D.

[StitchinGrandma]

I did the "Import Thread" exe file to pull in the 3D file of threads, but I apparently didn't even need to do that (according to the software expert).
That software expert was wrong. Yes, you did have to do the import threads because once you load the new software, it has NO idea which threads you have in "my threads" so you must import those into the new software. It does have the list of thread brands in each one and the 4D has more than the old but there is no way for your software to know what threads you own and have loaded into the "My Threads" part of the program. I hope that makes sense. You did good in importing those or you would have had to go through each of your threads you own and re-enter every single one back into the new software one at a time. I don't know how many threads you own, but for me it would have taken over two hours to re-enter all of my thread colors into that program.

[mmk]

Ahhh. It might have been because I have never put anything into a "MyThreads" folder. And the techie must have seen that because he had control of my computer. Interesting that there can be a variety of opinions, even from the people who write the programs! That is rather scary. Interesting. I just never bothered putting my threads into the file. If you have to manually put in each of your threads (and I have a lot), don't you have to update that every time you buy new thread or use up old thread? Hmmmm.... Thanks for the input. We'll see if these techies even know how to fix my dongle!

[StitchinGrandma]

My threads ~ Yes, you must manually enter each of your thread colors into the program. Once you've done that and yes, it takes some time if you have a lot of them, you only need to remember each time you buy a new color to add that one into "my threads" and be sure and save your settings so that is saved. Then if you have to reinstall your program or upgrade, you just run the import function and it pulls all your threads into that and you're all set. It really is nice because when you are looking at a design and convert that to your thread brand you use you can also look in "my threads" to see if you have that color or if you need to use another one.

I doubt they will fix the dongle you had if it was broken. They will probably load a new one with your software info and send the new one back to you.

[Granny313]

:hmmmm2: O.K. Vicki - I have been reading this last few posts with alot of interest. When I got my 4D I or rather hubby put in the type of embroidery thread (Madeira) that I use BUT I have never loaded the numbers of the thread. Call me IGNORANT but I did not know that you could do that. When I have converted a design, I have been just looking at the color and coming up with something I had that was close to the color called for. I have Madeira and some Sulky, would I load both #'s or just the majority?

So if you load the #'s you have, it will automatically convert the #'s called for to the one's you have? Does that make sense? You know that I am NOT computer literate. Hubby had to install everything and I haven't learned how to operate everything as of yet (remember?) LOL

:stupido3:

[StitchinGrandma]

:hmmmm2: O.K. Vicki - I have been reading this last few posts with alot of interest. When I got my 4D I or rather hubby put in the type of embroidery thread (Madeira) that I use BUT I have never loaded the numbers of the thread. Call me IGNORANT but I did not know that you could do that. When I have converted a design, I have been just looking at the color and coming up with something I had that was close to the color called for. I have Madeira and some Sulky, would I load both #'s or just the majority?

So if you load the #'s you have, it will automatically convert the #'s called for to the one's you have? Does that make sense? You know that I am NOT computer literate. Hubby had to install everything and I haven't learned how to operate everything as of yet (remember?) LOL

:stupido3:

I've been trying to come up with the easiest way to explain this to you because I don't want to confuse you. There are a few different things you need to do with your settings in order to get the conversions to work the way I have them set up.

I haven't yet figured out the easiest way to explain it all to you. :(

If you enter all your thread colors into "My Threads" what happens when you open a design, you can click in the color list on a color. When the box opens if your husband set it up the right way, it should (but doesn't always) open that design up using the Madiera thread colors as it should have converted to those colors from the original threads on the design. If you click then on the drop down box you would see an option to view "My Threads" and by changing the setting from that point to the my threads, it would tell you by clicking that if you have that color or not. If you don't, it will choose the closest color to the original one that you do have in "my threads". Does that make sense?

To enter your threads into that you need to go to the "4D configure", click on "thread manager". When the list opens you would click the drop down box on the left side and click on Madeira if it's not already showing that. Then you can scroll through the colors finding each one you have. When you find one you own, click that arrow on the right side to move that color over into the "My Threads Database" list. Instead of scrolling through to find the colors you own, you can enter the thread color number in the "find thread" box and then when it comes up, click that same arrow to move that color to the my threads database.

Once you are done entering every color you own, click the "X" at the top to close that and then immediately click on "Back up my settings" in the 4D Configure box which should be still on your screen. It will bring up the folder inside your 4D folder that says "My Backups" and a filename will be there for you to just click on save. I always add this to the back of the filename they give me so that I don't overwrite the last one when saving just in case one might be a corrupt save. "_012509" is what I add after the name they give your backup of "4D MySettings" which is nothing more than an underscore line and the date I am creating that backup as you can see from the 012509 because that would be Jan 25 2009 but takes less space.

OH and yes, to your other question, you can add ALL thread brands the same way by clicking the drop down box again on the left side and finding the others, then picking each color from that brand and clicking the arrow to move those to your "My Threads Database"

Make sense?

[Granny313]

:flowers: Thank you sooooo much for taking all that time to do this for me. I am printing out your instructions so that I can follow step by step. It may take me and my hubby to do it but I had NO idea that I could even do this in the first place. Shows how much I really don't know about my software program! :dontknow: If I can EVER learn everything that is available I will be soooo happy! Thank you again Vicki - you're the BEST! I'll let you know if we can get it done!

[StitchinGrandma]

You're welcome. I hope I wrote it so that you can follow it in the software. I tried to make sure as I typed and checked the program to be sure I gave the things in the correct order. Have you gotten those tutorials I told you about yet? I think you would LOVE those and really benefit from them. Speaking of which...... wonder where I put mine. LOL Pretty soon you're going to catch up to all I know and we'll both be stuck. HA

[Granny313]

I don't believe that I will ever be to that point. I feel bad because I know that I am not utilizing everything that I could with my machine and software, but I guess it just takes time to soak it all in. You are always such a great help. When do you have time to sew or embroider? You are too busy solving all our problems? And as far as the tutorials - I have not ordered them yet - waiting to build some extra $ up since I spent way too much for Christmas and have also bought a new car. Any little extra lately has been spent for fabric, emb. thread, and Embroidables designs. (LOL) like I need more!!!

[StitchinGrandma]

Ummmmmm I haven't had a chance to sew or embroider anything in a long time actually. I just bought more fabric and a few new toys in anticipation of making a quilt BUT something else has come up now that pushed that to the background too. :( Some day I'll be able to get some stuff done.

Ooh a new car sounds like fun. And yea, we always have room for new Embroidables designs.......... kinda like there's always room for dessert. LOL

[GAGAGA123]

I have a problem with my dongle and it is not being recognized on my computor

[mmk]

I went through this (see above posts) with my dongle. It turned out that after a year, my dongle went bad. It might have been bent or something, but it no longer worked. Viking replaced it, and I have been using it without problems ever since. If your dongle no longer works, take it into a VGS. Have them test their dongle on your machine and your dongle on their machine. I did that, and their dongle worked on my machine, but my dongle did not work on theirs--thus, they knew it was a bad dongle.

[StitchinGrandma]

I have a problem with my dongle and it is not being recognized on my computor

I'm sorry, I never saw this post until now. You might want to read through another thread we have here that might help you out. Another member was having the same problem and I, and others, posted some things for her to try.

You can find that thread here. (http://www.embroidables.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2029&highlight=dongle)