ALOHA POS failed to open com port 2

[ksapaugh]

I am pretty well versed in computers and IT but I have never installed Aloha before. We are opening a new restaurant and purchased a lot of equipment including Aloha. Once we got in the building and started setting up we realized the "key" was missing. So, I purchased a Key and BOH computer from another restaurant that had closed down. Today I re-networked all the terminals (3) and re-installed the TermSrv? so that all the terminals we running the same Table Service. They seemed to start working but while loading the periphrials an error comes up, it says something like:

Printer: Failed to open com port 2, status -1

once I click ok it restarts the terminal. I connected all printers (88IV) and that didn't seem to help. Each terminal says a different com port failed.

I am lost and can't find any info on this. I am sure it is something simple but I am lost. Can anyone help. Thanks.

 

[joshguan]

1. on the all terminals do not install any printer. disable the print subsystem.
2. make sure on boh hardware/printer are set to the right port of terminal.
try it.

 

[ksapaugh]

Ok. I didn't install any printers and I disconnected the printers as well. In the Aloha Manager under hardware - terminal - I set all the printers to none and I am still getting the error. I am not sure where or what the print subsystem is. How do I get to it?

 

[joshguan]

may be I didn't explain good becauce my english writing.
check all the terminal (not the BOH computer) make sure there is no printer install or print device install, the printer folder is empty. and disable all the TERMINAL'S window printer subsystem. (that depand on what windows version on the teminal). once you disable it, when click on add printer, windows will tell you the printer subsystem is not available.
My exprience is: reinstall a fresh copy of windows (98/2k/xp)on the terminal. don't install any application execpt the aloha termSvr, and vnc. after all the installation you maybe need to reboot it couple time to syc with BOH. The BOH make sure is running in a fresh day.
Aloha is very hardware demand. it has their own way to monitor all the hardware. and every time you change hardware config you have to refresh amd reboot.

 

[ksapaugh]

Ok. Well this morning I went to the restaurant and did a clean install of XP on one of the terminals. I then shutdown all the other terminals and just rand the BOH and the new terminal. After two reboots they synced up and I still got the same error "failed to open com port 3, status -1". Since this is a new install and there is only 2 com ports on the terminal this error has to be coming from a setting on the BOH. The only way I know how to change any settings on the terminals is thru the maintance - hardware - terminals in the aloha manager.

Any ideas are helpful. Is there another spot to adjust the terminal settings?

Thanks,

 

[RosemarysBaby]

Did you check Maintenence > Hardware > Printers to confirm that all your terminals are properly configured to the physical printers?

You need to be absolutely certain that no more than 1 printer is assigned to a specific Com port of any terminal.

 

[joshguan]

rosemarybaby is right, you need to check all the terminal, printer setting accordingly, also on the BOH computer has all terminal user account.

 

[ksapaugh]

Ok. I went in this morning and deleted all the printers that were installed in Aloha Manager on the BOH. There were none installed on any of the terminals. Eve after removing all the printers and printer groups the same error came up.

I then decided to create a new terminal "TERM6" and re-install the terminal application under the new terminal name. After doing all that I got a new error. "terminal 6 not defined". I guess I am missing some other place to change settings. It is created exactly like the other terminals but I get this error.

I am truly stumped.

Thanks,

 

[joshguan]

how to delete the printer?
I believed under Aloha, the regular manager access right cannot delete the printer (unless you have the master Password), you only can edit and change the config
just go to BOH, <maintaince><hardware><printers> see any pirnter are assigned to the terminal and port, change it as neccessary.
you create a new termainal, aloha won't let you do it:
1. you got to have a licence for that terminal.
2. you have to add (or edit) a terminal in BOH.

Afer the Error msg, is the terminal go to reboot cycle?

I don't know how many terminal licience of BOH that you brought from a shut down restaurant. Is the BOH have a licence Key attached to (Paralle port, serial port, or UBS)
what version of ALOHA? is a quickService or TableService?
what windowsOS on BOH?

I've installed some Used Aloha (just like you did). In the begining I have a hard time to config to run right. you have find out on BOH computer what kind of config it had. Backup the [data],[newdata], [bin] folder in //aloha or //alohaqs. Than go to the AlohaMgr to change around see how it come out. In case of mess, all you copy back the backup. serval function you can access, unless you know the master password.

 

[joshguan]

check the <Maintance><hardware><Terminal> all the tab and setting.
check the <Maintance><hardware><cashdraw> all the setting
check the <Maintance><hardware><printers> all the setting
the <printer group> setting just to tell how you want to print to the printer.

 

[ksapaugh]

Its aloha table service. How do you change the master password? I believe it is still, hello.

The licence key is connected to the parallel port and I believe it is setup for 3 or 5 terminals. I think because I was able to delete the printers I must be using the master account, but it never ask for a password.

When I was using terminal 2 it I got a different com port than terminal 3, even after I did a clean install of windows. So, it has to be some setting in the BOH.

 

[joshguan]

goto <maintance><hardware><printer> do see any printer on the list. for example: 001 Rprt1 something like that.

the master password only apply on login AlohaMgr.


goto<maintance><hardware><terminal> select the terminal# it should be type as "clone" and is a order entry terminal.

for I know, all the hardware is control by BOH AlohaMgr Setting.

Is your terminal is a reg PC or POSterminal?

 

[ksapaugh]

Ok. I checked and there is no printers installed. It just says "000" in the printer list. I also went in this morning and changed it to Term1 instead of Term6 and I got another com port error. They are all checked as Cone and order entry.

They are dell CX260's with XP Professional. There are 3 com ports on each PC, but only one on the main board the others are a PCI card. I have not installed the PCI card drivers yet, but previously they were installed and having the same error.

 

[ksapaugh]

I can't figure out anything. I went by again and I am completely lost. The system seems to be setup right, there must be something in the inital setup of Aloha Manager I don't know how to change. Any ideas?

Thanks I would even be willing to pay a tech support guy who could walk me thru this over the phone. I just gotta get it up.

 

[joshguan]

1. On the BOH computer, open AlohaMgr
2. <Maintence><hardware><Terminals> see how may are there. And check what is the name of terminal (e.g. term1)
3. the BOH computer workgroup name : IBERTEC
4. IP address : 10.253.10.101
5. Computer name : alohaboh
6. <Ulitities><Refresh Data> <Yes>
7. Set up User Account as Term1 and make sure you can see it thought the Computer near you.
If no error appear, it should run right.

Go to Term1
1. Delete the aloha folder
2. delete the ibercfg.bat
3. go to control panel : stop the print spool service.
4. make sure compute name same as the BOH terminal (e.g. term1)
5. workgroup is : IBERTEC
6. Ip Address : 10.253.10.102
7. Run the SetupTerm.exe
8. Select the Table Service. And How many total terminal on BOH
9. It will install by itself and reboot.

if fail try a window2k terminal

fail again, find a local dealer. I believe you have to take all the machine to them.
good luck

 

[posrescue]

The -1 typically means there are 2 devices assigned to the same com port or in some instances the com port is not communicating although invalid com port usually is an error -2. If you had a Windows device in use by the com port Aloha is trying to use you would typically get a return error -3.

If you deleted all printers and are still getting the error is it possible you have other devices assigned to the com port? (serial cash drawer, rear display, display board, scale, coin dispenser...)

You can possibly get more information from the debugging file on the terminal. c:\aloha\tmp\debout.00x (x is the terminal number)

 

[ksapaugh]

Thanks Josh, we got it. Works great.