CSIL Windows Known Issues Page

Note: On this page, there are many references to various servers, click here to find their names; and please replace username with your own SFU email ID.

System Access

I know H: is my home directory, but sometimes I can't access it.

There are two usual reasons:

You've reached your disk quota limit; you can't write on it before you clear out some space (delete some files).
The H: drive isn't correctly mapped to your home directory. Please reboot the computer and try again.

I can't get the system running properly; Helpdesk says maybe my profile has become corrupted.

The Windows User Profile is a system level file containing some of your personal preferences such as your Windows Explorer settings, desktop appearance settings, DSN, environment settings, etc. Every CSIL Windows user is using roaming profile with folder redirection.

There are numerous factors that can cause the profile to become corrupted: exceeding your disk quota for profile, an incomplete logoff, even a slow network connection. To restore your profile back to its original settings, you must email helpdesk. Unfortunately, all modifications you've made to your profile are wiped out after we reset it.

There is a hard quota of 30 MB on your profile. This should be sufficient for any configuration changes and links that you may want to put into your menus or onto your desktop. However, if you put a file (not a link) in your "My Documents" or "Desktop" folders, the entire file is placed into your profile directory and you may end up exceeding your profile quota. Note: This can lead to a failure to update your profile. We strongly recommend that you do not put anything other than shortcuts into these two folders.

I can't access the Internet.

This probably means your profile has become corrupted.

Sometimes the system stops responding when I logoff. What should I do?

Please hit Ctrl-Alt-Del to get the "Windows Security" window, and then click on the "Task Manager" button. The Task Manager will pop up. Find any application whose status is "Not Responding" and end the task. After you do this, the logoff procedure should continue.

Note: Make sure you see the logon screen before you leave the terminal! If you don't logoff properly, anyone else sitting down at that workstation will be able to continue to use the computer under your name (use your CCN account) and has full access of your personal data.

I can't open my project by double-clicking the project icon on the H: drive.

There are two usual reasons:

The application associated with the file extension is broken. Windows can associate particular file extensions with particular applications. You can make these associations yourself; though many come with the applications installed on the system (e.g. .doc for MS-Word, .psd for Photoshop).

Try to open the project inside the application.
Your profile has become corrupted.

I get an "Open File - Security Waning" dialog box when I try to run an application. What should I do?

If you know the application is legitimate, you can just click "Open" to run it.

If what you click is a shortcut which provided by the system, you can do this to prevent the dialog from appearing:

Open Internet Explorer
Click on menu Tools -> Internet Options
Click tab Security
Select Local intranet and then click Sites... button
Click Advanced... button and add the following web sites to the zone:

file://freesia.csil.sfu.ca
file://freesia
file://cypress.csil.sfu.ca
file://cypress
file://sphinx.sfu.ca
file://home.sfu.ca

Click OK buttons to save the settings.

If the dialog box still appears after you do this, please email helpdesk for further help.

I get license error while accessing CSIL Windows Terminal Server. What should I do?

Please follow the instructions on this page.

Technote: the error message: "The remote session was disconnected because there are no Terminal Server client access licenses available for this computer. Please contact the server administrator."

Some applications could not to write to "freesia". What should I do?

"freesia.csil.sfu.ca" is the CSIL Windows file server stores users' profiles. Every CSIL user has 120MB on this server.

Some applications write their configuration files to user's profile folder. When there is an error message says it could not write to '\\freesia\userdata$\username\", the most possible reason is: there is no enough free space for you.

Please move all files from the "Desktop" and "Documents" folder to H: - the home directory for storing data. This should clean up enough space.

If this clean up did not fix the problem, please contact helpdesk.

Development Tools: Microsoft Visual Studio

VB crashes when I load my project - it worked yesterday on the same computer.

When users add ActiveX control components (most of these are named with the file extension *.ocx, some with *.dll) into their VB project, VB will check the "Control Typelib Cache" file (named *.oca, associated with the *.ocx file). If this cache file doesn't exist (it should be in the same folder as the one in which the ActiveX control is located), VB will attempt to generate one. Users must have write permission on this folder in order to generate the cache, and since no students in CSIL have such access, the system will give you an "Access denied" message or just terminate the application.

When this happens, please email helpdesk.

I get an "access denied" error when I load my project in VB, and some of the functions are missing.

Please see here for details.

I can't add new component into my VB project.

Please see here for details.

I have a C++ project, but VC++ won't compile it.

Please check the project settings and VC++ configuration to make sure all the directories and options are correct. VC++ behaves abnormally when:

the project folder is on your desktop.
the project folder is part of your profile.
the project folder is a subfolder of "My Documents".
there is not enough space on the drive the project folder is located on. You need at least 6MB.

When I use VC++, I always get "Not enough space", or "Disk is full" error messages.

When the project is set to "Debug" mode, VC++ will create many pre-compiled files under the "debug" folder. These files are for reducing the compiling time in the future. They are usually about 5-10MB (if you are using MFC).

If you compile your project on the scratch disk, you will never encounter this problem. Please copy all of the useful files back to your home directory before logging off.

NOTE: To protect your privacy, remove your files from scratch disk when you're done with them, otherwise other people can use them.

I cannot create/open/debug Visual Studio solutions. What should I do?

There are two different solutions (a.k.a. "applications") in Visual Studio: web applications and standalone applications.

For creating a web application https://IISserver.csil.sfu.ca/username???/WebApp1 , you need following these steps:

Launch Visual Studio 2010
Click on the File - > New - > Web Site... menu

select ASP.NET Web Site from top pane
select HTTP as the Location's type
type https://IISserver.csil.sfu.ca/username???/WebApp1 as the location
select a language for your web application
click OK to create the web application

For creating a standalone application, you must use a UNC naming convention for the location path, e.g.

\\IT Services fileserver\username\MyApp1

where "username" is your SFU email ID.

If you are using CSIL Windows Terminal Server, click here.

WARNING: Create your projects on H: or under \\CSILfileserver\userdata$\username\ will NOT work properly.

The following error message will appear and debugging will fail:

The project location is not fully trusted by the .NET runtime. This is usually because it is either a network share or mapped to a network share not on the local machine. If the output path is under the project location, your code will not execute as "fully trusted", and you may receive unexpected security exceptions. Click OK to ignore and continue, Click CANCEL to choose a different project location.

Keyboard is not working under Visual Studio! What should I do?

Please follow these steps:

launch Windows Explorer
goto the folder:
\\CSILfileserver\userdata$\username\AppData\Microsoft\VisualStudio
delete this folder: 10.0

where "username" is your SFU email ID.

Visual Studio does not function as expected! What should I do?

Please follow the steps stated in the previous Q&A . If it does not fix the problem. Please email helpdesk.

My Visual Studio program gets permission error! What should I do?

Most likely, this is because the system does not FullTrust the location which contains your program. This is a known issue on Windows Terminal Server.

If you are using CSIL Windows Terminal Server, click here.

Workaround step #1:

open the project within Visual Studio
navigate to Solution Explorer
double click Properties of the solution
in the dialog box, on left pane, click Security
check "Enable Clickonce security settings"
check the radio button "This is a full trust application"

This should allow the project to debug without issue.

If you still experience similar issue, please follow to the next step:

Workaround step #2:

You may create/debug/run your project on the local hard drive (e.g. D:\username). The local hard drive is always FullTrust-ed by the system.

Just remember: Copy your project on the local hard drive back to your space on IT Services fileserver before you logoff. The user files on local hard drive may be removed without advanced notice.

I cannot create/open/debug Visual Studio solutions on CSIL Terminal Server. What should I do?

This is a known issue of CSIL. Click here for more information.

Development Tools: Python

IDLE (Python GUI) won't start! What should I do?

Sometimes when IDLE starts, it prompts the following error message:

Subprocess Startup Error: IDLE's subprocess didn't make connection. Either IDLE can't start a subprocess or personal firewall software is blocking the connection.

Here is the workaround (a fix is under research):

launch Windows Explorer
find (or create) a file with .py extension
right click this file, select "Edit with IDLE"

Now, the IDLE (Python GUI) should start.

Development Tools: JDK and Java IDE

I cannot create workspace under Eclipse, What should I do?

The default workspace path may look like this:

\\??? \username\eclipse\workspace

Unfortunately, Eclipse does not recognize this UNC (short of Uniform Naming Convention) path.

To create your own workspace, simply use MS-DOS style path like

H:\eclipse\workspace

I have trouble using Eclipse. What should I do?

The possible symptoms include (but not limit to): cannot create new project; many menu items are grayed out; popup dialog shows errors; etc.

Please follow these steps:

close all instances of running eclipse
launch Windows Explorer
goto the folder:
\\CSILfileserver\userdata$\username
delete this folder: .eclipse
delete this folder as well (if you have it): eclipse

Where JDK is installed on CSIL Windows systems?

On all CSIL Windows systems, we have JDK installed here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk

Technote: The reason we install 32bit JDK/JRE on the 64bit OS is to be backward comptatible with some development tools which only run on 32bit Java environment.

I cannot compile Java in Jcreator. What should I do?

The most common reason is that the Jcreator does not have JDK home path setup properly. Please follow these steps:

navigate to menu Configure -> Option
on the left pane click JDK Profiles
delete all existing profiles
click button New...
navigate to folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk
for Documents folder, use folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk\docs
click button OK a few times to save the settings
try to compile your program

I have trouble browse pages contain JavaScript on CSIL Terminal Server. What should I do?

There are some issues with Java and JavaScript on our CSIL Terminal Server. The cause might be the server's operating system is 64bit. For more information, click here and here.

The workaround: Use Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer (x86), avoid using Internet Explorer (x64).

I have trouble using Eclipse for Android development. What should I do?

There are some points to be noted here:
Firstly:

Launch Windows Explorer, right click Computer, select Properties
in the newly opened window, navigate on left pane, click Advanced system settings
in the newly open dialog box, click button Environment Variables...
in the newly open dialog box, click button New... just under "Variables for ..." text box
in the newly open dialog box, type ANDROID_SDK_HOME in Variable name box, \\CSILFileServer\userdata$\yourusername in Variable value box.
Click OK a few times to save the settings

Secondly:

Launch Eclipse
Navigate to Menu Window -> Preferences
on the left pane, click Android
on the right pane, type C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk for SDK Location
click button OK
Navigate to Menu Window -> Adndroid SDK and AVD Manager
in the newly open dialog box, create a new virtual device, then emulate it

Just be patient, the emulator is on the slow side...

Multimedia

When I play a media file, the system asks me to download the codec. What should I do?

Go to menu item "Tools", click "Options", UNCHECK "Enable automatic codec download".

Only system administrators can download codec and install it. Please email helpdesk to request the codec you need for your course work. Please give the location of your media file when you make your request.

Every time I start the Media Player, it asks me type a password to connect to internet. Can I change this?

Yes, you can.

Go to menu "Tools", click "Options", uncheck "Start player in Media Guide".

When I play any sound (wave, streaming audio, etc.), it plays it much faster than it should.

The system is experiencing a problem - the audio driver and/or the codec are not working properly. Please email helpdesk to get it fixed.

When I run Photoshop, I can't get the help running.

Please use the shortcut, "Photoshop Help" instead. It's located at the "Start Menu\Adobe"

Where I can find instructions on the SB Audigy sound card?

Here is a figure of Audigy's front panel.

Here is a figure of Audigy card itself.

You can click here to get the manual (PDF format).

Ulead Movie Factory runs very slow and I get "not enough space" error. What should I do?

Please change the temporary folder of Ulead Movie Factory to D:\temp

Also, always create a DVD ISO in advance then burn to a DVD disk by using Roxio Creator DE

I cannot export video by using Adobe MPEG Encoder within Premiere. What should I do?

There are few issues with the Adobe MPEG encoder:

it requires one license per user
it requires the user to have administrative privilege to use the encoder

So, please do not use Adobe MPEG encoder to export movies.

For making the final movie, please use Premiere menu: File -> Export Timeline -> Movie...
And please select a proper video encoder for your movie (DivX is recommended).

Printing

I want to save my file to PostScript instead of sending it to the printer.

We have a printer called "PostScript File" installed on every workstation. When you print to this "printer", you will get a PostScript file (the file name and the location must be specified) instead of paper pages on a real printer.

There is NO CHARGE if you print to printer "PostScript File".

I want to save my file to PDF instead of sending it to the printer.

We have a printer called "PDFill PDF&Image Writer(Free)" installed on every Windows workstation and the CSIL Terminal Servers. When you print to this "printer", you will get a PDF file (the file name and the location must be specified) instead of paper pages on a real printer.

There is NO CHARGE if you print to printer "PDFill PDF&Image Writer(Free)".

Computer System & Architecture

When I launch DesignWorks, it prompts me for the registration. What should I do?

When you use Designworkd 5, you can find the "Register Codes.txt" file on "Start Menu\programs\Designworks Professional 5". Follow the instructions in the text file will fix this.

When you use Designworks 4, you can find the "Register Codes.txt" file on "Start Menu\programs\Designworks Professional 4". Follow the instructions in the text file will fix this.

I cannot open Logicworks project! What should I do?

The most common reason may be you are opening a project which was created under new version of Designworks:

The Logicworks 5 comes with the companion book is equivalent to Designworks 4.x

The project created under Designworks 5.x (installed on CSIL Windows computers) will not be opened under Designworks 4.x nor Logicworks 5.

I cannot use IOpanelDefault.html to debug my VHDL project! What should I do?

This is a known issue of the Designworks 5.x; the vendor has been informed and they are working on a solution.

In the meantime, please use Designworks 4.x for VHDL programming.

Designworks crashes when I launch it! What should I do?

The Designworks crashes from time to time. This is a known issue.

You may give another try after a minute or so.

If this keeps happening, you may restart the workstation.

If you experience this on CSIL Terminal Server constantly, please email helpdesk; we will reboot the CSIL Terminal Server in 24 hours. In the mean time, please come to CSIL to use the workstations.

Miscellaneous

When I run Matlab, I don't see the Matlab window open. What should I do?

We do have Matlab launching issues in CSIL. Please try the following workarounds before a solution is found.

Try: Start Menu => All Programs => Matlab => reset_Matlab.bat

If you are logged on to a CSIL Windows workstation, there are a few ways to launch Matlab:

The recommended shortcut is "Matlab 2010b"

If none of the shortcuts works, please try to launch Matlab on CSIL Terminal Server. And please report this to helpdesk (with your ID and the name of the problematic workstation.)

If you are logon to CSIL Terminal Server, there are 2 shortcuts to launch Matlab:

The recommended shortcut is "Matlab R2010b"

If previous shortcut doesn't launch Matlab in 30 seconds, please try "Matlab R2010b_with_Splash"

If neither of the shortcuts works, please report this to helpdesk ASAP.

When I run Matlab, I cannot run certain Matlab fuctions. What should I do?

There are two known cases as follows; you could try the fix/workaound in orderly fashion:

This may happen when you set the work directory on a UNIX/Linux network drive (e.g. H:\)

Please close all running Matlab instances, and start the Matlab with the work directory on C:

(all the shortcuts to Matlab on the start menu have work directory on C:)

This may be caused by the corrupted Matlab configuration set. Re-initialize the Matlab may solve the problem.

Please close all running Matlab instances, and then run the following batch file:

Start Menu -> All Programs -> matlab -> reset_Matlab.bat

If the issue still persists after you tried the fixes for these two cases, please report to helpdesk asap.

When I try to view a PDF file within a browser, I only got blank page. What should I do?

The most possible cause is the "Proteced Mode" of Adobe Reader X. Please follow these steps:

launch Adobe Reader X from start menu.
within the Adobe Reader X, navigate through menu item: Edit -> Preferences...
in the newly opened Preferences dialog window, click "General" on left pane
on the right side, at the bottom, UN-check the "Enable Protected Mode at startup"
click OK to save settings
restart the browser, window will open and PDF content will show up.

More Info...

Is your question not on the list? Have you checked the CSIL Windows FAQ? If you have done that as well, please email please email helpdesk and use the template.

Last updated @ 2012.05.17

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