ControlThink Forums

I just received ThinkEssentials 2.1 in the mail and upgraded to 2.4 on a Win 7 64-bit machine.  When I start ThinkEssentials, it immediately stops responding and crashes.  Does ThinkEssentials work on 64-bit Windows 7?  If so, are there any gotchas that could be causing this behavior?

Thanks,

-Dave

Quick FYI, I'm getting the following in the Event Viewer

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Application Error
Date:          1/28/2010 10:25:41 PM
Event ID:      1000
Task Category: (100)
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      UNDERDOG-TOUCH
Description:
Faulting application name: ThinkEssentials.exe, version: 2.1.1.23, time stamp: 0x48f4e99d
Faulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll, version: 6.1.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5bdbdf
Exception code: 0xe0434f4d
Fault offset: 0x0000b727
Faulting process id: 0x7e0
Faulting application start time: 0x01caa092a28c8a8c
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\ControlThink\ThinkEssentials\ThinkEssentials.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\syswow64\KERNELBASE.dll
Report Id: f9d8cb9b-0c85-11df-a0cf-002643711d9a
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Application Error" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">1000</EventID>
    <Level>2</Level>
    <Task>100</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-01-29T03:25:41.000000000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>1602</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>UNDERDOG-TOUCH</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>ThinkEssentials.exe</Data>
    <Data>2.1.1.23</Data>
    <Data>48f4e99d</Data>
    <Data>KERNELBASE.dll</Data>
    <Data>6.1.7600.16385</Data>
    <Data>4a5bdbdf</Data>
    <Data>e0434f4d</Data>
    <Data>0000b727</Data>
    <Data>7e0</Data>
    <Data>01caa092a28c8a8c</Data>
    <Data>C:\Program Files (x86)\ControlThink\ThinkEssentials\ThinkEssentials.exe</Data>
    <Data>C:\Windows\syswow64\KERNELBASE.dll</Data>
    <Data>f9d8cb9b-0c85-11df-a0cf-002643711d9a</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

To date only the XP and Win 7 32bit version has been tested and approved. Right now there are no plans to test the 64bit version.

 try to  update your thinkstick to the latest firmware and download the TE 2.5 Beta 2. Give that a shot and see if it does the same.

That's disappointing Mike.  64-Bit is becoming more and more mainstream.  I'll try updating firmware and the latest TE beta.

Thanks for the pointers Kenny.  Unfortunately, the link to the latest firmware is dead - check the bottom of the following page.  http://www.controlthink.com/accessories/zwusb100.htm  I can't seem to find a reference to another link anywhere.  I'm pretty new to ZWave and while I'm very excited about it, I'm not that impressed with the companies (like Control Think) who are currently supporting it.

 Is there a better PC based touch screen solution out there?

 -Dave

Use the following link for the latest update :

 http://forums.controlthink.com/40.aspx

 

ControlThink is wholly owned by Leviton.

RIght now we do not endorse other 3rd party systems.

There are other systems such as HAI that are for home automation(we use our RS232 module to communicaiton with them), however you still need either the handheld remote or ThinkEssnetials to configure the system.

 

Regarding Windows 7:

"Having a 64 bit OS doesn’t automatically make all applications faster because much of today’s software is written and optimised for a 32 bit era. You’ll need software specifically optimised for 64 bit processing to take advantage of any speed improvements. Fortunately, many games are already including such enhancements. You may think that using a 64 bit OS for a 64 bit processer is an obvious decision, but it is not so straightforward. Introducing a new architecture will cause new compatibility and driver problems that wouldn’t exist under the old 32 bit version."

Thats direct from Microsoft.

We will eventually test with 64bit, but right now most people have xp and 7-32bit. We need to support what most people have. 

Apologies. wrong link use this link instead:

 

http://www.controlthink.com/downloads/thinkstick/update/ThinkstickUpdateSetup.exe

This is version 4.30

While not officially supported, I am using Think Essentials and Windows 7 64bit edit just fine.

 I'm using the 2.4 version though, so try the upgrade. 

The update + new firmware works great!  I'm starting to see the limitations of Z-Wave as early adopters tho :-)  I've got functionality all over the place.  I've got some stuff in HomeSeer, some stuff in Control Think, and I'm running Z-Wave commander for the iPhone app.  It controls devices throught the ThinkStick, but can't use TE's Scenes.  So to have a "Good Night" button on the iPhone, I've got to program scenes into devices directly.   This means I've got business rules in HomeSeer, ThinkEssentials, ZWave Commander and the devices themselves. Seems that you need multiple platforms for different solutions.  Control, Events, Triggers, Scenes, etc. I think this remaining complexity keeps this great technology from moving into the mainstream.

I've got a couple of questions tho ...

Does ControlThink have triggers, and events beyond the time based ones?  For example, "Motion Sensor returns Motion at night time or when illumation is below 30% and turns dimmer on 30%."  It seems that if you guys have this more complex trigger/event functionality, included some wizards for the most common scenarios/triggers/events, and came out with an iPhone app you guys could clean up the market :-)  The hodge-podge status of the solution is what frustrated me originally.

Any plans on making the user interface a *little* more touch friendly?  If I could press a dimmer icon and a default menu (like dimmer) would pop up automatically, and if I could resize the icons, it would be cool!

Last question, I joined TE to my existing HomeSeer/Aeon network.  I've added a number of devices but can't figure out how to get TE to re-scan or poll for new devices.

 Thanks for all the help guys!  I'm really happy to know this works on 64-bit :-)

 -dave

Any advice on how to get TE to re-scan my new devices?

TE will not rescan device that's not known to its network. you'll need to include the device into the network first.

If the devices were included, then you have to press F8. this is telling the software to poll the devices. You can also, in the settings tab, choose to disable polling (recommended) or have it set to auto poll devices every X minutes.

Thanks Guys.  I'm still getting the hang of this.  So, I've got Homeseer running for some more involved macros and it's setup as the primary controller.  Looks like I can add devices to the Homeseer network and tell Control Think to receive new devices.  What are the general consideratins in deciding which one is the primary controller?

-Dave

Livingston:

Does ControlThink have triggers, and events beyond the time based ones?  For example, "Motion Sensor returns Motion at night time or when illumation is below 30% and turns dimmer on 30%."  It seems that if you guys have this more complex trigger/event functionality, included some wizards for the most common scenarios/triggers/events, and came out with an iPhone app you guys could clean up the market :-)  The hodge-podge status of the solution is what frustrated me originally.

 

Could someone please answer this question regarding triggers?  I would like a motion sensor to trigger the activation of certain lights.  Which motion sensors work with TE?