Posted September 16, 2010; updated September 28, 2010

This advisory discusses problems caused by an update for Windows^® XP that Microsoft^® distributed on September 14, 2010, provides solutions, and gives general guidance on Windows Updates for computers used to operate Chromeleon^®.

Instrument Connection Problem after Windows Update of September 14, 2010

After Windows Update MS10-066 (KB982802) is installed on a PC running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, several types of problems occur with Chromeleon 6 when connecting to instruments.  The problems go away if this specific Windows Update is removed. A Chromeleon hotfix that remedies the problems is now available (see below).  Alternatively, workarounds are available for the problems caused by the update.

Details:

Microsoft frequently distributes updates to Windows via the Windows Update website. Among the updates distributed on September 14, 2010 was MS10-066, which makes changes to the Windows Remote Procedure Call (RPC) handling to address a security risk (details are described in Knowledge Base article KB982802).  As a consequence, applications that use RPC, including Chromeleon 6 (and related products, such as PeakNet 6, Chromeleon PA, and DCMSLink™), can be affected.  Chromeleon 7 is not affected by this issue.

These are the known problems and workarounds:

1. In dialogs that are used to make connections to instrument servers and/or timebases, opening the network tree node for a computer that has a running instrument server does not display Chromeleon Server or timebases; instead, a red X and the phrase “The array bounds are invalid” are displayed.
   Workaround: Use the fields in the left side of the dialog to enter the name of the instrument server computer or timebase, to enter or select other relevant connection information.
2. 
   
3. The Instrument Server Configuration program cannot connect to remote instrument servers whose computer name has more characters than the local computer name.
   Workaround: Use the program on the remote instrument server computer itself, or on any other computer whose name does not have more characters than the name of the remote instrument server computer.
4. 
   
5. In some places, Chromeleon displays a list containing local and recently visited timebases (for example, in the Control menu that is visible when a panel has input focus).  This list is not updated when new local timebases are added to the instrument configuration.
   Workaround: Select the Connect command, and enter the connection information manually as in item 1 above.
6. 
   
7. Panel Tabsets do not work.
   Workaround: Use individual panels instead.  Panels for various instruments can be found using the Chromeleon Browser, in folders under \Dionex Templates\Panels\.  After opening the desired panel, connect it to the appropriate instrument using the Connect command under the Control menu, and following guidance under item 1 above.
8. 
   
9. Several Server-related features in System Status Report do not work.
   Workaround: Skip server-related features when using the System Status Report utility.  If server-related information needs to be provided for troubleshooting, ask your Dionex technical support person for alternative ways to obtain the needed information for your specific case.
10. 
    

If you decide to uninstall a Windows Update, you can do so in Windows XP by following these steps:

1. Select Start > Control Panel.  Select Add/Remove Programs.
2. Activate the check box labeled Show Updates.
3. Scroll down the list to find the Windows XP software updates.
4. Click the update you want to uninstall, then click the Remove button that appears.
5. A message may notify you that uninstalling may affect other patches; you need to OK this to complete the removal.

Chromeleon Hotfix for Issues Related to Windows Update MS10-066

The hotfix files below allow Chromeleon 6.8 SR10, Chromeleon 6.8 SR9, Chromeleon 6.8 SR8, or DCMSLink 2.8 to be used without conflicts on computers that have had Windows Update MS10-066 installed.  Installing one of these hotfixes is a simple matter of copying one file into a specific Chromeleon directory.  Instructions and a validation certificate are included in the download packages.  (The change made in the hotfix will be incorporated into upcoming service releases for Chromeleon 6.8 and related products.)

Download Hotfix for Chromeleon 6.8 SR10

Download Hotfix for Chromeleon 6.8 SR9, Chromeleon 6.8 SR8, and DCMSLink 2.8

General Guidance on Windows Updates

Keeping your computer updated with the most current service releases, hotfixes, and security patches is generally recommended by computer professionals.  However, any change to your computer carries some risk of unintended consequences.  Usually, the risk of such consequences is relatively low, but the risk does exist and should be weighed against the risks created by not keeping your computer updated.

In general, most official updates can be safely applied to computers that are not in mission-critical applications.  If a conflict does occur, it can often be resolved by uninstalling the update(s) that created the conflict.  Many software providers, including Dionex, provide workarounds and hotfixes when conflicts are discovered, and these are generally available soon after the conflict has been first reported.

For mission-critical applications – those for which any downtime has significant consequences – updates should not be made until the proposed updates have been analyzed and the risks are thoroughly understood.  After available documentation has been studied, installation and testing on a pilot system is recommended.  Deployment of configurations on the mission-critical systems should be scheduled for a time when any possible downtime would have the least impact, such as at the start of a holiday period.

Information about specific Windows updates for your computer is available at the Microsoft Windows Update website.