I finally got my machine up and running  but it only runs nice for a short amount of time.
When I start windows, server 2003 in this case, if I start mach 3 right away I can get my machine to move very smoothly and quickly for about 30 seconds.  Then some service or device seems to be starting and causing an epic amount of noise in the system.  When I run the driver test the graph shows complete crap, there is so much noise that the line is a wide black strip instead of a thin line with a few spikes.  If the driver test is started as soon as I start windows it will have a graph that looks exactly as it should free of noise but then gradually it gets worse until it is total crap.

Are there any clues as to what could be causing all this noise?

Other programs or processes running in the background. Not sure if Server is the best OS for Mach3, or if it even works at all??

You should start with a clean install of Windows, and see if it acts the same way

It is a fresh clean install.  I previously had it running on server 2003 but then decided to try it out on XP.  It turned out that server 2003 made it run much smoother, with XP I wasn't even able to get 15 inches per min smoothly compared to server 2003 it runs great at 72 inches per min.
I am kind of puzzled because this is a fresh install.  I have messed with a few things trying to turn off some services but nothing has effected it. 

There is a free program called Soluto that runs at startup and identifies every program being launched. It also offers the ablitity to prevent each program from launching if you choose. I used this on my mill computer that runs XP with great sucess.

http://www.soluto.com/

Hope that helps.

Kerry Harrison

Hi,

I had problems with a clean XP install, it would crash the PC / blue screen on running the driver test.
But after i followed the XP set up procedure (it tells you how to config XP) I have not had a glitch.
The set up procedure was in the documentation section of this forum, but I can't find it - or I'd post you a link.
(I'd not go the server 2003 route - XP is good, when its set up).

It is a fresh clean install.  I previously had it running on server 2003 but then decided to try it out on XP.  It turned out that server 2003 made it run much smoother, with XP I wasn't even able to get 15 inches per min smoothly compared to server 2003 it runs great at 72 inches per min.
I am kind of puzzled because this is a fresh install.  I have messed with a few things trying to turn off some services but nothing has effected it. 

This may be what you were looking for Derek.

http://www.machsupport.com/downloads/XP_Optimization.txt

Tweakie.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

First I will try out Kerry Harrisons program and if that does not work I will reinstall XP and go through the optimization page.
I have two questions though, when installing XP should I upgrade to service pack 2 or just leave it as service pack 1.  Also should I go out and install all the device drivers on the machine or just the ones that are required for running the cnc machine?

Yes Tweak ! that's the one  :-)
(my install was running like a brick in a tumble dryer before I did the optimisation - now running smoother than a smooth thing on smooth pils )

This may be what you were looking for Derek.

http://www.machsupport.com/downloads/XP_Optimization.txt

Tweakie.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

First I will try out Kerry Harrisons program and if that does not work I will reinstall XP and go through the optimization page.
I have two questions though, when installing XP should I upgrade to service pack 2 or just leave it as service pack 1.  Also should I go out and install all the device drivers on the machine or just the ones that are required for running the cnc machine?

Before you install it, go into the Bios, and disable ACPI. This can cause Mach3 to not run properly on a lot of systems.
Then, disable any devices you won't be using, like sound, and network, if you don't need it.

Once you install Windows, the only driver you really should need is the video card driver, and networking, if you need it.

Personally, I'd go to Windows update, and get all the updates. But after the initial installation, I never update again.

I finally got the problem sorted out!  
It turned out that it was the ACPI issue.  I just followed the instructions according to the XP optimization guide and now the machine works flawlessly at 67.5 inches per min.
As a note I am still using windows Server 2003.  It is a simpler operating system that has less flashy things compared to XP.