First Program

  1. Start easyC and select New Projectfirst program
  2. Select L2 on the toolbar.
  3. In the Functions Blocks window (left most panel)
  4. Under Outputs select Motor Module and drag and release the block between the Begin and End blocks.
  5. Make sure the motor number is 3 and Clockwise is selected and then click OK.  (Note:  Clockwise =255)
  6. Make sure your program looks the picture.
  7. Connect your Robot to the computer and turn on your Robot.
  8. Select Build and Download option and click yes on download Hex file.
  9. As soon as you’re your program finishes downloading the left motor will start.
  10. To stop the motor turn off the robot.
  11. Select Save Project from the File menu and enter a name and save the file to a folder (with your name) in the backup partition.

The frenchge website has some additional information you might find helpful.

Setup and Test Code

1.     Install easyC-programming software.  Click cancel when it asked for keycode and the 7-day trial will start.easyC

2.     Connect USB connection to your computer and the serial plug to the Serial Port on the VEX Micro Controller.

3.     Apply power the Robot.

4.     Select Build and Download>Loader Setup>Terminal Window>OK

5.     Select Terminal Window>Port Setting (COM 1, 2, 3, or 4 until downloading succeeds)

6.     Select Options>Download Master Code>Yes  Choose the latest version.  You should get a message download       complete.

7.     Select File>Open Project>Test Code

8.     Select Build & Download>Build & Download>Yes Program begins to run testing each motor.

The frenchge website has some additional information you might find helpful.

Online and Default Code

Online CodeOn-Line Window

1.     Select Build and Download>On-Line Window

2.     Adjust the slider bars to make the motors spin clockwise and counter clockwise.

3.     Sensor inputs should appear on Digital Input: #5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and #10

Default Code

1.     Select Build & Download>Download Default Code>Yes

2.    Robot is now set to default (out-of-the-box mode)

The frenchge website has some additional information you might find helpful.

Download Default Code

Mini Notebooks

Mini Notebooks have become very popular.  The only problem you might experience is not having a ready CDROMAusudrive to use.  This can create a problem if you want to upgrade your operating system to Vista or the new Windows 7.  There several work a rounds including an external USB CDROM or USB flash drive.  There are several utilities on the Internet for creating a bootable flash drive.  Also if you just want to reinstall the same operating system there should be an i386 folder and you can use the winnt32 file to start a new installation.

To find more information on this subject try the following site:  Mini-Notebook-Computers.com

The frenchge website has some additional information you might find helpful.

Computer Security

Computer security has been a hot topic now for several years.  Microsoft didn’t include a firewall in their software until Windows XP service pack 2.  Then they only gave you half a firewall blocking only incoming threats.  If you became compromised, your personal data could leave your computer without you being aware of it.  It wasn’t until Vista and the out cry of the security community before they provided a complete firewall in their operating systems.  I still favor ZoneAlarm (the free basic version) for my firewall.  There are also many other great open source and free software utilities and programs available.  Many of these utilities are better than some of the commercial software being sold.

You might checkout my HubPage on this or my YouTube videos. chp 1-1

The frenchge website has some additional information you might find helpful.

Computer Hardware

Today’s computer hardware is very reliable.  The only weak link being the hard drive.  Hard drives are mechanical devices prone to early failure do to their outdated design.  However, we are seeing solid state drives being introduced and as soon ashd the capacities increase the costs decrease we will be seeing them completely replace the older mechanical hard drives.  The only other hardware component that we have seen some problems with is the power supply.  Today’s power demands are such that the power supplies are failing more frequently than we have seen in the past.   Otherwise the overall computer hardware in today’s computers is well worth the expense.  We are getting more and more for our money.

The frenchge website has some additional information you might find helpful.

Computer Software

Computer software is where you encounter 95% of all the problems as a computer repair technician.  You need to develop skills and tools to help restore a failing Windows operating system.  There are many free and open source utilities that will keep Windows tuned up and running efficiently.  I have covered some of these in detail at huppages and youtube.

The frenchge website has some additional information you might find helpful.

Computer Repair

I have been in the computer repair business for many years.  I performed field and site support for over a thousand computers (PCs and MACs) spread over several different sites.  I have learned it’s possible to maintain a large number of computers using network resources and imaging.  I presently maintain a lab of over 35 computers.  The students have full admin rights to these computers so I maintain them using local imaging.  Otherwise the time needed for maintenance would be overwhelming.  I have used Partimage, Norton Ghost, and several other imaging utlities.  I favor Ghost running on a DOS partition so when Windows fails I can quickly boot to DOS and restore the computer in a few minutes.

I have several hubpages and youtube videos that explain this in detail.

The frenchge website has some additional information you might find helpful.

You might also checkout this site that focuses on Computer Repair Training.

Computer Notebooks and Laptops

I have owned and fixed a number of computer laptops and notebooks over the years.  My favorite now is Dell.  Not the quality (IBM use to be the best for quality) but for Dell’s great service.  They ship parts very quickly and have very knowledgeable and responsive support.  I have also owned and fixed many Toshiba and IBM computer notebooks.  Toshiba makes good notebooks, but IBM’s were my favorite until they sold out to Lenovo.  It seems that Lenovo is struggling to keep up the high standards that IBM set.

Computer notebooks are very reliable and their wireless capability has allowed me to move from the backroom to the front room.  This gives me the opportunity to interact again with my family.  I love wireless notebooks.

Computer notebooks are well designed.  They are easy to service and upgrade both the RAM and hard drives.

You might also checkout my HubPage on Notebook and Netbooks

You might also checkout this site Computer Notebooks Help

The frenchge website has some additional information you might find helpful.