Michael Hooker Microscopy Facility (MHMF.ORG)

What's Down & Scheduled Repairs

On Going Issues:

• Some users have been having trouble connecting to \\Minsky.  If you encounter this situation use its IP number instead. i.e. \\152.19.58.67
• The secure software web server (http://malus.med.unc.edu) is only accessible  to computers on the UNC, UNC Healthcare, UNC VPN or UNC-SOM VPN networks.
• Zeiss 510 Meta: The channel 2 emission filter (505-550 nm) has been replaced with a 475 to 505 nm set
• Prior drive on spinning disk will intermittently freeze - power Prior box off and allow controller to cool down at least 20 seconds and restart C-Imaging
• Leica SP2 Confocal Microscope - Computer's fire wall will occasionally drop zones.  Contact Michael if you have problems connecting to shared directories (\\Laplace)
• Missing screws on DMRXA turret cover.   Get spare screws for Zeiss HRZ stage

2008

• Oct 14: Minsky, the file server - A drive controller and its associated hard disk drive catastrophically failed after 4:00 AM on October 10.   The disk partition serving Lamantia, Faber & Blancafort labs. and Dentistry,  Dermatology & Psychiatry Departments shares were totally lost.  This unit was replaced on Oct 13 and files restored from primary backups on Oct 14.  As far is I can determine no data file was lost.  Please contact Michael if you encounter any outstanding issues.

• Aug 28: Zeiss 510 confocal - 633 nm (red) has been repaired.

• Aug 28: Zeiss 510 confocal - The red (633 nm) laser is not firing up.  Zeiss service has been contacted.  Imaging with the 488 nm (blue Argon/1) & 532 nm (Green HeNe) lasers can still be performed.

• Aug 22: Microscope stand on the Leica SP2 Confocal has been reset.  Focus and limit setting is working properly again.

• July 24: Leica SP2 Confocal is down.  Systems is running again.  Scanhead microcontroller was replaced.

• July 18: Leica SP2 Confocal is down.  Part is on order and expected the week starting July 21.

• July 17: Leica SP2 Confocal is down. Error reported is "Timeout in device: SCSI Controller V1".  The machine can not be used for scanning.  Leica service has been notified, and we are waiting for a scheduled repair time and date.

• July 08: Leica SP2 Confocal - Scan head voltage adjusted to 5.6V

• June 26: Zeiss 510 Confocal - X-Galvo replaced.

• May 29: Leica SP2 Confocal has been repaired - Power supply to scan head was readjusted.

• May 28: Leica SP2 Confocal is still down.  Parts expected to be here today did not arrive.  They should be here tomorrow.  If you do not need UV, the Zeiss 510 may be an option - contact Michael. 

• May 21: Power failure: Floor buffing caused a circuit breaker to be tripped from 10:50 PM to Thursday 12:25 AM.  Unavailable servers \\Minsky and secondary web pages, \\Marvin. Some daily backups were interrupted.  Dear Bill Marzluff, please we need some server room space!

• May 19: Leica SP2 Confocal is down.  Local service technician is out of town until Friday but we will try to get Leica to send someone sooner.
  • "Timeout in device: SCSI Controller V1"
  • Update May 20:
    • Talked to Miriam in Tech Support at the 866 number walked me through some restart procedures and we confirmed that there's nothing we can do here.  A job order has been opened with Leica. 
    • Dana, our local service tech, will be here Tuesday to work on the system.  He is currently out of town on service calls.
  • UPDATE MAY 28
    • Because of the stalled PO for the service contract, Leica service did not send the requested parts to Dana.  Dana has requested the parts be sent today based on our previous verbal commitment for the service contract.  He will plan to come tomorrow once the parts arrive.

• Apr 14: SERVER \\MINSKY IS RESTORED  Logons and access to shared directories and files are restored.  Please contact Michael if you notice any issues.
• Apr 14: SERVER \\MINSKY IS DOWN  Went offline this morning.  We are in the process of getting it back on-line and hope to have that complete before the end of the day.  File access and logon to MHMF computers are affected.  See a facility director if you need to log on to a computer.

• April 07: Zeiss 510 confocal - AOTF control unit cooling fan replaced

• Mar 26: Zeiss 510 confocal - Reported to Zeiss central funny sound  from laser box at startup (probably a fan) and increasing amperage at consistent power output %. Work order # 41037839.

• Feb 28: Leica SP2 AOBS Confocal - PMT #3 is working.  PMT preamp and power supply board were replaced.

• Feb 19: Image Processing Workstation \\Hooke - Replaced dead 21" monitor with used 19" CRT.

• Feb 15 2008: Leica SP2 AOBS Confocal - Service Tech visit. 
  • Replacement of PMT#3 did not solve the problem.
  • Connected PMT#3 to new port on controller board and had it working briefly but failed again before he left.  The system is still functioning with only PMTs 1 and 2.  Will order new controller board.
  • Some correction of UV illumination evenness. 

• Jan 04 2008: Leica SP2 AOBS Confocal - PMT #3 is not working properly.  To get any signal, offset must be turned to 40 or greater.  Please see a facility director for assistance in adjusting your acquisition parameters.  Service has been contacted.  We were notified that there is a long line ahead of us so it may be several weeks before this is fixed.  In the meantime:
  • PMT #2 should be used instead of PMT#3 for all imaging parameters.  
  • Many of the Beam Path Settings for acquisition will need to be reconfigured. 
  • For imaging more than 2 channels, sequential scanning with frame switching will need to be used. 
• UPDATE Feb 11: Our Leica service technician is scheduled to come this Friday to address the PMT3 problem and the uneven UV illumination with the 40X.

2007

• Dec 04: Zeiss 510 Confocal - The D: drive was failing, and the C: & D: partition hard drive has been replaced.  Due to file corruption on the original D: drive most files were not restored to it.  However all C: drive files and the operation system were restored.  Failure was progressive and it is not certain when this problem started.  Data stored on this drive was last copied on Dec 03 and can be made available upon request to Michael. 

• Oct 14: Raid File Server \\MARVIN - The Windows 2003 operating system for the computer called Marvin has been rebuilt from scratch.  Raid Server Data is present and intact.  If you use this server for file storage you will notice that there are currently no user network shares available (shared directories, e.g. \\marvin ).  If you do use these shares on Marvin please let Michael know the share name you used, so that sharing can be re-established, and your data made available.

• Oct 10: Snell image process workstation - Software installed: C-Imaging, Zeiss LSM 510, MetaMorph 7.1, Adobe Creative Suite 3, WinZip 11

• Oct 9: Raid File server \\MARVIN - Is not booting up after Microsoft's update  Tuesday.  Data should be secure on the raid array, but the computer which coordinates access to the array is in a constant loop of rebooting.  Tests are being carried out to determine what is bad component in the system.  Components found to be good so far are: CPU & memory, RAID array drive,

• Oct 4: Snell image process workstation -  Is available again, but software still needs  to be reinstalled.  Data on hard drives is preserved.  Files that were left on the Windows desktop can be found in N:\Documents and Settings\  in a directory with your username.  i.e. N:\Documents and Settings\%username%\  or  N:\Documents and Settings\%userprofile%\desktop
• Oct 3: Volocity - Is now on the Windows x64 bit workstation call \\Zernike which is currently located on the large table in 6129 Thurston Bowles.  It will run faster in this machine.  The D:\ drive is shared as users1.  i.e. \\zernike\users1

• Sept 13: Snell image process workstation -  Is not available due to motherboard & Video card failures.  Data on the hard drives will be preserved, and the computer may be back on the network on Monday.  Software will be reinstalled subsequently.

• August 17: Leica inverted - Fine focus has been repaired.  A deteriorating FITC cube has been replaced.

• July 26: Nikon Microphot - cleaning, lubrication.  All transmitted light filters now work.

• July 26: Leica 4D - Is back in operation

• July 25: Leica 4D Confocal - Optics clean, lubrication, adjust condenser arm microswitch, clean stage, align visible laser, mount laser back on unit, laser alignment

• July 20: Leica SP2 AOBS confocal - Detector board replaced.  PMT2 channel is much cleaner.  UV realigned in Z axis.

• July 18: Leica inverted - An axis for the focus drive is cracked.  Course focus is unaffected but the fine focus may have slight delay.  Replacement parts are on order.

• July 18: Leica inverted - A new transmitted light power supply has been installed.  Transmitted light control is back to normal.

• July 5: Leica SP2 confocal - Alignment of all channels was performed in XY and in Z.

• June 29: Leica SP2 Confocal - Files older than 6 months have been purged from the D: & E: drives

• June 26: Leica inverted - A temporary transmitted light power supply has been setup.  It has two power levels, off and on - please use the power off /on switch.  The rheostat on the temporary power supply is faulty and will be replaced.  For now please just use it a maximum power only.

• June 25: Leica inverted - Transmission lamp power supply has burnt out.  A temporary power unit will be setup on Tuesday.  Fluorescence viewing and imaging is unaffected.

• June 25: Leica Inverted Microscope:  File older than 6 month on \\Fresnel\users2 (the  computers d: drive) area have been purged.  This action is in accordance with stated facility policy, and was carried out due to no free space on \\\FRESNEL\USERS2.  Removed files may be present on alternate storage.  Please contact Michael for information.

• June 25: "Roach" raid array: Left redundant power supply is being flagged as failing.  PAM is not responding.  However file shares on \\marvin are still accessible.  Note to self: Make sure the mobile phone is well charged and call Promise.

• June 22: Minsky server - Files older than 2 yrs have been purge from \\MINSKY\USERS2.  This action is in accordance with stated facility policy, and was carried out due to limited available free space on \\\MINSKY\USERS2.  Removed files may be present on alternate storage.  Please contact Michael for information.

• June 19: Nikon TE2000 MultiMode - The DG-4 fluorescence illumination is uneven and not as bright as it should be.  Technical assistance has been contacted. 

• June 15: Image Processing Snell -   The power supply was replaced and Snell and is working well so far.  Please alert a facility director if you have any problems. 

• June 11: The image processing workstation called Snell is crashing and failing to boot.  Cause is being investigated. A marginal power supply is suspected. i.e. too many devices inside this computer (3x hard disk drives, high performance video card, parallel card, DVD writer) just exceeding the maximum power which can be delivered from the existing power unit.

• May 14 Leica SP2 Confocal: The UV laser excitation path has been realigned and should be working.  Please contact a facility director with any problems.

• May 03 Leica SP2 Confocal: The system is functioning again!

• May 02 Image Processing Workstation \\Snell: The computer has been locking up occasionally.  This seems to e hardware related.  DVD/CD burner has bee replaced since it has been unreliable.  These problems may be due to an inadequate power supply.   This system runs with 3 hard disk drives and a DVD burner off a 400 W power supply.  A larger power supply will be tested in this system.

• May 01 - Leica SP2 AOBS Confocal: Replacement boards x-y-z galvo and reassigning the Mic Stand control to COM2 allowed the system to run for ~30 minutes, until a board failure brought down the system.

• Apr 27 - Leica SP2 AOBS Confocal:  Replacement of additional galvo components (control board) and 4 hours of troubleshooting did not solve the problem.  More parts will be ordered and another round of troubleshooting will begin on Wednesday, May 2.

• Apr 26 - Leica SP2 AOBS Confocal:   Replacement of the x-galvo components that arrived today did not solve the problem.  Now we must wait for parts sent from Germany.

• Apr 25 - Leica SP2 AOBS Confocal: The system is non-functional due to the failure of the x-galvo mirror for laser scanning.  Replacement parts are on order and should be installed Thurs. 4/26/07.

• Apr 12 - Zeiss 510: HRZ/Galvo stage is working properly.  Transmitted light switching mirror was replaced which should prevent further hardware communication errors.

• Apr 12 - Zeiss 510: HRZ/Galvo stage is not responding.  X-Z scanning can still be performed slowly with "z-sectioning" i.e. stand fine focus control.  However x-z scanning with the high speed hyperfine mode is not possible.  Note that standard z-series scanning is still possible.

• Apr 3 - Zeiss 510 confocal:   The hardware communication error for the transmitted light mirror continues to appear intermittently.  If you encounter this and are unable to view or image DIC, close the software (lasers stay on), power cycle the microscope stand and restart the software (Argon laser power will need to be re-set).

• Mar 30 - Zeiss 510 Meta confocal:  The microscope stand power supply unit and the transmitted light PMT cable were replaced.

• Mar 09 - Zeiss 510 Meta confocal:  The condenser unit was replaced.

• Mar 8 - Leica SP2 AOBS confocal:  The microscope fluorescence module was adjusted.  Please alert a facility director of any further stand crashes.

• Mar 07 - LeicaSP2 Confocal: Stand service, especially fluorescence cube turret and shutter electronics.  Replace lower AOBS AOTF controller fan.

• Feb 16 - Zeiss 510 confocal:  The transmitted light mirror is sticking intermittently.  Service has been contacted and parts on on order..

• Feb 15 - LeicaSP2 AOBS Confocal: The microscope stand is continuing to crash periodically.  Service has been contacted.

• Feb 15 - Web server: The computer serving the pages listed below will be upgraded soon.  This change has no impact except for users accessing the FTP site and those administrating on the calendars.  A note will be placed here when the site is upgraded. 
  • http://microscopy.unc.edu
  • http://mhmicroscopy.med.unc.edu
  • http://mhmf.org   http://www.mhmf.org
  • http://physiology.med.unc.edu
  • http://confocal.med.unc.edu
  • http://synapseclub.org
  • http://confocal.org    http://www.confocal.org
  • 152.19.58.166
  • 152.19.48.66

• Feb 12 - LeicaSP2 AOBS Confocal: Original microscope stand controller put back into service, and firmware pack 4.3.1 loaded. 

• Jan 17 - Image Processing Workstation Snell: Defective DVD+R/W replaced. 
• Jan 17 - Image Processing Workstation Snell: Drag-Direct-to-DVD/CD removed since it was slowing down the system significantly.  Logging out should now be swifter.

• Jan 08 - LeicaSP2 AOBS:  Several bad crashes due to unpredictable stage behavior.  Reset parfocal settings for all objectives and seems to be working better.  Cause of parfocality disappearance unknown.

• Jan 02 - Nikon Inverted TE2000 - The DVC 1412 camera is working again.  A p ower supply unit was faulty.  A replacement power supply has been put into service.  The DVC 1312 camera is still connected to Morpheus and may be used. 

2006

• Dec 24 - Nikon Inverted TE2000 - 1412 camera is not functioning.  1312 is now connected to the computer called Morpheus.  Problem will be appraised in early Jan 2007

• Nov 17 - Minsky: Another hard drive has failed on the file server Minsky (a different unit to the Oct 31 failure listed below).  It was replaced and restored with data prior to Nov 11, and was back in service on Saturday morning.  Affected users/labs/groups are listed.  Note: since files were restored from cumulative backups, file which have been deleted may be back in user directories.

• Oct 31 - Minsky: A failed hard disk drive has been replaced.  Affected files have been loaded from backups made up to Oct 14, 2006. Affected users are listed in this link: users/labs/groups. Files that were stored on the failed drive from Oct 14 to Oct 28 may still be present on the original computer workstation.  If the files have been deleted from the workstation they may still be available on separate workstation backups of Oct 17 & 24.  Please contact a facility director if you wish to examine these off line backups.

• Oct 28 - Minsky: A drive has failed affecting shares and data of some users/labs/groups

• Oct 25 - Leica SP2 AOBS Confocal:  The UV light path was aligned for better image quality.

• Oct 24 - Color Printer:  The Xerox Phaser 860 color printer is experiencing error 15,004.45:8029 and is not available for printing.

• Oct 23 - Zeiss 510: Galvo Z-stage recalibrated.  Please let facility personal know if you notice instability or non linearity in the galvo stage z-positioning system.

• Oct 21 Sat. 7am-10am: Scheduled Power Outage for Thurston Bowles
  • Ensure all lasers and fluorescence light sources are powered down prior to the power outage.
  • MHMF equipment will be unavailable during this time.
  • Servers will be shutdown at 6:00 PM on Friday and restarted Monday morning (please let a facility director know if you need access before Monday)

   

• Oct 20 - Leica Inverted Fluorescence Microscope: Imaging of far-red emitting fluorophores (ie, Cy5, AlexaFluor 633, AlexaFluor647) is now available using a new filtercube.  See a facility director for instructions on how to implement this new capability.

• Oct 12 - Minsky file server: Many shared directories were unavailable due to two disk packs disconnecting from the computer.  Data on the drives was safe, but unavailable on the network.  The network shares were restored at 2:30 PM Oct 12

• Oct 12 - This web server: Down - Due to a waste paper bin  placed against the key board this server did not reboot after a Windows security patch installation. Down 11 PM Oct 11 to 9:10 AM Oct 12.

• Sept 22 - Marvin file server: is available again.

• Sept 25 - Zeiss 510: confocal is back in action.  A scope interface board, the condenser and transmitted light changer were replaced.

• Sept 22 - Marvin file server: is not available.  The secondary file server, Marvin is failing to boot up.  The data on it is safe and will be available again once the operating system for Marvin is repaired or reinstalled.  Please note that most users access the main file server called Minsky.  Only a minority of users will be affected by the unavailability of Marvin.  If you urgently need data on Marvin please contact Michael.

• Sept 20 - Leica SP2 confocal: Frequent microscope stand crashes.  All motorized controls fail to respond to button presses, focus is frozen on the stand, and LCS software will not run microscope (e.g. switch from scan mode to visual mode).
  • To fix problem:
    • 1. Save images
    • 2. Shutdown LCS software -
    • 3. Allow LCS software to close then
    • 4. Power down microscope stand controller
    • 5. Re-power microscope stand
    • 6. Restart LCS software
    • 7. Please record "Stand Crash" in log book

• Sept 20 - Zeiss 510 confocal: Scanning is occasionally locking up.  Service has been scheduled.

• Sept 5 - Leica TCS-4D:  The Kr/Ar laser would not ignite this morning.  We will work on this as soon as possible.  In the meantime, the Zeiss 510 has significant availability http://microscopy.unc.edu/Scripts/Zeiss510meta/Bookings_Zeiss510meta14.exe.

• Aug 24 - Servers Minsky & Marvin: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) battery failure forced the partial powering down of the file servers Minsky & Marvin.  Some users' shares and printers on Minsky and Marvin were unavailable for ~12 minutes from about 10:15 AM.

• Aug 16 - Leica-LMD:  Preventative maintenance service; included realignment of laser for better power.

• Aug 16 - Inverted Leica fluorescence:  Service was performed on the stage to address the problem with lateral drift.

• Aug 15 - Leica SP2 confocal:  A borrowed 40X 1.25NA oil objective has been put on the system while our objective in place of ours.  An improvement in the blue channel should be noticeable.  Our objective has been sent out for repair.

• Mel Gibson was born in New York: He only lived in Australia, and studied at the University of New South Wales, Australia.

• Aug 1 - Zeiss 510 confocal:  The F: drive storage space has been substantially increased to 110 GBytes.
  • 1. Files on the F: drive older than May 1 are no longer present. (In effect files older than May 1 have been erased, but don't panic and see point 2. below.) This is because a new F: disk drive has been installed in the system, and only files newer than three months old have been copied to the new drive. Therefore problems may occur if you are opening image databases from the F: drive (or copied from the F: drive after Aug 1) that have images saved prior to May 1, 2006.
  • 2. However for a limited time (until Aug 1, 2008) files and image databases that were present at Aug 1, 2006, can be made available by request.
  • Yes, this is all rather complex.  However we do not want to keep "expired" data, since both the D: & F: drives do fill up.  In fact we spend a significant amount of time dealing with expired data, and hope users appreciate that it is difficult for us to determine which are unneeded files.  It should be noted that most facilities have draconian rules about old data.  We know that a large fraction of the files on the image acquisition systems are well backed up by users.  However we have very little idea which files are actually no longer required.  In some ways we create this problem by advising users not the erase data files until they know the files are securely and adequately transferred to their computers/servers/CD/DVD/etc.  But transfer errors do occur occasionally.  For the bottom line please see the facility file storage policy.
  • Those who store image databases/files on the D: drive may consider using the open space on the F: drive instead.

• Aug 1 - Zeiss 510 confocal: Scanning is back to normal after the service visit.  Scanning galvos were recalibrated.  Swing arm safety switch repaired.  Annual PM performed.  F: drive upgraded to 110 Gbytes from 39 GBytes.

• July 31 - Zeiss 510 confocal: Scanning is intermittently failing. Service will be carried on Aug 1 in order to investigate the cause.  Check back here for updates.

• July 31 - File server \\MINSKY:  MHMF server \\MINSKY went off-line starting at 1:24pm and was back on line at ~2:00pm.  Access to files on the server and MHMF computer network drives were affected.

• July 10 - Zeiss FRAP demonstration: Elise Shumsky of Zeiss will demonstrate how FRAP can be performed on the 510 Meta confocal microscope. Let a facility director know if you plan to attend.

• July 4 - Michael Chua: I am receiving spam e-mails faster than I can erase them.  If you need to contact me please use the phone, paper or other 19th century and before devices

• June 7 - Zeiss 510 Meta confocal:  The mercury lamp power supply was replaced with a new unit.  Start up and shut down procedures are the same as before.
  The HRZ stage continues to misbehave.  The Zeiss service technician has ordered a new stage.

• June 6 - Analysis Workstation \\Young: Replaced failing video card with MSI nVidia FX5200

• June 2 - Leica Inverted Fluorescence microscope:  The stage has been tightened to prevent drifting.  Movement is still not perfectly smooth.  Please alert a facility director if you continue to have drifting problems.

• May 31 - Image acquisition station \\Hooke: Replaced video card because of a failing fan on the previous card.

• May 31 - Leica Inverted Fluorescence microscope:  The stage is drifting when it should be stationary.  The service engineer will be here Friday, June 2 to address this issue.

• May 30 - Analysis Workstation \\Young:  A cooling fan on the video card is making a rattling/humming noise.  The computer still functions normally.

• May 23 - Zeiss 510 Meta confocal:  The service engineer could not replicate the z-galvo stage problem, so it is still unsolved.  Please record any troubles in the log book and alert a facility director.

• May 12 - Zeiss 510 Meta confocal: the z-axis galvo (HRZ) is not reliably returning to the beginning and end set positions.  Occasionally a buzz can be heard emanating from the HRZ stage transducer box.  Zeiss service has been informed.  Engineer is expected about May 19.  Temporary fix is to try powering down the system and restarting.

• April 12 - Leica SP2 AOBS confocal: The microscope stand controller was replaced with a new unit.  Please alert a facility director if you experience any troubles with the system.

• April 6 - Leica SP2 AOBS confocal: A hardware communication failure may occur in the middle of your scanning session.  The service technician has been contacted and is working on a solution.  If you experience a hardware communication failure:
  • Save your work
  • Exit the Leica LCS software
  • Turn off the Microscope Stand Controller (#2) (ONLY the microscope stand, no other components need to be adjusted)
  • Wait 15 seconds, then turn the Microscope Stand Controller on again
  • After the microscope completes startup, restart the software

• April 6 - Zeiss 510 META confocal:  The transmitted light mirror was replaced. 

• Mar 31 - Zeiss 510 Meta confocal: A "Hardware is busy" message may appear when scanning is initiated.  Transmitted light mirror motor is jamming and will be replaced in early April. 

• Mar 28 - Minsky file server: At 3:07 PM a transient drive outage occurred due to a failed cooling fan.  The drive was back on line at 3:40 PM. Some shared directories were affected.

• Mar 20 - LeicaTCS-4D confocal: is back in action with a functioning laser!  In order to get the system operational the PC computer was replaced twice!  The current computer has the same disk drive as \\Jansen (the computer installed June 2005), and hence the network identity is unchanged and user image files are still there.  Laser light power at the stage is good.  Polarization of the laser has not been fine tuned yet, so DIC/Nomarski may not be optimum for now, however fluorescence is not compromised.

• Mar 20 - Workstation computer \\Brewster has replaced \\Monarch.  Files from \\Monarch were backed up to a protected area of \\Marvin prior to the exchange.  Please see a facility director if you need access.  Monarch has been decommissioned, and software reinstalled on \\Brewster

• Mar 20 - Minsky file server: Some shared drives on the server \\Minsky were unavailable for a short time today due to a failed power supply and seized cooling fan on one of the firewire drives.  Access to all drives has been restored. 

• Mar 17 - LeicaTCS-4D: Argon/Krypton laser has been received and is being installed.  The computer for this system is not starting.

• Feb 27 -- Spinning Disk Confocal:  Installation and testing of new filters and correction lens has been completed. 

• Feb 27 -- Inverted Nikon MultiMode:  Phase Contrast ring for the 4X objective has been added to the condenser turret.

• Feb 24 -- Zeiss 510 confocal: 
  • The  faulty computer power supply and AOTF fan were replaced. 
  • Tightening of connectors in the Mercury lamphouse has corrected the ignition problem.
  • The switching mirror for the transmitted light detector was replaced.  It was identified as the likely cause of the intermittent microscope stand communication problems.

  If you experience any problems with the microscope, please document them in the log book and alert a facility director.

• Feb 22 -- Zeiss 510 confocal:  Mercury Arc lamp is not igniting on the first attempt.  Please make sure the round LAMP indication light (NOT the power switch light) glows green before turning on the Remote Control power.  If the lamp does not ignite, turn off the power switch, wait a few seconds and try again.

• Feb 20 -- Zeiss 510 confocal: Loss of communication between the software and microscope stand is occurring intermittently but with increasing frequency.  To restore communication: 1. Exit the software, 2. Reboot stand, 3. Restart the software.

• Feb 18 -- Zeiss 510 confocal: A failing AOTF fain in the laser module is creating a groaning sound from under the lasers when the software is started.  Service has been contacted.

• Feb 13 - Zeiss 510 confocal: A cooling fan has failed in the power supply of the computer.  It is possible that the computer will shut down without warning if the room temperature gets too warm.

• Jan 27 - Laser Micro Dissection: Continuous erratic UV laser firing was due to trigger being incorrectly set to internal.  Switching back to external trigger returned laser firing back to normal.

• Jan 26 - LeicaSP2 confocal: UV laser seems to working better once warmed up.  Poor performance may be due to a bad mirror alignment.  An automatic realignment will be attempted.

• Jan 24 - LeicaSP2 confocal - 40x oil x-z image quality is not as good as expected for blue emissions light (such as DAPI).  40x Oil objective cannot be used for z-axis co-localization with blue emitting fluorophores.  Red and green co-localization is working great.  (UV co-localization is good with the 63X 1.4 AN oil & 20X objectives.)

• Jan 24 - Leica SP2 Confocal - UV laser behaved erratically.  Please alert a facility director of any erratic behavior you encounter.
  The UV laser failed on Jan 24, and was only operating at very low output power.  In such circumstances, it can still be used with appropriate power adjustments. 
          1. Turn power knob on the control box 1/4 to 1/2 turn; be sure the "Current Limit" light is not illuminated. 
          2. Adjust the 364nm AOTF power as high as necessary (up to 100%) for a good image at Gain setting of 500-650 V.
  We are working to diagnose the problem.  Please stay tuned for updates.
  Update:  5:30pm.  After running at minimum power for several hours, the laser returned to normal behavior.  The power successfully increased to 2 full turns of the power level knob 2:45pm and continued to run normally for several hours until it was powered off.
   

• Jan 06 - Fresnel - The hard drive has been replaced and is available for imaging.  IMPORTANT: All users must run the IMAGING_SETUP.reg file before they can use SimplePCI.  Before starting SimplePCI, double-click on the desktop icon for IMAGING_SETUP.reg.  Answer "Yes" or "OK" to the 2 dialog boxes that appear.  If there are no cameras available in SimplePCI, exit the software and run the IMAGING_SETUP.reg file from the desktop.

• Jan 05 - Fresnel - The hard drive on the computer Fresnel has been replaced and needs to be reconfigured.  The system is still available for viewing samples but imaging is not available.

• Jan 01 - Minsky shares for some labs. and users: will not be available on the network until a hard disk drive on the Minsky file server is restarted on Jan 03.   Affected shares are listed below.  This problem arises due to a not well documented problem with large data transfers via Firewire interface controllers.  Some users will have their share or their lab. share on Minsky mapped to to drive letter (typically m:) on various work stations.  If this mapping connects to a share listed below the drive letter will not be available.

Shared Folder	Shared Path  (Hidden to users)
\\minsky\Alessandra	F:\Users3\Alessandra
\\minsky\Buchman-lab	F:\Users3\Buchman-lab
\\minsky\CSeagle	F:\Users3\CSeagle
\\minsky\CWD-lab	F:\Users3\CWD-lab
\\minsky\Hartnett	F:\Users3\Hartnett
\\minsky\Leica4D	F:\Users3\Viceroy
\\minsky\LZhang	F:\Users3\LZhang
\\minsky\Ostrowski	F:\Users3\LEO-lab
\\minsky\PGeisen	F:\Users3\Hartnett
\\minsky\Pickles	F:\Users3\Pickles
\\minsky\Pickles-lab	F:\Users3\Pickles
\\minsky\Rubenstein-lab	F:\Users3\Rubensteiin-lab
\\minsky\Sechelski	F:\Users3\Sechelski
\\minsky\SKreda	F:\Users3\SKreda
\\minsky\VanDyke-lab	F:\Users3\VanDyke-lab
\\minsky\Viceroy	F:\Users3\Viceroy

Notes: For administrative purposes this drive is called users3, although users do not have access to this drive though the \\minsky\users3 share. 

2005

• Dec 13 - Xerox color printer: Maintenance kit has been received and installed.  Color printer is back in action.

• Dec 12 - Xerox color printer: Printing is not possible until a new roller is received.  This roller is called a "maintenance kit" by Xerox and is in fact a roller impregnated with silicone oil, which aids in the release of the paper from the print drum.  This kit has a chip which inhibits the printer from printing from 366 days after it is 1st used, so printing can not be forced.  A replacement was ordered, and we are still waiting on delivery.

• Dec 06 - Leica 4D confocal: Triple line laser is with Melles Griot for repair
• Dec 01 - Leica 4D confocal: Triple line laser has been shipped out for repair.

• Nov 04 - LeicaSP2 confocal: UV fiber alignment has improved power the level to the stage, and lens alignment has returned x-z imaging quality to expected levels for the 63x oil, 63x water, 20x, 10x objectives.   40x oil x-z image quality is not as good as expected.   User will note that required 364 nm AOTF levels are back to normal.

• Oct 25 - LeicaSP2 confocal: UV sensitivity and z-axis alignment has been improved on the 63x, 40x, 20x & 10x objectives.  Note: run the 364 nm AOTF higher rather than increasing the UV laser tube current.  UV z-axis imaging still exhibits some dispersion, however x-y alignment is still good.  This dispersion issue will be addressed at a date yet to be determined.

• Oct 25 - Marvin - secondary file server: Due to what can only be described as excessive weirdness OIS suggested changing the IP number for \\Marvin & marvin.med.unc.edu to 152.19.58.218.  It may take a day or two for this change to propagate to users desktop computers.  This means access to \\marvin  or  \\marvin.med.unc.edu  may not succeed during this period.  As a work around during this time, or anytime in fact, try connecting by placing \\152.19.58.218 in the address bar of a "MyComputer" window instead.

• Oct 19 - Minsky - domain controller: A disk drive on Minsky's primary disk array crashed.  From 2 to 4 PM Minsky was unavailable while the drive was being rebuilt.  Network and local logins along with access to shared directories were not available during this period.

• Oct 10 - LeicaSP2 confocal: A new UV fiber optic and pinhole were installed, however UV signal remains week and z-axis alignment is only good with the 63X 1.4 NA objective.  Repair is still pending.  This problem remains seemingly obstinate.  A new fiber and pin hole will be installed on Oct 25.

• Oct 05 - Zeiss 510 confocal: Green 543 nm laser and power supply have been replaced

• Oct 04 - Zeiss 510 Confocal: The Green 543 nm laser has burnt out. Replacement is scheduled for the morning of Oct 05.  It is expected that the system will be fully functional again before noon of Oct 05.

• Minsky:  Some users are having trouble connecting to \\Minsky.  If you encounter this situation use its IP number instead. i.e. \\152.19.58.67

• Sep 1 - Minsky: The drive on Minsky which hosts the shared directories listed below continues to intermittently not be recognized by the operating system after intensive reading or writing to the drive.  These directories, as they existed on Sep. 1, have been copied to an alternate drive system on another computer called \\Marvin  Access to these directories will be setup as quickly as reasonably possible in the next day.  If you required immediate access to files on these shared directories and \\Minsky\yourname  or \\Minsky\lab-name  seems not to be available please contract Michael (843-3268)

• Aug 31 - Minsky: The above lab. and user shared directories on Minsky are currently offline.  It is expected that power cycling of this drive on Sept. 1 should restore access to the files.

• Aug 30 - Minsky: Old Minsky has been restored.  The domain is once again called MHMICROSCOPY (not mh-microscopy).  Files shares are back to the original state except for data stored under \\minsky\users1 when it was part of new Minsky (mh-microscopy).  These files will be transferred back to \\Minsky\users1 on Aug 30.

• Aug 26 - Minsky: A new Minsky computer has been created.  Although the computer name is still \\Minsky, its domain name is slightly different and is mh-microscopy (note the minus between mh & microscopy)

• Aug 26 - Minsky (domain login controller  and server file shares) - A RAID controller card for Minsky has been ordered.  Delivery is expected on August 31.  Updates of the status of the RAID repairs will be posted here.  Also see just below.

• Aug 25 - Minsky the main server & domain controller computer has a bad RAID disk controller.  The immediate consequences are:
  • Logging on to any MHMICROSCOPY computer may be impossible with your user account.  Please see a facility director for assistance.
  • File shares \\Minsky\users1 & \\Minsky\users2 are not available.
  • Mac file access to user1 is not available
  • Personal and lab. files shares are not available.
  • Printing to the color Xerox and b/w HP printers is not possible.
• A replacement controller is being ordered from Dell.  The worst case scenario is that the RAID controller can not be replaced, in which case the files on the RAID drives can not be accessed.  This will affect \\Minsky\users1, and all user accounts will have to be issued new passwords.  Not affected are \\Minsky\users2  & individual and lab. shares of the form: \\Minsky\yourname  and  \\Minsky\labname

• Aug 23 - Laser Micro Dissection:  The UV laser has been replaced and is functioning normally.

• Aug 9 - LeicaSP2 confocal: The red 633 HeNe laser has been successfully replaced.  The UV laser alignment was also adjusted.  Please a facility director if you have any questions or troubles.

• Aug 2 - LeicaSP2 confocal: The red 633 HeNe laser has burnt out.  Excitation of CY5, DyLight 647, etc. can not be performed until the laser tube/power supply are replaced.  Replacement will be done on Monday, Aug 8, contingent upon the replacement units being received.  Check back here for any updated information.

• July 27 - Spinning Disk Confocal:  The spinning disk confocal will be sent off September 2 for upgrades to improve field intensity uniformity and synchronization of the camera with the spinning disks..  Estimated return date is September 13th if no additional problems are encountered.

• July 9 - Laser Micro Dissection: UV laser is flickering between cuts.  New laser is back ordered.

• July 6 - \\Hooke - Nikon Upright Microphot-SA microscope: The defective computer has been replaced and image files less than 3 months old copied back to the D:\ drive  (\\HOOKE\USERS2 over the campus network).  The color camera (DXM1200) can be driven by the Act-1 software or C-Imaging software.  Note that with C-Imaging the camera and default path settings need to be setup for each user.  See Michael for help doing this. 
  Shared directories are:

  D:\	-	\\Hooke\users2
  C:\users1	-	\\Hooke\users1

  Some firewall zones need to be setup.  Please contact Michael if you can not connect to \\HOOKE over the network.

• July 5 - \\Minsky\users3:  Laboratory and individual shares on Minsky have been restored.

• June 30 - \\Minsky\Users3:  The drive containing the individual lab folders previously accessible on \\Minsky\Users3 has been recovered.  It is now Drive F: on the computer Nipkow, which is the computer on the spinning disk confocal.  The drive is currently not shared on the network.  Users with data on this drive should be able to log into the workstation Nipkow and access their files for transfer to CD or flash drive.  We will work to restore network access after the July 4th holiday if not sooner.

• June 29 - \\Minsky\Users3:  The individual and lab. folders kept on \\Minsky\Users3 are currently not accessible.  The drive enclosure has failed.  We will do our best to retrieve the files as soon as possible.  Please contact a facility director if you have any questions.

• June 28 - Computer \\Hooke:  Old files from the computer \\Hooke (Nikon Upright microscope) can be accessed at network location \\Nipkow\Hooke_Users2.  Please contact a facility director if you have any questions.

• June 22 - Nikon Upright/Computer \\Hooke:  Computer \\Hooke will not power up.  Imaging is now possible using computer \\Jansen.  We are still working to access to files on Hooke's hard drive.
  NOTE TO SIMPLE-PCI USERS on this system:  All settings have been reset to null and will have to be re-established after being retrieved from Hooke's hard drive.  Please see a facility director for help with this.

• June 10 - Zeiss 510 confocal:  The fluorescence filtercube turret seems to working properly again.  Please report any further problems to a facility director.

• June 7 - Zeiss 510 confocal:  The fluorescence filtercube turret on the microscope stand is not properly switching between Visible and LSM modes and not selecting the correct filtercube position.  If needed, move the carrousel by hand until it clicks into the correct position.   Before scanning, ensure that Position 1 is correctly selected (the carrousel needs to be in this position). If the carrousel is not correctly seated in Position 1 for scanning, there will be a 5s pause before each scan and you will get an error message.  Zeiss service has been contacted.  Please find a facility director if you have any questions.

• June 3 -  LeicaSP2 confocal: Measures have been taken to reduce system software crashes.  To help us asses the effectiveness of these steps please note any crashes you experience in the log book, and record what you were doing and which keys/buttons were pressed immediately prior to the crash/system freeze.  Thank you.

• June 3 -  LeicaSP2 confocal: UV alignment has been checked.  DAPI, Alexa 350, Hoechst, etc. sensitivity should be good, and produce low noise images.  Suggested initial AOTF settings for the laser lines are: UV 361nm=10% (laser power 2 turns)  488 nm=10% (laser power at 9 o'clock)   561nm=20%   633nm=30%

• June 3 -  LeicaSP2 confocal: The E: drive has been replaced.  Data may be stored there.  The network shared directory \\LAPLACE\USERS2  is also available again.  Data that was on the drive will not be restored.  Users will need to create a suitably named folder for themselves.  Additionally, with a suitable donation of payola, users may request their data from the crashed drive to be restored.  (Astute users may notice that the replacement drive is half the size (35 GB) of the crashed drive.  A 72 GByte drive will replace this smaller drive.  Any user data present will be transferred to the larger drive.)

• May 21 - Leica 4D confocal: The new laser has been installed.  The machine is back in operation (for use by CF Center users). Please note: 1. start the laser with the switch on standby and 2. shut down by switching to standby.    The cooling fan should run automatically for 2-3 minutes then the power (rocker) switch should be switched off.  The OS9/VME computer should be turned off at the end of the day by the last users.

• May 16 - LeicaSP2 confocal: The E: drive has failed.  As a consequence the \\laplace\users2  shared directory, which is a mapping of the E: drive also unavailable.  See a facility director if you wish to attempt to recover data from this drive.

• May 13 - LeicaSP2 confocal: The E: drive on the Leica SP2 AOBS confocal microscope is currently failing.  It is expected that this drive will fail totally. 

• May 12 - Image Processing Workstation \\Snell (6129 Thurston Bowles): is unavailable and disconnected from the network.  Due to a serious security breach the Image Processing Workstation called \\Snell is not connected to the network currently.  Consequently the following shared directories are unavailable:

  \\Snell\users	(Windows network)
  \\Snell\users2	(Windows network)
  \\Snell\snail	(Windows network)
  ftp://snell.med.unc.edu/snail	(ftp site)

•  Software unique to this computer is Volocity 3D viewing & rendering and Zeiss 510 offline confocal analysis.  Hardware on this computer is the DVD+-R/RW recorder.  Please note that DVD-+R/RW capabilities are available on the Image Processing Workstation called \\Young
• It is expected that the program drive on this computer will have to be scrubbed (low level formatted).  Data drives (D:  &  E:) will remain intact when the operating system is reinstalled.
• Due to the security breach it is possible that passwords entered on this system from March 10 to May 12 may have been compromised.
• If you have questions please contact Michael

• April 14 - PE Spinning Disk: The Perkin Elmer spinning disk confocal is up and running again for live cell imaging of GFP-, mRFP- and Cy5-like fluorophores.  The system is now controlled with the same C-Imaging software package used with the widefield system in the Facility.  Contact a facility director for more information or to set up an appointment.

• April 13 - Zeiss 510 Meta: Laser replacement has been rescheduled for the evening of Wednesday April 13.  Replacement was completed at 9:40 PM.  Thorough X/Y galvanometer calibration was performed.  Bi-directional scanning should produce a better registration.

• April 11 - Zeiss 510 Meta: Bidirectional scanning has been recalibrated electronically.  This should improve the coherence of bidirectional scanning.  An optical recalibration may also be necessary, and needs to be performed by Zeiss.  Note that very few users select bidirectional scanning.

• April 08 - Zeiss 510 Meta: Caution should be exercised setting the tube current (output power) of the Argon/2 laser, (blue 488 nm).  Maximum laser tube current on the Argon/2 (488 nm laser) has become un-calibrated and can be set above 8.1 Amps.  This level should not be exceeded.  To this end the output level should be gently ramped up to the desired power rather than rapidly dragging the slider to high output levels. Rapid dragging of the power slider tends to set the tube current to levels about 8.1 Amps.  This laser is showing signs that it is going to fail.  Replacement had been scheduled for 8:00 to 10:00 AM on April 13.  However Fedex declined delivery of the unit, so installation could not proceed.

• Feb 18 - Leica SP2 UV laser: A loaned UV laser head has been installed and aligned.  Dapi, Alexa 350, Fura-2, Cascade Blue, etc. may be imaged again. 
• Also note that the "blue" Argon Laser (488 nm) must never be turned off without first turning the start key to off, and letting the laser cool down before turning the cooling fan and power supply (red laser switch) off.  Check the cooling exhaust temperature (upper temperature gage on the thermometer on the conduit) which will be less than 5^oC above the ambient temperature (lower gage on the thermometer).

• Feb 16 - Leica SP2 UV laser: The EnterpriseII UV laser head is scheduled to ship back from Coherent on April 1.  Once the laser is received in Chapel Hill it will be refitted back into the confocal, and the confocal is expected to be unavailable for about half a day

• Jan 22 - Leica SP2 UV laser: The EnterpriseII UV laser has finally been received by Coherent of Santa Clara, CA as of Jan 19.  Expected repair turn around time is 2 months.  Status of the laser repair will be posted here as it becomes available.

2004

• Dec 31 - Leica SP2 UV laser: The UV laser has been shipped to Coherent for repair.  UV scanning will be unavailable until the unit is shipped back.  Expected turn around time is 2 months.  Scanning in the visible wavelengths is still available.  Please power down the green 561 nm laser by pushing the red button on the power supply unit when finished scanning.

• Dec 10 - Leica SP2 UV laser: Coherent turned out not to be available to conduct the planned alignment on the EnterpriseII laser.  This will be attempted on Dec 13.  Coherent California/Tennessee 800-367-7890  case# 349 366

• Nov 23 - LeicaSP2 confocal: The UV laser can only operate at very low output power ( <3 mW) due to over heating.  Service is being arranged.  It can still be used with appropriate power adjustments. 
          1. Turn power knob on the control box 1/4 to 1/2 turn; be sure the "Current Limit" light is not illuminated. 
          2. Adjust the 364nm AOTF power as high as necessary (up to 100%) for a good image at Gain setting of 500-650 V. 

• Nov 1 - Leica Inverted Microscope: The polarizer has been replaced.  Users should remember to have the analyzer out of the light path when doing fluorescence.  The analyzer will cut fluorescence by 50%.  (It also is an expensive neutral density filter and is best not be used for that purpose.) 

• Oct 18 - LeicaSP2 confocal: Laser and scanhead fibers realigned.  AOTF retuned.  Output of all visible laser lines have been substantially increased at the stage.

• Oct 13 - Leica Inverted standard microscope: The polarizer material of the analyzer for DIC is wrinkling.  This is reducing the quality of DIC (Nomarski) images slightly.  Only DIC imaging is affected, and since standard transmitted light and fluorescence do not use the analyzer these modes of imaging are not affected.  A new analyser has been ordered.  Delivery is expected in 2 to 3 weeks.

• Sep 30 - Booking Calendars: It may not be possible to display or make bookings when using Internet Explorer under WindowsXP.  Try 1. reducing the security level for Internet Explorer (done in the control panel), 2. use another browser such as Netscape/Mozilla, 3. book from another computer which does not use WindowsXP, 4. call the facility or e-mail to make a booking.  Once the computer person gets a computer running WindowsXP, he can look into diagnosing and fixing this problem.  In the meantime please follow one of the workarounds described above.

• Sep 29 - LeicaSP2 confocal: The AOBS was realigned at 561 nm.  Reflections should be reduced when scanning TexasRed, Rhodamine, Alexa 594, etc.

• Sep 29 - LeicaSP2 confocal: Erratic stage movement of the motorized stage has been experienced.  In order to guard against injury lower the stage with the coarse focus and rotate the objectives two positions to the right or left.  Leica have been informed about this rare situation.  It has been impossible to duplicate the events leading up to this erratic movement which has damaged both fingers and slides.

• Sep 28 - Leica SP2 confocal: Condenser is fixed.  Swinging pin is reseated and glued in place.
• Sep 27 - Leica SP2 Confocal: Currently it is not possible to align the transmitted light condenser due to minor damage.  The problem has no impact on confocal or widefield florescence viewing or scanning.  However it is not possible to perform transmitted light imaging during confocal scanning or center the condenser for DIC imaging.  The unit should be operational again on Sep 28.

• Sep 24 - Zeiss 510 confocal: the x-axis galvanometer (horizontal scanning driver) has been replaced and the machine recalibrated.

• Sep 20 - Zeiss 510 confocal: the x-galvo is giving some minor problems.  Images may jitter in the x direction.  The x-galvanometer motor will be repaired on September 24.

• Sep 2 - Leica SP2: The 561 nm green solid state laser has been installed.  All laser lines are working.  Note that the new green 561 nm laser has a simple on/off  buttons.  No cooling is required.  The 561 AOTF should be run at roughly 5% (cf. 50% to 100% for the old Krypton 568 nm laser)

• May 12 - Zeiss 510 Meta: The channel 2 emission band pass filter 475-505 nm information has been entered into the confocal database and is displayed correctly in the filter setup window in the LSM 510 software (and on the web page).  This filter is intended for CFP detection.  Warning listed at April 28 no longer applies.

• April 28: Zeiss 510 Meta: The channel 2 emission filter (505-550 nm) has been replaced with a 475 to 505 nm emission filter (Chroma HD490/30m).  Warning: The CH2 (PMT 2) filter display still shows 505-550 nm when actually the 475 to 505 nm filter is in place.  This needs to be updated.  The purpose of having a 475 to 505 emission filter is to help with simultaneous CFP & YFP detection using PMTs (not the meta) the 458 and 514 nm laser lines for excitation.  Prior to this upgrade the closest filter for CFP imaging was the 475 to 525 nm emission filter.  This filter is undesirable in that it lets reflection from the 514 laser line through to the PMT detector.  For more information contact Michael

• Zeiss 510 confocal: The Axioscope will be sent out for service due to corrosion on the turret mirror.  This mirror requires replacement, which can only be done at the factory since it must be critically aligned.  Confocal will be unavailable for 7-9 weeks at a date yet to be decided. 

2003

• Feb. 26: Leica4D confocal computers are no longer be connected to the Medical School Network:

• The Leica4D confocal (Viceroy) is no longer connected to the Medical School Network, and hence the entire internet, including the Cytic_Fibrosis domain.  Scanning can still be performed and the 100 MByte Zip drive can be used to transfer data.  OIS has discontinued the sub-network that the 4D was assigned to on Feb. 18, 2003 as a final act in a 5 year plan to give the 152.2. subnet back to the main campus, and block that subnet in the Medical School.  Unfortunately the 4D OS9-VME computer can not be easily be migrated to the Medical School subnet.  Hence the 4D is isolated from the network.  Alternative solutions are being investigated, but are limited by the potential fragility of the two unsupported operating systems that are an essential part of the 4D confocal.

History

		Copyright 2001-08  Dr. M. Chua, Office of Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
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