I have upgraded my current laptop that I use for programming with CCP to windows 8.1, but installed 32 bit version. Use 64 bit on my desktop where I do most of the programming, mostly use the laptop just for downloading to remotes on site. If I remember correctly using 64 bit will allow me to download to remotes, but not to MSC-400. Laptop now needs replacing, and the one that I am probably going to replace it with has 64 bit windows 8.1 on it. Does anyone know if the CCP program has now overcome the obstacle preventing it from working fully on a 64 bit version of windows, or do I need to find a way to get a 32 bit version of windows instead?

If you use this as a source of income your best bet is to get a copy of 32-bit XP and use that as your programming computer.

Unfortunately most new laptops won't allow you to install 32 bit XP.

I know with Win 7 Pro 64 you were able to download the XP mode for free. Have had no problems with MSC-400's using this. I think Win 8 Pro allows this as well.

Google, VirtualBox running XP on Windows 8.x. You can use extract the XP image from the Microsoft download (Instructions will pop up when you google the above). Unfortunately you will need an activation code after your 30 day grace period is over. It works great, interfaces to the MSC-400 without any problem.

If you get a laptop with Windows 7, You can use Microsoft's Virtual PC and run their XP image...there is no activation, the code is in there. Not sure why they didn't carry this over to Windows 8.

It is really easy to do...works great!

Just so I'm clear......if you run a 64 bit version of Win7 Professional and load MS Virtual PC, you can run CCP and communicate with a MSC 400?

I use VirtualBox, but the concept is the same. I have Virtual PC (Microsoft) on my Desktop in the basement and use XP on it to print to a color printer that doesn't have Windows 7 or 8 support. I use it for all my legacy stuff. This is a 64bit Windows 7 machine

My laptop is Windows 8 (64-bit) and I use it to config the MSC-400...just updated the config a few minutes ago.

Hope this helps.

Yes

Thanks guys....I'll have to revisit this. I had tried it awhile back without success.

It is called Oracle Virtualbox.org not Google. While the host software is free you'll still need a Windows XP license code.

Windows 7 lets you run "XP MODE" and gives you a full license. Windows 8 this option isn't fully supported since MS wants to push you to Hyper-V but that's truly overkill here.

Once in a while I'll run into issues where a hardware manufacture just doesn't want to keep updating to coincide with the current OS's out there. I can see if there were 15 really popular OS's, but basically there's one main one- Windows. Pretty easy to keep updating especially when Microsoft makes it real easy for developers to do it. It's also used as sales tool. Stop updating the hardware software and then the end user has to work harder each year to make things work and they finally give up buying new hardware.

I'm more keen and aware of which companies keep supporting their customer's and only purchase from them. Once you get stung, left out hanging you learn quick.

Hell, everything is going to be an app one day anyway. Bought a new TV? Need to program a device to control it? Buy the app, just for that TV.

P.S. You can still run XP mode in Windows 8 "unofficially".

Getting a 32 bit XP machine would be the easiest solution. You can use the advice above to run XP on a 64 bit machine but it is a headache to setup and run.

Look around on auction sites for a cheap xp machine

Remember, the advantage of going Virtual is that you break the dependence on hardware. I can easily copy my Virtual Image to another machine and fire it up. Virtualbox is free, and you can pick up a copy of XP for around $50.00. The image files are already created by Microsoft...you simply need to Google the instructions (it is very easy, the instructions are step by step w/pictures!!!).

To each there own I guess? For me a used laptop with xp for $75 on e€ay that I can leave in my equipment/server room was an easier fix/solution for me. When I need to reconfigure anything its there and connected.

There is always a solution it's just a matter of finding your own compromise that works.

I was never able to get this to work. I found if the base machine (running the Virtal) didn't have driver support for the serving tray MSC,400, then it wouldn't pass the USB connection over to the virtual.  I tried VMware, virtual box, and windows xp mode all with the base machine of 7-64 bit.  I finally started dual booting 32 bit JUST for the MSC400.  Though anytime we run into them in the field, I get another piece for my fine china serving set. 

Not sure why...I run it on Windows 8 and it doesn't have driver support. It shows up on the USB list and the first time I selected it, XP asked me for the driver. Has been working fine ever since. I just did another update to a MSC-400 config earlier this week.

Funky.....