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Antec Fusion VFD question

post #1 of 31
9/10/06 at 10:37am
Thread Starter 
I just build a new htpc using an Antec Fusion case, but I didn't get the VFD to work yet. I haven't installed MCE and only installed Vista RC1. Therefore this might be the reason, since the old driver might not work under Vista, but I'm not sure.

My questions is basically, does the VFD display anything outside of the Windows environment, or is it solely used once the driver kicks in under MCE (XP)? I just want to check, whether this is a hardware or software problem.
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post #2 of 31
9/11/06 at 6:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rico66 View Post

I just build a new htpc using an Antec Fusion case, but I didn't get the VFD to work yet. I haven't installed MCE and only installed Vista RC1. Therefore this might be the reason, since the old driver might not work under Vista, but I'm not sure.

My questions is basically, does the VFD display anything outside of the Windows environment, or is it solely used once the driver kicks in under MCE (XP)? I just want to check, whether this is a hardware or software problem.

Are there any Antec Fusion owners out there, who can tell me whether the VFD displays anything prior to Windows being loaded?
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post #3 of 31
10/5/06 at 3:32pm
Hi Rico - did you ever find out anything on this? I'm in the same predicament. I just loaded RC1 onto my new Fusion box. Nothing on the vfd. Loaded the software. Same thing - no display. Emailed Antec who said it only works on XP & 2000 at this time. Is that what you found out as well? Did you ever get an ETA on when the new driver would be available?
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post #4 of 31
10/5/06 at 7:05pm
The vfd does not display anything until xp is loaded and the utility is installed. I have it displaying system info, media info, AP news info and weather info. It can also stream e-mail.

While it is cute, I may disable it, as it appears to prevent the computer from entering into S3 sleep mode.

Steve
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post #5 of 31
10/6/06 at 9:56am
Thread Starter 
I should have mentioned that I tried this on x64. It is caused by the unsigned driver being rejected. The display comes to life once you allow unsigned drivers.
Not sure, if it works on 32 bit. (I plan to install 32 bit over the weekend).

So basically it will work once (if) Soundgraph provides signed 64 bit drivers.
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post #6 of 31
10/6/06 at 10:02am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve View Post

While it is cute, I may disable it, as it appears to prevent the computer from entering into S3 sleep mode.

Steve

Yes and no. You can still force it into standby (by pressing a button), but it does not enter standby, if the system is idle afaik.
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post #7 of 31
10/10/06 at 9:52pm
I have successfully (I think) installed the driver but the icon in the system tray says (VFD H/W Disconnected). The four pin power is connected, as is the usb (I've tried to both the motherboard & the ext usb port). What am I missing here?

Thanks for any help.
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post #8 of 31
10/10/06 at 10:42pm
Spent a few minutes on it & got it to work.
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post #9 of 31
10/28/06 at 4:00pm
Hi,

I was wondering if any of you owners could tell me if the VFD can be replaced with a standard, 5.25" VFD from another company such as the Thermaltake Media-Lab (iMon) or VL Systems Mplay that come with a remote.
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post #10 of 31
11/1/06 at 1:08am
Wingnet, i have the same problem, can you tell us how you spent your few minutes?
tnx
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post #11 of 31
11/10/06 at 9:45am
Once it quits recognizing the hardware, I can only get the VFD driver to start working again by uninstalling and reinstalling it.
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post #12 of 31
1/11/07 at 6:07pm
Thread Starter 
I found updated (beta) drivers on Soundgraph's web site (iMON/iMEDIAN 6.0 Beta version for Windows Vista (Setup). I just tried the 64 bit driver and it seems to work fine (the vfd is working).
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post #13 of 31
2/3/07 at 5:26am
Hi, I wonder if anyone can shed some light on this...

I too have the Antec fusion case and it worked perfectly under XP MCE, but I just can't get the vfd screen to work with Home Premium Vista X64 version.

I have tried the Soundgraph drivers both the full release and also the beta, but all I get is an error from the iMon program saying:
VFD H/W installed in this system is for the Front Panel, NOT for iMON VFD.

I have tried uninstalling the drivers, then reinstalling, same problem. If I point Vista to the one of the other drivers in the downloaded install folder, it lists in device manager with an exclaimation mark, but at least the iMon software will load, I can then use the volume knob on the front, but obviously I get no VFD

If I load the iMon drivers from the X64 folder then the exclaimation mark dissapears (i.e. installed and working with Vista), but I get the same error above and iMon won't load.

I'm banging my head against a wall here, any help would be great

TIA
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post #14 of 31
2/3/07 at 10:09am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Win2Kuser View Post

Hi, I wonder if anyone can shed some light on this...

I too have the Antec fusion case and it worked perfectly under XP MCE, but I just can't get the vfd screen to work with Home Premium Vista X64 version.

I have tried the Soundgraph drivers both the full release and also the beta, but all I get is an error from the iMon program saying:
VFD H/W installed in this system is for the Front Panel, NOT for iMON VFD.

I have tried uninstalling the drivers, then reinstalling, same problem. If I point Vista to the one of the other drivers in the downloaded install folder, it lists in device manager with an exclaimation mark, but at least the iMon software will load, I can then use the volume knob on the front, but obviously I get no VFD

If I load the iMon drivers from the X64 folder then the exclaimation mark dissapears (i.e. installed and working with Vista), but I get the same error above and iMon won't load.

I'm banging my head against a wall here, any help would be great

TIA

You should install the previous Antec software and afterwards update the driver (e.g. via device manager) using the beta driver from the soundgraoh site (http://www.soundgraph.com/Eng_/Suppo...&searchString=).
The best is to extract the drivers from the zip file and point to this folder during setup.
I have never tried to install the whole imon package, but the new driver works with old software on my x64 installation.
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post #15 of 31
2/3/07 at 10:31am
with a working driver on 2000/XP/Vista, what does the VFD display? Channel number? Track name? Show/DVD title? Time remaining?
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post #16 of 31
2/3/07 at 1:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RTK View Post

with a working driver on 2000/XP/Vista, what does the VFD display? Channel number? Track name? Show/DVD title? Time remaining?

I don't use the Antec VFD on my Fusion, but I use the a iMon VFD it generally shows current playing time, and file name. I think it shows more in DVD mode, but I don't use DVDs on the system.

There are other options that you can set it to. I mostly use mine to show current title time, for the IR receiver, and because it's a non-Antec VFD the IR receiver allows me to power the system up and down with the remote.
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post #17 of 31
2/5/07 at 10:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rico66 View Post

You should install the previous Antec software and afterwards update the driver (e.g. via device manager) using the beta driver from the soundgraoh site.
The best is to extract the drivers from the zip file and point to this folder during setup.
I have never tried to install the whole imon package, but the new driver works with old software on my x64 installation.

I'm running Vista x32, which refuses to load the final 6.0 drivers for my VFD through Device Manager. How exactly did you get them working?
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post #18 of 31
2/5/07 at 10:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RTK View Post

with a working driver on 2000/XP/Vista, what does the VFD display? Channel number? Track name? Show/DVD title? Time remaining?

The iMon VFD displays all of the above and more in MCE 2005.
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post #19 of 31
2/5/07 at 1:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Velcroman View Post

I'm running Vista x32, which refuses to load the final 6.0 drivers for my VFD through Device Manager. How exactly did you get them working?

I didn't try the final version, I only tried the beta driver (x64). But I'll give this a try later tonight.
Also, the Media (MCE) specific display didn't work using the old Antec software in Vista, I only got it to display the regular system data, news, etc.
This might work with the final iMON software though.
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post #20 of 31
2/8/07 at 5:04am
Any luck? Everything else about Vista works great, but I keep getting error messages about "A USB device" that's "malfunctioned", Windows Vista code for "I'm still not sure what this weird VFD is."
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post #21 of 31
2/8/07 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 
Pretty much the same as I'd mentioned above. Technically the VFD works for me with the x64 driver from Soundgraph (the driver is the same in the beta and final package). But the frontend from Soundgraph itself doesn't work (sounds like by design, because it's not intended for this VFD)

You can use another frontend, like the previous one from Antec or the one from FrontView (that was suggested to you on TGB...). But neither of those seems to support MC right now, only the system data part works, but I don't get an media output at all. I haven't tested x86 though (doubt that this makes a difference)

Did you actually install the driver (does it show up in device manager as working)?
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post #22 of 31
2/21/07 at 12:08pm
I can't get it to work in Windows XP Pro (x86). It says that the VFD H/W Disconnected. Any ideas? Should it work?

/Ola
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post #23 of 31
2/21/07 at 12:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by oelversk View Post

I can't get it to work in Windows XP Pro (x86). It says that the VFD H/W Disconnected. Any ideas? Should it work?

/Ola

Yes, it should definetly work. XP Pro and MCE are basically the same (for the Windows part). Are you sure that all the connections are setup correctly?
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post #24 of 31
2/22/07 at 7:42am
Everything is connected as it should. Power to a 4-pin power connector and I've tried both internal and external USB connector. Still the same message from the software.
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post #25 of 31
2/22/07 at 7:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oelversk View Post

I can't get it to work in Windows XP Pro (x86). It says that the VFD H/W Disconnected. Any ideas? Should it work?

/Ola

Try this. (I assume you have the internal USB version.)

- Disconnect the internal USB cable for the VFD.
- Boot XP. (It will say hardware disconnected)
- Connect the internal USB cable WHILE XP is running. It should pop up the New Hardware Found wizard.
- Do not say install automatically. Before doing this, download the latest drivers from Soundgraph and keep them in a directory, and when the wizard comes up, point it to those drivers. - Make sure you point it to the right driver. That should be iMON_VFD.sys I believe)

- Reboot.

Should work.
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post #26 of 31
3/7/07 at 1:47pm
I still cant get Vista to work with the VFD...
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post #27 of 31
3/11/07 at 8:28am
I was running into the same problems. Nothing working. Loaded the Antec drivers, Soundgraph drivers, different versions over and over until.... I realized that the VFD power was not plugged in. I obviously missed that part in the instructions. There was a plug with two wires (blue and white) that appeared to be power for the VFD, however after further prodding and poking, I found another cable that was not pulled all the way out from underneath the drive bays that plugged into the floppy power from the power supply. After plugging in the power.... doh... it worked.
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post #28 of 31
5/7/07 at 4:02am
Is the any other software that can handle OEM iMon display except Antec's own (according to Silent PC Review it suck) and possible MCE programs. I'm planning on buying Fusion but problems with SPDIF with included software makes me think twice. I would like to disable the volume knob also.
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post #29 of 31
5/7/07 at 3:54pm
LCD Smartie works with the Fusion VFD. I played with the Antec software but found it didn't do what I needed. I use Beyond TV and someone wrote a plugin for LCD Smartie that allows it to read program info from Beyond TV. (I can't post the URL for it, don't have enough posts, but just use Google to find the site, it's on SourceForge.)

Also, LCD Smartie is much more versatile than the software that comes with the Fusion, it's got a ton of stuff in it you can display.

Just like the other software discussed here, it takes control of the VFD after Windows has booted. I've also found no problem with having the machine go into suspend mode, I just exit the Beyond TV viewscape and the machine goes to sleep a minute later.
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post #30 of 31
3/29/08 at 5:41pm
I know it's an old thread but I really need help.
I just build by HTPC based around an Antec Veris "Fusion Black" and I can't get the volume knob nor VFD to work for the life of me.
I think I'm doing something fundamentaly wrong because the device can't be detected, never has. Not even if I uninstall all software related to it and unplug it and reboot will it be detected. I'm running Windows Media Center edition. Any help?
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