Hello all, I'm new here and need a little help please.
I have a clean computer that is running Windows XP and have successfully installed Mach and have run the Drivers Test. I'm having problems when I bring Mach up it looks good but as soon as I touch the mouse it freezes up and won't move again till about 5 minutes later. Anyone got an idea of what I'm up against and how to fix it??? Thanks

If it's any help these are the minimum requirements for your PC ...

Mach3 Minimum Recommended Requirements:

 Requirements if using the parallel port for machine control:

•Desktop PC (Laptops are not supported) with at least one parallel port
•32-bit version of Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (64-bit versions will not work)
•1Ghz CPU
•512MB RAM
•Non-integrated Video Card with 32MB RAM(Large G-code files, especially 3D files will require a video card with 512MB RAM or higher)

 Requirements if using an external motion device for machine control:

•An appropriate external motion controller (options can be found on the Plugins page)
•Desktop or Laptop with Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
•1Ghz CPU
•512MB RAM
•Video Card with 32MB RAM(Large G-code files, especially 3D files will require a video card with 512MB RAM or higher)

Tweakie.

Did you install XP in "Standard PC" mode.

Did you do the XP optimisation

Are all the PC drivers installed (e.g. motherboard chipset drivers).

Do you have any other programs running on the PC.

I normally wipe the hard disk, do a fresh install of XP (in Standard PC mode), install the PC drivers, go through the XP optimisation, install Mach.

I haven't bothered with XP updates in the past, the ethernet port is even disabled in the bios. I pretty much switch off anything I don't need.

I even see what services and processes I can completely disable, I want XP to do absolutely nothing it doesn't need to, so it can dedicate itself to Mach much more. I don't know if I'm going overboard but I just think if it's not needed, kill it.

Keith.

Excellent advice Keith.

Tweakie.