How should I prepare my Logger Pro installation before creating a disk image?

If you are preparing disk images to distribute software to your school computers using Windows XP SP2, here are some tips to follow.

1) Disconnect interfaces from the computer.

2) Log in with full administrative rights

3) Install Logger Pro 3, including QuickTime installation, if needed. You need at least QuickTime 6.5.2; QuickTime 7.1 or newer is recommended. Let the Logger Pro install complete using the default locations.

4) Connect power to the interface. Wait for the six-beep series that indicates a successful boot if using LabPro.

5) Connect the interface to the computer. You will see the Windows "found new hardware" bubbles at lower right indicating that the computer if using LabPro.

6) Connect a simple sensor, such as a temperature sensor or force sensor to the interface. The sensor must be an autoID sensor with no adapter.

7) Launch Logger Pro. You should see the interface icon just below the toolbar and a graph appropriate to the sensor. Click Collect to confirm that data collection works.

8) Quit Logger Pro.

9) Log out, and log in as a restricted user.

10) Launch Logger Pro, and confirm that data collection still works.

11) Quit Logger Pro.

12) Connect the interface to a different USB port. If using LabPro, the driver should install again, even with restricted user rights since the driver is signed. (If the driver does not install, you restricted users have had some standard rights removed. Either restore those rights, or all first LabPro connections to a particular USB port must be done with admin rights.)

13) Launch Logger Pro and confirm that data collection works on the new USB port.

These steps confirm that Logger Pro is fully installed and that it can communicate with LabPro, even as a restricted user. They are probably overkill, but my intention is to be very sure that Logger Pro is installed and working on the master computer in the login configuration you'll be using before taking the trouble to image that computer.

Now the disk can be imaged and propagated to other computers. If Logger Pro fails to connect to the LabPros on other computers, or if you are prompted for passwords for installing USB drivers, you'll know that the image process damaged the installation since it had been tested before imaging.

Note that Logger Pro 3.4.1 and newer are different from 3.3 in that you no longer must be an administrator to have windows install the USB driver for a new USB port. If you do get prompted for a password at any time after connecting a LabPro, your user rights have been restricted beyond those of the default Windows "restricted" user.