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Upgrading From Win 10 To Win 11 For ARC Pro On SBC

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,  I am running ARC Pro on a single board computer (SBC) mounted directly on my robot. It's a dedicated computer and only runs ARC for the robot. My operating system is Windows 10. I have done all the performance tips and removed a lot of unneeded bloatware with info given here on the forum. Mostly to make sure nothing is running but what is needed to run ARC. I'm running pretty a light Win 10 operating system.

I've been prompted by Microsoft to upgrade to Win 11 for free. As I'm running ARC Pro on a dedicated SBC mounted on the robot (and connected to three EZB through USB) Is it advised that I keep Win 10 as is and don't accept the upgrade?

Also I have Auto update disabled in Win 10 that my ARC Pro is running on controlling this robot. I've run the update checker and there a bunch of updates available. Of most concern to me are several .Net Framework updates. Should I let the updates run and install or just keep the OS as is considering the above info about my setup?

The main reason I'm thinking of up grading the OS is that I have been having a problem with two of the three Com Ports assigned to the EZB's being switched In ARC when the start up INT script runs at ARC start up. For example in the Connection Skill of ARC I have the following EZBs listed:

Connection 0 - Com 4 Connection 1 - Com 6 Connection 2 - Com 3

Sometimes when ARC starts and My INT script runs the Connection Skill the Com Ports will stay in place in the skill but the EZBs assigned to Com 6 and Com 3 will switch. This will only happen sporadically but when it does I resolve it by switching Com 6 and Com three in the connection Skill. Things will work great at connection and robot set up for many weeks but then happen again. I have been researching this issue for a while now and have come to believe it's not an issue with ARC but a Microsoft Windows issue. Other people have complained about this issue with other devices like mutable Arduino's attached to a computer through Com ports. One cause I've seen in an answer was that I may have two devices attached to the computer's comports that have the same serial numbers or PID numbers. This may cause Windows to confuse the devices connected in the comport assignments. One clue that this may be my problem is that the two USB to UART bridge cables I'm using on these two switching EZB's Comports are from the came company, Silicon Labs. The third Com Port that never has an issue with switching the EZB assigned to it is from a different company. However in those other reported cases the issue happened to the people each time the computer was started. My issue, while similar, only happens sporadically.

I was hoping that updating the Win 10 OS or upgrading to Win 11 will solve this problem. However I'm hesitant. What is your advice? My other option is to replace one of the Silicon Labs USB to UART bridge cables to one from a different company. I hate to shotgun solutions at a problem before researching. Any thoughts?

Related Hardware EZ-B v4
Related Controls EZB Connection MMA7455 Accelerometer EZB Connections

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#1  

Given the detailed scenario you've described with your EZ-B v4 setup and the issues you're experiencing with COM port assignments on your Windows 10 SBC, here are some considerations and recommendations:

1. Windows 10 vs. Windows 11 Upgrade:

  • Stability and Compatibility: Since your system is dedicated to running ARC Pro and is currently stable aside from the COM port issue, there's a significant reason to maintain the current OS if all functionalities are compatible and running smoothly. Windows 11 might introduce new variables and potential compatibility issues that could affect the stability of your setup.
  • Testing Windows 11: If possible, consider setting up a test environment or using a different system to install Windows 11 and test ARC Pro with your current configuration. This way, you can assess performance and compatibility without disrupting your existing setup.

2. Handling Windows Updates:

  • .NET Framework Updates: Generally, it's advisable to keep the .NET Framework updated as these updates can contain important security patches and performance improvements. Since ARC might depend on .NET, updating it could potentially improve stability and performance.
  • System Updates: For other Windows updates, since you have a dedicated system and auto-updates disabled, it's usually safe to update, especially if the updates include security patches or critical fixes. However, ensure to create a system restore point before applying updates so you can revert back if anything goes wrong.

3. COM Port Switching Issue:

  • Hardware IDs and Drivers: The issue with COM ports switching could indeed be related to Windows handling of device IDs and drivers, especially if the devices are from the same manufacturer and use similar chipsets. Windows might be reassigning COM ports based on device recognition at startup.
  • Potential Solutions:
    • Different Manufacturer Cable: As you suggested, using a USB to UART bridge cable from a different manufacturer for one of the connections might help if the issue is due to identical hardware IDs causing confusion in port assignment.
    • Static COM Port Assignment: Try setting static COM port assignments for each device in Windows Device Manager. This can sometimes prevent Windows from reassigning COM ports dynamically.
    • Driver Updates: Ensure that the drivers for your USB to UART bridges are up to date. Sometimes, driver updates can resolve such issues.

4. General Advice:

  • Backup and Documentation: Before making any changes (OS upgrade, driver updates, hardware changes), ensure that you have a full backup of your system and document your current working configuration for easy restoration if needed.
  • Incremental Changes: Apply changes one at a time and test thoroughly between changes. This approach helps isolate the cause and effect of each change, making troubleshooting more manageable.

Conclusion:

Given the critical nature of your setup, the best course of action would be to first try changing one of the USB to UART cables to a different manufacturer and see if that resolves the COM port switching issue. If this doesn't help, consider the other solutions like updating drivers or setting static COM port assignments. Upgrading to Windows 11 should be a last resort after testing in a controlled environment to ensure compatibility with all your hardware and software requirements.


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